WVU's Delta Omega recognized for its service, scholarship and outreach
The Gamma Mu Chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health at West Virginia University was recognized with the Chapter of the Year Honorable Mention award for the 2019-2020 academic year.
This makes the eighth consecutive year for the Gamma Mu Chapter to be recognized at the national level. Formed in 2012, the Chapter received its first recognition in 2013 as Chapter of the Year, a recognition they earned for seven years in a row. The Delta Omega National Office and Executive Committee selects awardees based on their efforts in promoting excellence in the field of public health.
“As faculty advisor of the Gamma Mu Chapter of the Delta Omega Public Health Honorary Society, I am honored that we have received recognition as runner-up for Chapter of the Year,” Gamma Mu faculty adviser Elizabeth Claydon, PhD, said.
“Our Leadership Team and Gamma Mu members are comprised of incredible students, alumni and faculty who help to share our mission of scholarship, outreach and service throughout the School of Public Health, the university and greater Morgantown community,” she added. “I am infinitely proud of their accomplishments and hard work.”
For the 2019-2020 academic year, the Gamma Mu Chapter logged over 150 service hours, supporting three events in the fall and two in the spring. Events and activities included MAYSPalooza with the Morgantown Area Youth Service Project; Trunk or Treat; helping with activities at Scott’s Run Settlement House; and raising more than $200 in scholarship funds by organizing the Chapter’s first Ugly Holiday Sweater Party.
Recognizing the value of undergraduate research, the Chapter partnered with senior undergraduate student Brittany Smith (now a doctoral student with a concentration in Social and Behavioral Sciences) to host a research networking event in the fall 2019 semester.
“We’re fortunate that many of our faculty are engaged in a broad range of research activities and welcome undergraduate students to work with them, so we wanted to highlight those opportunities,” said Taylor Shultz, senior public health student and vice president of communications for Delta Omega Gamma Mu. “The event was well-attended and we received lots of positive feedback, thus we hope to make this an annual occurrence.”
Other activities included co-hosting Dr. Electra Paskett as the fall 2019 Dean’s Colloquium speaker and welcoming five new inductees during the spring 2020 semester.
Despite the spring semester being cut short in some ways due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chapter members were still able to do some good during that period through volunteering with Read Aloud WV and supporting the Ronald McDonald House by collecting pull tabs.
Shultz, who has been a part of the Chapter’s leadership team since fall 2019, credits Delta Omega for enhancing her public health educational experience.
“The most valuable thing about being involved with this organization is the sense of belonging and the opportunity to network with peers and members of the community,” she said. “I have had the opportunity to meet and volunteer with many students in all public health cohorts while volunteering throughout the community and adding to my leadership and communication skills. It has enhanced my public health education greatly.”
About Delta Omega and the Gamma Mu Chapter
The Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health was founded in 1924 at Johns Hopkins University to promote the graduate study of public health, and to recognize outstanding achievement in the new field.
The Gamma Mu Chapter was founded in 2012 with its primary goals focused on service, scholarship and outreach. Aligned with the national organization's community service-centered mission, the Chapter channels much of its efforts into local organizations that benefit the greater Morgantown area, scholarship that helps advance WVU public health students in their academic and professional careers and outreach that engages its alumni members.
Learn more about becoming a member and connect with the Gamma Mu Chapter on Facebook.
Pictured above: (top) Members of the Gamma Mu Chapter as they volunteer at Scott’s Run Settlement House, Nov. 2019; (bottom) Dr. Elizabeth Claydon dropping off soda can pull tabs to the Ronald McDonald House.
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CONTACT: Nikky Luna, Director of Marketing and Communications
School of Public Health
304-293-1699; nikky.luna@hsc.wvu.edu