Graduate With Honors

     A membership application form is available on the department's website at www.csn.edu/communication.  The application deadline is March 23, 2009.

     Communication Instructor Tracey C. Mahoney serves as the faculty advisor for the department's chapter of Sigma Chi Eta.  Her office is located at CSN's Charleston campus.  Tracey can be contacted at 651-7559 or via e-mail at tracey.mahoney@csn.edu.

     Tracey feels a membership in Sigma Chi Eta, Alpha Delta Chapter offers many benefits to students.  "First, membership in SCH is a great addition to any application for scholarships, transfer opportunities, and jobs.  Colleges and employers like to see that students not only achieve good grades, but that students can also be involved in their communities.  SCH provides this opportunity," she said.

     Tracey explained that Sigma Chi Eta generally works with the college community by sponsoring resume workshops, interviewing workshops and other communication type events.  "There will also be a larger community focus, such as volunteer work, professional clothing drives, etc.," she said.

     Tracey believes another benefit is the affiliation with the National Communication Association.  "SCH members are eligible to present research at national conferences, where they can begin to meet people in the discipline who will be instrumental in assisting them in future endeavors," she said.

     A third benefit is that students are lifetime members.  "NCA will always have a record of your induction.  Thus, because of the longevity of NCA, if you ever need confirmation of your affiliation, it will be available to you," Tracey said.  She feels the affiliation with NCA will be a plus for members.  "Getting to know the workings of NCA will help out students to better understand what types of careers are available to them in the future," she said.

     Tracey speaks from experience as to the benefits of membership, being a member herself.  "In the end, joining an NCA student organization is probably one of the best things I ever did as an undergrad.  It opened many doors, provided me with insight into the discipline that I could not have gained without years of experience, and introduced me to many people who have been instrumental in my career development," she said.

     The National Communication Association founded Sigma Chi Eta in 2000.  Sigma Chi Eta strives to recognize, foster, and reward outstanding scholastic achievement while exploring options for community college students to transfer to a four-year program at a college or university, or enter the job market.

     The National Communication Association (NCA) is the oldest and largest national organization to promote communication scholarship and education.  Originally founded in 1914 as the National Association of Academic Teachers of Public Speaking, the organization adopted its present name in 1997.  NCA works to enhance the research, teaching and service produced by its members on topics of both intellectual and social significance.  To learn more, visit NCA's website at www.natcom.org.

This article was written by Prof. Rick Marks and his spring 2009 JOUR 102 News Reporting and Writing class.