The Nov. 2 ceremony was the chapter’s 43rd annual induction.
Twenty-nine undergraduates and five faculty members were inducted to Elon’s Xi Omicron chapter of the English honor society Sigma Tau Delta during a ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 2.
It was the chapter’s 43rd annual induction ceremony.
To be eligible for Sigma Tau Delta membership, undergraduates must have declared a major or minor within the Department of English, be a junior in credit hours earned, have taken four English department courses beyond ENG 1100, have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 and an overall GPA of 3.25 within English courses. English faculty not previously inducted into the honor society are also eligible.
“As members of Sigma Tau Delta, you understand the importance of communication, the value of listening and the significance of expression,” said Professor of English Kathy Lyday, the chapter’s faculty adviser. “You have proven yourselves capable of comprehending the English language and of pursuing the truth in works of literature or in your own creative expressions. Being a member of this Society, and of the English community as a whole, requires that you continue these efforts and prepare yourselves to take into the world the truths you have found here, sharing with others your joy and appreciation of our discipline. Truth cannot exist in a vacuum; it must be shared to be understood.”
The chapter’s current officers are Ashley D’Andrea and Claire Lancaster, co-presidents, and Alejandra Gonzalez, secretary. The chapter hosts events throughout the year, including book drives, Banned Books Week projects and social events.
Lyday has been the chapter’s adviser for 30 years and will step away from that role after retirement in May. Lecturer in English Kathleen Crosby will advise the chapter going forward.
Students inducted were:
- Madeline Ashcraft
- Jessica M. Baker
- Ellie Banfield
- Matthew B. Bland
- Zoie M. Browder
- Caroline E. DiPesa
- Olivia C. Eller
- Amy S. Ellison
- Ellen M. Garrison
- Joey Gentile
- Liam G. Harron
- Alex Ingram
- Lauren E. Jablon
- Owen B. Lewis
- Mollie E. Lund
- Rylee E. McKinney
- Caroline A. Murphy
- Caroline C. Pirwitz
- Cailey S. Rogers
- Maya S. Simmons
- Rachel E. Simmons
- Kaiden Sinclair
- Carenna N. Slotkoff
- Avery G. Sutherland
- Hannah R. Teich
- Kaitlyn L. Vigeant
- Giselle A. Watts
- Lizzie Wieboldt
Faculty inducted were:
- Dan Burns, assistant professor of English
- Kathleen Crosby, lecturer in English
- Dinidu Karunanayake, assistant professor of English
- Lina Kuhn, lecturer in English
- Ben Murphy, lecturer in English