UVa-Wise inducts new Darden Society members

Pictured left to right are Rev. Jim Collie, Gil Blackburn, Vice President Joshua Justice, incumbent President Scott McDaniel, newly elected President Lora Wharton, Brian Wills and Dean Amelia Harris.

The Darden Society of The University of Virginia’s College at Wise added 44 new members during a May 5 induction ceremony.

During the event, Lora Wharton of Wise was elected to be the honor society’s president for the 2005-2006 academic year. Joshua Justice of Wise will serve as the organization’s vice president.

The College’s oldest honor society, the Darden Society is named for Colgate W. Darden, Jr., former governor of Virginia and former president of the University of Virginia, whose belief in higher education and love for Southwest Virginia brought him to lend support essential to the founding and growth of UVa-Wise. Darden Society membership is based upon high scholarly achievement and intellectual promise. Sophomores become eligible for membership by completing their first three semesters in residence at the College with uniformly superior records. Juniors and seniors must be nominated by faculties of their respective major departments.

The only branch of the University of Virginia, UVa-Wise is ranked among the nation’s top public liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report. UVa-Wise is home to 1,800 students and offers undergraduate and professional programs in the liberal arts tradition of Thomas Jefferson.

Inductees for the 2004-2005 academic year are:

VIRGINIA

Abingdon
Emily Phipps

Appalachia
Larra Lambert

Big Stone Gap
Meagan Hughes
H William Smith
Joshua Spears

Blacksburg
Olivia Ellen Scott

Blackstone
Robert Jason Sparks

Bristol
Destinee Spring Adkins
Andrea Elisabeth Jones

Castlewood
Elizabeth Megan Amburgey
Carla D. Glass

Charlottesville
Matthew Dean
Michael Dean

Clintwood
Brittany Hall
Nathan L. Smith
Amanda R. Vanover

Coeburn
Justin T. Sanders

Dale City
John Malene

Duffield
Isaiah Daniel David Hamler

Ewing
Ashley Hoskins

Exeter
Jason Scott Shuler

Glade Spring
Rustan Blair Rainey

Keokee
Derek K. Whisman

Nickelsville
Pamela Kay Burke

Norton
Ashley Branham
Andrew Harris
Brendan Hunt
Tiffany Hunter

Pennginton Gap
Clint Carter

Pound
Larisa V. Owens

Saltville
Jill Talbert

Stafford
Kaylen Anne Baker
Justin E. Doyle

Williamsburg
Joel Raymond Byron

Wise
Coby Addison
Stephanie Michelle Bardin
Joshua Vincent Justice
Beverlee Wrynn Kilgore
Ting Ting Lin
Jason Mullins
Tailinett Olmedo
Kimberly Nicole Pilkenton
Reba Ramey