Sigma Tau Delta
The International English Honor Society

Alpha Nu Pi Chapter
Western Michigan University
News and Events

New this year: Free membership! The Alpha Nu Pi chapter of Sigma Tau Delta now extends free membership to all students who are eligible to join. The Sigma Tau Delta Membership Fund was launched this year to make membership free to every student who meets the academic standards, beginning with the 39 members of the Fall 2009 induction class and continuing for all new inductees hereafter. Funding for free membership comes from the the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of English at WMU, as well as generous donations of faculty, staff, alumni, and other friends of Sigma Tau Delta. (Click here to learn more about the fund or to donate.)

Spring 2010 Sigma Tau Delta English Studies Conference

Twenty-four WMU students will present their work on Saturday, April 17, 2010, at the Spring 2010 Sigma Tau Delta English Studies Conference. The ESC gets underway at 11 a.m. in 3025 Brown Hall, and breakout sessions continue throughout the day. Click here to see the program of speakers.

Dr. Grace Tiffany named 2010 Sigma Tau Delta Faculty Honorary Inductee

Congratulations to Dr. Grace Tiffany, 2010 Faculty Honorary Inductee to the Alpha Nu Pi chapter of Sigma Tau Delta. Honorary membership is extended to faculty, staff, and alumni who exemplify the ideals set forth by Sigma Tau Delta: excellence in teaching, scholarship, and creative activities in English studies.

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Dr. Tiffany signs the induction book.

Dr. Tiffany was inducted along with 27 new student members at the Spring 2010 Sigma Tau Delta induction on Sunday, March 14, and joins previous Alpha Nu Pi honorary inductees Jon Adams, Kim Ballard, Meg Dupuis, Mike LoPresto, and Scott Slawinski.

28 New Members Inducted March 14, 2010

Congratulations to the Spring 2010 Sigma Tau Delta inductees! The Alpha Nu Pi chapter welcomed 27 student new members and 2010 Faculty Honorary Inductee Dr. Grace Tiffany at the spring induction ceremony on Sunday, March 14.

Spring 2010 inductees:

Natasha Allen Tim Buchanan Lauren Lilly
Lauren Axt Anthony Cerullo Victoria Mansberger
Alison Barna Andrea Douglas Andrew Minegar
Katherine Berlin Danielle Favorite Courtney Ochab
Brian Bender Analiese Grohalski Kara Pauley
Maria Benson Christopher Hart Candace Pine
Allison Billedeaux Brett Hershey Mira Poncin
Victoria Blevins Michelle Jeup Elizabeth Schoenborn
Eric Braman Natalie Lang Ann Vaught

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Fall 2009 Sigma Tau Delta English Studies Conference

Thanks to the hard work of the organizing team and the outstanding work presented, Fall 2009 Sigma Tau Delta English Studies Conference on November 6 was a big success. Over 30 WMU students presented their original creative and scholarly work in the Alpha Nu Pi chapter's signature event. Congratulations to all!

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39 New Members Inducted October 25

The Alpha Nu Pi chapter of Sigma Tau Delta welcomed 39 new inductees at the Fall 2009 induction ceremony on Sunday, October 25.


Inductees Danielle Bailey and Kimberly Evans
show their Sigma Tau Delta spirit at the Fall 2009 induction.

This was our first class of inductees whose lifetime memberships are free of charge to the students. The fee to join Sigma Tau Delta is $50, but thanks to initial funding from the College of Arts and Sciences and donations that have already started to come into the newly launched Sigma Tau Delta Membership Fund at the WMU Foundation, the Fall 2009 inductees were able to accept the honor they have earned by qualifying for membership in Sigma Tau Delta, now without the financial obligation that unfortunately discouraged some deserving applicants in years past. We hope this is the beginning of a new, permanent tradition of free membership. (Click here for information about the fund or to donate.)

The Fall 2009 induction class is among the largest in our chapter's history, second only to the March 2006 induction of our founding members, when 46 charter members became the first WMU Sigma Tau Deltas. Thirty-nine students, undergraduate as well as graduate, joined us this semester, bringing our total membership to 190 active and alumni members.

Congratulations and welcome, Fall 2009 inductees!

Alicia Akins
Brandon Flowers
Sara Olivares
Jill Archie
Kathleen Garbacz
Aanee Ruple
Danielle Bailey
Jax Gardner
Dana Ruzicka
Emily Beard
Kendra Grieser
Louise Schreiber
Jessica Bixel
Elisa Gruss
Stephanie Sorenson
Maike Buck
Jennifer Henson
David Staggs
Danielle Cavinder
Sally Johnson
Audrey Sturrus
Takunia Collins
Amarrah Kean
Staci Stutsman
Ashley Crawford
Amanda Klein
Christina Triezenberg
Jason Elkins
Shauna Koszegi
Matthew Tootalian
Megan Emerson
Bethany Leyder
Stephanie Vogie
Kimberly Evans
Carissa Marks
Megan Werner
Paula Fader
Shannon McConnell
Lindsey Wiegand


Spring 2009 English Studies Conference, April 17, 2009

The annual Sigma Tau Delta English Studies Conference took place on Friday, April 17, 2009. Students, faculty, and staff enjoyed an afternoon of the best scholarly and creative writing produced this year by WMU students.



Madeline Baker and Philip Taylor, above, and Renee Greenan, right, present their work at the English Studies Conference.

Established in 2007, the Sigma Tau Delta English Studies Conference has become an annual tradition at WMU. The ESC showcases the best in scholarly and creative writing by WMU students, who present their work in a professional setting before an audience of students, faculty, and staff. The Sigma Tau Delta English Studies Conference accepts submissions for presentation from all WMU undergraduate students; membership in Sigma Tau Delta is not required. This entirely student-run conference is the Alpha Nu Pi chapter's signature campus event.

Join our Facebook group "Sigma Tau Delta (Alpha Nu Pi Chapter)" to receive the latest information about all our events.


Sigma Tau Deltas Recognized at 2008-09 English Awards Day, April 15, 2009

Congratulations to all the English award recipients. As usual, quite a few of our members can be found among this year's honorees:

Ralph N. Miller Memorial Award for Intellectual Daring: Madeline Baker

Patrick D. Hagerty Promising Scholar Award: Katie O’Brien

Jean and Vincent Malmstrom Scholarship for Excellence in Linguistics: Caitlin Popa

English Language and Linguistics Book Award: Alexander Smith

And of course there are our own Sigma Tau Delta Award honorees:

Sigma Tau Delta Award for Academic Achievement, Leadership, and Service: Patrick Love

Sigma Tau Delta Outstanding Service Awards: Meghan Dykema and Crystal Kelley

Congratulations to all, and way to represent the chapter!

Sigma Tau Delta International Convention, March 2009: Minneapolis
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Helena Witzke
Daniel Kenzie

Helena Witzke was elected Associate Student Representative for the Midwest Region, making Helena, a February 2009 inductee, the first such office holder for our chapter. Congratulations, Helena!

Daniel Kenzie, 2008-09 chapter president, won third prize for Best World Lit, British Lit, or Critical Theory Essay. Way to go, Dan!

Alpha Nu Pi inducts 20 at Spring 2009 Induction Ceremony

Nineteen new student members and one faculty honorary member were inducted into the Alpha Nu Pi chapter of Sigma Tau Delta on February 15, 2009. Welcome and congratulations to all!

Inductee and MFA student James Roberts with English department chair, Dr. Richard Utz  

2008-09 Co-President Eric Dial and 2007-08 President Dan Kenzie   Another perk of membership: We ALWAYS have cake at induction!

2009 Honorary Faculty Inductee Kim Ballard   Dr. Jon Adams (2007 honorary faculty inductee), with Dr. Todd Kuchta, Dan Kenzie, and Kim Ballard   Spring 2009 inductees!

2008-09 officers, honorary inductee Kim Ballard, and faculty advisor Dr. Lisa Minnick

WMU Sigma Tau Deltas Represent in Louisville at 2008 International Convention

Eleven WMU Sigma Tau Deltas spent their spring break in Louisville, presenting their work and enjoying the Michigan-like weather that followed them there. (They somehow still managed to have a pretty good time!)

Congratulations to Jennifer Dempsey, who won first prize for her original poetry this year, after taking third place at the 2007 convention in Pittsburgh.

Check out this nice write-up we got in WMU News.

(Many thanks to Jessie Rethman for the photos!)

Alpha Nu Pi cleans up nice for the banquet.   Standing up for our Outstanding Chapter!

Before dinner...   ...and after!

Theresa Thomas presents her work.   Jen Dempsey in her session.   Jessie Rethman captivates the other panelists and her audience.

Patrick and Jen    2008-09 Co-President Patrick Love always has his nose in a book.   Conor Burke prepares for his session with minimal notes.   Jen Dempsey, Greg Flynn, Pat Love, and Caroline Lampinen wait for the session to start. (Sorry, Greg, but this is funny.)

2007-08 VP Scott G. Williams and 2008-09 VP Sara Long are serious about Alpha Nu Pi!   So are Pat, Jen, Caroline, and chapter secretary Sarah Hercula!   Theresa lightens the mood.

WMU News ran a great story on our 2007 trip to the International Convention in Pittsburgh. Check it out here.

And here are a few more links to WMU News coverage of our efforts to start a chapter of Sigma Tau Delta at Western, as well as reports on the earliest days of our chapter:

English Honor Society Holds Informational Meeting (October 17, 2005)

English Honor Society Holds Officer Elections (November 11, 2005)

English Honor Society Inducts First Members (March 8, 2006)

To learn more about Sigma Tau Delta, please visit the national organization's website.

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