Celebrating academic excellence: KDP Induction Ceremony welcomes 12 new members

May 27, 2025

Purdue University’s Teacher Education Program inducted 12 outstanding students into its chapter of Kappa Delta Pi (KDP), the International Honor Society in Education, during a formal ceremony on April 21, 2025. The event recognized students for their academic achievement, professional promise, and commitment to the field of education.

KDP inductees posing for a photo with current president Ryley Zawada.
Nine of the inductees at the welcome table (KDP President Ryley Zawada, center; Photo provided)

Founded in 1911, KDP is one of the largest and most prestigious education honor societies worldwide, with over 35,000 members and more than 600 chapters. KDP in Purdue’s College of Education has quickly grown into an active and engaged community after being revitalized in 2024 under the leadership of Rachel Swank, KDP chapter counselor, and Tara Star Johnson, associate dean for learning.

Over the past year, KDP members have volunteered at local school carnivals and trunk or treats, participated in resume writing workshops and professional development with community school principals and superintendents, and successfully hosted the 2025 ATE Midwest Conference at Purdue.

Eligibility for KDP includes a 3.0 GPA, enrollment in at least six credits of professional education coursework, and alignment with KDP’s mission, vision, and values. The spring inductees represent a wide range of licensure areas across all 22 of Purdue’s Teacher Education Programs. Membership in KDP is open to all undergraduate and graduate members of Teacher Education at Purdue University, West Lafayette.

The 2025 inductees into the Purdue University chapter of KDP include:

  • Ben Boardman, Mathematics Education
  • Daley Brown, Elementary and Special Education
  • Janae Byman, Elementary Education
  • Sam Gretencord, Special Education
  • Emma Hoffman, Elementary Education
  • Samantha Sean Majewski, Elementary and Special Education
  • Lucy Povinelli, Family and Consumer Sciences Education
  • Becca Riley, Elementary and Special Education
  • Madaline Schepman, Early Childhood and Special Education
  • Juliana Soltis, Elementary Education
  • Eros Tokar, Art Education
  • Gretchen Corine Witmer, Elementary Education

The ceremony included remarks from co-counselors Swank and Johnson, as well as a keynote address from Phillip J. VanFossen, interim dean of the College. Each inductee was recognized with a certificate and official KDP pin, followed by the traditional candle lighting ceremony. The evening concluded with recognition of graduating seniors Allison Peterson and Gretchen Witmer, who received KDP honor cords for Purdue’s upcoming spring commencement. Special guest Christopher Whited, chief experience officer at KDP’s Regional Office, also attended.

Congratulations to our new KDP members!

Allison Peterson and Gretchen Witmer standing next to each other smiling for a photo.
Allison Peterson and Gretchen Witmer, graduating KDP seniors

For more information about the Purdue University chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, please contact Rachel Swank.

Source: Rachel Swank