Last week marked a milestone on Southeastern’s campus as, on Monday Sept. 27, 10 students were inducted into Southeastern’s new chapter of Delta Alpha Pi. The purpose of the  honor society is to help promote, encourage and honor the academic achievement of students with disabilities.

“It’s nice because we can relate to each other, we can relate to each other’s experiences,” said junior Nicole Couper, elementary education major and Theta Phi Alpha recruitment chair. “People don’t realize we live a normal life, we just have to go about some things in a different way.”

At the induction, the 10 students, stood as they were given their membership pins and took the induction pledge. They were also greeted with encouraging words from Jeff Day, owner of Spoga Fitness Center.

“For whatever reason, every single person has a disability, whether it is being shy, anxious, fear, stress, we forget everyone has one and that requires us all to work together to get through,” said Day.

Run by the Office of Disability Services, this is the first semester the group has been available to the students of Southeastern. Perspective members were sent letters of invitation at the beginning of the semester. Those undergraduate students wishing to participate must have completed a minimum of 24 credits and attained a cumulative grade point average of 3.10 (on a 4.0 scale). Graduate students must have completed a minimum of 18 credits and earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.30.

The group aims to promote students with high academic achievement who continue to excel as well as desire to give back to the community around them.

“All of the students involved are very strong academically and are very involved in the school community,” said Kay Maurin, director of Disability Services.

“I am so excited for them,” said Joy Brown, graduate assistant at the Office for Disability Services. “Most people want to hide their disability, this group is great because it lets the members say ‘Hey, I have this but I’m still human, I’m still a student, I am still doing good.” I hope it helps educate the community and makes the students feel more comfortable.

 “In school I never wanted to admit it,” said senior history major Opal Guillory, Miss Southeastern contestant and Special Olympics coach. “Now I have a high GPA and will have graduated collage after four years. It just goes to show that if you have a disability you can still do a lot in life.”

For more information on Delta Alpha Pi honor society you can contact the Office of Disability Services at 985-549-2247.