Student members and faculty from the Springfield College chapter of the Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society attended this year’s national convention held in Atlanta, Georgia. Students Collin Atwood, Chase Kupinsky, Remy Niland, and Joseph Rotondo joined faculty chapter advisor professor Becky Lartigue in presenting their scholarly and creative work.
“This is great opportunity for our students to gather with their peers from around the globe,” added Lartigue. “They can share experiences and ideas, while being recognized for their achievements. I am so proud of the work of our students, and they represented the College very well.”
At the convention, opportunities abound for attendees to meet face to face with other students, faculty, and respected authors. The event includes workshops and discussions related to the disciplines of the English language and literature. As part of this year’s agenda, students had the opportunity to hear from authors Richard Blanco and Nic Stone, who both read from their works.
“I really enjoyed my time in Atlanta for the conference,” added Kupinsky, who is an English major and regular dean’s list recipient from Belchertown, Mass. “Our action-packed trip made for a very memorable and fulfilling experience. I’m happy that all of us who went were able to contribute and fit into the creative, yet scholarly environment very well.”
With this year’s event in Atlanta, the home of leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Lewis, the theme at this year’s conference was “Action.”
During their stay in Atlanta, Atwood, Kupinsky, Niland, and Rotondo visited the neighborhood of Martin Luther King, Jr., and toured the displays of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park. King has strong connections to the Springfield College campus, as he served as the 1964 commencement address speaker, right at the heights of the civil rights movement. In King’s honor, Springfield College continues to host the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture during the spring semester, honoring the history of inclusion and diversity at the College.
“I had an incredible time at the conference listening to the other presenters and learning from those around me,” added Niland. “I was excited to present, and everyone was so encouraging, it made us feel felt right at home.”
Sigma Tau Delta is the third largest honor society, with over 900 chapters in the U.S and internationally, and typically inducts over 8,000 members annually. The Sigma Tau Delta annual convention is the largest student-focused conference in the Nation.
