Thiel College Sigma Tau Delta chapter inducts new members, marks 25th anniversary year

Posted April 29, 2026 Print

Students alumni faculty english honorary induction story 2026

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College’s Alpha Iota Kappa Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society, inducted new members and installed officers during its annual ceremony April 19, concluding a year that included recognition of the chapter’s 25th anniversary.

Earlier in the spring semester, the College recognized the chapter’s quarter-century milestone, highlighting its sustained contributions to academic excellence, literary achievement and service within the English Department and across campus. Founded in 2000 by Mary Theresa Hall, Ph.D., the Alpha Iota Kappa Chapter has maintained active membership, student leadership and faculty mentorship aligned with the society’s motto, “Sincerity, Truth and Design.”

At the April ceremony, Heather Aukerman ’28, Olivia Cedar ’27, Kyleigh Coy ’27, Gracie Mosko ’27, Kayley Risser ’28, Hannah Smail ’27, Summer Stitt ’28, Hayden Tucker ’26 and Nina Vernino ’27 were inducted.

The chapter also installed Coy, president; Risser, vice president; Stitt, secretary; and Aukerman, treasurer and Student Government Association representative as its executive officers for the 2026-27 school year.

Board of Trustees member Rod Wilt ’86, a Thiel College alumnus with degrees in English and business administration and a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, delivered the keynote address. Wilt discussed how his academic experiences at Thiel informed his professional path and emphasized goal setting and resilience.

Among the chapter’s longstanding initiatives is the publication of The Phoenix, Thiel College’s student-produced literary magazine. Sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, the magazine features poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and scholarly work and has been published continuously for decades, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the current edition.

Chapter members also organize poetry readings, participate in community outreach such as visits to St. Paul’s Homes, provide peer tutoring, hold campus leadership roles, and present at regional and national English conferences.

Sigma Tau Delta, founded in 1924, is an international honor society dedicated to recognizing academic achievement in English language and literature. The organization includes more than 850 chapters worldwide. At Thiel College, membership in the Alpha Iota Kappa Chapter is open to students who meet scholastic standards established by the English Department, including completion of advanced English coursework and a minimum cumulative and English GPA of 3.0.

“I am very proud of the magnificent work that the Alpha Iota Kappa Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta has accomplished in its 25-year history,” said Professor of English and James Pedas Endowed Chair of Communication Mary Theresa Hall, Ph.D., who launched the chapter in 2000. “We’ve had an active chapter, excellent student-officers and faculty advisors, and a collegiality that highlights the role our students and faculty play in fostering Sincerity, Truth, and Design.”

The chapter is co-advised by Sheila Gross, Ph.D. ’10 and Jared Johnson, Ph.D. MBA’27.