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 CoordinatorJackie Fortin – GPA 3.89Major: Journalism & Public Policy Minor: FrenchHonors: National Society of Collegiate Scholars, SMU ScholarLeadership: Student Senate Diversity Committee, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Mustang MarathonEmily Katherine Jordan – GPA 3.87Undecided majorMinor: PsychologyHonors: Hunt Leadership Scholar, Week of Welcome, Senate Memership Committee, Big Brothers, Big SistersHeather Hund – GPA 4.00Major: BusinessMinor: Art HistoryHonors: President’s ScholarLeadership: Mustang Link and Delta Sigma Pi Pledge Class President, Bryan’s HouseFarrar Johnson – GPA 3.90Major: JournalismMinor: Spanish Honors: SMU Merit Scholar, Mustang Ropers, Campus CrusadeCommunity Service: Spanish Tutor at Wesley Rankin CenterJason Shyung – GPA 4.00Major: Economics & International Studies Honors: President’s Scholar, Asian Council, Vietnamese Student Association Vice President, Alpha Phi Omega, Mustang MarathonCarl Dorvil – GPA 3.84Major: Political ScienceMinor: Psychology Honors: Silver-Key Top First year Leadership: Class of 2005 President, LCCCommunity Service: Teen Court AttorneyFinny Benny – GPA 4.00Major: Financial Consulting, Accounting, Finance Hybrid Minor: PsychologyHonors: SMU Transfer Scholar, Phi Theta KappaLeadership: US Marine CorpCommunity Service: Grand Prairie Public LibraryCheng-Han (Richard) Wu – GPA 3.97Major: ChemistryMinor: MathematicsHonors: President’s ScholarLeadership: Chemistry Society, Asian American Youth AssociationCommunity Service: Terrace Elementary School math tutor