English Majors to Present at National Conference

Two English majors will represent Fairmont State University at the annual meeting of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honorary society. The convention will be held Feb. 26 through March 1 in Savannah, Ga.

Sarah Queen, a native of Clarksburg, and Marissa Stickel of Lost Creek, will make presentations. Both of the students are seniors at Fairmont State. Queen is double-majoring in English education and Journalism Education, and Stickel is double-majoring in English and French. Matthews is the faculty sponsor of Beta Omega, Fairmont State’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta.

“This conference is a wonderful opportunity for our students to expose their work to a wider audience and to network with like-minded folks from around the world,” said Dr. James Matthews, a faculty member in the Department of Language and Literature.

Sigma Tau Delta was established in 1924 with a purpose to confer distinction for high achievement in the English language, literature and writing—with an intention to foster literacy and other aspects of the discipline of English. The annual conventions held by the society involve national attention and participation at an international level.

The convention provides students with an opportunity to present critical papers along with fiction and poetry. As this year marks the 90th anniversary of Sigma Tau Delta, the event will have the anniversary theme “1924.” On the opening night, the convention will have a retrospective with a special Sigma Tau Delta documentary. Also, the convention will include a final gala where everybody will dress as their favorite 1920s authors.

The convention theme this year is “River Current.” As the location of the convention this year is on the Savannah, a river rich with the currents of history, the theme speaks for itself. The event, according to Sigma Tau Delta, will be a time for the participants to meditate on the currents of history that have carried the honorary society from its birth to the present, as well as the changes in the field of English language and literature since 1924.

About the photo:

Pictured from left to right are Sarah Queen, Dr. James Matthews and Marissa Stickel.

Language & LiteratureCollege of Liberal ArtsJames MatthewsMarissa StickelSarah QueenEnglish