West Liberty, W.Va., May 1, 2019 — West Liberty University rising senior MacKenzie Jacobs will represent students in five states in her new position with Alpha Chi National Honor Society.
“This is a big honor for any student and we are very proud of MacKenzie,” said Dr. Linda Cowan, who serves as the faculty sponsor for the honor society on the Hilltop.
Jacobs is from New Cumberland, W.Va. and is majoring in biology. She was selected for a two-year term during the election that took place at the 2019 National Convention, held April 4 – 6 in Cleveland, which both Jacobs and Cowan attended.
She now represents region V, which includes the states of Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Jacobs replaces another WLU student representative, Elliot Collins of Crooksville, Ohio, who is earning his graduate degree in biology as a graduate assistant.
“Both McKenzie and Elliot also presented research at the annual conference and shared their academic work. They represent the university very well,” added Cowan.
Collins presented in the field of Molecular and Cellular Biology and his research was: “Immunostimulatory Activity of Dillapiole Isolated from Fennel Root” Elliot Collins, West Virginia Epsilon, West Liberty University, Region V 1:30 “Combating Glioblastoma Resistance to Temozolomide Using Inhibitor.”
Jacobs presented in the field of Organismal and Ecological Biology and her research was titled: “The Study of Pinus albicaulis Extracts for Possible Medicinal Use.”
Cowan, who resides in Wheeling, also was elected into the National Council of Alpha Chi as faculty representation for a four-year term.
Founded in 1922, Alpha Chi is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies.
Its goal is to promote academic excellence and exemplary character among college and university students and to honor those who achieve such distinction.
There are more than 300 different chapters nationally and West Liberty University’s Alpha Chi is part of the Epsilon Chapter.
Membership is limited to the top 10 percent of juniors, seniors, and graduate students at colleges and universities that have a chapter of Alpha Chi.
Cowan is a member of the Department of Music in the College of Arts and Communication at WLU. For more information please contact her at 304.336.8293.