Upsilon Kappa’s newest members, from left, Sadie Chartier, Laurel Sanders, Rebekah Harden, Julia Gambill, Kaleigh Bernard, Katherine Derrick, Caroline Sproat and Elena Armstrong. Not pictured is Hannah Shope.
Upsilon Kappa, Lee University’s chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education, initiated its new members for the fall 2023 semester.
“The standards that we set for our Lee University teacher candidates are high,” said Dr. Shane Brown, Upsilon Kappa counselor and director of Lee’s Teacher Education Program and Field Experiences. “We believe students in classrooms deserve the best, and these individuals have proven their ability to rise and meet those standards through hard work and dedication to their academics. We are excited about what the future holds for them as they make real differences in kids’ lives.”
The event opened with words from the chapter’s president, Samantha Eason, followed by keynote speaker Gloria Scott-Richmond, Lee’s director of Racial and Ethnic Relations. The inductees were presented and were briefed on the society’s history and mission to continue the ceremony, and the chapter’s officers initiated the newest members in closing.
“Being initiated into KDP is a great honor,” said Julia Gambill, a senior Spanish education major and new member of Upsilon Kappa. “It recognizes the work and dedication that we have put into being education majors and future teachers.”
Dr. Brown presented the initiates, who included Elena Armstrong, Kaleigh Bernard, Sadie Chartier, Katherine Derrick, Ms. Gambill, Rebekah Harden, Laurel Sanders, Hannah Shope and Caroline Sproat.
Kappa Delta Pi was founded by William Bagley, Truman Kelly, and Thomas Edgar Musselman in 1911 at the University of Illinois to foster excellence in education and promote fellowship among those dedicated to teaching. The founders chose the name from the Greek words knowledge, duty, and power.
For more information about Kappa Delta Pi, visit www.kdp.org/home.
For more information about Lee’s Helen DeVos College of Education, visit www.leeuniversity.edu/academics/education/ or call 614-8175.