The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Alpha Gamma Chapter of Pi Alpha Xi, the National Honor Society for Horticulture, inducted new members and elected officers for next year in the East Campus Dinsdale Family Learning Commons April 15.
New inductees this year are Willis Hanneman, Thomas Henry, Elaina Madison, Katrina Webster, Ridge Gerstberger, Emma Kuss, Ben Tolsen, Eamon Sughroue and Sam Berghuis.
Pi Alpha Xi celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. The National Horticulture Honor Society was founded at Cornell University in 1923. Nationally, there are 40 chapters with over 14,000 members. Chapters are located in the United States at four-year institutions with programs in horticulture.
The purpose of the group is to promote high scholarship, fellowship among students, educators and professional horticulturists, professional leadership and the enrichment of human life through plants.
A special luncheon will be held on Aug. 3 at the 2023 American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida.
Junior and senior horticulture majors with a 3.0 GPA overall and at least 15 hours in horticulture classes are invited to join. Graduate students and faculty with an emphasis in horticulture are also eligible. Notification of nominations are sent out in the fall and spring semesters by advisers. Initiation ceremony is traditionally held in the spring.
After serving the chapter for 23 years, David Lambe, professor of practice, stepped down his adviser role. Lambe was initiated in 1987 and has been a co-advising with Ellen Paparozzi, professor emeritus and founder of the Alpha Gamma Chapter.
Anne Streich, agronomy and horticulture professor of practice, is the new advisor of the chapter.
New officers elected for 2023–2024 are Elaina Madison, president; Emma Kuss, vice president; Ridge Gerstberger, secretary, and Willis Hanneman, treasurer.
Advisers to the club are Luqi Li and Streich, and Caleb Wehrbein as co-adviser.
Jacob Hillis, past president; Macey Wooldrik, past secretary, and Nathan Starr, past treasurer, planned and presented the celebration. A special cake was presented at the initiation to celebrate the centennial.
Go to the Pi Alpha Xi Alpha-Gamma chapter webpage for more information about the organization.
