Zeta Epsilon Chapter Receives International and Regional Recognition

Zeta Epsilon, the College of Nursing and Health Professions’ (CONHP) chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), was recently honored with a 2015–2017 Chapter Key Award and was recognized through the 2015–2017 Showcase of Regional Excellence.

STTI is an international honor society of nursing that supports nurses’ efforts to improve the health of the world’s people. CONHP students in the top 25 percent of their class are eligible for election into Zeta Epsilon in their junior year once they have completed one-half of their required nursing courses.

Zeta Epsilon also invites “community leaders,” those who have shown exemplary leadership skills or made a significant contribution to the nursing profession, into the chapter. Most CONHP faculty are members of Zeta Epsilon, including Christina Cavinder ’14 DNP, RN, CPNP-PC, assistant professor of nursing and Zeta Epsilon president.

Since its installation in 1982, Zeta Epsilon has been the recipient of four Key awards, and this latest marks the second consecutive award for the chapter, whose accomplishments were also recognized in 2015. Established in 1991, the Chapter Key Award honors STTI chapters that exhibit excellence in chapter-related activities, including membership recruiting and retention; publicity and programming; professional and leadership development; and local, national, and international collaboration.

The Showcase of Regional Excellence acknowledges work of chapters in relation to the STTI Presidential Call to Action. From 2015–2017, the call to action was to showcase influence through advocacy, policy, philanthropy, and/or lifelong learning. Zeta Epsilon was recognized in two of these focus areas, advocacy and philanthropy.

The mission of Zeta Epsilon is to provide service regarding healthcare needs throughout the world and to teach its members to be leaders in nursing. This elite group participates in many philanthropic endeavors, including Shot@Life, an international initiative to decrease vaccine-preventable childhood deaths. Members of Zeta Epsilon engaged in penny wars to raise money to help people around the globe afford vaccinations and served as “Champions” for Shot@Life, writing to members of Congress to advocate for global vaccines. Zeta Epsilon also raised money for Egbe Hospital, a one-room, rural hospital in Nigeria, donating stethoscopes and books to Egbe’s nursing students.

Zeta Epsilon hosts many annual activities, including a “how to survive your first year of nursing” night, a de-stress night, and community outreach programs for local nurses. It also provides research and travel grants in support of nursing research and evidence-based practice projects and monetary support to the Northwest Indiana Nursing Research Consortium.

Zeta Epsilon was honored and presented with its Chapter Key Award at STTI’s biennial event on Nov. 30, 2017 in Indianapolis.