Eleven education majors at Shorter University were recently inducted into the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education. The induction ceremony was held at Shorter’s Thornwood Campus, which houses the university’s School of Education.

Pictured from left to right above are: Chapter President Mary Wilson, Chapter Treasurer Heather Holland, Methany Thornton, Paige Sinard, Kim Mitchum, Marissa Mitchell, Emily Mays, Elise Johnson, Guest Speaker Dr. Robbie Vincent, Jesi Brooks, Kim Gallentine, Kalei Kimbrell, Brice Duke, Kristen Causey, Chapter Secretary Laura Whitlow, and Chapter Sponsor Mrs. Julia Houston.

The 2016 inductees were: Jesi Brooks, of Rome; Kristen Causey, of Trion; Brice Duke, of Rome; Kim Gallentine, of Villa Rica; Kalei Kimbrell, of Rome; Elise Johnson, of Decatur, Ala.; Emily Mays, of Dalton; Marissa Mitchell, of Hiram; Kim Mitchum, of Dawsonville; Paige Sinard, of Temple; and Methany Thornton, of Cartersville.

Dr. Norma Harper, dean of Shorter’s College of Education, welcomed guests to the ceremony. Dr. Dana King, assistant professor of education and director of middle grades education, offered the invocation. Inductees were presented by Mrs. Julia Houston, assistant professor of early childhood education, director of early childhood education, and sponsor of Shorter’s Kappa Delta Pi chapter. The teacher candidates were inducted by Kappa Delta Pi President Mary Wilson, who was assisted by Laura Whitlow, chapter secretary, and Heather Holland, chapter treasurer.

The featured speaker at the induction ceremony was Dr. Robbie Vincent, assistant principal for 8^th grade at Rome Middle School. Dr. Vincent encouraged the future educators to remain true to their calling and to be willing to wait on God’s timing. “For 22 years,” she told them, “my mission field has been public education. All of the various duties have been the very vessel for sharing the love of Christ.”

She encouraged the future teachers to commit themselves to “speak life” in all of their professional interactions, reminding the teacher candidates that “The words of a teacher can tear down or build up.”

Kappa Delta Pi has an initiated membership that exceeds 1.2 million individuals. The organization’s vision is to help committed educators be leaders in improving education for global citizenship.

Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a Christ-centered, four-year liberal arts university committed to excellence in education. The Princeton Review annually includes Shorter on its list of best Southeastern Colleges. Shorter is a member of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). The university offers traditional bachelor’s degrees in 40 areas of study, online courses and degree programs, undergraduate programs for working adults, and four master’s programs. Learn more about Shorter at www.shorter.edu.

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