Students and local teachers take part in an induction ceremony a year after the University of Houston-Victoria chapter of Kappa Delta Pi started.

A year after the first members were inducted into the University of Houston-Victoria Alpha Zeta Lambda chapter, 24 more students and teachers have joined the organization, which is part of the international education honor society Kappa Delta Pi.  

The third group of members was inducted in February at the UHV University Center. The chapter now totals 90 active members in Victoria and Fort Bend.  

“It’s been a busy year for the honor society,” said Blair Kelly, Alpha Zeta Lambda co-president. “We have come a long way in establishing the organization, so now we are able to host more events and recruit new members.”  

Kelly said the group is hoping to reach some of the younger UHV education students who are eligible, so they can become members earlier in their college career. Invitations to join the honor society are extended to education majors who have completed 30 semester hours or more and have at least a 3.0 grade-point average. The next initiation will be in Cinco Ranch during the fall.  

“Being a part of an honor society like this allows our members to improve their resumes,” Kelly said. “And when they plan honor society events, they can use some of those skills in their future classrooms.”  

UHV students and local teachers inducted this spring were:  

Victoria Loose, Bay City
Rebecca Richardson, Bay City
Alaina Reamy, Cuero
Denise Anderson, El Campo
Jessica Cranfield, Friendswood
Jennifer Barker, Katy
Silvia Bellota, Katy
Lauren Garcia, Katy
Monika Saadsourd, Katy
Jeffrey Hartsfield, Kenedy
Kassie McBride, Port Lavaca
Brittany Reyes, Richmond
Jeannette Vasquez, Richmond
Sylvia Santos, Rosenberg
Paula Sierra, Rosenberg
Rhonda Vela, Rosenberg
Kimberly Rogers, Sugar Land
Carmen Ybarra, Sugar Land
Markie Alaniz, Victoria
Rebecca Duke, Victoria
Alycia Medrano, Victoria
Amy Reyna, Victoria
Kimberly Gilliam, Weimar
Randall Steiner, Wharton

Initiation is just the beginning for new members. The chapter does multiple service projects in Victoria and Katy to help the community and bring members together.  

The organization recently participated in Literacy Alive!, an international service initiative that brings literacy awareness to the community. The UHV chapter also held an event at the Children’s Discovery Museum. It gave parents a night out while their children participated in literacy activities such as making books.  

Members also are participating in Relay for Life and partnering with the Children’s Discovery Museum by offering games during Victoria’s Jam Fest on April 20.  

Kappa Delta Pi is a unique organization at UHV because it combines students from two different teaching locations. Members include students, faculty members, administrators and teachers from local school districts. The organization’s advisers include Amy Barnhill, assistant professor in the School of Education & Human Development; and Steve Trowbridge, retired professor in the School of Education & Human Development.  

For more information about the UHV chapter of Kappa Delta Pi and other student organizations, go to www.uhv.edu/student_org/StudentOrganizations.aspx.