SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — On Oct. 16, Penn State Schuylkill’s Alpha Epsilon Lambda chapter of the national communication honor society Lambda Pi Eta inducted eight new members into the organization. A ceremony was held in the Michael C. Fryer Conference Center for the inductees, current members and guests, and was broadcast on Zoom to enable out-of-town friends and family to share in the celebration of the inductees’ accomplishments.

Lambda Pi Eta was founded in 1985 and is the official honor society of the National Communication Association (NCA). The Penn State Schuylkill chapter was formed in 2018 by Janelle Gruber, program coordinator of corporate communication, and Valerie Schrader, professor of communication arts and sciences, who serve as its co-advisers. The purposes of Lambda Pi Eta, according to NCA, are: 1) to recognize, foster and reward outstanding scholastic achievement, 2) to stimulate interest in the field of communication, 3) to provide an opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas in the field of communication, 4) to promote and encourage professional development among communication majors, 5) to establish and maintain close relationships and mutual understanding between faculty and students, and 6) to explore options for further graduate education.

To be eligible for Lambda Pi Eta membership, students must have completed 60 semester hours in undergraduate courses; have a cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 3.0; have completed the equivalent of 12 semester hours in communication courses; have a Grade Point Average of at least 3.25 in those courses; and be currently enrolled as a full-time student in good standing with their institution. 

The 2024 inductees are:

• Ivy Daniels, a nursing major with a minor in communication arts and mass media.
• Erik Dubbs, a corporate communication major with a minor in psychology. He is the current treasurer of the Alpha Epsilon Lambda chapter.
• Christopher Duffy, a corporate communication major with two minors in business and communication arts and sciences. He also is working towards a certificate in sports administration and is the scholarship officer of the Alpha Epsilon Lambda chapter.
• Kacey Harper, a corporate communication major. 
• Mikayla Kupstas, a nursing major with a minor in communication arts and mass media.
• Renee Paetzell, a business major with a minor in corporate communication. She is the alternate officer of the Alpha Epsilon Lambda chapter.
• Maxwell Smith, a corporate communication major and is the current secretary of the Alpha Epsilon Lambda chapter.
• Sarah Tran, a biology major with a minor in communication arts and mass media.

In addition to the inductees and co-advisers, the ceremony featured current members of the organization, Tiffany Bohner, Karandhir Singh Flora and Jessica Lynn. Lynn is the president and Bohner is the vice president of the Alpha Epsilon Lambda chapter.

Learn more:

• Learn more about the Alpha Epsilon Lambda chapter or other Penn State Schuylkill clubs and organizations.
• Learn more about Lambda Pi Eta as a national organization.
• Learn information about the corporate communication major and minor, the communication arts and sciences minor, or the communication arts and mass media minor at Penn State Schuylkill.