ACTA is an academic honorary society that was founded in 2020 by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, a Washington, D.C., based nonprofit that promotes rigorous studies in the arts and sciences, and advocates for the study of civics at the college level. Marshall University was one of the first institutions of higher education in the country to establish a National Society of ACTA Scholars Chapter.
“ACTA Scholars complete a set of course requirements providing advanced preparation for the responsibilities of informed and engaged citizenship, for effective communication and competition within the global marketplace, and for skilled and creative problem-solving to address our present and future challenges,” said Dr. Montserrat Miller, executive director of the Drinko Academy. “Three of the seven courses needed for National Society of ACTA Scholars eligibility are already built into Marshall’s core curriculum. But only a few majors require students to study U.S. government, U.S. history, or economics. The National Society of ACTA Scholars chapter at Marshall encourages more students to take such courses, along with literature and foreign language classes.”
Thirty Marshall University students qualified to graduate as ACTA Scholars in the first half of the 2024-2025 academic year. Graduating Marshall ACTA Scholars are from 13 different counties in West Virginia, from Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan. These students completed degrees with majors and minors in the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Education and Professional Development, the College of Health Professions, the Lewis College of Business, and the College of Science.
The following Marshall graduates are students from Putnam and Cabell counties in West Virginia, and have been recognized as ACTA Scholars:
Alex Bamford of Huntington – BA in Psychology with a minor in Sports Business, Cum Laude, Dec. 2024
Loren Bryant of Huntington – BA in English, Cum Laude, Dec. 2024
Jeffrey Childers of Scott Depot – BA in Political Science, Dec. 2024
Jeremy Clayborne of Huntington – BA in Political Science and History, Dec. 2024
Savannah Harding of Red House – BA in History with minors in United States History and Constitutional Democracy, Summa Cum Laude, Dec. 2024
Jacob Lavender of Huntington – BA in History, July 2024
Gabriel Little of Huntington – BA in Psychology with minors in Pre-Professional Healthcare and Chemistry, Magna Cum Laude, Dec. 2024
Alex Neal of Ona – BA in Psychology with minors in Film Studies and English, Cum Laude, Dec. 2024
Brady Pinkerman of Hurricane – BA in Political Science with minors in International Affairs, History, and Economics, Summa Cum Laude, Dec. 2024
Clara Poling of Huntington – BA in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice, Cum Laude, Dec. 2024
Chloe Savilla of Eleanor – BA in English with a minor in Communication Disorders, July 2024
Grace Smith of Huntington – BA in Political Science and History with a minor in English, Cum Laude, Dec. 2024
Dalton Varney of Huntington – BA in International Affairs and Political Science with minors in French and History, Magna Cum Laude, Dec. 2024
Nick Young of Culloden – BA in Secondary Education and History with a minor in Geography, Magna Cum Laude, Dec. 2024