By MEGAN SMITH

Staff Writer

Ten forestry and wildlife conservation majors were initiated into the Xi Sigma Pi Forestry Honor Society Thursday.

Jason Slatten, a graduate student of business and president of the society, said he is impressed with the new inductees.

“I know a few of them real well and I am very optimistic about this bunch of people,” Slatten said. “I think they will be great additions to the field.”

The ten inductees were senior forestry majors Drew Bailey, Mark Anthony Davis, Tabatha Kelly, Daniel Suire, Phillip Rivers and Phillip Wright.

Inductees also include junior forestry majors Cory L. Collins and Logan Joseph Hunt; Tamara Nicole Paul, a senior forestry and wildlife conservation major, and Andrew Clifford Dailey, a junior wildlife conservation major.

Paul said being part of this society will help her in the future.

“It establishes a professional community and contacts,” Paul said. “It is something that is solid for the future.”

Paul said she is very excited about becoming part of the society.

“I am honored, but at the same time I am humbled,” Paul said.

Paul also said she is happy to be part of such a distinguished group.

“The alumni of the association have really inspired us and we look up to them,” Paul said.

Hunt said he was happy to be part of the organization.

“I am honored to be part of a well-respected organization with well-respected faculty and students,” Hunt said.

George Grozdits, adviser to the society and researcher for Louisiana Forest Product Lab for the School of Forestry, said he helped the students make their plaques, and he was happy about the new members.

“The new inductees are upward-bound young professionals with proven forestry knowledge and professional ethics,” Grozdits said.

Grozdits said for students to be part of the society they must have a 3.0 GPA and have completed at least two professional courses.

“After meeting these qualifications the list of eligible students is circulated among the resident Xi Sigma Pi, Alpha Phi Chapter members for approval,” Grozdits said.

Grozdits said inductees are then invited to become part of the society and, if they accept, must complete a pledge board and collect signatures from resident faculty and honor society members.

The initiation was administered by the Alpha Phi Chapter Officers and includes an oath for the new members to provide the best of their abilities to further the forestry profession.