Due to the impact of COVID-19, fifteen undergraduate and seven graduate students in the School of Education were inducted virtually into Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education that promotes the highest ideals of the teaching profession, on April 23, 2020.
Fifteen undergraduates and seven graduates in the School of Education were invited and inducted into the membership of Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education, through the Sigma Gamma Chapter of Elon University.
The virtual initiation ceremony took place on April 23 via WebEx.
The Society inducts only those individuals who have exhibited the ideals of scholarship, integrity in service, and commitment to excellence in teaching and its allied professions. Selection as a member of Kappa Delta Pi is based on high academic achievement, a commitment to education as a career, and a professional attitude that assures steady growth in the profession.
At Elon, undergraduate members must earn academic excellence with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.60 or higher and the recommendation of three teacher education faculty members. Graduate members must have a cumulative grade-point average that falls within the top 18 percent of the graduating class and the recommendation of three teacher education faculty members.
Ann Bullock, dean of the School of Education and professor of education, gave a warm virtual welcome to begin the ceremony followed by the lighting of the white Kappa Candle and acknowledgment of the organization’s commitment to Elon’s motto, Numen Lumen, by Rozana Carducci, associate professor of education and graduate director of the M.A. in Higher Education program.
Lecturer in Education Portia Wade, Assistant Professor of Education Katie Baker, Associate Professor of Education Mary Knight-McKenna, who is the director of the M.Ed. program, and Associate Professor of Wellness Carol Smith led the students in affirming the society’s ideals of Fidelity to Service, Fidelity to Science, Fidelity to Humanity and Fidelity to Toil.
Associate Professor of Education Stephen Byrd, faculty sponsor and organizer of the event, offered a charge to the inductees on the theme, “Embrace your calling; Honor your commitments.” During his charge, he reflected on his induction ceremony into Kappa Delta Pi and how he remembers feeling honored and being a part of something noble. He encouraged inductees to “wake up each day, determined to fulfill your commitment to help students despite yesterday’s failures.”
Senior Lecturer Marna Winter, who chairs the Department of Education and Wellness, concluded the ceremony with the society motto — “So to serve that each day may enhance the growth of exploring minds; so to live that we may guide young and old to know the truth and love the right. To the fulfillment of these objectives, we pledge our efforts.”
The School of Education is proud of the following undergraduate and graduate student inductees:
Emma Boniche, M.Ed. in Gifted Education
Eliana Cufino, M.Ed. in Gifted Education
Anneliese Daggett, History with Teacher Licensure
McNair Dixon, M.Ed. in Gifted Education
Mary Clare Donahue, Elementary Education
Julia Field, Elementary Education
Emily Ford, Elementary Education
Sara Gostomski, Special and Elementary Education
Rui Guo, M.Ed. in Elementary Education
Shelby Hahner, Special and Elementary Education
Charlotte Haiken, Elementary Education
Lindsay Hopkins, Elementary Education
Kristin Jackson, M.Ed. in Gifted Education
Franceska Karasinski, Middle Grades Education
Paige Knapke, Special and Elementary Education
Olivia Kogler, Elementary Education
Micaela Malachowski, Elementary Education
Sarah McLaurin, M.Ed. in Gifted Education
Caroline Meenan, History with Teacher Licensure
Kristen Nolan, Elementary Education
Hannah Steffenson, Elementary Education
Rachel Yarbrough, M.Ed. in Gifted Education