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Three female students stand side by side and hold their Kappa Delta Pi certificates.
Newly-inducted Kappa Delta Pi members present their certificates. From left: Jessica Kachler, Marissa Levis, Elizabeth Marzolla (Photos: Bill Blanchard)

Feb. 25, 2020 — On Sunday, Feb. 23, the Peter Sammartino School of Education celebrated the induction of 78 students as the first members of the newly initiated Alpha Kappa Gamma chapter of the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education.

The ceremony included a keynote speech from Kimberly Dickstein Hughes, the New Jersey State Teacher of the Year. Sharon Towler of Felician University acted as the installing officer at the ceremony and also spoke about the importance of educational excellence and the work of Kappa Delta Pi.

Female stands with arms outstretched, speaking to an audience outside of the frame.
Kimberly Dickstein Hughes, the 2020 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year, delivers the keynote speech during the ceremony.
Five females stand side by side behind a podium, looking down and smiling.
Sharon Towler (far left) of Felician University served as the installing officer for the ceremony, and she welcomed the student officers of the new Kappa Delta Pi chapter. From left: Sharon Towler, Verónica Chávez (vice president), Imani Taylor (treasurer), Brooke Reynolds (president), Lea Caroscio (secretary).

Student officers planned a book drive that also took place during the induction ceremony, and this was the chapter’s first service event. Donated books are being given to Santa Elena Primary Catholic School in Cayo, Belize.

The mission of Kappa Delta Pi is to sustain an honored community of diverse educators by promoting excellence and advancing scholarship, leadership and service. Kappa Delta Pi endeavors to help committed educators be leaders in improving education for global citizenship.

A crowd of students and their families stands in the bleachers facing the stage.
Students and their families stand to honor the inductees during the ceremony.