By ALISA THOMAS

Staff Writer

Laura Whistine, a sophomore accounting major, was recently elected as a student member to Gamma Beta Phi’s National Executive Board which was announced at Tech’s Gamma Beta Phi monthly meeting held March 16 in the Student Center, Rooms 222-224.

Gamma Beta Phi is a collegiate honor society for students that possess the qualities of character, service and leadership in their school and community.

Whistine said her characteristics and personal traits assisted in her election to student member.

“I have motivation and I have been involved with Gamma Beta Phi’s cause to serve other people,” Whistine said. “I wanted to get involved more and I sought out nationals as that opportunity.”

Dr. Kenneth E. Griswold, faculty adviser for Gamma Beta Phi and a professor and coordinator for the medical technology program, further explained the National Executive Board’s purpose.

“National Executive Board is the governing body for the entire organization. There are about 20 to 30,000 student members, with 150 chapters in different universities in the United States,” Griswold said.

Whistine said her decision to run was a spur of the moment decision.

“The Louisiana caucus meeting, which is a meeting of all the local Louisiana chapters of Gamma Beta Phi, was in need of a Louisiana member to run, so I stepped forward,” Whistine said.

The selection process was held in February at Gamma Beta Phi’s national convention in Nashville, Tenn.

Lacey Shoemaker, president of the state chapter, nominated Whistine.

The only requirement to become a national executive board student member is to be a member of an active Gamma Beta Phi chapter.

Nominees were required to give a speech and, if elected, required to attend the annual meeting in August.

The board had four positions available and there were nine nominees including Whistine.

After being elected, Whistine’s responsibilities will include participating in conference calls, keeping in contact with other chapters and voting on issues that may arise.

Whistine said her election as a student member serves as a benefit to the university.

“I believe my being elected will give the members of our local chapter a feeling of having a voice,” Whistine said.

Other members think Whistine’s election will connect chapters on the national level.

“[Laura] is a genuinely good person, and I feel that if she got a chance, people would see that she is a dedicated person," Geneva Guidry, a senior medical technology major, said.

"She would give her 100 percent.”

Griswold said she considers Whistine's election as an honor for the university. Griswold said, “This is a prestigious thing for Laura and for Tech because there are only four out of 20 students that have been elected.”