On Tuesday, October 3rd at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) Lecture Hall the Alpha Eta chapter of Sigma Kappa Delta (SKD) conducted its second induction ceremony. The English Honor Society welcomed new members Maricia Chanel, Pearl Munoz, Kenecia Godinet, Indira Lemana, Hadassah Umi-Mageo, Destiny Savusa, Jasmine Wyberski, Joffrey Maalona, Anthony Salavea, and Karoline Ilimaleota. Incumbent members include Charinalei Simanu (President), Cailyn Ponausuia (V. President), Nelly Laulu (Secretary) and Tavui Toatelegese II and Deliah Paopao. Although both are newly inducted, Jasmine Wyberski serves as Treasurer and Pearl Munoz is the chapter’s Historian.

With this second installment of Alpha Eta membership, its advisor Mrs. Ruth Tauiliili-Mahuka described the chapter’s upcoming activities for the current semester. “We plan on carrying out a number of community service activities that promote reading and an interest in literature at more local high schools, much like we completed in the spring,” she said, “and to complete Volume III of our Pacific Voices Literary Journal.” Every year the Alpha Eta chapter also makes a contribution to the SKD national project, which this year is the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

Mrs. Tauiliili-Mahuka shared that Pacific Voices is a literary journal featuring original poetry, prose and artwork from the SKD members and other ASCC students. Staff for the publication consists mainly of three-chapter members who serve as chief editor and editorial assistants. All poetry and prose submitted for possible inclusion is put through a vetting process to ensure it matches the chosen theme of the edition. “Thus far, the response from readers who’ve purchased our publications has been very positive,” said Tauiliili-Mahuka. “We only print a limited number because these are created primarily for the national SKD Literary Journal Award competition held each fall semester. Printing can be expensive, and in the long run we’re considering using a Pacific self-publishing company in New Zealand to print each of the three volumes for distribution on a much larger scale.

In addition to producing Pacific Voices, the ASCC SKD chapter members have also done a series of outreach workshops at local high schools intended to foster an appreciation of literature, primarily poetry. At a typical workshop, SKD members would perform their original poetry, then organize the high school audience into small groups, with each focusing on one of the poems from the performance. Each group used their selected work as a springboard to create a collaborative poem and collage using crafting materials. The activity would culminate in a group discussion and a sharing of the collaborative poems and collages. “The level of engagement from the high school students and the fun they have being creative makes the outreach all the more worthwhile for the SKD members,” explained Tauiliili-Mahuka.

Anyone seeking further information on the ASCC chapter of the Sigma Kappa Delta, or who would like to inquire about their Pacific Voices publication, is welcome to contact their advisor by email at r.tauiliili-mahuka@amsamoa.edu. Full details on the nationwide honor society can be found on its website at https://www.english2.org