Lesli Marchese, Campus Carrier Deputy News Editor

In 1911, Kappa Delta Pi (KDP), an International Honor Society in education, was founded to “foster excellence in education and promote fellowship among those dedicated to teaching,” reads their website. The international organization has initiated over 1.2 million members in the last 103 years, and there are chapters of KDP on over 600 college campuses.

Berry’s chapter of KDP, the Rho Upsilon Chapter, was founded in 1989 and celebrated its 25th anniversary on Nov. 2.  The ceremony included the induction of 20 new members, and two charter members who were part of the chapter’s first induction in 1989, who gave speeches. 

Mary Clement, professor of teacher education and co-counselor of KDP estimates that there have been over 1000 students inducted into Berry’s chapter over the years.

The Rho Upsilon Chapter has documented many accomplishments throughout its 25 years. Most notable, is its Literacy Alive! Program, which works to encourage reading in local schools, which has been in place for over 15 years. In 2012, the chapter introduced the S.C.O.R.E. program (Success, Creativity, Opportunity, Reinforcement, Excel) as part of the Literacy Alive! Program. This program teams Berry’s athletes up with a local elementary or middle school class. The Berry athlete, who is partnered with a KDP member, reads a story to the class, and then KDP provides each child in the class with that book.

“We talk about how important reading is, even to athletes,” said senior DeLaney Stewart, an English major with a secondary education concentration and the president of KDP. “It’s a good opportunity to teach younger kids … about the importance of reading and the importance of education as a whole.”

Mary Outlaw, director of field experiences and student teaching, and a co-counselor of KDP, spoke about the development of KDP’s book fair, which began in fall of 1995, is now a biannual event that the chapter performs as a service project for local schools.

“We don’t do it as a fundraiser,” Outlaw said. “Rather than getting actual money back from the sales, we get Scholastic bucks … which we then give back to schools.”

Berry’s Chapter of KDP is a student-run organization, with Clement and Outlaw serving as co-counselors or faculty sponsors.

“The student leadership of the chapter has most always been exceptional,” Outlaw said. “We’re very fortunate to have student leadership that makes (the chapter) work very nicely.”

Clement, who served as the international president of KDP from 2012 to June of 2014, is thrilled with the achievements of Berry’s chapter of KDP and the support that it receives.

“I think that the important thing here is that Berry College and (Dean McDowell) support this chapter,” Clement said. “Because we have this chapter, we can offer opportunities to our students.”

Berry’s chapter of KDP has been internationally recognized with several awards, including one for their newsletter in 2005, one for communication in 2011 and the 2011-2012 Premier Achievement Award for their “Books and Book Bags” Literacy Alive! project.