Lianna Moodie (left), of Cheboygan, received the Outstanding First-Generation Award
Monday, April 17 at Ferris State University’s inaugural Tri-Alpha National Honor Society
induction ceremony. Also pictured is David McCall (right), director of First-Generation
Initiatives.
A late-April celebration at Ferris State University established a tribute for the excellence of first-generation students during the inaugural Tri-Alpha National Honor Society induction ceremony.
David McCall, director of First-Generation Initiatives in Ferris’ College of Retention and Student Services, is a first-generation FSU alum. He said Ferris is the third institution of higher education in Michigan to establish a chapter with Alpha Alpha Alpha, founded in 2018 at Moravian University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
“We are glad to be part of the intentional effort to recognize and celebrate these students, as their stories of perseverance and achievement are most worthy of support and attention,” McCall said. “Ferris is building on a commitment to the first-generation student when any alumnus, faculty or staff member, or other friends of the university offers themselves in mentorship roles to assist these young adults on their journey to professional lives and opportunities for leadership.”
Lianna Moodie, of Cheboygan, a Finance major minoring in Spanish, was the Outstanding First-Generation Award recipient. Angela Buys, an instructional designer and technologist in the Extended and International Operations’ eLearning program, was named Outstanding First-Generation Advocate.
“Lianna is a native of Jamaica and vice president of our first-generation registered student organization,” McCall said. “She is a great volunteer and friend to our program, and we are proud of her success earning Deans’ List honors while making herself available to promote the success of her peers.”
Twenty-seven students and six faculty and staff were inducted as active members of Tri-Alpha. McCall said each inductee can be proud of their accomplishment and effort.
“We are very pleased to establish Ferris’ Tri-Alpha chapter with this group,” McCall said. “Our application process and organizational growth should find a larger class of inductees in the spring of 2024, as we continue with emphasis to identify and encourage first-generation student success.”