Members of the Arkansas Zeta chapter of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society, housed at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, attended the 2026 National Convention of Alpha Chi in Orlando, Florida, from March 12 to 14. During the event, Dr. Kate Stewart, professor of English at UAM and co-advisor of the Arkansas Zeta chapter of Alpha Chi, received a Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her contributions to the honor society and her work with student members.
Dr. Stewart began teaching at UAM in 1988 and became involved with Alpha Chi in 1992. She is currently serving the third year of her term as the secretary/treasurer for Alpha Chi Region II. The Distinguished Service Award celebrates her 30 years of service as a chapter advisor.
“I was totally surprised because I had no earthly idea that I was going to get anything,” Dr. Stewart said.
Dr. Stewart has previously received recognition for her service to Region II, as well as honors marking the length of her service as an advisor.
“There are few people who have shaped UAM the way Dr. Kate Stewart has,” said Dr. Peggy Doss, chancellor of UAM. “Dr. Stewart is, without question, a legend on this campus. She has spent decades educating multiple generations of UAM students and has mentored some of the finest scholars this university has ever produced through our Alpha Chi chapter, where she holds every member to the highest level of academic rigor. Her dedication, passion and service have made UAM shine, and we are extraordinarily lucky to have her as a part of our university community.”
The 2026 National Convention, centered on the theme “Magic Through Collaboration,” brought together academics of all disciplines from across the United States.
Dr. Stewart remarked on the atmosphere at the conference, noting, “There’s that sense of collegiality that stems from gathering people who all have a common interest, whether they’re in the same discipline or not.”
In addition to Dr. Stewart, UAM’s delegation included Alpha Chi chapter co-advisors Austin Hammons and Dr. Carol Strong, along with student chapter members Samantha McGlaughlin and Lilly McKee.
The delegates attended a variety of scholarly presentations, participated in the Region II business meetings and enjoyed excursions to Disney Springs and Epcot in Disney World. At the convention, both Dr. Strong and Hammons participated in judging undergraduate research, while McGlaughlin, a senior, majoring in English, presented her research paper, “More Blood than Bond: Usurping Father and King in King Lear,” and McKee, a senior, majoring in history/political science and criminal justice, presented her research paper, “The Woman Becomes the Witch: Lady Macbeth and Seventeenth-Century Beliefs about Women and Witchcraft.”
“In addition to Dr. Stewart, UAM is so fortunate to have Dr. Carol Strong and Mr. Austin Hammons also serve as co-advisors to Alpha Chi. Their commitment to our students makes opportunities like this possible,” Dr. Doss said. “Congratulations to Samantha McGlaughlin and Lilly McKee for stepping onto the national stage to present their research with scholars from across the country. Their accomplishments highlight the caliber of students we have at UAM.”
According to its website, Alpha Chi “is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, the nation’s only accreditation association for university honor societies,” and only the top ten percent of eligible college juniors, seniors and graduate students are invited to join. Alpha Chi promotes student creativity and research, excellence and service in action, personal growth through diversity, equipping compassionate listeners and leaders, academic and professional mentoring and making scholarship effective for good.
The society celebrated its 100th year in 2022. UAM’s Arkansas Zeta chapter, established in 1956, has previously been recognized as a Star Chapter, the highest honor a local chapter can receive, and multiple UAM students have won national and regional fellowships and scholarships for their original research.
For more information about the Alpha Chi chapter at UAM, contact Dr. Kate Stewart atstewart@uamont.eduor 870-460-1878.
Article courtesy of the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
