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Students Present at Honor Society National Convention

March 23, 2011

Eight OBU students are attending the national convention of Sigma Tau Delta, an International English honor society, March 23-26 in Pittsburgh, Penn., with seven presenting critical papers and creative work and one chairing a session.

"Getting a paper accepted to the Sigma Tau Delta convention is an honor," said Dr. Sidney Watson, professor of English and the OBU chapter's faculty sponsor. "In recent years the convention's popularity has meant that many submissions have to be rejected. That we have a large group of students presenting papers speaks well for our students, our faculty and our program."

The seven students presenting work include John Buchanan, a junior from Borger, Texas; Jordan Gilbert, a junior from Chickasha, Okla.; Jordan Godfrey, a junior from Tulsa, Okla.; Joshua Lynch, a senior from Newalla, Okla.; Anna Morgan, a senior from Eatonville, Wash.; and Kaitlyn Rothaus and Sara Wilson, both seniors from Bethany, Okla. Morgan, who serves as student advisor, is a voting member of the board of directors that meets before the convention, and she also is leading the pre-convention Leadership Workshop. Cassie Sharp, a junior from Kansas City, Mo., is chairing a session during the workshop.

"Every year one of my favorite parts of the convention experience is watching our students interact with students from universities all around the country and coming away with a new appreciation of their own abilities and knowledge," Watson said. "What they learn, repeatedly, is that while OBU isn't one of the bigger schools at the convention, there's nothing small about an OBU education."

The annual convention draws more than 1,000 participants, mostly undergraduate and graduate students, although some alumni members also participate. Each year the convention features speakers of national importance. The 2011 convention, with the theme "Beyond Words," will feature poet laureate Kay Ryan and best-selling writer Dave Eggers.

For more information about Sigma Tau Delta, click here.