Upsilon Kappa, Lee University’s chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education, recently inducted its new members for the Fall 2022 semester.

“The standards that we set for our Lee University teacher candidates are high,” said Dr. Shane Brown, director of teacher education program and field experiences. “We believe students in classrooms deserve the best, and these individuals have proved their ability to meet those standards through hard work and dedication to their academics. We are excited about what the future holds for them as they make real differences in kids’ lives.”

The event opened with words from the chapter’s president, Samantha Eason, followed by keynote speaker Dr. JoAnn Higginbotham, professor of education. The inductees were presented and were briefed on the society’s history and mission to continue the ceremony, and the chapter’s officers initiated the newest members in closing.

“Being inducted means the world to me,” said April Richmond, new member of Upsilon Kappa. “It is full circle for me because my mother was in Kappa Delta Pi during her years as a teacher, and we share that now. I’m so excited to get poured into and to enrich my aspirations of being a teacher and training the world’s future leaders.”

Upsilon Kappa counselors Dr. Laura Anderson and Brown presented the inductees, who include Kendra Bradley, Robert Jeremiah Burkey, Mackenzie Carroll, Kailey Davis, Anna Dyar, Nathan Fowler, Deborah Hale, Macy Nipper, Miranda Phillips, Richmond, and Caroline Worrall.

Higginbotham has been a member of the Lee family since 1981. At Lee, she teaches courses in the teacher education program and directs the Thailand Summer Study Program. She has had articles published in the International Journal of Diversity in Education and the Tennessee Reading Journal. She also served as a referee for two education diversity journals.

At the end of this semester, Higginbotham will retire after 50 years in education, 41 of those being at Lee. “Lee is losing such an invaluable part of our education team,” said Brown.

Kappa Delta Pi was founded by William Bagley, Truman Kelly, and Thomas Edgar Musselman in 1911 at the University of Illinois to foster excellence in education and promote fellowship among those dedicated to teaching. The founders chose the name from the Greek words knowledge, duty, and power.