Sherman, Texas – Two Austin College students were among twenty-five student members who were recipients of The Alpha Chi National College Honor Society’s 2025 National Scholarship and Fellowship Competition on April 22.
These scholarships and fellowships recognize the academic achievements and dedication of Alpha Chi members and support their continued education in various fields of study. Each of these awards is named for an influential leader in Alpha Chi’s history.
For undergraduate members in their senior year of study in Fall 2025, Jasmine Galdamez (far left) ’26 received the $2,000 Alfred H. Nolle Scholarship. For undergraduate members in their first year of graduate study in Fall 2025, Michelle Zhu (center) ’25 received the $2,000 H.Y. Benedict Fellowship for a Cooperative Project. Both received their awards for the Texas Kappa Chapter at Austin College.
Each Alpha Chi chapter may submit undergraduate nominations annually based on the number of new undergraduate members inducted by the chapter in the previous academic year. Undergraduate nominees compete for awards for senior-year baccalaureate or first-year graduate study, while graduate student and alumni applicants may apply independently for fellowships for later study at the master’s and doctoral levels. If a recipient becomes unable to enroll in the fall semester, the award will pass to an alternate.
Alpha Chi National College Honor Society invites to membership juniors, seniors, and graduate students from all disciplines in the top ten percent of their classes at its member institutions. Chartered on more than 300 campuses nationwide, chapters induct approximately 8,000 students annually. Since the Society’s founding in 1922, Alpha Chi members, charged with upholding the tenets of Truth and Character, have dedicated themselves to “making scholarship effective for good.” Alpha Chi is a certified member of the Association of College Honor Societies.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
