Twenty-four students have been inducted into Coastal Carolina University's chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national honor society for history students.

The Psi-Mu chapter of Phi Alpha Theta was established at Coastal Carolina University in 1978. To be eligible for membership, students must have taken at least 12 hours of history courses and must maintain a 3.0 grade point average.

Phi Alpha Theta encourages historical research, excellence in teaching, scholarly publication and the exchange of learning among students of history. The society was organized at the University of Arkansas in 1921 and has grown to more than 850 chapters. One of the largest honor societies in the United States, the organization offers numerous awards and scholarships to undergraduate and graduate student members. Each year approximately 40 regional meetings are convened at which students present research papers.

The Nov. 14 induction ceremony followed a keynote address by historian John David Smith on the topic of slavery as idea and symbol.

The new members are:

Angela Atanasov of Myrtle Beach

Christopher Brown of Midlothian,Va.

Brooks Collins of Myrtle Beach

Charles Crawford of Surfside Beach

Suzette Cuevas of Myrtle Beach

Maria Davis of Murrells Inlet

Justin S. Gardner of Houston, Texas

Suzanna Healy of South Hadley, Mass.

Michael Hitch of Simpsonville

Katie Knieriemen of Warwick, N.Y.

Regina Kochan of Myrtle Beach

Adam Miller of Pawleys Island

Joseph Minter of Murrells Inlet

John Peach of Conway

Mica Pruitt of Myrtle Beach

Sheena Rote of Myrtle Beach

Jason Schipper of Conway

Joshua N. Spivey of Loris

Robin Stewart of Conway

Scott Suggs of Loris

Eric Tavares of Kingston, N.Y.

Dustin Taylor of Manning

Brandon D. Todd of Loris

Fredrick Wix of Myrtle Beach