Published on April 10, 2025 by Gunnar Sadowey  
CAM Ceremony
Students are inducted during a ceremony hosted by Samford's Department of Communication and Media on April 8.

Samford University’s Department of Communication and Media inducted 25 students into the Lambda Pi Eta and Kappa Tau Alpha honor societies during a ceremony held on April 8 in Harry’s Coffeehouse. These honors recognize academic excellence and professional promise in communication and journalism.

Lambda Pi Eta

Lambda Pi Eta is the official honor society of the National Communication Association. It promotes outstanding academic achievement in communication studies.

This year’s inductees into the Omicron Rho chapter of Lambda Pi Eta are:

  • Mary Reed Christiansen
  • Milly Criswell
  • Grayson Dykes
  • Bella Alexandra Elder
  • William Fox
  • Alex Hudson
  • Emory Gardner
  • Owen LaRocca
  • Sydney W. Latta
  • Kristen E. Lemus
  • Kelsey Lundgaard
  • Moriah Anne Kelley Lynch
  • Sara Catherine Murray
  • Molly Snow
  • Sarah Tapscott
  • Haley Warren
  • Eli Wildman

Student officer Tristyn Siegert led the ceremonial candle lighting, and Linden Cundiff presided over the induction.

“Being inducted into Lambda Pi Eta is a significant achievement for our Communication Studies majors,” said faculty advisor Ashley George. “It opens the door to community and leadership within the department, and I’m so pleased to celebrate our new members and all they’ve already accomplished.”

Kappa Tau Alpha

Kappa Tau Alpha is a national honor society that recognizes academic excellence in journalism and mass communication.

This year’s KTA inductees include:

  • Shelby Bauerkemper
  • Kaylee Bhasin
  • Martha Bishop
  • Liza Coffin
  • Jayla Duncan
  • Jaydyn Marler Fenton
  • Peyton Hall

Lydia Lauderback was also recognized as the Kappa Tau Alpha Scholar for earning undergraduate top honors.

“Kappa Tau Alpha recognizes the top 10% of JMC juniors and seniors who have shown both academic excellence and strong professional potential,” said faculty advisor Nia Johnson. “It’s a meaningful way to highlight their hard work, character and promise in the communication professions.”

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.