 |
25 R-MC students were inducted into the
Sigma Tau Delta honors society. |
 |
Savanna Love '10 is shown as she receives her
Sigma Tau Delta membership certificate. |
On Sunday, April 11, 2010, 25 Randolph-Macon College students were inducted into the college’s new English honor society, Sigma Tau Delta. The ceremony took place at Ashland’s Henry Clay Inn. A luncheon, which was funded with the generous support of the John King Fund, preceded the ceremony.
“This new chapter of Sigma Tau Delta at the college is really history-making for the English department,” says R-MC English Professor Marisa Cull. “We have so many talented students in our department, and it was really time to recognize their achievements as students in the formal context of an honors society. What makes Sigma Tau Delta such an important organization is the opportunities it provides for students: members will be able to apply for numerous scholarships, to submit their work—both critical and creative—for publication in the society’s journals, and to travel to its annual conference.”
Cull, who has been working for more than a year to bring Sigma Tau Delta to R-MC, will serve as the faculty advisor for the society. “It’s been a great experience,” she says. “When I came to R-MC, I was just so impressed by my students, and I knew that they were eager for an honors society that recognizes the academic accomplishments of those interested specifically in literary studies. The process started with contacting the international office and organizing a petition to bring a chapter here, and we were very lucky to have great support from President Lindgren and Professor Goodwin (English) in formally endorsing the petition. Throughout the year, the work has primarily been devoted to organizing the application and induction process, so it’s really lovely to have an event celebrating these new members.”
The Sigma Tau Delta students have elected Jocelyn Carver ’11 as their president. Carver will be responsible for setting the group’s agenda for the academic year; this will include inducting new members, planning service projects and organizing other programming for members. “Once other officers are elected, Jocelyn will work with them to ensure that our chapter starts off on the right foot,” says Cull.
The following students were inducted during Sunday’s ceremony: Caitlin Blake ’10, Brittany Bryan ’11, Jocelyn Carver ’11, Elizabeth Collier ’11, Karley Dibble ’11, Kimberly Dutton ’11, Courtney Fraas ’11, Derek Gayle ’11, Sarah Gunther ’11, William Craig Johnson ’11, Anna Knecht ’11, Christopher Lambert, ’10, Savanna Love ’10, Jennifer Magruder ’11, Tommy Proffitt ’11, Meagan Moore ’10, Kaitlyn Newton ’10, Amy Payne ’10, Melinda Perron ’11, Rachelle Phillips ’10, Alexandra Rhone ’10, Shannon Rice ’10, Leah Sayre ’10, Eddie Tu ’11, and Andrew Willyard ’10.