Twelve Claflin Student Athletes Inducted into 2023 Class of Chi Alpha Sigma

While athletic success is always a priority at Claflin University, the academic success of its student-athletes will always be the centerpiece of the department of athletics. That academic success was recognized, Monday, when 12 Claflin University student-athletes were inducted as members of the Chi Alpha Sigma (XΑΣ). In all, 12 Lady Panthers and Panthers were inducted into the Dr. Timothy J. Autry Theta Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma in a virtual ceremony held, Monday morning.

The 2023 inductees received an initiation pin and a certificate of membership. The members of the Claflin University Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma represent the 4 A's of the National College Athlete Honor Society (Athletics, Academics, Achievement, and Attitude) and are comprised of student-athletes from baseball, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's track & field, and volleyball teams. XΑΣ recognizes students who are of good moral character and receive a varsity letter in their sport while maintaining a 3.4 or higher cumulative GPA by their junior or senior year and have been in residence at the institution for one year.

The inductees included members of several of the university's NCAA Division II teams. Senior Simone Newell (volleyball), sophomore Lauren Scott (women's basketball), sophomore Jasmine Kirkland (volleyball), senior Allen Hatchett (men's basketball), sophomore Justice Bell (women's track & field), junior Shekinah Duffin (women's track & field), senior Kristian Goss (women's track & field/cross country), junior Dorian Hutcherson (women's track & field/cross country), senior Jasmin Dukes (softball), junior Kobe Miller (baseball), junior Dallas Young (baseball), and sophomore Morgan Beard (women's track & field).

The charter class of the Claflin University chapter was inducted in 2015 and consisted of 14 student-athletes. Claflin University is one of six institutions in the state of South Carolina to have membership in Chi Alpha Sigma.

XΑΣ was founded at DePauw University in Green Castle, Indiana, on May 17, 1996, as a student-athlete honor society for the recognition of high academic achievers and sport letter winners at the collegiate level. The mission of the National College Athlete Honor Society (NCAHS) is to bring honor and recognition to deserving student-athletes, their families, teams, athletic departments, and colleges in much the same way as Phi Beta Kappa honors academic achievement. The governing board of the XΑΣ represents all levels of competition in the NCAA.

The purpose of the organization is to encourage and reward high academic scholarship, recognize outstanding academic achievement, encourage good citizenship, moral character, friendship, and mentor, and provide leadership to other student-athletes. The official motto of the society is "Excellence in Athletics and Academics" and there are more than 284 chapters in 41 states and the District of Columbia.

For more information on Claflin University athletics, contact the Claflin University Office of Athletics Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or log on to www.athletics.claflin.edu.