Each year, the Texas A&M chapter of Phi Kappa Phi invites deans to select the most outstanding junior in their respective colleges. The students selected are honored as the Outstanding Junior for their college and are invited to serve as student vice-presidents of our local chapter.
In alphabetical order by college, the 2022 Outstanding Juniors are:
Name College
Clayton Elbel College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Tyler Eutsler College of Architecture
Lexie Potts College of Dentistry
Layla Rushing College of Education and Human Development
Courtney Gasser College of Engineering
Kerry Abernethy-Cannella College of Geosciences
Allison Nors College of Liberal Arts
Leah Kincaid Mays Business School
Lauren Early College of Nursing
Matilin Rigsby School of Public Health
Raj Patel College of Science
Lizabelle Russell College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Jentzen Hartsell Texas A&M at Galveston
Beena Debnath Texas A&M at Qatar
Each college Outstanding Junior is invited to interview with the TAMU Phi Kappa Phi Executive Committee. Based on these interviews and a review of resumes, the committee selects a University Outstanding Junior. The University Outstanding Junior is announced at the annual induction ceremony held each spring. Please keep reading for short bio-sketches of each Outstanding Junior:
Clayton Elbel is a junior from Spring Branch, TX, pursuing a major in agricultural economics and a minor in business with a certificate in international trade and agriculture. Clayton’s leadership roles include serving as Board Chair for the Student Affairs Fee Advisory Board, Hunger and Outreach Team Lead for The Farmlink Project, Development Director for the MSC Student Conference on National Affairs, COALS Ambassador. He was elected as an Off-Campus Student Senator in 2020-21. Clayton has also worked as an intern with The Borlaug Institute and The Fertilizer Institute, and as a student Research Assistant on the Pathways to Sustainable Urban Water Security X-Grant. Clayton was previously recognized as Sophomore Gathright Scholar, and with the Freshman Dean’s Excellence Award. Clayton is pursuing a career related to public policy and agriculture.
Tyler Eutsler is a junior from Belton, TX, pursuing a major in urban and regional planning. Tyler spent 6 years in the Navy and was a Leading Petty Officer onboard USS America. He has served as an Advocacy and Property Development Assistant for Habitat for Humanity and as Undergraduate Class Chair for the Hazard Reduction & Recovery Center. Tyler is a Research Assistant with the Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center at Texas A&M and is part of Dr. Michelle Meyer’s NSF-funded project on helping volunteer disaster response organizations use new technology. He has also been selected for the NSF PIRE Coastal Flood Risk Reduction Program in the Netherlands this May. Tyler plans to pursue graduate study in urban planning related to housing and disaster mitigation.
Lexie Potts is a senior from Commerce, TX, who will graduate in May with a degree in dental hygiene. Lexie serves as a peer tutor, is active with College of Dentistry LIGHT—a multicultural volunteer organization focused on leadership, unity, and service, and volunteers with the FACE Foundation and Delta Sigma Delta to support abused and homeless people. Lexie has worked full-time as an orthodontic assistant and is a parent. She plans to pursue a career in dentistry.
Courtney Gasser is a junior from Slidell, LA pursuing a major in petroleum engineering and a certificate in data analytics. Courtney is a violinist with the University Orchestras and is in Engineering Honors. She has had multiple leadership roles with the Society of Petroleum Engineers including serving as Secretary, Student Mentor, and Director of three Committees. Through SPE Courtney is responsible for the Fall and Spring Career Enhancement Events, the largest discipline-specific career fairs at TAMU. She also serves as Director of Recruitment for Pi Epsilon Tau Honor Society. Courtney has interned with ConocoPhilips, founded an annual Gulf Coast cleanup service program in her hometown, and is founder and operator of an online boutique. She plans a career as a reservoir engineer.
Layla Rushing is a sophomore from Fort Worth, TX, pursuing a major in interdisciplinary studies. Layla has volunteered with Aggie Keys, a service organization that works in local schools. She has also served as a peer mentor with the Lohman Learning Community in the College of Education and Human Development. Layla was previously recognized with the Freshman Gathright Scholar award. She plans a career as an educator.
Kerry Abernethy-Cannella is a junior from Austin, TX, pursuing a major in environmental studies with minors in mathematics and climate change. He has served as a peer mentor for Hullaballoo U and as Treasurer for the Texas Aggie Democrats. Kerry has interned with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and has worked as a Research Assistant in both the Climate Science Lab and the Fluvial Landscape Dymanics Lab. Kerry is an Undergraduate Research Scholar with a research project analyzing the impact of climate change on the West African monsoon. He plans a career in energy policy research.
Allison Nors is a junior from Keller, TX, pursuing a double major in psychology and sociology with minors in women’s and gender studies and religious studies. Allison serves on the staff for Big Event, as Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women, Secretary for Alpha Kappa Delta Sociology international honor society, and as a Fish Camp Counselor. She interned with Scotty’s House and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and worked as a Research Assistant for the TAMU PRIDE Lab.
Leah Kincaid is a junior from Houston, TX, pursuing a double major in Business Honors and marketing, with minors in Spanish and English, and certificates in pre-law and international business. Leah’s leadership roles include serving as President and Treasurer for Cupcakes for a Cause, Vice President of Programming and Events for Mays Healthcare Alliance, Fundraising Chair for the International Business Association, and Secretary for One for the World. Leah is on the TAMU Archery Team, is a member of the Mays Business Honors program and works as a Teaching Assistant for the Department of Marketing, and was Director of Law for the MSC Stark Northeast Tour. She has interned with The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UTHealth McGovern Medical School, with the Hernandez Law Firm, and served as Copy Editor for the Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science. Leah was previously recognized as a finalist and Honorable Mention for the Sophomore Dean’s Excellence Award. She plans a career in law.
Lauren Early is a junior from Colleyville, TX, pursing a major in nursing. Lauren has held multiple leadership roles with Zeta Tau Alpha including as co-chair for Songfest. She is the Bryan/College Station campus student representative for the redesign of the College of Nursing curriculum redesign. Lauren has worked as an office assistant at the Early Law Firm, and as an instructor at the Artistry in Motion Performing Arts Center. She has extensive volunteering and clinical experience. She plans a career in nursing.
Matilin Rigsby is a junior from Gainesville, TX, pursuing a 3+2 program that will result in a B.S. in public health and a master’s in epidemiology and biostatistics. Matilin’s leadership roles include serving as a TAMU System Student Regent, School of Public Health Research Ambassador, Health and Wellbeing Chair for Aggie ACHIEVEMates, and as Community Council Historian for the Honors Housing Community. Matilin was selected as the undergraduate representative on the School of Public Health curriculum review committee. Her research with the Innovation [X] project on COVID-19 impact in nursing homes has been submitted for publication. She was selected for the Public Policy Internship Program and interned with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She also interned with the Global Cold Chain Alliance and worked as a Domestic Violence Services Program Specialist with Twin City Mission. Matilin has previously been recognized as Sophomore Gathright Scholar and has received the Buck Weirus Spirit Award. She plans a career in epidemiology.
Raj Patel is a junior from Hillsboro, TX, pursuing a major in biology. Raj serves as Academic Chair for Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and as peer mentor for the College of Science. He also worked a volunteer coach for the Hillsboro High School Speech & Debate Program, helping them achieve a district championship and an appearance at the UIL State Policy Debate Tournament. Raj is an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Nan lab and is a member of the Honors in Biology program. He plans a career in medicine.
Lizabelle Russell is a junior from Austin, TX, pursuing a major in biomedical sciences with a minor in business. Lizabelle’s leadership roles include serving as Staff Assistant for Big Event, as Counselor and Co-Chair for the Impact student retreat, and as a mentor for the Terry Scholars program. Lizabelle has also volunteered at CHI St. Joseph Health and plans a career in medicine.
Jentzen Hartsell ‘23, 2022 Outstanding Junior for the Texas A&M at Galveston
Jentzen Hartsell is junior from Georgetown, TX, pursuing a major in maritime business administration with a minor in maritime cybersecurity. Jentzen is a Community Leader for TAMU Galveston Campus Living & Learning. He has also worked as a lifeguard and pool manager for Georgetown Parks & Recreation.
Beena Debnath is a junior from Doha, Qatar pursuing a major in chemical engineering. Beena’s leadership roles include serving as Risk Manager for the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Treasurer for the Management and Marketing Association, and Marketing Officer for the Council of Debating Engineers. Beena served as a Peer Tutor and Supplemental Instructor for the TAMU Qatar Center for Teaching and Learning, and was selected for the College Station Student Leadership Exchange Program. Beena interned with the Qatar Fertiliser Company, and has conducted research with Dr. Dhabia Al-Monhannadi and Dr. Shervod Madrahimov.
MORE ABOUT THE HONOR SOCIETY OF PHI KAPPA PHI
Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine and headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., Phi Kappa Phi has chapters on more than 325 college and university campuses in the United States, its territories and the Philippines. Its mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.” Texas A&M is chapter 053 and was established in 1949.
Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 325 select colleges and universities in the United States, its territories and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. The Society’s mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and engage the community of scholars in service to others.” For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.
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Phi Kappa Phi at Texas A&M University 
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