Fourteen students at the University of Science and Arts were initiated into Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society in education.

“We are very proud of these initiates,” said Dr. Jeanne Mather, sponsor of the group and professor of education at USAO.

“Each has excelled in college, understands the importance of being a lifelong learner and is expected to be an outstanding educator who will truly make a difference in his or her students’ lives. Each has accepted the philosophy of teaching students through an interdisciplinary approach and emphasizing critical thinking and problem solving skills.”

Students initiated include history education senior Pepper Austin, of Lindsay; early childhood education sophomore Dakota Brown, of Duncan; early childhood education sophomore Cheyenne Cogburn, of Chickasha; elementary education senior Katy Davis, of Lindsay; elementary education junior Kelsey Dawkins, of Bridge Creek; elementary education sophomore Kimberlee Dinsmore, of Ninnekah; and senior history education senior Daniel Edwards, of Chickasha.

Also initiated were: elementary education senior Mackenzie Hazel, of Altus; elementary education junior Lecia Hopkins, of Newcastle; elementary education junior Krystal Hutchison, of Tuttle; early childhood education senior Johanna Jamarik, of Bluejacket; early childhood education sophomore Kelsey Milligan, of Lindsay; elementary education junior Lindsay Osborn, of Tuttle; and music education junior Lindsay Robbins, of Moore.

To be eligible for membership, a student must exhibit the ideals of scholarship, high personal standards, desire to help others and promise in the teaching and allied professions.  In particular, students must have completed 30 credit hours of college work, including at least nine hours of professional education credit, be admitted into the teacher education program and have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. 

The guest speaker at the initiation ceremony was USAO alumna Denise Locke, math curriculum coordinator for Mustang Public Schools, who spoke on “No Greater Time—Teaching a Challenge worth Taking.”

Locke challenged the audience to teach by taking the time to recognize and meet the needs of children thus making a difference in a child’s life.

Dr. William Bagley founded Kappa Delta Pi in 1911 at the University of Illinois. The organization was established to foster excellence in education and promote fellowship among those dedicated to teaching. The founders chose the name from the Greek words to represent knowledge, duty and power.

Pioneering from its beginning by including women as well as men, Kappa Delta Pi grew from a local chapter to the international organization it is today, comprising of 582 chapters and more than 45,000 members.

Local members are involved with many community activities including Books For Tots – which provides books for needy children during the Christmas season.