NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Leah Jackson (jacksonl@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

6/14/2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES -The Northwestern State University chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, international honor society in education, has won an Achieving Chapter Excellence (ACE) Award. NSU's Gamma Phi chapter is one of 35 chapters, selected from 550 active international chapters, to receive the honor.

"I am thrilled. The officers worked so hard for this," said Dr. Kimberly McAlister, chapter advisor.

The chapter submitted a portfolio, created by the students, of detailed activities, including meetings, service projects, and representation at convocations. The "picture-driven" portfolio documented the chapter's participation in service projects and outreach and was accompanied by a narrative.

"We had to meet national requirements as well as local requirements of how we are functioning as an active chapter," McAlister said. "Although our mission is a service organization to the College of Education, we also serve the community." The chapter participated in reading programs, tutoring and recruiting for NSU's College of Education.

"Our officers were very dedicated in seeing this through," McAlister said.

"I saw this project has a defined set of reachable goals adding up to what may, at first glance, have been an insurmountable task," said Gamma Phi President Crystal Mallett of Cottonport. "It gave our chapter the opportunity to grow in our service to the university and as individual teachers. The international recognition is wonderful, but the personal impact is even better. We now know that, as a group, we can set goals and meet them through hard work and cooperation."

Because the portfolio was a group effort, students learned to work together, meet deadlines, manage and plan events and communicate.

As an ACE recipient, the NSU chapter is automatically considered for the Ace of the ACE Award, a "best of the best" award, to be presented during the final banquet.

ACE awards are presented every other year to chapters who demonstrate excellence and dedication to the ideals o f Kappa Delta Pi, which include recognizing scholarship and excellence in education, promoting development and dissemination of educational ideals and practices and enhancing growth and leadership of membership. The society also seeks to foster inquiry and reflection on significant education issues and maintain a high degree of professional fellowship.

To be a member of Kappa Delta Pi, a student must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and have earned more than 60 hours towards their education degree. There are 55 members in NSU's Gamma Phi chapter.

The award will be presented at the society's convocation in Orlando in November. The chapter's portfolio will be part of a pictorial display that will showcase the chapter's achievements and a running PowerPoint visual. Plans are for six officers, McAlister and another faculty member to attend. McAlister, coordinator of assessment and undergraduate studies in the College of Education, and Connie Melder, director of field experience and clinical practice, will present at the conference.

"This award brings international recognition to our chapter and to the College of Education," Mallett said. "Our members are very involved in the recruiting of new students and will continue to be through STAR (Students Teaching and Reaching) program, Junior and Senior Days, and others. We will also be expanding our chapter recruiting to induct members earlier in their college careers, as well as working cooperatively with other KDP chapters around Louisiana."

Gamma Phi is the oldest Kappa Delta Pi chapter in Louisiana and was founded in 1929 when NSU was Louisiana Normal School, a teacher training institution.

"This is wonderful news for the College of Education and Northwestern," said Dr. Vickie Gentry, Dean of the College of Education. "I am extremely proud that students and faculty of Kappa Delta Pi will be recognized for their outstanding work in education. It is rewarding to know that their contributions will be recognized at the national level. This award demonstrates the level of professionalism of Northwestern's KDP members and the leadership of its faculty advisor, Dr. Kimberly Walker McAlister. It has been an honor knowing this group of KDP members, and I am confident that schools will be a better place, due to their commitment to teaching and learning."

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