The University of Texas at Dallas chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, an international English honor society, has been selected as one of three chapters worldwide to receive the society’s Outstanding Chapter Award.
“I’m constantly telling the chapter members what a great job they’re doing, but it’s really nice when the international board and committees actually acknowledge all that the students have accomplished,” said chapter sponsor Dr. Carie S. T. King, clinical professor of communication and rhetoric in the School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology.
Sigma Tau Delta, with more than 900 active chapters throughout the world, is primarily focused on encouraging literacy on its member campuses and for the public. Society leaders said UT Dallas has done well achieving those goals.
“[The UT Dallas] application demonstrated exciting literacy-related programming, campus- and community-level engagement, and significant contributions to the annual convention,” said Dr. Leigh Dillard, chair of the society’s Regents Committee.
King, who also serves as managing editor of publications for Sigma Tau Delta, said the UT Dallas chapter has been very active since its inception more than five years ago.
Chapter projects have included the creation of a little library on campus, where campus community members can donate or borrow books, and “common reader” events that provide opportunities for students and the public to discuss a particular book.
In addition, the chapter has helped plan professional workshops and publishing seminars and has instituted a “book fairy” program, in which books are surreptitiously placed around campus for students, staff and faculty to find and read. In its short history, the chapter and its members have received more than $15,000 in scholarships, grants, stipends and chapter awards.
“I’m very proud of all the hard work and dedication that our small little group [of 36 members] has shown,” said Danika Hollis, a creative writing graduate student and a charter member and past president of the chapter. “We love literacy, and we love involving our community.”
Accolades is an occasional News Center feature that highlights recent accomplishments of The University of Texas at Dallas faculty, students and staff. To submit items for consideration, contact your school’s communications manager.
The article above is a truncated version of a longer article by the Office of Media Relations, which originally appeared in the UT Dallas News Center.