The annual induction ceremony of the Alpha Alpha Xi chapter of the International English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta (STD) was held on October 8th, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. in the Kostka Room, Thompson Hall. The new Initiates were Joshua R. Caley Jr., Jeanelle S. Jacobs, Hernan Medrano, Chabeli Montas, Jeremiah Paul, and Patricia Theodore.
Current STD members helped facilitate the induction, and Jonathan Gonzalez, the current chapter president, gave the Invocation. In her introductory remarks, Dr. Schanfield, faculty co-sponsor, mentioned that our chapter’s literary journal, What Oft Was Thought, once again won First Place in the 2017 annual national competition. The journal features literary works such as poems, short stories and photography by students who’ve won the writing contest held by STD.
In her role as co-faculty sponsor, Dr. Greenbaum introduced the guest speaker, Gale Massey, who discussed her debut novel, The Girl from Blind River, for which she is receiving high praise nationally. Kirkus Review for example, noted that “Massey’s debut novel manages to be both poetic and propulsive, unfolding a familiar story of the long odds against redemption posted by family dysfunction with power and grace.”
Massey generously brought copies of her book for the inductees and was gracious enough to meet with each one of the inductees to autograph their copies. Massey read from her novel, discussed the revision process, and then took questions from the audience.
The chapter has been on the Barry campus since 1991 and has inducted 213 members. The local chapter sponsors literary and literacy activities, including an annual campus-wide writing contest and publishing opportunities, and encourages its members in national involvement in conferences, internships, committees, and scholarships.