Remarks for a Sigma Kappa Delta End of Year Celebration

I want to extend formal greetings to our faculty, staff, and students, as well as our other guests for this celebration. With deepest gratitude, welcome to Odessa College. We are here to celebrate the members of Sigma Kappa Delta, Psi Alpha chapter and highlight their accomplishments. Throughout the year they made it their duty to show up, be positive, listen, and give to their fellow students and so many more. They did this consistently and are still doing it. A small example: we just finished a round of edits to the latest issue of the literary journal and will be sending acceptance e-mails, putting it together, and arranging a launch party for either this summer or next semester.

Whether it has been making tabling events special for those new to the school or looking for a place to fit in, whether it has been encouraging others to express themselves, whether it has been promoting literacy, whether it has been gathering donations for those in need, whether it has been hosting events where the community can gather, Sigma Kappa Delta, Psi Alpha chapter has been there. Not all our members will be getting certificates or awards today. In no way does that mean their contribution is insignificant. Our English Honor Society as a whole is a point of pride.

I would like to begin by recognizing our newest members, M. & J. They joined this semester but have been tremendous. We were at MCH hospital Friday, celebrating their volunteers, and you could feel the energy in the room. That others from the community took the time to think about what it takes to create a place of healing clearly meant so much to them. Thank you M. & J. for being there and sharing your thoughts. That was a genuine initiation to SKD and college life. I'm happy we can acknowledge it here.

I want to recognize E. for exceptional effort the entire year with SKD. She showed up to help with our fundraiser, made the most of the launch party, shared her writing and thoughts with us frequently. Our members always make extra efforts and I know they recognize how much Esther has done.

Finally, it is time to give out these Service Awards and personalized gifts to accompany them. D.G., one of our advisors, has been a steady presence for us. I absolutely loved the slides he put together on slam poetry and professional wrestling, the work he does in making sure the room is booked and Poetry and Storytelling Night happen, the exceptional work he has done in making sure others in the community know about our events.

V. also merits a service award. I want to highlight how she made sure that everyone knew about our donation drive and spreading awareness about it to other areas of West Texas. (Andrews. I mean Andrews). There's so much V. does for SKD–a service award would have been hers no matter what–but I think we all understand how remarkable it is that V. sees the school and SKD as part of the community without hesitation.

And I can't even begin to address how much S. has done. Whether it is formatting the literary journal for publication, getting our group ready for Fright Night, making any number of impromptu publications on Canva, making zines, pushing for us to do community service, donating so much herself, well, the only way I can sum this up is by saying that incredible amounts of service really does translate into leadership. It's visible in everything S. has accomplished.

I want to thank you all again for being here. I'm going to turn this celebration over to Dr. Dan and Dr. Buenning.