In an inaugural ceremony April 29, Franklin College inducted 24 undergraduate students — including a Jackson County woman — and one graduate student into Alpha Alpha Alpha, or Tri-Alpha, a national honor society that recognizes the achievements of first-generation college students.

The local inductee is Grace Otte, a senior from Seymour.

Tri-Alpha provides first-generation college students with opportunities for growth, leadership development and community service. It was founded March 24, 2018, at Moravian University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. More than 100 members of the chapter were initiated that day. Following the induction, Moravian took steps to incorporate Tri-Alpha so chapters could be started on other campuses across the country.

Franklin College’s Epsilon Delta Chapter is the 124th chapter to be installed within Tri-Alpha and is the fifth chapter in Indiana. To qualify for induction, students’ parents, stepparents or legal guardians must not have completed a bachelor’s degree, ensuring they meet the definition of a first-generation student.

They must also meet the following criteria: Undergraduate students must have earned at least 30 credit hours toward a baccalaureate degree and achieved a grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale; graduate students must have completed the equivalent of at least one term of study and have a GPA of at least 3.5 in their program.

The induction ceremony began with a welcome by Maegan Pollonais, director of the college’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion and the individual credited with bringing Tri-Alpha to the Franklin College campus. Kristin Flora, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college, provided the keynote address.

The inductees each received a certificate and a pin to commemorate their lifetime membership. Seniors also received honor cords to wear to commencement.

Pollonais was inspired to bring Tri-Alpha to the Franklin campus after meeting the founder of the honor society at a Council of Independent Colleges conference last November.

“I think recognizing our first-generation students is so important,” Pollonais said. “We have so many first-generation students of differing backgrounds, so I thought it was a great way to bring many people together.”

Founded in 1834, Franklin College is a residential liberal arts and sciences institution located 20 minutes south of Indianapolis.