On Monday April 21, Lambda Pi Eta, SUNY Oswego's National Communication Honor Society, held their annual Spring Ceremony and inducted over 70 new members.
Students and family, along with department faculty, gathered in the Marano Campus Center auditorium and joined via Zoom for an engaging evening of reflection and celebration.
The evening began with a keynote address from Communication Studies Department Chair Michael Riecke. “You’re studying communication, broadcasting, journalism, public relations -- fields that many people underestimate until they need critical information in a crisis,” Riecke said, before highlighting the shared connections across the discipline in asking questions, listening and storytelling. “This honor is not just a symbol of your success so far. It’s a sign of the future you’re capable of shaping. Let this induction be a reminder of what brought you here -- and a springboard toward what comes next.”
New members received membership certificates and pins and all graduating members receive red and white honors cords to wear at the upcoming commencement exercises in May 2025 and December 2025. Previously inducted members graduating in May were also part of the evening, including Katie Karlen, chapter president (public relations and psychology double major), Teresa Serrano-Moody, chapter vice president (public relations), and Madison Lee, senior communication major and incoming strategic communication graduate student.
To qualify for membership, undergraduate students must have earned 60 credit hours, including 12 credit hours in communication coursework, while maintaining an overall grade-point average of 3.0 and a 3.25 or higher grade-point average in their chosen departmental major or minor. These programs include broadcasting and digital media (online, residential, and the five-year broadcasting and MBA program), public relations (online and residential), journalism (major and minor), and communication (major and minor). Graduate students in SUNY Oswego’s strategic communication master of the arts program must have a 3.5 or higher grade-point average to be invited to join. Invitations go out to qualified members from the chapter faculty advisor each January.
Started in 1985 at the University of Arkansas, Lambda Pi Eta is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies. The Sigma Pi Chapter at SUNY Oswego is one of 600 active chapters nationwide and is registered annually with the National Communication Association.
To view the full list of new inductees or learn more about the organization, visit Oswego's Lambda Pi Eta website or contact the faculty chapter advisor at andrea.vickery@oswego.edu.
-- Submitted by Lambda Pi Eta