By Samantha Stone

URI’s Harrington School students now have the opportunity to be rewarded for their academic excellence by joining the new and expanded honor society, Lambda Pi Eta.

On Dec. 12, Lambda Pi Eta inducted 30 Harrington School students into the URI chapter. These students paid a one-time $30 membership fee, which makes them lifetime members in Lambda Pi Eta. Lambda Pi Eta is the official honor society at four-year universities nationwide of the National Communication Association (NCA). The Harrington School’s Lambda Pi Eta chapter is one of 500 nationwide. Most college chapters are exclusive to students studying communication studies, but there was a different vision for the Harrington School’s chapter. Lambda Pi Eta’s advisor, Dr. Kevin McClure, chair of communication studies, envisioned a robust chapter available to all Harrington students, regardless of their major or program of study. Owen Sammarone, president of the chapter and a senior majoring in public relations with minors in business and leadership studies, and Aria Mia Loberti, a sophomore majoring in communication studies, political science, and biology, worked with McClure as well as Dr. Adam Roth, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and director of the Harrington School of Communication and Media, and Regina Bell, public relations professor and advisor, to expand it to other majors in the Harrington School.

“We are very excited to expand the honor society beyond Communication Studies students and welcome all majors of the Harrington School,” Sammarone said. “Lambda Pi Eta will provide members with a community  full of diligent, passionate students who are interested in personal and professional development and giving back to the community. Members can share this outstanding accomplishment on their resumes with future employers.”

Membership in the Beta Gamma chapter at URI is offered to all outstanding Harrington School students. Prospective students must have earned at least 60 credits as a junior-level student, at least a 3.25 GPA in major coursework, and a 3.0 cumulative GPA to qualify for this honor.

Chapter activities will involve a mixture of social, academic, and community service. Goals for the upcoming spring semester include establishing a concrete executive board, planning a service project, and organizing networking trips to local companies. Lambda Pi Eta will also implement workshops on resume building and interview preparation for its members.

For more information on Lambda Pi Eta write to lambdapietauri@gmail.com.