By Ashley Sidebottom, staff writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - A Campbellsville University student of CU's Alpha Beta chapter of Sigma Zeta, a math and science honor society, recently received a chapter honor.
Joseph Tylor “J.T.” Silvers of Monticello, Ky., received a chapter honor award during the 200 national Sigma Zeta Convention at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minn.
“Every chapter that attended the convention got to give the award to one person, and I was nominated (for the award) by my fellow club members,” Silvers said.
Other students who attended the convention include Candace Sanders of Lancaster, Ohio, Vighter Iberi of Campbellsville, Steven Kim of Korea and Eric Thompson of Calhoun, Ky.
Silvers is a 2007 summa cum laude graduate of CU and received the biology award during the annual Honors and Awards Day. He received a bachelor of science degree with a biology major and chemistry minor during the commencement ceremony May 5.
Silvers served as vice president of Sigma Zeta in 2006-07 and “was involved in everything the club did,” he said.
He helped with fundraisers, the Clay Hill Cleanup and also helped design the winning float in the Centennial Homecoming Parade.
“I had some great times at CU,” Silvers said.
He said he decided to come to Campbellsville University because he was attracted to the small town of Campbellsville and the classroom environment at CU, as well as the Christian atmosphere.
Silvers was a member of the CU Tiger Marching Band drumline, and the ultimate Frisbee team Flash 7. He also enjoyed weekly pizza and movie nights at Black Gnat, “blowing things up in chemistry lab, electrofishing in ichyology lab and participating in the prescribed burn at Clay Hill Memorial Forest.”
“The thing I miss the most about Campbellsville is all the great friends that I made while I was there. Friends are a very important part of my life and I already miss them,” Silvers said.
He was also one of 80 students accepted to the Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine and began studies this fall.
Silvers said he's not sure what he will specialize in yet, but that it would probably be “some form of primary care.”
“I would like to work somewhere in Central Kentucky,” Silvers said.
Silvers is the son of Joe and JoCarol Silvers of Monticello and is a 2003 graduate of Monticello High School.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,310 students who represent 100 Kentucky counties, 32 states and 28 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report's 2008 “America's Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South and eighth in the South for “Great Schools, Great Prices.” CU has been ranked 15 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his ninth year as president.