Willimantic, Conn. – Eastern Connecticut State University’s sixth annual induction ceremony of Alpha Kappa Delta, the international sociology honor society, occurred on May 2 in the Student Center Theatre. This year eight students were inducted—each of them juniors and seniors majoring in sociology with cumulative grade point averages of 3.3 or above.
Before the induction, Sociology Professor Cara Bergstrom-Lynch described the value of a sociology degree. “You have learned to conduct research, analyze data, present information and think critically, and you’ve gained a global perspective,” she said. “Many of my students have gone on to successful careers in education, nonprofit and business. Also, you might find it interesting to know that Martin Luther King Jr., Jesse Jackson, Ronald Reagan and Michelle Obama were all sociology majors.”
The event’s keynote speaker, Sociology Professor William Lugo, spoke of the role of activism in society. “Activism isn’t about participating in a protest or being a part of some group,” he said. “It’s about how you live your life in general, and doing the right thing.”
This year’s inductees include Heather Demers of Oxford, MA; Kyle Donovan of Manchester; Lindsay Emblidge of Waterford; Amy Gutgsell of Old Lyme; Samantha Marsh of Plainfield; Olivia Muscarella of Oakdale; Anne Stolpe of Mystic; and Brianna Sullivan of Wethersfield.