English department students excel at Sigma Tau Delta conference

Ten Luther College students presented papers at the annual conference of the Sigma Tau Delta national honors society in Denver, March 29-April 1. The students, all English majors or minors, are members of Luther College’s Sigma Tau Delta chapter. Their papers examined Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice,” Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” 20th-century poetry and fiction, and contemporary film. Students also read from their own short stories.

Luther students at the Sigma Tau Delta conference in Denver, March 30, 2023: Grace James, Addie Craig, Ethan Kober, Scott Rust, Amy Webb, Anastasia Baldus, Mia Irving, Reagan Anania and Clara Wodny. Photo courtesy of Martin Klammer.

With 10 students, Luther College had one of the largest contingents at the convention. Luther students attending were Reagan Anania ’23 (Des Moines, Iowa), Anastasia Baldus ’24 (Charles City, Iowa), Addie Craig ’23 (Maquoketa, Iowa), Christina Dressler ’23 (Racine, Wisconsin), Mia Irving ’24 (Coralville, Iowa), Grace James ’23 (Waukesha, Wisconsin), Ethan Kober ’24 (Cedar Falls, Iowa), Scott Rust ’24 (Hudson, Wisconsin), Amy Webb ’24 (Waverly, Iowa) and Clara Wodny ’25 (Duluth, Minnesota).

Martin Klammer, Luther College professor of English who accompanied the students, said, “What was so impressive about the Luther contingent was not only the quality of their papers, but the way they supported each other. They came to each other’s presentations, even at 8:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning! The students learned so much, enjoyed themselves and really came together as a group.”

One of the presenters, Rust, said, “Attending the Sigma Tau Delta annual conference was an amazing experience! It was amazing to meet with and be surrounded by so many other English enthusiasts. It was also really fascinating to listen to others’ presentations and learn new things about literature.”

“For me, the most valuable part of the Sigma Tau Delta convention was having the opportunity to meet students from other schools. It’s fascinating to learn about the wide-ranging interests of our peers, and their enthusiasm for their work is contagious. Working with such a supportive community inspires me to keep digging deeper and to cultivate a similar atmosphere here on campus. Sharing your work is a really valuable experience. It teaches you to take pride in your writing while remaining humble enough to explore different angles,” said Craig.

Student travel, hotel and registration costs were supported by grants from the Office of the Provost, the Center for Ethics and Public Engagement, and the English Department.

About Luther College

At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.