The Teacher Education Program inducted 30 graduate and undergraduate students April 24 into the Sigma Gamma Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education. KDP was founded in 1911 by leading thinkers in education at the University of Illinois. Since that time, it has grown to an international organization of over 60,000 members. Acceptance into KDP is based upon the criteria of academic excellence (GPA of 3.6 or higher) and the recommendation of three teacher education faculty members.
Dean Dillashaw began the ceremony in Johnston Hall by lighting the white Kappa Candle acknowledging the organization’s commitment to Elon’s motto Numen Lumen. Dr. Deborah Long, Dr. Terry Tomasek, Dr. Mary Knight-McKenna, and Professor Mark Rumley led the students in affirming the society’s ideals of Fidelity to Humanity, Fidelity to Science, Fidelity to Service, and Fidelity to Toil.
Dr. Stephen Byrd, faculty sponsor, offered a charge to the inductees based on the theme “Embrace your calling; Honor your commitments.” Dr. Judith Howard, chair of the department of education, concluded the ceremony with the society motto:
“So to teach that our words inspire a will to learn; 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 teacher education faculty is proud of the following undergraduate and graduate inductees:
Lisa Apostolopoulos – Special Education: graduate
Allison Benton – Elementary Education: undergraduate
Meredith Booth– Elementary Education: undergraduate
Lisa Buchanan – Special Education: graduate
Meghan Ciarfello – Middle Grades: undergraduate
Samantha Drongoski– Elementary Education: undergraduate
Rebecca Ferland– Elementary Education: undergraduate
Rachel Gorsuch – Music Education: undergraduate
Jennie Harrison– Elementary Education: undergraduate
Karaline Johnson– Elementary Education: undergraduate
Heather Lanier – Special Education: graduate
Johanna Johnson – Elementary Education: graduate
Devon Lewis– Elementary Education: undergraduate
Robert McLeod – Special Education: graduate
Elizabeth Overman – Biology/Science Education: undergraduate
Margaret Paschal – Elementary Education: graduate
Katherine Radcliffe– Elementary Education: undergraduate
Melissa Rafetto – Middle Grades Education: undergraduate
Jennifer Romano – English Education: undergraduate
Melany Reece – Elementary Education: graduate
Tracy Rood – Special Education: undergraduate
Ashley Runkle – English Education: undergraduate
Diane Sanderford – Special Education: graduate
Michelle Savary– Elementary Education: undergraduate
Elizabeth Sherron– Elementary Education: undergraduate
Lorin Stubblefield – Special Education: graduate
Ashley Sumwalt – Special Education: undergraduate
Jessica Waugh– Elementary Education: undergraduate
Jamie Wheeler – English Education: undergraduate
Johnsie Wiley – Special Education: graduate