Seven future educators made Lone Star College history when they were installed as charter members of LSC-CyFair’s inaugural Alpha Iota Nu Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi (KDP), an International Honor Society in Education.
“Using a variety of programs, services, and resources, KDP supports and advances educators throughout the phases and levels of their teaching careers,” said Jason LaPres, LSC-CyFair Dean of Transitional Studies, Education and 1st Year Experience. “As the first chapter in Lone Star College, our students have now opened doors to new opportunities and connections that will last a lifetime.”
At the April chapter installation ceremony, keynote speaker Dr. Christopher Hightower, KDP Executive Council Member, installed and congratulated the inaugural Alpha Iota Nu Chapter members including Mayra Nambo, chapter president, Melissa Perez, vice president, Sara Jessica Reyes, secretary, Michelle Chatman, treasurer, Misty Nall, social coordinator, members Hanna Garza and Thisia Sayers and chapter counselors Professors Shamim Arastu and Dr. Mei-Chih Wang.
LSC-CyFair education faculty Professor Arastu and Dr. Wang are excited about the many benefits this membership will bring students who are now part of LSC’s first chapter of KDP.
With more than 40,000 members, 600 chapters and 1,200,000 educators inducted around the world, KDP is one of the largest and most prestigious educational honor societies. A few of the historically known members include Albert Einstein, George Washington, Eleanor Roosevelt and Margaret Mead.
“KDP recognizes higher performing students interested in education and connects them to a network of social and professional resources at the local, national and global level,” said Arastu. “Our Associate of Arts in Teaching program is working to prepare our students for teaching in the 21st Century and one way is to do this is to offer students opportunities for service and for professional growth.”
An honor society membership was beneficial for Dr. Wang, who was a former member of Phi Beta Delta (F??) Honor Society for International Scholars while in graduate school.
“Being involved in F?? has helped me in recognition and support of international education, such as teaching, conducting research, and providing services to international students and scholars,” she said.
With their involvement in LSC-CyFair’s new KDP chapter, students will be recognized for maintaining rigor and exceptional performance academically and have opportunities for scholarships, internships and competitions as well as to publish and travel, Arastu said.
“Students can access professional development in the form of webinars, e-newsletters, conferences and regional workshops. They can engage in leadership roles, and learn about how to be effective as an educator,” said Arastu.
LSC-CyFair’s Alpha Iota Nu Chapter already has plans to kick off the fall semester with a Diverse Abilities Social on campus and a Literacy Alive! Service initiative in the community to bring empowering literacy skills to event participants.
For information on these upcoming events and LSC-CyFair’s new Alpha Iota Nu Chapter, email Shamim.J.Arastu@lonestar.edu or Mei-Chih.Wang@lonestar.edu.
