This story begins with a college, some model students and an idea.
After years of earning good grades, taking honors classes and being role models in their majors, a few education students began to question why they were not a part of an internationally known program that recognizes students of high achievement.
But instead of moping about how they were not a part of an honor society, the education majors at Siena College decided to create their own honor society one that would be founded on their achievements and pass on a legacy of high standards in the education field.
The idea to start the Siena College chapter of Kappa Delta Pi came from both a teacher and a student.
Heather Flood, a junior education English major at Siena, had heard of the society at other schools across the country and done research of their contributions to the communities that surrounded them and the foundations they were built.
Flood got to thinking and approached the chairwoman of the Education Department at Siena, Robin Voetterl.
I have a pretty good relationship with Robin through class, so I just asked her, ‘You know, why don’t we have an honor society?’`
Voetterl did not have an answer, and did not see any reason why there should not be an honor society for education students at Siena. So, the pair, along with several other students in the major, got to work on bringing Kappa Delta Pi to Siena.
`We have to fit certain criteria, and we did. And now the education students can participate in the academic ceremony all of the honor students inducted do,` said Voetterl.
The criteria a student has to meet to become part of honor society includes maintaining a 3.0 grade point average overall, demonstrating leadership, showing a commitment to education, reaching sophomore standing, and having taken 12 credit hours of education classes.
According to Voetterl, 31 students met those criteria in time to be inducted to Siena’s chapter of Kappa Delta Pi on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
Also inducted Dec. 3 was notable alum Arthur Walker, who had formalized and directed the field experience program for the major at Siena College; Elizabeth Day, a Mechanicville teacher and first Siena alumna to win the New York State Teacher of the Year award; Ken Paulli, former education department chair and executive assistant to the president; Ralph DiMarino, former principal at Maple High School and teacher; and Cheryl Gowie, professor of education.
`The concept exists to honor excellent students, and in education,` said Voetterl. ` It really is sort of excellence in the profession, and it’s a way to differentiate folks that are doing good.`
Voetterl said the honor society can bring a lot of resources to the students who are a part of it, including networking with other teachers, scholarships for higher education and grants for their classroom.
For Flood, being part of the honor society can also bring valuable community experiences to inductees.
One experience the inductees are working on is a book donation for a teen library at the Double H Ranch, an Adirondack camp for children with cancer and other blood disorders.
Flood was inducted along with her classmates on Dec. 3, although she will not be serving as the chapter president, even though she helped found the chapter.
`I’m graduating this May, so we wanted someone who was going to be here to carry it on,` she said.
Sophomore Allison Collins will be the active president.
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