Alpha Beta Kappa Chapter

Fall 2012 Initiation

• My name is Sarah Zipperer and I am the current president of the Alpha Beta Kappa Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi.

• This virtual initiation is the product of collaboration among chapter officers from across the country.

Greetings Candidates!

• Our virtual candidates include learners from a variety of locations around the state of Georgia and beyond.

• We welcome you and hope that you find this presentation meaningful. Welcome to KDP!

ABK Chapter is 8 years old

ABK Chapter was installed at Valdosta State University

on March 9, 2004

ABK Chapter is Growing

The chapter started with 38 members

in Spring 2004

To date we have inducted over 500 members into the chapter!

ABK Chapter is a Leader

Valdosta State University was the

first and only university to which Kappa Delta Pi issued a chapter charter

to a College of Arts and Sciences.

We are still growing and establishing ourselves here on VSU’s campuses. This virtual initiation

is an effort to serve those who attend virtual classes or who commute long distances.

ABK Chapter is Different

With our hectic schedules, it is difficult for us to meet monthly as a group in a single physical location because we are spread

around the state.

We do hold two initiations during each year and plan to start holding at least one general

meeting a year, most likely in the spring.

ABK Chapter is Involved

Your officers meet online as needed to take care of the chapter’s business.

Our greatest challenge is to find ways to serve our members better and

to keep us all connected.

Melissa Rainey, ABK President 2005

Hurricane Katrina Food Drive

Jocelyn Campbell & Kourtney White, ABK Membership Committee 2005

Project Teddy bearKatherine Backes (R), ABK Historian 2005

Hurricane Katrina Food Drive

KDP is Progressive

Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Societyin Education is vitally interested in

promoting excellence in education throughout the career lifecycle of its members

KDP is highly progressive and leads the community of honor societies by embracing

virtual universities and recognizing their scholarly accomplishments

KDP is Forever

Once you attain membership in KDP,you will be a member for life

If you lose contact after graduation, you may always reconnect as a member-at-large or by

joining a professional chapter

You may find KDP Headquartersonline at www.kdp.org

We hope you decide to remain an active member throughout your career

This Initiation is Different

Typically, a KDP initiation is done in a formal setting with family and friends attending.

Alpha Beta Kappa Chapter, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GAWilliam S. (Steve) Taisler (ABK President 2006-07) (center)

and the setting is solemn.

Members and

alumni of the

chapter attend

This Initiation is The Same

The ritual is a proud tradition repeated many times since 1927

Although the environment may be different, this version of

the ritual remains consistent with those being experienced

throughout KDP.

The Tradition is the Same

Please treat this virtual initiation as a serious undertaking.

This presentation attempts to provide as much of the solemnity

and tradition as possible in a virtual environment.

We have done our best to create the proper setting in our virtual environment.

As we begin…

The original ritual of Kappa Delta Pi, written for the initiation of new members

into the Society, was adopted by the Executive Council on March 3, 1927.

The initiation ceremony ritual combined idealism, symbolism, and tradition. The ceremony was

conducted in a “reverent and esthetic” manner, with symbols that suggested inspiration,

introspection, and consciousness.

Welcome

We, the officers and members of Alpha Beta Kappa Chapter, welcome you, our new prospective members,

to our chapter.

We would like to recognize each of you by name and to tell of your scholarship, but because of the

nature of this presentation, we will have to recognize you as a group for your outstanding

scholastic accomplishments at VSU.

Emily Hunter, 1st ABK President 2004

The Ceremony

Members of the Alpha Beta Kappa Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi,

International Honor Society in Education, we are now assembled to

reaffirm faith in the Ideals of our Society and to initiate into

membership candidates who seek the bond of our common purpose,

to promote excellence in and recognize outstanding contributions to education.

Master Chief Steve Taisler, USAF, ABK President 2006

Our History

Kappa Delta Pi was founded on March 8, 1911, at the University of Illinois.

The Society was incorporated

on June 8, 1911.

The Alpha Beta Kappa Chapter was installed by KDP former National KDP President, Dr.

Marcella Kysilka on March 9th, 2004

Dr. Julie ReffelABK Associate Counselor

ProfessorDr. Marcella KysilkaProfessor Emerita,

University of Central Florida

What Does Membership Imply?

Membership implies fostering the high ideals of the education profession by

assuming trusteeship of a rich professional legacy.

Candidates, you will be asked to accept the responsibility of transmitting this legacy at

the end of the presentation.

It is our privilege and duty as educators to transmit this legacy.

Michelle (Backes) Parkerson, 1st ABK Vice President 2004

ABK President 2005

What Does Membership Imply?

Do you accept the responsibility of transmitting this legacy?

If so, you will answer, “I do” by completing the affirmation statement

at the conclusion of the initiation.

Current members may state, “And we affirm anew our responsibility in the

transmission of this legacy.”

Kourtney White,ABK Membership Chair 2006

Principles of the Society

Education is a vital societal force that encourages universal welfare and

individual progress.

Education is the cornerstone of democracy and the foundation for personal fulfillment.

Honor societies conduct rituals and ceremonies to impress upon their members the ideals and duties

to which they adhere.

Melissa RaineyABK President 2005

& Dr. Moch

Principles of the Society

Members of Kappa Delta Pi have cherished the Society’s Ideals and

accepted the concepts of duty established when the organization

was founded.

It is desirable that new members of Kappa Delta Pi seek awareness of the duties which education

imposes and of the Ideals of the Society accepts.

Jennifer Johnston,ABK Treasurer 2005,Convo Delegate 2005

Ideals of the Society

We present for your acceptance the Ideals which guide members of the Society.

In a formal ceremony where the members gather together at the same place,

candles are lit representing each ideal.

In our virtual ceremony, these candles are represented graphically

for each of the ideals.

Korry Allen, ABK President 2008

Fidelity to Humanity

The first Ideal is that of Fidelity to Humanity.

compassion in the contacts one has, as an educator, with humanity;

This Ideal implies faith in the potential of human beings and in the improvement

of the human condition through education;

Dr. Denise T. Reid,ABK Associate Counselor

Professor

Fidelity to Humanity

and dedication to the concept that through continuous education based upon equal opportunity, persons of all

ages, races, and creeds will find increased opportunity for experiencing

more meaningful lives.

All of this is implied in the

Ideal of Fidelity to Humanity.

Maranda Powell,ABK Alternate Convo

Delegate 2005

Fidelity to Humanity

Do you accept this Ideal of Fidelity to Humanity?

If so, you will answer, “I do” by completing the affirmation statement at

the conclusion of the initiation.

Current members may state “And we affirm anew our faith in the Ideal of Fidelity to

Humanity.”

Mandy Moore,ABK Historian & Convo

Delegate 2009

Ideal of Science

The second Ideal is that of Science.

This Ideal implies that, as an educator, one will be faithful to the cause of free inquiry and strive

to eliminate prejudice and superstition by withholding judgment until accurate and

adequate evidence is obtained.

Wendy Lane, 1st ABK HistorianABK President 2004

Ideal of Science

One will not distort evidence to support a favorite theory; not be

blinded by the new or spectacular; nor condemn the old simply

because it is old.

All of this is implied in the Ideal of Science.

Dr. Kysilka, former National President KDP, and

Dr. Sheri Gravett, Associate Vice President Academic Affairs,

ABK Member

Ideal of Science

Do you accept this Ideal of Science?

If so, you will answer, “I do” by completing the affirmation

statement at the conclusion of the initiation.

Current members may state, “And we affirm anew our faith in the Ideal of

Science.”

Dr. Louis Levy,VSU Interim President,

ABK Member

Ideal of Service

The third Ideal is that of Service.

This Ideal is the very essence of education which seeks

advancement, not merely for self, but for society as well.

The incentive of the great educators of the world has been their desire

to serve humanity.

Dr. Marsha Krotseng,Chief Planning Officer,

ABK Member of the Society

Ideal of Service

Service in education implies living so that others are strengthened and

inspired, and striving for the achievement of justice, peace, and a

better way of life for all.

All of this is implied in the Ideal of Service.

Dr. Sheri Gravett,Associate Vice President

Academic Affairs,ABK Member of the Society

Ideal of Service

Do you accept this Ideal of Service?

If so, you will answer, “I do” by completing the affirmation statement

at the conclusion of the initiation.

Current members may state, “And we affirm anew our faith in the Ideal of

Service.”

Dr. Sheri GravettAssociate Vice President

Academic AffairsMember of the Society

Ideal of Toil

The final Ideal is that of Toil.

Toil - the will to do the task that must be done whether the task

pleases one or not,

and faith in the social necessity and intrinsic reward

of the education profession.

Dr. Peggy L. MochABK Chapter Counselor

Professor

Ideal of Toil

It implies working with such faith and zeal that others are won to

the cause of education.

All of this is implied in the Ideal of Toil.

If one life has been given greater

freedom and nobler vision, toil has not been in vain.

Dr. Peggy L. MochABK Chapter Counselor

Professor

Ideal of Toil

Do you accept this Ideal of Toil?

If so, you will answer, “I do” by completing the affirmation statement

at the conclusion of the initiation.

Current members may state, “And we affirm anew our faith in the

Ideal of Toil.”

Dr. Peggy L. MochABK Chapter Counselor

Professor

Society Emblem

Our Society’s emblem incorporates:

the scroll,

and the characters K (Kappa), Δ (Delta),Π (Pi).

the stylus,

the beehive,

Society Emblem

Many of the treasures of antiquity, which form the foundation of modern education, rest upon

scrolls of papyrus.

The golden scroll, therefore, is the foundation of our emblem.

The shaft running through the scroll is the stylus, the first instrument known

to be used in making letters and figures.

Society Emblem

The beehive symbolizes toil.

represent our motto —Knowledge, Duty, Power —

words expressing the entire meaning of our

educational ideals.

The characters,

K (Kappa), Δ (Delta), Π (Pi)

Are you ready to proceed?

The Purpose and Ideals of Kappa Delta Pi are now known to you.

Are you ready to assume the obligation of membership in

Kappa Delta Pi? Emily Hunter,

1st ABK President

If so, you will answer, “I am” in the affirmation statement and continue to the conclusion of

the initiation.

Obligation of the Society

Please read aloud the Obligation of the Society:

If you so promise, do so by completing the affirmation statement at the conclusion of the

initiation.

I promise to abide by the Constitution and Bylaws of Kappa Delta Pi

and to cooperate to expand the influence of its purpose and Ideals.

Emily Hunter, 1st ABK President

You Are Now Members

I now declare you members of Kappa Delta Pi,

International Honor Society in Education,

pledged to be faithful to its Ideals, and worthy to enter into the bonds of fellowship

with its members.

Emily Hunter, 1st ABK President

So to Teach…-So to teach, that our words

inspire a will to learn;

To the fulfillment of these objectives, we pledge our efforts and our faith.

-So to serve, that each day may enhance the growth of exploring minds;

-So to live, that we may guide young and old to know the truth and love the right.

Dr. Peggy L. MochABK Chapter Counselor

Professor

Officers of ABK Chapter

Dr. Peggy Moch – CounselorDr. Denise Reid – Associate CounselorDr. Julie Reffel – Associate Counselor.

Sarah Zipperer – PresidentHazel R. Moon – Vice-PresidentChelsea Norton – SecretaryEmily Wheeler - TreasurerTasandra West – Historian Caitlin R. Bailey – Foundation RepresentativeDenisha Dukes – Membership Chair

What Happens Next…You should receive your membership

number from KDP Headquarters within two months.

You should receive your KDP and chapter membership certificates, KDP pin, a copy

of the KDP Creed, and the “Essential Guide for New members” from us within

the month.

ConclusionThis concludes the Fall 2012 ABK

Chapter initiation. Please remember to complete your affirmation form.

Without the affirmation, we cannot certify your initiation to KDP.

Click on the link for affirmation provided on the online initiation main

page.