Sincerity, truth, and design. The motto of Sigma Tau Delta, Cameron's chapter of the International English Honor Society, rang true throughout the night. It was a celebration of academics and achievement as students were honored throughout the English Department.

      Sigma Tau Delta and the English Department held their annual banquet at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 31 in the Cameron Campus Ministries Building. Dr. Margery Kingsley, chair of the English and Foreign Languages Department, was the master of ceremonies for the evening.

      The evening began with the induction ceremony of Sigma Tau's new members. Each new member received a certificate and a red rose, the official flower of Sigma Tau. The new members are: Brian Adams, Megan Brodish, David L. Bublitz, Victoria Bullard, Jutta Carter, John-David Famoly, Carlyn Finke, Tracy Haught, Haley Orso, Shelly Ricci, Colin Watkins, Paul Williams, Angelia Womack, and Dr. Teresa M. Lubrano.

According to Dr. Vivian Thomlinson, faculty co-sponsor of Sigma Tau Delta, she had planned to announce the new officers for 2007-2008 at the banquet; however, the announcement was delayed until Tuesday.

       "You know those English majors and their deadlines," Dr. Thomlinson said.

       The initial deadline for votes was 5 p.m. Friday, but votes were still coming in Saturday afternoon. The officers were announced at Sigma Tau Delta's monthly meeting on Tuesday April 3. The officers for next year are: Jessica Frazier, President; Joan Gabelmann, Vice President; Haley Orso, Secretary; Angelia Womack, Student Activities Chair; and Paul Williams, SGA Representative.

      After the initiation ceremony and dinner, the guests enjoyed a reading by CU student Wilma Whittaker. Whittaker was the 2007-2008 Leigh Holmes Prize winner. She won the award for her nonfiction piece titled "Exit 52," but chose to read another work at the banquet called "The Scent of Hydrangeas."

      After the reading, several different scholarships and awards for 2006-2007 were presented to the English Department's finest students.

       The first scholarship presented was the Jessie May Hines Language Arts Scholarship. This scholarship went to Tracy Haught, Clarence Price, and Robin St. Germaine. Joan Gabelmann received the Lawton Shakespeare Club English Scholarship. Several students received an English Tuition Waiver including: Jessica Bench, Chinnie Burford, Patricia DiLeo-Sanders, Joan Gabelmann, Kornisha Gurley, Clarence Price, and Robin St. Germaine. After the scholarships were recognized, Dr. Kingsley moved on to recognize the recipients of three awards.

      Jessica Bench received the OCTE Geraldine Burns Award. This award is given to exemplary students seeking a degree in secondary English education. The next award was presented by two guests of honor, Bob Johnson and Dr. Leigh Holmes. Bob Johnson taught at CU last year in the English Department, and Dr. Holmes taught here for 28 years before retiring from Cameron. Whittaker was again honored for receiving this award. Dr. John Morris, Professor of English, awarded Barbara Adams with the John G. Morris Poetry Prize. This is the first year for this award, which is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Morris's mother. Dr. Thomlinson presented Joan Gabelmann a bouquet of flowers for her hard work and diligence as Sigma Tau Delta President for 2006-2007.

      According to Carolyn Kinslow, Director of the Center for Writers and co-sponsor of Sigma Tau Delta, the banquet was a huge success.   

      "We had a lot more students attend this year," Kinslow said. "Everything was beautiful, the food was great, and everyone had a good time.". - JF