Writer: Tearanny Street

For the second consecutive year, The University of Southern Mississippi’s Society of Physics Students received national recognition as the Outstanding SPS Chapter of the Year Award for its innovative programming activities.

The Southern Miss SPS chapter has won this prestigious honor as a result of the extent and strength of activities accomplished in areas such as physics research, public science outreach, physics tutoring programs, representation at physics meetings and providing social interaction for chapter members.

“Students got involved in research, outreach and recruitment, participated in regional and national meetings where they interacted with other SPS chapters and performed community service,” said Dr. Alina Gearba, SPS faculty advisor and assistant professor in the department of physics and astronomy.

Under Gearba’s guidance, the chapter has blazed a trail of award winning successes in recent years. SPS received the following four awards on a national level in 2007: Sigma Pi Sigma Undergraduate Research Award, Outstanding Student Award for Undergraduate Research, Outstanding Chapter Award and Sigma Pi Sigma Congress Reporter Award.

“It has been a rewarding experience to be the Southern Miss SPS faculty advisor, I think I've made a difference in our chapter life, and I would like to do the same in our zone,” said Gearba.

On the campus level, SPS received the 2007 Outstanding Student Organization of the Year and 2008 Outstanding Student Organization Officer of the Year awards.

“I am always amazed at how much SPS does, but my favorite part is by far the outreach” said W Tyler McCleery, chapter president. McCleery, a native of Mobile, Ala. majoring in physics and mathematics, has been actively involved since 2006. “The best feeling I got from SPS was when I found out that one of the high school students I presented to decided to attend Southern Miss as a physics major.”

Formed in 1968, SPS is a professional association designed for college students who have an interest in physics beyond the everyday classroom coursework. Members develop a professional skill set to assist them with presentation of scholarly work, effective communication, leadership experience, and community outreach.

“Being a member of SPS has great academic benefits too,” said Amanda Palchak, sophomore physics major from Gulfport. Palchak has been a member for two years and serves as the chapter secretary. “It helps to build relationships between the students and professors, and helps the students get over that anxiety about their professors.”

With more than 700 chapters on university and college campuses across the nation, SPS attracts members from a variety of scientific majors and disciplines. About 5,000 students participate in SPS nationally making it the fourth largest physics society in the United States.

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About The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling its mission of being a leading university in engaging and empowering individuals to transform lives and communities.  In a tradition of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is educating a 21st century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world.  Southern Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss., with an additional campus and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; further information is found at www.usm.edu.