Photo of Tau Sigma inductees

Thirty 98ÌÃ Online distance learning students were inducted this spring into Tau Sigma, the national honor society for transfer students.

NORFOLK, Va. - Thirty 98ÌÃOnline distance learning students have been initiated into Tau Sigma, the national honor society for transfer students.

Membership in 98ÌÃ's chapter of Tau Sigma is granted to students who have transferred to 98ÌÃ after completing at least one year at another institution and earned at least a 3.5 grade point average or placed in the top 20 percent of all incoming transfer students during their first term.

More than 100 98ÌÃ students were inducted into Tau Sigma this spring, representing excellence in nontraditional college pathways. Because of a strong relationship with the U.S. military and agreements with community colleges in Virginia and around the country, students may start their education with one institution and graduate with a degree from 98ÌÃ, often with seamless transitions.

The following 98ÌÃOnline students were inducted into Tau Sigma:

  • Syntha Allen, Brodnax, Va.
  • Katarina Anderson, Virginia Beach, Va.
  • Wykitia M. Anderson, Richmond, Va.
  • Schaquoria L Barbour, Martinsville, Va.
  • Ian Douglas Barry, Springfield, Va.
  • Kwase' M. Bellamy, Richmond, Va.
  • Heidy Nicole Bustamante, Woodbridge, Va.
  • Silvia Elena Carrillo, Sterling, Va.
  • Taisha Renee Davis-Edmond, Virginia Beach, Va.
  • LaNesha Christa German, Hampton, Va.
  • Michele Leigh Gregg, Chesapeake, Va.
  • Erica Grinnell, Virginia Beach, Va.
  • Darielle Krueger, Gloucester, Va.
  • Karen P. Hale, Wake, Va.
  • Jacob Andrew Hylton, Buchanan, Va.
  • Leslie Johnson, Rural Retreat, Va.
  • Cassandra Lynn Kelly, Winchester, Va.
  • Sara Landi, Bassett, Va.
  • Avery Lindsey, Galax, Va.
  • Sarah Fay Lucy, Elkton, Va.
  • Chantel Sharai Moton, Newport News, Va.
  • Nancy L. Peacock, Woodville, Va.
  • Emillee Elizabeth Russell, Marion, Va.
  • Mark Aaron Sherrill, Middlebrook, Va.
  • DeAndre Maurice Smith, Hampton, Va.
  • Aaron McCoy Trainham, North Chesterfield, Va.
  • Janell Cinnamon Underdue, Suffolk, Va.
  • Ashlyn N VanKampen, Poquoson, Va.
  • Jessica Latise Walker, Prospect, Va.
  • Maura Elizabeth Wyrick, Summerville, S.C.

While transferring credits to 98ÌÃ may be easy, coming to campus or joining 98ÌÃ's online learning community may be a challenge at first. Daniela Cigularova, director of transfer initiatives at Old Dominion, says that's why initiation to Tau Sigma is so critical. It not only rewards academic excellence but also facilitates a sense of belonging and engagement outside the classroom for transfer students.

And it's not just about the students. Cigularova says Tau Sigma is also about "recognizing family, spouses and partners of the transfer students. They're nontraditional students and often come to the ceremony with 10 family members. They are often first-generation college students and have moved through four or five different schools and finished up at 98ÌÃ. We're very proud of that."

98ÌÃ, located in the coastal city of Norfolk, is Virginia's entrepreneurial-minded doctoral research university and has been delivering distance learning programs for 30 years. We offer more than 100 programs through 98ÌÃOnline in a variety of formats, allowing students to complete degree programs across the world. 98ÌÃ serves more than 24,600 students annually by providing the same rigorous academics online and on-campus. Learn more about 98ÌÃOnline's programs by visiting online.odu.edu.