Svonsors creative writing contests Jionor society enhances students' literary perspective Sigma Tau Delta's purpose is to give exceptional students in English an opportunity to further culture, formulate ethical principles, develop skills in creative and critical writing, and foster a spirit of fellowship. Founded in 1924 in the United States, the organization has grown to be an international society. Their motto is sincerity, truth and design. Sigma Tau Delta began every meeting with a poem or short piece of literature. They tried to keep members aware of upcoming literary events, guest speakers and resources that society members might find useful. President Kim Little said, "We really tried to stress that membership in our society rewards you beyond an additional line on your resume. The activities we pursued were fun, and they gave all members a chance to fellowship with others in our major who enjoyed the study of literature." Each year, Sigma Tau Delta sponsors a poetry reading at a local Searcy restaurant. At the event, many different types ofpoems are read, including song lyrics, multicultural poetry like Scottish and Spanish poems, and even poems written for children or by children. Ann Harrington was one of the coordinators of this year's poetry reading. "The poetry reading was extremely successful. There were about 100 people who attended. Everyone had a really good time because of the variety in the types of poetry and the people who read," she said. Kim Swiecicki was one of the readers at this year's poetry reading. She read four poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay, a poet from Maine, and one poem of her own. "I think it was a good experience for people to be exposed to different forms of poetry. I have only heard good things from people in the audience. Everyone had a good time." Sigma Tau Delta had many other activities throughout the year. Each year, they take a trip to Memphis in the spring to attend a writers' workshop presented by writer SteveWilliford. Members also decide which entries get an honorable mention in the Jo Cleveland Creative Writing contest. They are encouraged to submit entries to the society's literary magazine, The Rectangle, which publishes poetry, short fiction, personal essays and analytical essays written by society members. Each semester, the society inducts new members. The society invites a faculty member to speak at each induction to offer students a fresh perspective on another field of study. "We try to observe not just literature but other arts as well," Little said. In the spring, guest speaker Jan Fortner delighted members with her enthusiastic delivery about American history. Six scholarships, applicable for undergraduate or graduate work, are awarded to members each year. - Hallie Bell Sigma Ta'u Delta. First row: Brian Suttles, Kim Little, Sheree Baird, Allison Ward, Leedy Kay Smith, Dayna Suttles. Second row: Jakki Jackson, Amy Moran, Amy Cothran, Sara Hardin, Melissa Jackson, Amy Johnson. Third row: David Johnson, Mario Arana, Mary Beth Habecker, Jeremy Paden, Misti Nowak, Cecilia Rogers. Fourth row: John Williams (faculty sponsor), Jaime Evans, Jeff Baker. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Delta Mu Delta. First row: Ana Aguilar, Yvette .Ellis, Flor Celeste Munoz, Velvet Hernandez, Ana Lorena Quinonez, Karla July. Second row: Nora Scheblut, Cindy Herman, Carrie Walker, Jill Shirey. Third row: Claudia Pena, Daniel Velasco, Ryan Howard, Lisa Kilgore. Fourth row: Randy McLeod (faculty sponsor), Jonas Karlsson, Ryan Allan, Jamie Truax, Randy Pierce, Brent Chism, John Massie . Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Sigma Tau Delta and Delta Mu Delta 221
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