Archive for October, 2012

Sigma Tau Delta: Tau Epsilon has four new members this fall! We have never had a fall induction before, but having a fall induction allows folks graduating in December to still become part of Sigma Tau Delta. Two of our new members are graduating in December.

These are pictures from the induction:

Ashley Alexander, 2012-13 Vice President, and Elisa Wyrick, one of our newest members. This photograph was taken in the rotunda during refreshments after the induction.

A photograph of Ashley Dillin, new member, being introduced to the society and given her journals and brass bookmark. Ashley will be graduating in December.

Natalie Navejas accompanied her grandmother and the speaker for the induction, Dr. Nancy Shankle.

Thank you, Dr. Shankle, for your pertinent and intriguing speech for the induction ceremony.

Sigma Tau Delta’s 2012-13 president, Chris Fields, introduced Elisa Wyrick during the induction ceremony. This is in the rotunda while everyone was enjoying cupcakes and punch.

Elisa Wyrick, Dr. Joe Stephenson, and Dr. Nancy Shankle, in the rotunda after the induction ceremony.

Dr. Stephenson came to the induction solely to support our amazing majors like Elisa Wyrick. Thank you, Dr. Stephenson.

Ashley Dillin and Philip Miranda in the rotunda for refreshments, chatting with Chris Fields (not in photograph).

Induction Experience

At the induction, Dr. Suanna H. Davis, one of the co-sponsors for Sigma Tau Delta, introduced the society and the day’s proceedings.

Dr. Nancy Shankle then presented an excellent talk on the importance of education in the world, particularly noting the importance of English degrees and Christians serving through our majors and careers.

Following that, the president and vice president of Sigma Tau Delta read the biographies of the new members who attended the induction and welcomed them to the society. Each new member received a copy of Sigma Tau Delta’s Critical Writing journal, Sigma Tau Delta’s Creative Writing journal, and a brass bookmark.

When the official induction was completed, we adjourned to the rotunda and had miniature cupcakes and punch.

During her time at ACU, Ashley Dillin has utilized her position a the first English student to go through the Digital Entertainment Technology program to help build the degree for future English majors and minors who wish to study DET. She presented her research on the development of interactive eTextbooks at the 2012 Undergraduate Research Festival and was one of two students to represent ACU at the Game Developers Conference this year.

Ashley aspires to be a narrative designer for the game company Bioware after graduation.

She would like to thank her parents, Linden and Holly Dillin, and her boyfriend, Philip Miranda, for all of their support and encouragement.

Name: Daniel Archer

Activities / Honors:
ACU Big Purple Marching Band Chaplain
McNair Scholar in the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccaulaureate Achievement Program
Member of the ACU Wind Ensemble and Orchestra programs
Member of the Love Your Neighbor As Yourself (LYNAY) Servant-Leader scholarship program

Goals: After graduating from ACU, I plan to acquire my master’s and doctorate and teach English / Creative Writing at a collegiate level.

Acknowledgement: I’d like to thank my parents and sister who all have lovingly supported me throughout all of my life and have been a rock-solid foundation which I can always rely on.

My name is Joshua Bonnett.

I am currently a senior at Abilene Christian University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in English. I chose English because I have a passion for writing, and communicating the creative mind God has given me through this particular medium.

I would not be the man I am today if it wasn’t for the grace of God. I have had to overcome many obstacles, but the Lord has been faithful. I also have a love for music. I have been singing since I was about six, and I wrote and recorded my fist song at age 11. As recently as a few years ago, I decided to start using my gifts to glorify God. I plan to continue using my creative writing musical abilities to honor God, build up the believers, and to offer hope and truth to people who don’t know how much God loves and cares for them.

I am currently applying for Teach for America, and will hopefully get accepted into after I graduate, next December.

Activities/Honors: Member of Alpha Kai Omega, Participant in both club and class Sing Song acts, Sing Song Director, Participant in Weekend Campaigns, Participant in ACU’s Relay for Life

Employment Goals: I want to share my passion for books and reading others, so I plan to use my English degree to enter into the publishing field as a book editor.

Acknowledgment: I, of course, want to thank my parents for supporting me through my schooling, but I also would like to thank the professors I’ve had here for reinforcing my passion for language and literature

Activities: I am Treasurer for Red Thread and a member of Swing Cats, Weekend Campaigns, and W Club.
Employment/Education Goals: Along with being an English major, I am also a Communication minor and Christian Ministry minor with the intent of getting the certificate of Vocational Ministry. I am not set on any specific career right now, but I know I would like to be involved in ministry in some capacity.
Acknowledgment of Thanks: I want to thank my mom for teaching me to be a well-rounded person in life and to not let failure keep me down.

President: Chris Fields
Vice President: Ashley Alexander (treasurer for first month)
Secretary: Katie Cukrowski
Treasurer: Javan Furlow
Historian: Erik Ringle

Please join me in thanking them for their work with Sigma Tau Delta.

Chris, Ashley, Javan, and Erik attended the preliminary meeting with the SA officers planning budgets.
Chris attended the SA meeting where budgets were decided.
Ashley, Katie, Javan, and Erik participated in Keep Abilene Beautiful.

Katie Cukrowski is a junior at ACU and a member of the Honors College. She is an officer of the Alpha Chi Honor Society as well as a member of Phi Eta Sigma. In the spring of 2012, she studied abroad in Oxford and worked as a tour guide in the university while there. Katie works in the Political Science Department at ACU, and she is the undergraduate research assistant this semester for Dr. Vic McCracken, professor of Theology. After graduation, Katie would like to attend graduate school for writing and find a job she is passionate about.

Katie is the secretary for Sigma Tau Delta, Tau Epsilon. She participated in the Keep Abilene Beautiful street cleaning and breakfast.