National honor society recognizes ‘Top 10 Sophomores’

Receiving the Top 10 Sophomores Award by the Mortar Board was just another achievement to add to the list of accomplishments. On Sunday, 10 sophomores were recognized for their outstanding scholastic achievements, leadership abilities and community involvement.

The Mortar Board, which is a national senior honor society, is composed of 32 SMU seniors selected on the basis of scholarship, leadership and service. This board then recognizes 10 sophomores who demonstrate those same qualities. Shiny Mathewkutty, chairwoman of the Top 10 Sophomores Committee of the Mortar Board organized a committee to conduct this weekend’s ceremony.

“Applications were sent out to the top 15 percent of the sophomore class and we received 88 applications,” said Mathewkutty. “Candidates were chosen on a number of criteria.”

Applications were reviewed by the seniors and narrowed down to 10 candidates to be honored with the award. The committee notified the recipients and arranged the ceremony.

“No candidate was chosen solely on the basis of an excellent GPA,” said Mathewkutty. “In fact, several candidates with great GPA’s were rejected because of a lack of true leadership or service.”

President of the Mortar Board, senior Thomas Doan opened the ceremony and congratulated the sophomores and the committee for their hard work.

“The Mortar Board is dedicated to recognizing seniors for their distinguished abilities,” said Doan. “So not only do we want to recognize our sophomores for their amazing accomplishments, but also the hard work put on by the committee.”

In addition to recognizing the achievements of each student as they accepted their award, they were also addressed by the key note speaker Jim Hopkins, chairman of the history department.

“It’s a great privilege to be at an event honoring so many extraordinary men and women,” said Hopkins.

Hopkins followed by addressing his audience on a speech defending the humanities in a university education. He challenged the students to enjoy and participate in the humanities and to use those teachings and experiences to continue leading.

“The whole process went really well,” said Mathewkutty. “The sophomores chosen were very worthy of representing their class.”

Top 10 Sophomores

Jonathon Keath Hence – GPA 3.99
Major: B.M. Viola Performance, B.A. Computer Science
Minor: Mathematics
Honors: President’s Scholar
Leadership: SMU Mustang Band – Drumline member, Christian Fraternity, violist
Community Service: Habitat for Humanity

Craig Zieminski – GPA 4.00
Majors: Accounting & Economics
Honors : President’s Scholar
Leadership: Co-founder of Osman Akhil Memorial Fund
Community Service: US Job Corps Volunteer, SMU Scholarship Weekend Coordinator

Jackie Fortin – GPA 3.89
Major: Journalism & Public Policy
Minor: French
Honors: National Society of Collegiate Scholars, SMU Scholar
Leadership: Student Senate Diversity Committee, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Mustang Marathon

Emily Katherine Jordan – GPA 3.87
Undecided major
Minor: Psychology
Honors: Hunt Leadership Scholar, Week of Welcome, Senate Memership Committee, Big Brothers, Big Sisters

Heather Hund – GPA 4.00
Major: Business
Minor: Art History
Honors: President’s Scholar
Leadership: Mustang Link and Delta Sigma Pi Pledge Class President, Bryan’s House

Farrar Johnson – GPA 3.90
Major: Journalism
Minor: Spanish
Honors: SMU Merit Scholar, Mustang Ropers, Campus Crusade
Community Service: Spanish Tutor at Wesley Rankin Center

Jason Shyung – GPA 4.00
Major: Economics & International Studies
Honors: President’s Scholar, Asian Council, Vietnamese Student Association Vice President, Alpha Phi Omega, Mustang Marathon

Carl Dorvil – GPA 3.84
Major: Political Science
Minor: Psychology
Honors: Silver-Key Top First year
Leadership: Class of 2005 President, LCC
Community Service: Teen Court Attorney

Finny Benny – GPA 4.00
Major: Financial Consulting, Accounting, Finance Hybrid
Minor: Psychology
Honors: SMU Transfer Scholar, Phi Theta Kappa
Leadership: US Marine Corp
Community Service: Grand Prairie Public Library

Cheng-Han (Richard) Wu – GPA 3.97
Major: Chemistry
Minor: Mathematics
Honors: President’s Scholar
Leadership: Chemistry Society, Asian American Youth Association
Community Service: Terrace Elementary School math tutor