Mu Sigma Rho Banquet at NC State
On April 14, 2009, at a banquet on North Carolina State University, 11 undergraduate and 31 graduate statistics students were inducted into Mu Sigma Rho Honor Society. Professor Charles Smith of NC State presided over the banquet, and entertained the audience with several pre-dinner ice-breaking games. Director of Undergraduate Programs, Dr. Roger Woodard introduced the undergraduate inductees, and the co-Director of Graduate Programs, Dr. Pam Arroway introduced the graduate inductees. Dr. Smith, the Faculty Advisor, distributed the Mu Sigma Rho certificates to the new members of the society. ASA President-Elect, Dr. Sastry Pantula, gave a brief speech about the history of Mu Sigma Rho Honor Society and that of ASA. In his address, he also emphasized the importance of being active and engaged with professional associations and with NC State Department of Statistics as they move up in their professional careers. He ended his comments with how Mu, Sigma and Rho are the bread and butter of statisticians. New inductees were congratulated and all received well deserved pats on the back for their achievements.
David Hitchcock advised Mu Sigma Rho with 2007-08 officers Laura Taylor, Lalita Das, Leigh Gilbert and Alex McLain and 2008-09 officers Holly Watson, Andrew Cron, Jackie Lip and Bonnie Coggins. Joshua Tebbs advised Stat Club with 2007-08 officers Nick Pritchard, Lesley Sapp, Holly Watson and Matthew Rhoades and 2008-09 officers Lalita Das, Lesley Sapp, Matthew Rhoades and Vy Doan. Stat Club and MSR hosted a talk from local actuary Randy Finn about careers in the actuarial profession in November 2008. Other 2008 activities included a movie night in April, a haunted house visit in October, and in March, a pizza social and the first (annual?) Faculty vs. Students Putt-Putt Challenge, won by the faculty!