Eighteen students have been inducted into Coastal Carolina University's chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, a 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 since then it 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. 5 induction ceremony followed a keynote address by historian Howard Jones, author of Mutiny on the Amistad. The event, attended by more than 150 students and members of the public, was cosponsored by Coastal's Waccamaw Center for Cultural and Historical Studies.

The new members are:

- Crista Adams, a sophomore history major of Cheraw; - John Adams, a junior history major of Conway; - David Amend, a senior history major of Myrtle Beach; - Scott Boddery, a junior history major of Conway; - Terrence Bruno, a senior history major of Nichols; - Derek Ebbit, a sophomore history major of Central City, Pa.; - Austin Graham, a senior interdisciplinary studies major of Loris; - Russell Hines, a senior secondary education major of Myrtle Beach; - J. Scott Hucks, a junior political science major of Myrtle Beach; - Samuel Johnson, a graduate student of Galivants Ferry; - Malcolm Jordan, a senior history major of Conway; - Jessica Kirkendall, a senior political science major of Conway; - Melinda Knowles, a senior political science major of Conway; - Marcia Lynn Paul, a junior English major of Loris; - Maria Pavelek, a senior elementary education major of Myrtle Beach; - David Ridenour, a senior English major of Myrtle Beach; - Jeremy Todd, a junior history major of Loris; and - Latika Windley, a senior history major of Conway.