Architecture Students Honored with National Service Awards

STARKVILLE, Miss. (Press Release) — For their outstanding service and dedication, two students in Mississippi State University’s School of Architecture were recently recognized by the Grand Council of Alpha Rho Chi (APX).

Melinda Ingram of Odessa, Florida, and Sang Nguyen of Biloxi, fifth- and fourth-year architecture majors, respectively, are active members of MSU’s Hippodamus Chapter of APX, the national fraternity for architecture and the allied arts. Each received a National Fraternal Service Award from APX.

The students’ efforts developing and supporting national fraternity projects and mentoring other student members at universities across the country earned them gold lapel pins, modeled on the fraternity’s crest, that are worn alongside the fraternity’s badge.

Ingram and Nguyen spent the previous year applying research to formulate guidelines and plans in support of the fraternity’s ritual for initiation. When finalized in 2015, all student chapters of APX will use the developed guidelines and plans to support the fraternity’s commitment to a safe and purposeful initiation experience.

Ingram, the daughter of Bonnie and Dwayne Ingram, was a key member of a team researching patterns and fabric types and developing detailed sewing instructions used for costuming.

Nguyen, the son of Mike Nguyen and Annie Do, worked with other student members to design and test materials and construction methodologies for building props.

“I’ve never received an award like this before in my life,” said Nguyen. “It is a huge honor to be awarded for my love and dedication to Alpha Rho Chi. To me, this award is something that represents an outstanding result of professionalism, communication, dedication and the willingness to assist others to accomplish several goals.”

Both students mentored members at three recently installed chapters, helped students learn how to create their own materials and promoted concepts like risk management and safety. They worked with students at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, in Minneapolis; NewSchool of Architecture and Design in San Diego; and Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, Georgia.

“Melinda and Sang have made a great impact on our teams’ progress toward developing resources for the entire fraternity,” said council member and grand lecturer Scott Swanson. “Their responsiveness and willingness to help others exemplify Alpha Rho Chi’s spirit of service to its members and emphasize our focus on experiential learning.”

Ingram and Nguyen plan to continue their roles working with the grand lecturer and other project teams.

Founded in 1914, the student and alumni brothers of APX study and practice architecture, interior design, architectural engineering, urban planning, landscape architecture and related disciplines. The fraternity unites men and women for the purpose of fellowship and lifelong friendships and mutual interest in professional development. APX is located at 30 schools of architecture across the U.S.

MSU is Mississippi’s flagship research institution, available online at www.msstate.edu.