Elizabethtown College English Department

Looking for ways to build your professional network and skill-set while studying English at Elizabethtown College? Sigma Tau Delta might be your solution.

After being inactive for about eight years, the E-town chapter of Sigma Tau Delta returned to campus during the Fall 2017 semester and brought with it opportunities for members to network and grow professionally in the English Department.

“As an alum of Sigma Tau Delta, I’m excited to see the E-town chapter active again,” said Dr. Matt Skillen, current chair of the English Department, director of the Secondary English Education Program and associate professor of English.

What is Sigma Tau Delta?

Sigma Tau Delta is an international English honor society. It was established in 1924 to encourage high achievement in the study of English. It also promotes literacy and community involvement.

As the second largest member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS), it has over 900 chapters domestically and internationally.

What are the Benefits?

Like all honor societies, Sigma Tau Delta offers its members several benefits, but they can be boiled down into three categories:

• Networking with fellow English nerds
• Gaining professional skills outside the classroom
• Receiving recognition for your hard work

Networking with fellow English nerds

Advisor of Sigma and visiting assistant professor of English Dr. Tara Moore believed that reviving the society at E-town will help promote networking and a sense of community between English majors and minors. According to Moore, English students might not know each other outside of class, especially if they belong to different class years.

For Skillen, Sigma allowed him to network and have fun with English students he had classes with. Skillen was also able to be a part of an organization of people with similar goals.

“Being in a group of like-minded people is important for students’ development as scholars and as professionals in the field,” said Skillen.

Gaining professional skills outside the classroom

Skillen was president of Kansas State University’s Alpha Theta Eta chapter of Sigma Tau Delta during his senior year there. This gave him experience in organizational leadership and fundraising. It also showed Skillen the importance of advocacy as his chapter promoted literacy in the community around the university.

Sigma has also co-sponsored events at E-town, such as a reading of “Made to Break Your Heart” by Director of the Writing Wing professor Richard Fellinger and the “From Classic to Current: Gareth Hinds, and Graphic Fiction” event at the Bowers Writers House. Events like these help promote professional development.

Receiving recognition for your hard work

“I think [Sigma] encourages first-years and sophomores to keep up the good work and rewards the upperclassmen,” said Melissa Spencer, junior English – professional writing major and Sigma Tau Delta member.

To recognize students’ success and celebrate their accomplishments, there is an induction ceremony during fall semesters for new members. Members are also recognized when they graduate from E-town. They receive cords or medals to wear at graduation, and the honor is listed in the graduation program.

What are the Induction Requirements?

In order to be inducted into Sigma, English majors and minors must have completed three semesters at E-town and have a GPA of 3.6 or above, which is the same GPA requirement as Honors in the Discipline. Members also pay a one-time induction fee.

“I joined Sigma Tau Delta because I felt it was a good fit for me,” said Spencer. “As an English person and a student, I couldn’t let the invitation pass by.”

 Author bio:

Rachel Lee is a senior English major with a concentration in professional writing and minors in Spanish and creative writing. She can be seen around campus in the basement of Alpha Hall typing away for the Social Enterprise Institute or in the Etownian office playing with InDesign as the Features Editor. She is also treasurer for Stitch2Serve and Sigma Tau Delta.