Campbellsville University's Alpha Epsilon Omicron Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi was charted with 43 students and 11 faculty members initiated at a recent ceremony. From left are: Front row - Lucas Arnold, Alex Young, Alex Morgan, Laura Slack, Whitney Smyser, Dr. Donna Irwin and Dr. Bill Stout.

Second row - Andrea Fielding, Amber Jinnett, Brittany Hahn, Lydia Adcock, Colleen Gregg, Angelique Janes, Savannah Knopp, Kathy Maynard, Ester Middlekauff, Melinda Murton, Dottie Davis and Norma Wheat. Third row - Laura Mann, Caitlin Smith, Melanie Arms, Vanessa Devers, Teresa LoPiccolo, Christy Spurling, Amber Wimsatt, Cheris Young and Dr. Sam Melloy.

Back row - Chuck Adams, Dr. Beverly Ennis, Anne Edelen, Dr. Frank Cheatham, Dr. Carol Garrison, Dr. Brenda Priddy, Kathleen Anderson, Lindsay Atwood, Carolyn Bedford, Lauryn Cox, Andrea Sanders, Nikki Rice, Terri Unseld and Jacqueline Willoughby. (Campbellsville University Photo by Bayarmagnai “Max” Nergui)

Oct. 16, 2009

For Immediate Release

Campbellsville University Holds Initiation for First Group of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education

By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Campbellsville University held its first initiation ceremony for 43 students and 11 faculty initiates in the Alpha Epsilon Omicron Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi international honor society in education recently in Ransdell Chapel.

          The society inducts only those individuals who have exhibited the ideals of scholarship, integrity in service, and commitment to excellence in teaching and its allied professions. Selection as a member of Kappa Delta Pi is based on high academic achievement, a commitment to education as a career, and a professional attitude that assures steady growth in the profession.

            At the service, Dr. Brenda Priddy, dean of the School of Education, praised the students who had made the decision to enter education, which is an “absolute joy.”

            The School of Education, the oldest program in Campbellsville University's history, recently moved into a new building on the campus.

            Keynote speaker for the event was Chuck Adams, who is in his third year of serving as superintendent of Spencer County Schools. He has risen from the ranks as

teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and now a superintendent in less than 10 years.

            Adams said knowledge, duty and power are represented in Kappa Delta Pi's Greek letters. He said teachers need to be prepared with their lessons to have an impact on student's lives. “All the paperwork is fine, but unless you have the knowledge in your heart and head, our fruits won't be seen,” he said.

            “Learning is a progression and not a product,” he said. He urged the future teachers to have high expectations for themselves and their students. He said teachers sometimes get caught up in scores that they forget the process of learning.

            He said teachers need to have active engagement with their students.

            Adams said duty is not the same as responsibilities. He said duty goes a step further than responsibility and cited duty as when a teacher teaches seven hours, grades papers at home, comes to a volleyball game and comes early to help a student.

            “A certain degree of entitlement has stepped in,” he said, “which is dangerous and leads to contentment and contentment leads to mediocrity.”

            “Your power as a teacher is not the knowledge you possess, but the duty you perform to make an inspiring and lasting impact,” he said.

            John Light, Kappa Delta Pi representative, was the installing officer and said he was pleased to welcome new students into Kappa Delta Pi. He urged the students, and the faculty members who were initiated, to promote excellence and compassion.

            Light said service is the essence of education and said working in the chapter will allow students and faculty to “find amazing opportunities.”

            Priddy accepted the charter of the chapter “with honor.”

            Brittany Hahn of Severn, Md., is the chapter president. Alex Young of Shepherdsville, Ky., is serving as vice president. Other officers are: Amber Jinnett of Hodgenville, Ky., as secretary; Lucas Arnold of Liberty, Ky., as treasurer; and Laura Mann of Mt. Washington, Ky., as historian.

            Hahn addressed the group and said, “As educators we are commanded by God to be examples for our students both in and out of the classroom.

            “Kappa Delta Pi is an honored community of educators that promote excellence and advance scholarship, leadership and service.

            “We will be setting an example for the future generations and future educators that will pass through this university and will see us in the community.”

            Chapter counselors are Dr. Carol Garrison, professor of education, and Dr. Beverly Ennis, assistant professor of education.

            Garrison said, “The symbolism of this honor society truly reflects the over one hundred year history of teacher education on this campus. We are very excited to offer our students the opportunities and privileges associated with lifetime membership in Kappa Delta Pi.”

            Ennis said, “What an exciting time for the School of Education faculty, staff and students. I know Alpha Epsilon Omicron will be a positive addition to Campbellsville University in assisting in the essential roles of developing education professionals and recognizing their achievement.”

            CU Sound provided special music for the event.

            Student initiates include: Lydia Adcock of Campbellsville, Ky., formerly of the Philippines, wife of Dr. Peter Adcock, assistant professor of chemistry at CU; Leigh Ann Alexander of Campbellsville, wife of Skip Alexander; Kathleen Anderson of Ovando, Mont., wife of James. L. Anderson; Melanie Arms of Louisville, Ky., wife of Michael R. Arms; Lucas Arnold (treasurer) of Liberty, Ky., son of Rocky and Lisa Arnold; Lindsey Atwood of Campbellsville, daughter of Gary and Janis Atwood;

            Carolyn Bedford of Lawrenceburg, Ky., daughter of Terry and Pam Bedford; Alice Brewer of Hodgenville, Ky.; Morgan Bullock of Frankfort, Ky., daughter of Theresa Talley; Amy Carr of Rineyville, Ky.; Lauryn Cox of Campbellsville, daughter of Butch and Ann Cox; Vanessa Devers of Elizabethtown, Ky., wife of Chad Devers; Emily Dunston of Williamsburg, Ky., daughter of Bob and Norma Dunston;

            Anne Edelen of Lebanon, Ky., wife of Sam Edelen; James Evans of Bradfordsville, Ky., son of Jimmie and Diane Evans; Andrea Fielding of Campbellsville, formerly of Liberty, Ky., daughter of Kathy and Stanley McCubbin Jr.; Ashley Greer of Somerset, Ky., daughter of Jeff and Lisa Greer; Colleen Gregg of Glasgow, Ky., daughter of Robby and Cindy Frankenberg and wife of John Gregg; Brittany Hahn (president) of Severn, Md., daughter of Jerry and Cheryl Hahn; Angelique Janes of Campbellsville, daughter of Jody and Mouin Sayegh and Harold Janes;

            Amber Jinnett (secretary) of Hodgenville, daughter of David and Aggie Jinnett; Savannah Knopp of Campbellsville, daughter of Sam and DeLisa Knopp; Teresa LoPiccolo (executive member) of Campbellsville, wife of Mike LoPiccolo; Laura Mann (historian) of Mt. Washington, Ky., daughter of Mike and Darlene Mann; Kathy Maynard of Campbellsville, wife of Sean Maynard; Esther Middlekauff of Barnegat, N.J., daughter of Jeannette Middlekauff;

           Alex Morgan of Campbellsville, daughter of Kimberly Moore; Melinda Murton of Lexington, Ky., daughter of Don and Ingrid Haase and wife of Jairius Murton; Nikki Rice of Lexington, daughter of Nick and Zelda Rice; Andrea Sanders of Campbellsville, daughter of Beauford Sanders and Lynn Henry; Laura Slack of Benton, Ky., daughter of Richie and Felicia Slack; Caitlin Smith (executive member) of Russell Springs, Ky., daughter of Leonard and Debbie Smith; Whitney Smyser of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., daughter of Keith and Teresa Smyser; Christy Spurling of Campbellsville, daughter of Donnie and Marcella Blair and wife of Dale Spurling;

            Katie Staples of Brandenburg, Ky.; Terri Unseld of Bardstown, Ky.; Jacqueline Willoughby of Danville, Ky., daughter of Brackie Willoughby; Amber Wimsatt of Elizabethtown, Ky., daughter of Joe and Karen Wimsatt; Alex Young (vice-president) of Shepherdsville, Ky., daughter of Jeff and Shelia Young; Cheris Young of Campbellsville, resident director at CU, formerly of Inez, Ky., daughter of Ronnie and Debbie Evans, and wife of Casey Young; Micca Watts-Gordon of Shelbyville, Ky.; David Bumgardner of Jenkins, Ky.; and April Miller of Louisville.

            Faculty initiates include: Dottie Davis of Campbellsville, instructor in education; Dr. Beverly Ennis of Greensburg, Ky., assistant professor of education; Donna Fohl of Elizabethtown, instructor and coordinator of the early childhood education program;

            Dr. Carol Garrison of Campbellsville, professor of education; Sharon Hundley of Elizabethtown, associate professor of education and co-coordinator of the early childhood education program; Dr. Donna Irwin of Campbellsville, associate professor of education;

            Dr. Sam Melloy of Elizabethtown, assistant professor of education; Dr. Brenda Priddy of Elizabethtown, associate professor and dean of the School of Education; Dr. Bill Stout of Taylorsville, Ky., associate professor of special education; and Norma Wheat of Jamestown, Ky., director and instructor in special education.

            Dr. Frank Cheatham of Campbellsville, vice president for academic affairs, was a special initiate.

            Founded in 1911 at the University of Illinois, Kappa Delta Pi is the largest honor society in education, representing 582 undergraduate and professional chapters and more than 45,000 active members. Its most distinguished members over the last century have included Margaret Mead, Albert Einstein, George Washington Carver, and current leaders in education Howard Gardner, Maxine Greene and Carol Gilligan.
            Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Listed in U.S.News & World Report's 2010 “America's Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 23rd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South and fourth in “up-and-coming” schools in the south. CU has been ranked 17 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America's Best Christian Colleges® and to G.I. Jobs magazine as a Military Friendly School. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his 11th year as president.   

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