Department of English Announces 2018 New Members of Honor Society

The Department of English is pleased to announce the inaugural membership of Alpha Chi Omega, Pacific University's chapter of the international Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society. The following students have pursued sustained study in the literary arts, meeting rigorous standards in a competitive application process.

• Sophia R. Backus '19, Creative Writing major, English Literature and Editing & Publishing minors
• Sienna J. Ballou '18, English Literature major, Dance and Spanish minors
• Kristen N. Buehner '17, English Literature and Creative Writing majors
• Kymberlin R. Bush '20, Creative Writing major, Integrated Media and Editing & Publishing minors
• Darcy E. Christoffersen '18, English Literature major, History and Editing & Publishing minors
• Tailor D. Dolgin '18, English Literature major, Outdoor Leadership and Business Administration minors
• Gillian M. Gauer '20, English Literature major, Biology minor
• Hunter B. Peterson '18, Creative Writing and Anthropology majors, Editing & Publishing minors
• Kyle P. Riper '19, English Literature major, Creative Writing minor
• Kimberly N. Su '19, Chemistry major, Creative Writing minor
• Alexis C. Zmuda '18, Creative Writing and Theatre majors

Sigma Tau Delta was founded in 1924 to confer distinction for high achievement in English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies. With over 900 active chapters and more than 9,000 members inducted annually, the Society aims to foster literacy through its local chapters on college campuses and promote interest in literature in their surrounding communities.

Membership in Pacific University’s chapter, Alpha Chi Omega—a division of the English Club—is an outward recognition of personal accomplishment and signifies that those invited to join have achieved the Society’s high standards of academic excellence. When admitted, students receive a certificate of lifetime membership, the official Society pin to signify high achievement, and are formally inducted at an end-of-year ceremony. Sigma Tau Delta members are then eligible to:

• apply for national Sigma Tau Delta scholarships valued up to $5,000 each.
• submit creative and critical work for publication in the Sigma Tau Delta Review, Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle, and the WORDY by Nature official blog.
• present at the annual regional, national, and international Sigma Tau Delta conferences.
• apply for co-sponsored internships with a major publisher and an online book store that funds worldwide literacy initiatives, as well as the Washington Internship Institute for those interested in public service and leadership.
• compete for officer positions and take part in community service projects in the campus chapter, as well as leadership positions at the regional and Society levels.
• apply for individual research grants to support travel to and use of archives or collections important to their research, as well as project grants to help local chapters develop projects that further Society goals.
• use their honor society affiliation as a tangible sign of academic success to help advance their professional career.

Please join us to celebrate these students in a formal Induction Ceremony, a part of the A Very Serious Reading festivities, on Thursday, April 6, at 6:30 p.m. in Taylor Auditorium (Marsh 216).