Monday, December 03, 2012

[182] Omicron Delta Kappa honor society welcomes NewsChannel5's Phil Williams



MURFREESBORO — MTSU alumnus Phil Williams, investigative reporter for WTVF-TV in Nashville, will be among the initiates inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa honor society at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30.

Williams, a Columbia, Tenn., native who graduated in 1985, was added to the MTSU College of Mass Communication Wall of Fame in 2003. He completed his thesis, “Dissent in a Free Society,” during Dr. Ron Messier’s tenure as honors program director, and Messier was Williams’ thesis adviser.

Williams is the winner of two George Foster Peabody Awards, the George Polk Award for TV Reporting, a National Headliner Award and a 2012 Alfred I DuPont-Columbia Award for excellence in local reporting.

The ceremony, which will take place in Room 106 of the university’s Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building, also will welcome a total of 20 students, faculty and staffers into the organization.

“Our students epitomize the best among student leaders on campus,” said faculty adviser Georgia Dennis, events coordinator for the University Honors College. “I think we have the cream of the crop.”

Faculty initiates include Dr. Debra Sells, vice president for student affairs and vice provost for enrollment and academic services; Dr. Deana Raffo, assistant professor of management; and Dr. Charlene True, associate professor of educational leadership.

The Challenge Speaker, who will issue the new members’ marching orders for success in life, will be Michael Giles Jr., an ODK Foundation trustee and Nashville-based marketing manager for the Pedigree and Cesar brands of pet food produced by Mars Inc.

Omicron Delta Kappa, founded in 1914 and now 300,000 members strong, is “the first college honor society of a national scope to give recognition and honor for meritorious leadership and service in extracurricular activities and to encourage development of general campus citizenship,” according to its website, www.odk.org.

The society recognizes achievement in the areas of scholarship; athletics; journalism, speech and the mass media; creative and performing arts; and campus/community service, social/religious activities and campus government.

For more information, contact Dennis at 615-898-5645 or georgia.dennis.mtsu.edu.




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