Page 11 - 2017 Annual Report
P. 11
IN THE NEWS
MATTHEW Medical University, was named L-R: Katherine, Will and Ann Weston Sistrunk
DESMOND as the 2017 Arab American of
the Year by the Arab Community ‘THREE’ CHEERS FOR PHI KAPPA PHI
Arizona State Center for Economic and Social
University Services. Abdu, now a retired Choosing a college can be a daunting task. Just ask triplets
surgeon after 50 years in the field, Ann Weston, Katherine and Will Sistrunk. Though each of
Matthew was recognized for his remarkable the Sistrunks initially had their eyes on different colleges, they
Desmond, professor of sociology leadership and efforts as a decided to follow in the footsteps of their parents and attend the
at Princeton University, received champion for public health. University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi, together.
a 2017 Pulitzer Prize in general
nonfiction for his book, Evicted: RITA DOVE Hailing from Springfield, Missouri, the triplets began their
Poverty and Profit in the American studies at Ole Miss in 2015. Ann Weston and Katherine chose
City. In the book, Desmond tells Miami public policy leadership as their majors, and Will declared his
the story of eight families living in University major in biology.
poverty in Milwaukee and facing Rita Dove,
eviction. An urban sociologist, former U.S. Though each of the triplets had varying coursework and classes,
Desmond completed years of Poet Laureate, received the one thing was the same: their drive. “My siblings and I have
embedded fieldwork for the book inaugural Roosevelt “Rosey” always been hardworking and driven, both academically and
including moving into a trailer Thompson Award from the through our extracurricular activities,” said Katherine.
park and then a rooming house Presidential Scholars Foundation
in Milwaukee. in June 2017. The award was given This hard work would soon pay off during their junior year
to three recipients for meaningful when each of the triplets received an invitation to join Phi Kappa
Photo Credit: John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur contributions and commitment to Phi. And this time, the choice was much easier to make.
Foundation excellence in public service. Dove
was recognized alongside Purdue “I first became aware of Phi Kappa Phi through giving tours as
KELLY M. University President and former a campus ambassador and noticing the University of Mississippi
QUINTANILLA Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels charter hanging on the wall of the Lyceum next to other
and Chief Judge Merrick Garland prestigious societies at the university,” said Ann Weston. “I was
Texas A&M of the U.S. Court of Appeals for honored to receive the nomination, and even more excited to find
University– the District of Columbia. out that my siblings had received nomination notices as well from
Corpus Christi the Chapter President Debora Wenger.”
Photo Credit: Sanjay Suchak, University of Virginia
Kelly M. Quintanilla became the Ann Weston, Katherine and Will were inducted together into
first woman named president of RENÉE Phi Kappa Phi on October 29 alongside 267 fellow initiates at
Texas A&M University–Corpus FLEMING Ole Miss.
Christi in August 2017. Prior to
this she served as provost and vice State University “Being initiated into Phi Kappa Phi this past fall with my
president for academic affairs. of New York at brother and sister was very special to say the least,” said Katherine.
Quintanilla joined the Texas Potsdam “It was very rewarding to see our hard work pay off through our
A&M–Corpus Christi faculty in Renée Fleming’s album Signatures invitation to the Society, and we hope to uphold the values and
1994 after earning her Ph.D. in was selected for preservation in the motto of Phi Kappa Phi as we continue our education.”
communication from Pennsylvania National Recording Registry by
State University. the Library of Congress in March As they work toward completing their academic studies at Ole
2017. Fleming, a Grammy-award Miss, each has their sights set on graduate school followed by
Photo Credit: Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi winning soprano, released the their own career goals in health policy and health care. No matter
classical opera album in 1997. the path, it’s certain they will have the support of each other
RASHID Recordings chosen for preservation along the way.
ABDU are selected because of their
“cultural, artistic and historical “We have always pushed each other to do our best; however, I
Youngstown State importance to American society have no doubt they will succeed in whatever they do,” Will said
University and the nation’s audio heritage.” of his two sisters.
Rashid Abdu, Photo Credit: Decca/Timothy White 2017 ANNUAL REPORT 9
emeritus director of surgical
education at St. Elizabeth Health
Center and professor emeritus
of surgery at Northeast Ohio
