Kappa Delta Pi Gains Notice for Virtual Halloween Program
The Education and Health honor society is recognized for its efforts in the community.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mu Sigma chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, the education honor society in Manhattan College’s School of Education and Health, hosted its Safe Halloween on campus event for more than a decade.
Although circumstances caused a change in plans, Kappa Delta Pi continued the Halloween tradition by holding a virtual program in October 2020.
In recognition of their efforts, the Mu Sigma chapter received a community service award from the national Kappa Delta Pi organization.
“It was quite gratifying for our chapter to receive this award for MC Halloween 2020,” said Ruth Zealand, Ph.D., professor of education. “It showed the dedication of members of our chapter and of other clubs to continue the Halloween tradition for Bronx neighborhood students with an engaging, virtual event of activities during the pandemic.”
In place of the traditional on-campus event where children visited classrooms indoors, Kappa Delta Pi’s student leaders organized a virtual Halloween event that children and their families could navigate at their own pace. The virtual presentation featured experiments, videos, music, makeup tutorials, recipes and games, giving children a chance for tricks and treats on their own time.
Karen Nicholson, Ph.D., dean of the School of Education and Health, also received the Dr. William C. Bagley Award for Leadership Excellence from Kappa Delta Pi.
“We are so proud of Dean Nicholson, who has been a strong force in the KDP organization for years and was honored for her leadership excellence and lifelong commitment to educators,” Zealand said.
“It’s a tribute to her inspiring leadership, ranging from being a counselor of a KDP chapter to vice president and then president at the national level. She has served this international honor community splendidly in a variety of leadership positions.”