By Madison Rohn, Lead Editor
Title photo retrieved from McKendree Phi Eta Sigma Instagram
Members of McKendree’s Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society chapter traveled to Anaheim, California, to represent the university at the honor society’s annual convention. The convention was an opportunity for the chapter leaders to present their research, learn about leadership, and connect with other members.
Phi Eta Sigma is one of the largest honor societies for first-year students, and McKendree’s chapter is run by a board of students, faculty and staff who focus on encouraging academic excellence.
One of the students who attended the convention was Sonia Halabi, the senior advisor chapter officer for McKendree. During the convention, she presented her poster about “Business Across the World,” which was about “how to ensure successful business deals in other countries by knowing different countries’ norms, communication styles, use of time, and if they are collectivist or individualist.”
Sonia was also honored at the convention by being named as a Student Alternate Member for the National Board of Directors.
The convention also gave students a chance to connect with each other. Sonia described one of these opportunities to connect: “The convention had a social bowling event, which I brought my bowling equipment with me to the convention for this and got the highest scores during the event! I am on the McKendree women’s bowling team, so it was fun getting to use my bowling equipment at the convention.”
Ben Anderson, the co-president of the McKendree chapter, was another student who attended. He also loved the social opportunities of the convention. He said, “One of my favorite parts of the convention was interacting with student leaders from across the United States. It was inspiring to hear about their experiences with Phi Eta Sigma and learn about the innovative ideas they’ve implemented to grow their chapters. The exchange of ideas and perspectives was incredibly valuable.”
Ben and Sonia both identified the keynote speaker, gold medal gymnast Nastia Liukin, as another highlight of the convention. Ben said, “Hearing her share her life journey and the challenges she overcame, even after achieving success at the highest level in the Olympics, was incredibly inspirational. Her story reminded me that success doesn’t mean the end of struggles—it’s about perseverance and continuing to strive for personal growth.”
When asked how his time at the convention will impact the rest of his college experience, Ben said, “I believe the knowledge and insights I gained at the conference will greatly impact my time at McKendree. The tools and resources I gathered during my time in Anaheim will not only benefit my personal development but also allow me to contribute to the growth and highlights of the McKendree student experience. The purpose of these conferences extends beyond individual growth—it’s about fostering a stronger, more vibrant student body and making McKendree University a better place every day.”
