Brittany Kirchhoff
  • Class of 2016
  • Athol, KS

Brittany Kirchhoff Attends the 2016 Alpha Chi National Convention in Alexandria, VA

2016 Apr 21

Brittany Kirchhoff of Athol , KS (66932) was part of a small delegation of students and faculty from Kansas Wesleyan University that attended the 2016 Alpha Chi National Convention, "Transcending Boundaries," April 7-10 at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center Hotel in Alexandria, VA.

Four Kansas Wesleyan students were presenters at the convention. At the opening session on Thursday evening, Karlee Perez, a Dec. '15 Marketing graduate from Highland, CA, presented her poster "Ahead of the Game." The other three KWU students made presentations on Friday. Brittany Kirchhoff, a senior Business Administration major from Athol, KS, presented her "Beauty Salon Marketing Plan." Howard Mahan, a senior Business Management major from Fredonia, KS, shared his "Marketing for Howard's Guitar Shop." Brittany Clancy, a junior Exercise Science: Pre-Physical Therapy major from Brookville, KS, presented her research on "Beating the Odds."

Also in attendance at the convention representing KWU were Joey Long, a senior Accounting major from Broken Arrow, OK, and Catherine Massey, a junior Marketing major from Henryetta, OK, along with the Kansas Delta chapter sponsors, KWU faculty members Dr. Steve Hoekstra, professor of Psychology, and Dr. Anita Specht, associate professor of History.

One highlight of the convention was the keynote address by Sonia Nazario, a Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist known mostly for her work at the Los Angeles Times newspaper. She held the attention of the more than 500 people in attendance with her gripping stories of the dangerous journey illegal immigrant children take to the United States from Central America. Afterward, Ms. Nazario signed copies of her book, "Enrique's Journey," and KWU's Brittany Clancy had her picture taken with her.

PHOTO - KWU students at the 2016 Alpha Chi National Convention in Alexandria, VA (L-R): Joey Long, Karlee Perez, Brittany Kirchhoff, Howard Mahan, Catherine Massey and Brittany Clancy

ALPHA CHI NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY: Alpha Chi inducts no more than the top 10 percent of juniors, seniors, and graduate/professional students on each campus, representing all academic disciplines. With some 300 chapters and an active presence in almost every state, Alpha Chi actively promotes academic excellence, undergraduate and graduate research, campus academic dialogue and civic engagement.

STAR CHAPTER: On Dec. 2, 2014, Alpha Chi National College Honor Scholarship Society designated the Kansas Delta chapter of KWU as a Star Chapter for 2013-14, the only college or university in Kansas to be so designated and just one of 47 out of some 300 across the United States. On Nov. 18, 2015, Alpha Chi announced that Kansas Delta chapter was named a Star Chapter for 2014-15, again the only institution in Kansas and one out of 50 nationally to be so honored.

Kansas Wesleyan formed its Kansas Delta chapter of Alpha Chi on April 6, 1978.