BILLINGS, Mont. – In the third annual Chi Alpha Sigma National Honor Society induction ceremony, 14 Montana State University Billings student-athletes joined 22 returners and became members of the organization on Tuesday.
 
The society was founded to recognize student-athletes who excel on the field and in the classroom, and juniors and seniors who carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.40 or higher are eligible for induction. The inaugural induction class at MSUB became members in the spring of 2013.
 
"By recognizing these students it sends a message back to the rest of our campus that the emphasis in athletics is the scholarly development of these young people," commented faculty athletic representative Dr. Scott Harris. "This is a vehicle by which we both recognize and honor these people. We put them into the spotlight for other student-athletes to emulate, and to see tangible evidence that this is an emphasis of the department."
 
Fifteen of MSUB's 17 varsity sports were represented during the award ceremony, which took place in the Banquet rooms inside Rimrock Café.
 
Among recipients, the MSUB baseball team had the most with 11 while the cross country/track and field program.
 
"We are always excited to honor our student-athletes, especially when it is for their accomplishments in the classroom as they progress towards degrees," said MSUB director of athletics Krista Montague. "Being able to recognize a group of students like this reinforces our core principle as a department of having success as a student. I couldn't be more proud of these model citizens, and our department as a whole from student-athletes to coaches and administrators alike is truly inspired by them."
 
With this year's 14 additions, there have been 82 total members inducted since the program's inception at MSUB. A total of 42 states nationwide have member schools in Chi Alpha Sigma, and MSUB is the alpha chapter in Montana and only member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in the society. The other Montana school represented is the University of Montana Western.
 
2015 Chi Alpha Sigma National Honor Society Inductees and 2014 Returners

Name	Sport	Class	Hometown	GPA
*Andrew Christina	Baseball	Senior	Walla Walla, WA	4.00
*Annie DePuydt	Women's Basketball	Senior	Saco, MT	4.00
*Jinise Osborne	Women's XC/TF	Senior	Columbia Falls, MT	4.00
*Brett Christina	Baseball	Senior	Walla Walla, WA	3.96
Hali Henwood	Women's Soccer	Senior	Douglas, WY	3.94
*Emily Paffhausen	Women's Tennis	Senior	Dillon, MT	3.91
Donald Hamm	Men's Track & Field	Junior	Power, MT	3.90
Cameron Stanek	Men's Soccer	Senior	Casper, WY	3.85
*Corrie Holm	Women's Track & Field	Senior	Billings, MT	3.81
*Nocona Frame	Women's XC/TF	Senior	Glendive, MT	3.79
Dana Lubieniecki	Women's Soccer	Junior	Lakewood, CO	3.77
Jake Hedge	Men's Golf	Senior	Billings, MT	3.71
Mary Conwell	Women's Tennis	Junior	Hamilton, MT	3.65
Wyatt Witty	Men's Soccer	Junior	Buffalo, WY	3.65
Brielle Davis	Women's XC/TF	Junior	Billings, MT	3.64
*Austin Kische	Men's Tennis	Senior	Yreka, CA	3.64
*Lee Busto	Baseball	Senior	Littleton, CO	3.62
Dylan Goldsack	Baseball	Junior	Burbank, CA	3.61
Kyle Durbin	Baseball	Junior	Idaho Falls, ID	3.60
*Jake Campeau	Baseball	Senior	Walla Walla, WA	3.58
*Quinn Peoples	Women's Basketball	Senior	Butte, MT	3.58
*Tyler Nelson	Men's Basketball	Senior	Roosevelt, UT	3.57
*Janiel Olson	Women's Basketball	Senior	Billings, MT	3.57
Kyndal Williams	Volleyball	Junior	Helena, MT	3.57
Jace Anderson	Men's Basketball	Junior	Whitewater, MT	3.56
Colby Henderson	Men's Basketball	Junior	Hamilton, MT	3.52
*Kayleen Goggins	Women's Basketball	Senior	Shepherd, MT	3.51
*Conner Holbrook	Baseball	Senior	Walla Walla, WA	3.51
*Mary Grace Bywater	Softball	Senior	Tualatin, OR	3.50
Kaytlin Halle	Women's Track & Field	Junior	Churchill, MT	3.47
*Emily Osborn	Softball	Senior	Las Vegas, NV	3.47
*Lucas Blehm	Baseball	Senior	Billings, MT	3.45
*Trevor Nix	Baseball	Senior	Tigard, OR	3.42
*Brady Muller	Baseball	Senior	Billings, MT	3.41
Aubrey Conceicao	Softball	Senior	Temecula, CA	3.40

 *-Returner (2014 Inductee)