SMC Psi Beta chapter earns Chapter Excellence Award for Fourth Consecutive Year

Psi Beta, the National Honor Society in Psychology for community and junior colleges, has recognized the Spartanburg Methodist College chapter of Psi Beta with the prestigious Psi Beta Chapter Excellence Award for 2014-15. Few of the nation’s Psi Beta chapters achieve this level of distinction, however, this is the fourth consecutive year that SMC Psi Beta garnered this prestigious national award.

The SMC Psi Beta chapter, chartered on September 1, 1988, is under the direction of Dr. Mary Jane Farmer, professor of psychology. She is assisted by Pete Aylor, psychology professor and Director of SMC’s Counseling Center and Sue Onken, college counselor. “I feel grateful and blessed. We cannot achieve this without the loving, dedicated and professional support of Mr. Aylor and Mrs. Onken and of course, the elected student officers of Psi Beta, Victoria Shaw (President), Matt Bishop (Vice President), and Brittany Del Moore (Secretary),” shared Dr. Mary Jane Farmer, who added, “I am looking forward to another successful year for SMC PSI BETA.”

Psi Beta provides students with opportunities to acquire leadership skills, interact with faculty outside the classroom, learn more about the professional and educational choices available in psychology, meet outstanding professionals in psychology, participate in community service, meet peers with similar interests, and be involved with Psi Beta on the national level. The award challenges chapters to engage in activities reflecting Psi Beta’s four-pronged mission of leadership, scholarship, community service and research.

Membership to Psi Beta is by invitation only. To be considered, students must have at least 12 college credits, earn a B or higher in PSYC 101, maintain a 3.25 GPA and be of good moral character. Over 450 SMC students have achieved life-time membership to Psi Beta.

During the 2014-2015 academic year, SMC’s Psi Beta Seminar Series focused on innovative programming that had wide spread impact on the campus. Seminars focused on the pervasive problem of eating disorders for both men and women; hands-on experience and education on the benefits of therapy dogs; understanding and stopping sexual assault; as well the development of mental health diagnosis and treatment over the past 40 years in SC and throughout the nation. SMC Psi Beta students also participated in the Viva Academia competition at the USC Upstate Symposium.

Eric McDonald, Interim President of Spartanburg Methodist College, stated “SMC is dedicated to providing outstanding educational opportunities for our students and the Psi Beta Chapter Excellence Award is yet another powerful acknowledgement of our successful commitment to scholarship, leadership, research, and community service.”