English Honor Society wins Outstanding Chapter Award

By Emily Seevers

The English Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta, is one of three selected from 800 chapters in the nation to win the Outstanding Chapter Award.

Sigma Tau Delta won based on their recent activities, including events such as poetry readings, graphic novel film festivals and participation at the international convention.

At this year’s convention in New Orleans, Sigma Tau Delta will be rewarded with a plaque and $500 for winning the Outstanding Chapter Award as well as $350 for creating a display to showcase at the convention.

Celeste Lempke, the president of Sigma Tau Delta will also be receiving a plaque and $250 for winning the Student Leadership Award. She won the award after being nominated by associate professor Susan Honeyman, the chapter’s faculty sponsor.

Lempke, originally from Wallace, graduated from UNK in 2007, taught English and speech classes at Grand Island Senior High and returned to UNK last year to pursue a graduate degree in English Literary Criticism and to study graphic novels and adolescent literature.

“I came back as president to resurrect the chapter,” said Lempke, explaining that in one year’s time, she and Vice President Jacob Sandman have increased the chapter’s number of events and activities, which ultimately led to winning the Outstanding Chapter Award.

Sandman, a senior English major from Curtis, is beginning work as editor of the literary journal, “The Carillon,” published by Sigma Tau Delta.  Sandman said the publication is an important compilation of student work that reflects well on UNK students. “It is a collection of poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, literary criticism and screenplays. We present it at conferences and exchange with other schools to see what kind of work they are doing. It helps get our names out there.”

Sigma Tau Delta is accepting submissions from students interested in having their work in “The Carillon” until Jan. 30.

Category: News