Sigma Zeta is a national honors society for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics;
students must meet the requirements for membership in order to join. Southwest Baptist
University has hosted the Gamma Kappa chapter of Sigma Zeta since it was established
on campus in 2014.
Each year a chapter of Sigma Zeta hosts the National Convention (Gamma Kappa hosted in 2024). The convention is focused on students presenting independent research that they conducted during their undergraduate education. In addition, students and faculty are able to meet other students and faculty from around the country and learn what research is taking place at other universities and colleges.
This year’s convention (March 26-28th, 2026) was different from previous years because there were two host chapters: Marian University and University of Indianapolis in Indianapolis, Indiana. Marian University was the official registration site and hosted Saturday’s activities. Friday was hosted by the University of Indianapolis at the Corteva headquarters; students and faculty were able to tour the facility to see the agricultural research projects Corteva is conducting.
SBU's Gamma Kappa was able to attend the convention, marking their eleventh year in attendance. Professor Dr. Dennis Siegfried and three SBU students (pictured above), Samantha Paige Dillon, Betty Liu, and Sara Campbell, traveled to Indianapolis to attend.
On Saturday, Dillon presented her work (pictured left), “Cytotoxicity of Linsitinib
against HeLa Cells” which received an honorable mention at the awards ceremony. This
research was conducted as part of Dr. Jacob Immel’s lab group.
Next year the Sigma Zeta National Convention will be hosted by Gamma Gamma chapter at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota on March 11-13th, 2027.
Published June 9th, 2026.