Kappa Delta Pi Members at Stepping Up Day (1957)

Item Information

Title:
Kappa Delta Pi Members at Stepping Up Day (1957)
Description:
This is a group photograph of Springfield College's Kappa Delta Pi members at Stepping Up Day (1957). In the photograph, there are ten people, including the man on the far right, standing on the stairs of MacClean Terrace behind Alumni Hall, and several people are sitting on chairs behind them. All men in the photograph are wearing suits and ties and the women are wearing dresses. Seven people can be seen holding something like a certificate. A microphone is on the right and a speaker can be seen on the top left corner of the photograph. Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education, (ΚΔΠ) was founded in 1911 and was one of the first discipline-specific honor societies. Membership in Kappa Delta Pi is one of the highest academic honors at Springfield College. The honor Fraternity began at Springfield College through the work of Hanford Burr, a Historian, Minister, and Teacher. Selection is based on first, index (minimum of 3.00). Then students and faculty rate the top ten from the eligible list according to preference. The scores are tallied and sent to the officers of Kappa Delta Pi for final selection, based on scholarship, leadership, and character. Stepping Up Day at Springfield College began in 1926, replacing Decapitation Day, the day in which freshman were finally allowed to remove their green beanies and pass over Senior Walk. Today, not only do freshman take a step up, but sophomores become upperclassmen, juniors become seniors, and seniors become alumni. Each class president turns over an object that acts as a symbol to the class president below him. The passage of the symbol from the sophomores to the freshmen has a long history. Traditionally, freshmen experienced a series of initiation challenges upon arrival to Springfield College. These activities, including Cage-Ball and Rope Pull, occurred between the freshman and sophomore classes, creating the traditional SC freshman-sophomore rivalry. The passage of the Peace Pipe during Stepping up Day signifies the end of class rivalry and the pledge of future friendship. The junior class presents a Plaque to the sophomore class, which is indicative of junior class service projects such as Yearbook, Junior Prom, etc. The seniors present the juniors with the Mortar Board, representing the achieving status of the seniors and their eventual graduation. Finally, the Alumni Secretary welcomes the seniors into the Alumni Association and invites the Senior President to attach the senior class ribbon to the Alumni Key. "Scanned image", "KAPPA DELTA PI", and "Stepping Up Day '57" are written on the back of the photograph.
Date:
1957
Format:
Photographs
Location:
Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
Collection (local):
College Archives Digital Collections
Series:
Springfield College Clubs Records
Subjects:
Springfield College
Springfield College--Traditions
Springfield College--Clubs
MacLean Terrace
Alumni Hall
Springfield (Mass.)
Group portraits
Suits (Clothing)
Dresses
Places:
Massachusetts > Hampden (county) > Springfield
Link to Item:
http://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/21788
Terms of Use:
Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
Springfield College
Identifier:
kappa-delta-pi-1957-stepping-up-day