Educators support student teachers

Delta Kappa Gamma chapters merge into one group

Delta Kappa Gamma is an international organization for “key women educators.” Members are either active in education or are retired.

Every year, Delta Kappa Gamma, Epsilon Pi Chapter, offers scholarships to local student teachers as they enter their final year before entering the teaching field. The group created an endowment fund through Humboldt Area Foundation and it has grown to the point where two $1,000 scholarships are given each year. In addition, the group offers three “Outstanding Student Teacher” awards of $300 each to outstanding student teachers who have completed their courses for their credentials: one in elementary education, one in secondary education and one in special education. Those scholarships have most recently been funded by an in-house auction in which members donate an item to be auctioned to other members.

This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, things has been a bit different for everyone. The Epsilon Pi Chapter decided to have a virtual auction via Zoom. Members brought their items to a member’s house a week early and a catalog was created and emailed to the membership. Bidding began in earnest via email.

For the auction, a PowerPoint presentation was prepared showing each item in the order of the catalog listing. As each picture was shown, the auctioneer showed the item online. More than enough was raised to fund the scholarships via this event.

There are two chapters of Delta Kappa Gamma in Humboldt County. Epsilon Pi invited the Pi Chapter to join in the auction. A few days before that, Pi Chapter members donated gift cards to local children in need. They invited Epsilon Pi to join with them, and they raised several hundred dollars in gift cards for children and teens.

Pi Chapter began in Humboldt County in 1938. As the group grew in size they split into Pi and Epsilon Pi in 1959.

Two sisters, retired Humboldt County teachers Barbara Cole and Mary Biehn, have both belonged to Delta Kappa Gamma for well over 50 years, but they have never belonged to the same chapter. This will change soon. The groups have decided to join together again as Pi within a year.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARILYN TUCKER Pictured is a recent Zoom meeting for the Delta Kappa Gamma scholarship auction.

Sisters Mary Biehn and Barbara Cole have both belonged to Delta Kappa Gamma for more than 50 years. They are both retired teachers.