Eight student members were awarded a total of $16,100 in scholarship funds by the Alpha Zeta Foundation, Inc. in early January, 2024.
Typically, the Foundation awards college scholarships during the spring semester of each academic year. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and management changes at the National Office, the scholarships weren’t awarded last year. Therefore, the Foundation awarded scholarships for both the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years this year.
Student members who were active during those academic years were eligible to apply. Since some student members were eligible during both academic years, some received two scholarships – one for 2021-2022 and another for 2022-2023.
Scholarships were awarded on the bases of scholastic achievement, leadership abilities, character, community service, and financial need. Applications were evaluated by an independent, three-person committee.
Emily Evans has been a pillar of the Montana Chapter since she joined AZ as a sophomore during the fall 2020 semester. She recalls that her first AZ activity was picking up trash along a campus creek. Later that semester, she was elected chapter treasurer. When Covid-19 curtailed many in-person chapter activities, Emily and the officer team devised creative ways to keep the chapter going – including keeping the creek clean. She was elected chapter chancellor during the fall 2021 semester. Even after she completed her undergraduate studies, she continued to assist the Montana Chapter as it changed faculty advisors. Emily earned a B.S degree with highest honors in May of 2023. She currently studies veterinary medicine at Washington State University. She plans to become a board-certified veterinary surgeon.
For Regan Mitchem, Alpha Zeta is a family tradition. Both her mother and her father are alumni of the North Carolina Chapter. As chairman of the chapter’s Christmas Tree Sale Committee during Covid-19, she overcame a shortage of Christmas trees by switching to selling Christmas wreaths and raising more money than the prior year. As a junior, she served as chapter scribe; as a senior she served as chapter chancellor. She played a key role in organizing the 2023 AZ Summit and 58th Biennial Conclave hosted by the North Carolina Chapter in 2023. At the conclave, she was elected to a four-year term on the High Council. The High Council elected her to serve a two-year term as High Scribe. Regan earned two B.S. degrees (both magna Cum laude) in May of 2023. She currently studies veterinary medicine at North Carolina State University. She plans to become a veterinarian specializing in food animal medicine.
Clayton Guyotte is known by his AZ peers and advisors for leading the effort to reestablish the Louisiana Gamma Chapter’s award-winning South Campus Homecoming Games. After their debut during the 2019 fall semester, the games were canceled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As chapter chancellor, Clayton set a goal of bringing back the games in 2021. The goal was met, and the games are now firmly-established as an annual tradition. Clayton stepped back from the chancellor role to serve as censor during his senior year so that he could support a new generation of leadership for his chapter. Clayton graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. degree in May of 2023. He currently studies veterinary medicine at Louisiana State University. He plans to become a veterinarian specializing in small animal surgery.
Ivy Palmer was active in the California Epsilon Chapter of AZ since day one. Upon initiation, she was elected chapter chronicler. The following year, she served as chapter censor. She served as chapter chancellor during her senior year. During Ivy’s three years as an officer, chapter membership increased by 310% -- from 11 to 45. During her term as chancellor, she initiated a chapter toy donation drive in conjunction with the United State Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots. Ivy graduated with a B.S. degree in May of 2023. She is studying for an agriculture teaching credential at California State University Fresno. She plans to serve as an agriculture educator in California’s Central Valley.
Kasandra Camejo’s approach to leadership is to build successful teams and let others take the credit. During her sophomore year she served as her chapter’s Social Chair and developed a series of online and outdoor events to build fellowship among the membership during the Covid-19 pandemic. As a junior, she served as chapter censor. As a senior, she served as chapter chancellor. During her term as chancellor, the chapter carried out a series of programs and events that culminated in the Florida Chapter winning the 2023 Founders’ Cup at the 2023 AZ Summit. At the 58th Biennial Conclave she was elected to a four-year term on the High Council. Her High Council colleagues elected her High Chronicler. Kasandra graduated cum laude with a B.S. degree in August of 2023. She is working in her chosen field of wildlife education and conservation by serving as an outreach coordinator for South Florida Wildlife Center.
Lily Cope is so dedicated to spreading the word about Alpha Zeta that her chapter named her “AZ Cheerleader” at its spring 2021 retreat. Lily joined AZ as soon as she was qualified and was promptly elected the chapter’s liaison with other student organizations for the 2021-2022 year. As a senior, she was elected chapter treasurer. As treasurer, she guided the chapter through a major change as the University of Florida extended a greater degree of control over the financial affairs of student organizations. As part of that transition, she helped secure new, annual funding from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for the chapter. Lily graduated with two B.S. degrees (both cum laude) in August of 2023. She plans to study veterinary medicine beginning in the fall of 2024.
Katie Redman has served her chapter as both scribe and chancellor. In the words of her advisor, “she was an excellent peer mentor to fellow officers in the chapter and supported them through their respective roles for the past two years.” Under her leadership as chancellor, the Louisiana Gamma Chapter earned a Middaugh Chapter Achievement Award for Alumni Relations that was presented at the 2023 AZ Summit. Katie graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. degree in May of 2023. She is studying veterinary medicine at Mississippi State University. She plans to earn her DVM degree and return to her home state of Louisiana to practice.
Morgan Boer believes in AZ participation. She was named the “most active” member of her chapter during her first semester of membership. She received the “best attendance” award during her final semester of membership. In between, she participated in numerous chapter fundraisers and enjoyed nurturing the bonds of fellowship with her fellow members. Morgan did not serve as a chapter officer. That was not for lack of ability; rather, it was for lack of time as she served as an Ambassador for the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and a Multicultural Ambassador for the University. Morgan graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. degree in May of 2023. She is studying for an agriculture teaching credential at California State University Fresno. She plans a career as an agriculture education teacher.
About the Scholarships
The Burkett-Cunningham-Dennis Scholarship is the top scholarship awarded by the Foundation. It is named in memory of three important, early members of the Fraternity. Charles William Burkett and John Ferguson Cunningham founded Alpha Zeta on November 4, 1897, at Ohio State University. Lindley Hoag Dennis served on the High Council in various positions for 42 years, serving as High Chancellor from 1925 to 1936.
The G.W. Roach Scholarship is named for G. William Roach. Brother Roach was the first, full-time executive director of the Fraternity. An alumnus of the Purdue Chapter, he served as the chapter's chancellor in 1954-55. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Purdue University.
The Centennial Scholarship is awarded in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Fraternity's founding on November 4, 1897.