BYU-Idaho student named to Phi Theta Kappa National Dean's List

Jeremy Erb, a student at Brigham Young University-Idaho, has been named a recipient of the 2006 Phi Theta Kappa National Dean's List Scholarship.  The $250 award is given to students from institutions in states and nations that host Phi Theta Kappa chapters.

"The National Dean's List Scholarship rewards students who have demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to improving their communities," explains Phi Theta Kappa Executive Director Rod A. Risley. "Erb exemplifies the outstanding students enrolled not only at Brigham Young University-Idaho, but at colleges everywhere."

Erb qualified to be named to the National Dean's list by having a 4.0 cumulative GPA in residence (counting solely classes taken at BYU-Idaho) and by serving his community as President of the BYU-Idaho Academic Society. Erb has been instrumental in the transition of Phi Theta Kappa becoming the newly-formed BYU-Idaho Academic Society.

"I was elected to this position as someone who would transform the two-year national society, Phi Theta Kappa, into something viable for the students here.  In order to prepare the way for the University's acceptance in a national four-year honor society, I spent many hours planning, meeting with administration, and doing research," Erb said.

Erb feels the leadership skills he has learned as president will benefit him long after he has left BYU-Idaho.

"I know these skills will help me with future church, school, and business assignments," Erb said.  "I feel that my life has been benefited because, in some small way, I have been able to make a difference in the lives of students here and, hopefully, have some small impact on the university, leaving both the students and the institution better than I found them."

Erb encourages all BYU-Idaho students who want to be entered in the National Dean's List to consider joining a national honor society, such as Phi Theta Kappa, that nominates its members to the list. Other options include finding out academic requirements for the BYU-Idaho Dean's List, or seeking out the nomination of a faculty member, since students cannot nominate themselves.

"If you desire academic success, you must be willing to put forth the sacrifice that such an endeavor requires," Erb said. "You must take personal responsibility and interest in your education. If you really want to be prepared, look outside your assigned readings and find supporting and opposing viewpoints; consider their merits and come up with your own opinion. Participate in class; be willing to risk giving a wrong answer - you will be more likely to remember the right one if you take that risk. Then, use the knowledge you're gaining in class."

The National Dean's List is a prestigious compilation of honor students in two-year and four-year degree programs.  By virtue of membership in Phi Theta Kappa, all new inductees are automatically nominated for the National Dean's List.  The recipients of the award are chosen by a random search process. 

Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, headquartered in Jackson, Miss., has 1,200 chapters on two-year and community college campuses in all 50 of the United States, Canada, Germany, the Republic of Palau, the British Virgin Islands and U.S. territorial possessions.