Evenson inducted into Education honor society

Buena Vista University (BVU) has officially reinstated Omega Pi Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi (KDP), an international honor society in education. To mark the occasion, a formal initiation ceremony took place April 5 on the BVU campus, where 28 education students—including Amelia Evenson, a distributive all-science secondary education major from Lake Mills—were inducted into KDP membership. (She is pictured in the second row, second from the left.)
The installation ceremony was held in conjunction with BVU’s Education Career Day, which marked an annual half-day conference for education students that was organized and sponsored by BVU’s Omega Pi KDP chapter and the student organization, Teacher’s Inc.
Becky Hawbaker, a KDP induction officer from the University of Northern Iowa, was present to reinstate KDP at BVU and initiate BVU education students as members. Michelle Helt, BVU alumna and 2018 Nebraska Teacher of the Year, was also on hand to present the keynote address.
The honor society, which was founded in 1911 to foster excellence in education and promote fellowship among those dedicated to teaching, inducts only those individuals who have exhibited the ideals of scholarship, integrity in service, and commitment to excellence in teaching and its allied professions. Selection as a member of KDP is based on high academic achievement, a commitment to education as a career, and a professional attitude that assures steady growth in the profession.
BVU had an active KDP chapter up until about 10 years ago, but at that time, the University’s School of Education was undergoing extensive changes in leadership which led to a period of KDP inactivity and official withdrawal in 2012. However, since then, the School of Education has new administrative leadership in place and a renewed vision for excellence.
BVU’s reinstatement of KDP will now extend to students who are earning their degrees in education from BVU’s 16 locations across the state. Dr. Jill Tussey, assistant professor of education at BVU’s Creston site, serves as the KDP faculty counselor for Online, Site, and Graduate (OSG) students.
In addition to providing educators with a multitude of resources, KDP offers 37 scholarship opportunities for members, representing assistance totaling more than $44,000.
“Ongoing affiliation provides opportunities for enrichment and lifelong resources for growth and renewal throughout an educator’s career,” said Dr. Calle Friesen, assistant professor of education and faculty counselor of KDP at BVU’s Storm Lake campus. “In short, KDP is much more than a traditional honor society; KDP is the premier association for educators.”
Friesen added, “Our students and alumni deserve to be honored for their commitment to the field of education and to have additional development and enrichment opportunities that only a KDP membership can provide.”