Origins of Sigma Kappa Delta
by Dr. Don Perkins
Alpha Chapter, Cottey College
Founded on April 21, 1996, Sigma Kappa Delta has its origins in Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society for four-year colleges and universities. Many English instructors in the growing two-year college system had been members during college and were interested in offering the same opportunity to two-year college students. For years before its founding, the Sigma Tau Delta Central Office had received calls from instructors asking about possible membership for two-year college students. Few two-year college students qualified for membership because membership in that organization is limited to students who have completed a minimum of two college courses in English language or literature beyond the usual requirements in freshman English.
Dr. William C. Johnson, then Executive Director of Sigma Tau Delta and Professor of English at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL, suggested a new national English honor society designed especially for two-year college students under the direction of Sigma Tau Delta. Sigma Tau Delta’s Board graciously agreed. Thus, Sigma Kappa Delta was founded when Dr. Johnson invited four two-year college instructors to meet April 18-21, 1996, at the Chicago Allerton Hotel on the Miracle Mile. Attending the first meeting were Professor Mirtica Winston of Coffeyville Community College, Coffeyville, KS; Dr. Steven Culbertson of Owens Community College, Toledo, OH; Dr. Susan LeJeune of Louisiana State University, Eunice, LA; Dr. Don Perkins of Cottey College, Nevada, MO. These dedicated recruits met for long hours with Dr. Johnson and Sigma Tau Delta President Dr. Elaine Hughes of the University of Montevallo, Montevallo, AL. Over the course of several meetings, the group selected the name of the new organization, designed a key and logo, chose organization colors of green and gold, drew up a constitution, planned a recruitment campaign, and elected officers: Dr. LeJeune, National President; Professor Winston, Vice President; Dr. Culbertson, Secretary/Historian; and Dr. Perkins, Executive Secretary (now called Executive Director). Dr. Perkins’ home base, Cottey College in Nevada, MO, was chosen as the site of the new national headquarters. Sigma Tau Delta generously funded this founding meeting and invited the new organization to participate in its annual convention.
The Society began to offer official seals and T-shirts for purchase during the 1998-99 school year. Recruitment efforts continued to be a main focus, and by 2000, twenty-eight chapters had been chartered nationwide. The year 2000 also brought the publication of the first Sigma Kappa Delta Chapter Handbook.
Dr. Linda Kraeger of Grayson County College, Denison, TX, assumed the office of President in May 2000. During the 2001-2002 year, members were given permission to compete for the best paper award at convention, and the Board of Directors expanded the number of awards and scholarships offered. Sigma Kappa Delta began to host an exclusive awards luncheon during convention week where winners were announced. Plans got underway for the publication of the first national literary journal. At a brainstorming session during the 2000 Board meeting in St. Louis, MO, Dr. Sheila Byrd suggested the name Hedera helix (Latin for English Ivy) for the literary journal. The name was embraced and the idea that Hedera helix symbolizes much of what education and our honor society stands for; consequently, English Ivy was also selected as a national symbol of Sigma Kappa Delta. By the end of the 2001 school year, the Society had grown to thirty-four official chapters.
As the organization grew, so did the needs of the national headquarters. In spring 2002, Dr. Sheila Byrd became Executive Director, and the location of the national headquarters was moved to Calhoun Community College, Decatur, AL. Calhoun Community College graciously agreed to provide office space and support to the growing national organization. Dr. Byrd immediately began the process of having Articles of Incorporation drawn up in the state of Alabama so the Society would fall under the IRS category of a 501c(3) organization. The Board of Directors appointed Jan Anderson of Calhoun Community College as the new Editor of Publications. Professor Joan Reeves of Northeast Alabama Community College, Rainsville, AL, was elected President, and ended the 2002-2003 school year with forty-five chapters.
Sigma Kappa Delta Today
Recognizing the value of collaboration, the Sigma Kappa Delta board voted in 2024 to rejoin Sigma Tau Delta, along with ELA Honor Society for Middle Schools and the National English Honor Society for High Schools. Dr. Sheila Byrd retired as Executive Director Emeritus after 22 years of outstanding leadership. Operating collectively as English Honor Societies, the four societies provide a range of opportunities for students of English language and literature at different stages of their academic journey. Sigma Kappa Delta now hosts over 120 chapters.
