History of the Mu Iota Chapter
and Our Mission Statement

Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society is a society of students, particularly undergraduates, whose goal is to enhance interest in the biological sciences. Beta Beta Beta encourages students to excel in academics and become a valuable member of their chapter, school and community. Beta Beta Beta promotes undergraduate biological research and scholarship.

The Mu Iota Chapter is the active chapter here at Northern Kentucky University. There are presently seventy-two active regular or associate members and fourteen active graduate or honorary members. Since October 1993, when the Mu Iota Chapter was installed, over 175 members have been initiated. Many of these members have received research grants, presented papers and posters and won in district, regional, and national conventions. Many have also published articles in numerous journals.

Tri Beta provides many leadership opportunities to all of its members. The Mu Iota Chapter also maintains a good relationship with the faculty and staff here at NKU. We often have social events that students, staff and faculty have the opportunity to attend which gives everyone a chance to get to know each other. Tri-Beta plans to be very active on campus at NKU and in the community this year and looks forward to meeting many new members in the future.

We are always accepting applications for membership. Initiations are held twice each year, usually October and April. Applications can be found in the Biology Office and in the Student Lounge in the New Science Center on the 3rd floor, or by clicking here. Newsletters are also available in the Tri Beta Lounge. If you have any questions or comments about Tri Beta feel free to contact any officer.

Activities of the 2006-2007 Academic Year

New members were initiated in the fall of 2006 on October 30. Everyone wore costumes, and there was a costume party following initiation, as well a potluck dinner and a pumpkin carving contest. At this initiation, instead of the usual speaker, the dinner and festivities were followed by a talent show, featuring both faculty and student member performers.We were joined by some alumni members in the University Center Ballroom for this original and entertaining fall initiation. The spring 2007 initiation was held in the Honors House and coincided with the Celebration of Undergraduate Research. Members involved in this were recognized and honored. They included Liza Hernandez and Chuck Bourke, who both received the prestigious John W. Thieret Undergraduate Research Award, and Heather Meeks, our former president, who received the Outstanding Graduate in Biological Sciences Award, as well as the University Service Award. Heather was also made commencement speaker at her graduation this May of 2007.

Regarding research, Tri Beta members began the semester by presenting posters of their summer research on campus at the annual Merk Celebration of Summer Research on August 30, 2006.Members also presented their research at the following scientific meetings: the Chemical Society National Meeting in San Francisco, CA, Sep. 10-14, 2006 (Doug Hamilton); Ohio River Basin Consortium for Research and Education (ORBCRE) at Murray State University, Oct. 26-27, 2006 (Rachael French Logston and Vicki Kier); Kentucky Academy of Sciences meeting in Morehead, KY, Nov. 9-11, 2006, where we won 1st place in Microbiology, compliments of Ashley Tepe; the Regional Tri Beta Meeting held in conjunction with the meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologist (ASB) in Columbia, SC, April 18-21 (Brooks 1st Place – Eric Banks, Johnson 1st and 2nd Places – Karen Burwinkle and Jessy Gehner, respectively); and many others, including, of course, the annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research, held on campus every April. A special “Thank You!!!” to our Tri Beta alumni whose contributions covered the cost of student travel.

All three applicants of Tri Beta scholarships were greatly successful, each receiving a BBB Research Scholarship.  They are Rachel Feinauer, Rachael French Logston, and Suzanne Truesdell.

At our weekly meetings, we planned and organized events with a wide range of activities from one event to the next.To raise money, we held many different fund raisers, such as bake sales, plant sales, raffles, a Valentine flower and bake sale, and the usual lab coat sales and locker rentals. Tri Beta co-sponsored a great deal of the Biology Department seminars this year, providing refreshments at each.We are also closely affiliated with ECOS, Environmentally Concerned Organization of Students, helping them raise money for the Julia Butterfly Hill lecture held on Sep. 18, 2006, as well as plan and organize for their big Earth Day celebration, held on Apr. 18, 2007. Other activities this year included a student-faculty potluck picnic, participation in Relay for Life, and a bowling “Strike out MS” tournament.Tri Beta members also have the opportunity to help out each summer with Fun with Science Camps. Over the summer of 2006, we had eight BBB members help out, and four in 2007. It’s a fun learning experience for the kids and a delight for the members who help out.

Posters

For years, students have presented posters at Celebration of Student Research here on campus, and at the national Beta Beta Beta convention. Check out last year's abstracts!