Front row, from left, Ashley Walker, Hannah Rogers, Katie Hass, Rebekah Taylor, Anna DuPree, and Bethanie Hathaway. Back row, from left, Charity Parris, Evan Humphreys, Eric Sheranko, Hailey Rudd, Evan Pell, and Dr. Kevin Brown
Eleven English majors traveled with Lee’s Dr. Kevin Brown to Louisville, Ky., for the 93rd Sigma Tau Delta International Convention, where students presented their original creative and critical pieces.
“The international convention is an excellent opportunity for our students to share their work, hear pieces by their peers from around the world, and listen to readings from award-winning writers,” said Dr. Brown, professor of English at Lee. “It shows them how wide the world of English is and helps them find their place within it.”
The student presenters included Anna DuPree, Katie Hass, Bethanie Hathaway, Evan Humphreys, Evan Pell, Hannah Rogers, Hailey Rudd, and Eric Sheranko. Additionally, Ms. Hass, Charity Parris, and Rebekah Taylor served as presentation panel chairs.
“I feel that I’ve grown a lot as an English major, and attending two conventions definitely contributed to that significantly,” said Mr. Pell, a senior English and Spanish major. “My favorite part of convention has always been the way it fosters friendships between different people in the English major at Lee. I love getting to hear my peers present their academic and creative work, some of which I never would have had the opportunity to hear if it hadn't been for convention.”
With over 900 submissions, approximately 600 students from throughout the United States and abroad had their work accepted by a panel of judges. These students were invited to present their work at the Sigma Tau Delta International Convention.
Pieces presented at the convention were eligible for awards, which were given on the last night of the event at the convention gala. Lee’s chapter won second place for its chapter display, arranged and designed by Ms. Hass and Ms. Taylor to highlight the year’s events.
"Being able to attend the Sigma Tau Delta convention as a freshman was especially rewarding because I was able to learn more about how other English students go about writing and presenting their works successfully,” said Ashley Walker, an English and humanities major. “As I hope to submit and present my own work at future conventions, I believe that this knowledge will prove beneficial in the long run.”
While in Louisville, the group presented work, chaired presentation panels, attended workshops, and heard internationally and nationally known authors speak. Dr. Brown, who serves as a board member and the Southern Regent for the honor society, attended board meetings, led regional meetings, and moderated several presentation panels.
According to Dr. Brown, Lee’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta is one of the most active chapters in the Southern Region. They host an annual symposium, organize monthly events, induct new members every semester, and have attended 12 of the past 13 conventions.
Sigma Tau Delta is an international collegiate English honor society and one of the largest members of the Association of College Honor Societies. The organization was established in 1924 to recognize achievement in English language, literature, and writing. The society, exclusive to four-year colleges and universities, inducts approximately 9,000 members annually into over 880 active chapters in the United States and abroad.
For more information about Sigma Tau Delta or the 2017 international convention, visit www.english.org.
Katie Hass and Rebekah Taylor with the second place award-winning Lee University Sigma Tau Delta chapter display