Thursday, December 21, 2006
Holiday card project benefits scholarship fund
 A longtime tradition for the USI's chapter of Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) continues with the mailing of a holiday card that accomplishes two purposes. The card provides a means to exchange holiday greetings and benefits a scholarship fund for USI students at the same time. An international honor society in education, KDP promotes service to the University and the community. USI’s Xi Mu chapter, which has approximately 40 members, solicits donations from University employees and others related to the University for the holiday card/scholarship project each fall. Emeritus faculty and KDP alumni also participate. All donor names appear on the cards. Dr. Charles L. Price, professor of science education and KDP faculty advisor, said each participant in the greeting exchange/fundraiser receives the card in the mail during the second week of December. The first Kappa Delta Pi scholarship was a $400 award presented in 1985. Presently, the organization provides two $1,000 scholarships each year. Current recipients are Amber Wischmeier of Seymour, Indiana, and Ashleigh D. Beltz of Marion, Illinois. Both are majoring in elementary education. Since 1985, the USI chapter of Kappa Delta Pi has presented scholarships valued at approximately $29,000. The project was begun when Dr. Aldo Cardarelli, professor emeritus in education, was faculty advisor for KDP. He served as counselor from the chapter’s origination in 1978 until his retirement in 1995. He died in 2001. One KDP scholarship is awarded each year to a student planning a career in education. The recipient is chosen by representatives of the teacher education program. The other scholarship is available to students University-wide regardless of major. The recipient is chosen by the student affairs committee of the Faculty Senate. Recipients are selected on the basis of overall academic performance, service contributions, and an essay on career goals. The holiday card project was featured in a national KDP publication about 10 years ago. Since that time, chapters at other universities have developed similar programs that support scholarships on their campuses. Price said, “Service projects are important to student organizations because they provide concrete examples of helping others. Young adults form habits that carry throughout their lives. This type of project may compel KDP members to be involved in philanthropy throughout their lives.” For the past 10 years, the holiday cards have featured photographs of wildlife and nature taken on the USI campus and surrounding land owned by Southern Indiana Higher Education. Price photographed the scenes when he received faculty creative work awards in the early 90s. The 2006 card features an image of a water lily in bloom on Reflection Lake. Kappa Delta Pi also completes a spring service project that promotes reading in the elementary schools. |
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