Members of Catawba College’s Omicron Chapter of Alpha Chi, the national college honor society, were given some good advice for being a successful scholar, by the homilist at the organization’s fall induction ceremony on Sept. 25, in Omwake-Dearborn Chapel.

“We often hear phrases nowadays in the vein of ‘leverage your talents’ or ’emphasize your strengths,’ ” explained Dr. Buster G. Smith, an assistant professor of sociology at the college who delivered the homily, “Successful Scholarship: How I Wrote This Talk.”

“I would suggest that really good scholarship and the process of becoming a scholar requires you to do just the opposite. Seek out challenges, pursue those activities that make you uncomfortable, shore up your weaknesses.” As an example, he told students that his initial reaction to being asked to give the homily was, “That would make me really nervous.”

Throughout his talk, Smith referred to experiences related to writing his first book. He encouraged his listeners to “ignore that saying we have all heard, ‘if you do what you are passionate about it won’t be work,’ ” noting that “most of the really successful scholarship is a hard slog.” That does not mean it is not worth doing, he said. Rather, it means that students with strong, capable minds ought to be the ones to take on the challenges of scholarship.

Smith’s final piece of advice in his homily was for his listeners to “… surround yourself with the right people.”  He explained, “In addition to finding people who can help support your goals and ambitions, you should also make sure you have people who will tell you when you are wrong or not headed in the right direction.”

Twenty-one new members were inducted into Alpha Chi during an induction ceremony held in conjunction with the college’s annual Family Weekend.

The organization’s 2015-2016 president, senior Ashley Everidge of Hamptonville, officiated, assisted by faculty sponsor Dr. Margaret L. Stahr, and faculty advisers Dr. Phillip Frank and Dr. Barry Sang.

Alpha Chi member Taylor Spillman, of Boonville, delivered the invocation, while Everidge brought words of greeting.  Alpha Chi member Kathleen Burris of Mt. Pleasant introduced Smith.

Candidates inducted into the organization include Rebecca Elizabeth Aclin of Glen Dale, Md.; Madeline Claire Auchter of Houston, Texas; Blake Douglas Brewer of Elfland; Anderson Collin Denton of Linwood; Katelyn Leigh DeZego of Lexington; Anna Sophia Fields of Fairview; McKenzie Jean Garrison of Newton; Lauren Elizabeth Gaskill of Salisbury; Joan Olivia Rose Hedrick of Elon; Ivan Pacheco Jimenez of Salisbury; Michael Wayne Jones of Salisbury; Dominique Adele Karriker of Salisbury; Reid Joseph Lichtenberger of Austin, Texas; Carrie Lynn Loman of Salisbury; Katelyn Georgia Long of Lenoir; Cole Alexander Middleton of Lexington; Erin Symone Morant of Bealeton, Va.; Priscilla Joyce Perez of Concord; Michael Bradley Smethurst of Oakville, Canada; Declan Lloyd Stimson of Gawler, Australia; and Nathan Alan Wyatt of Gold Hill.

Catawba’s Omicron Chapter of Alpha Chi was founded in May 1978 with the induction of 13 members. To date, more than 700 members have been inducted. Membership is open only to those students in the top 10 percent of the junior and senior classes.