On Thursday, November 1, standout seniors Brittny Ellis (nursing) and Kyra Freeman (public health) received the surprise of their college careers. The School of Nursing and Health Studies students were whisked away from their busy academic routine to become part of the time-honored tradition of the University of Miami’s Iron Arrow Honor Society.
Ellis, a Hurricanes Track and Field athlete, was waiting for her morning epidemiology class to start at the SONHS when two people sporting colorful patchwork jackets took her by the arms and led her away for several hours. “It’s a crazy story,” she recounts, smiling. “I didn’t even have time to grab my backpack and cell phone.”
A star sprinter from Illinois, Ellis was honored earlier this year at the Celebration of Women’s Athletics presented by Adidas. Eligible to compete for one more season at UM, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in health informatics through the SONHS after graduation.
“I am so proud of Brittny and all she has accomplished in her short time at Miami,” says Coach Amy Deem, director of UM Track and Field/Cross Country and an Iron Arrow member since 2009. “Her love of this University and her drive for success are an inspiration to many.”
In Freeman’s case, she was preparing for a Multicultural Student Affairs budget meeting when she heard drums approaching. Someone’s going to get tapped into Iron Arrow, the co-president of UM’s United Black Students organization remembers thinking. But as the sound grew louder and louder, the reality dawned on her and the tears began to flow. “I was like, ‘Oh wait, they’re coming for me,’” she recalls. The “budget meeting” had been a cover story. “Everyone had been keeping this a secret from me for some time, and I was thoroughly impressed because I usually figure things out pretty quickly!”
Freeman, who was crowned Miss University of Miami in 2016, belongs to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, works as a Resident Assistant at University Village, and, this past summer, was a Morehouse College Public Health Leader Fellowship Intern at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in her hometown of Atlanta. She also serves as a PEERS Ambassador at the SONHS through a new program launched by Sean Kilpatrick, assistant dean for Student Services.
“Kyra stood out from the moment she set foot on campus. Her engaging aura, affinity for involvement, intellectual disposition, and sincere interest in the School of Nursing and Health Studies are refreshing,” says Kilpatrick. “She is truly deserving of Iron Arrow as she embodies the complete student. I’m so proud of her and her accomplishments.”
Founded in 1926, Iron Arrow is the highest honor attained at the U. It recognizes individuals in the UM community who exemplify Love of Alma Mater, Character, Leadership, Scholarship, and Humility. New members are tapped into the Tribe twice a year.
