This semester, Klein’s Alpha Beta Upsilon chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Association's honorary society, held its Spring 2020 induction ceremony online. To demonstrate and embody its commitment to celebrating the individual achievements of communication studies students, the organization formatted the inductions as a series of Zoom sessions over the course of three days — April 26-28 — where each member received their own session and individual attention.

Following eight years of successful in-person inductions, this was the organization's first held virtually. As the pandemic increased in severity, it became clear to co-presidents Max Eagle and Thomas Hernandez that a backup plan would be needed. Originally, the plan was to invite only inductees to the customary venue of McCormick and Schmick’s in Center City, where they would be seated six feet apart. But when lockdown orders came, they made the decision to switch to Zoom.

Instead of holding one session during which all members would be inducted en masse, Eagle and Hernandez, with the help of advisor and Professor Scott Gratson, held separate, 30-minute inductions for each member, creating the space to discuss their individual achievements and to personalize the moment. 

“In communication studies, we pride ourselves on recognizing the unique qualities of each person,” Gratson says. “This format gave us a chance to recognize each person's unique pathway within the major, a chance to recall all of their efforts and growth.”

The format also allowed for the inductees to invite as many guests as they wished, whereas in person, they had been traditionally limited to a maximum of two guests. As a result, inductees were joined by friends, family members, faculty and staff — some from across the country.

“There is a vital element of shifting online: we made the induction accessible,” Gratson says. “We were able to reach friends and family who could not travel as they are recovering from COVID. We were not able to do these things before when the inductions were in person.”

Max Eagle, co-president of Lambda Pi Eta and graduating senior, took pride in inducting a number of friends and mentees into the honor society this semester. Though the event itself took a different format than usual, he felt that this personalized academic celebration was an important element to create community and solidarity between Klein students, near and far.

“We were able to persevere in these unsettling and uncertain times and achieve that sense of normalcy in a time where you can’t predict anything,” he says. “There’s a real pride in celebrating somebody based on their academic achievements. I know there’s an idea that you’re not defined by your college grades, that no job is ever going to ask for your SAT score or college GPA, but it’s something that’s more reflective of work ethic.” 

Gillian Black, a junior communication studies major with a minor in digital media engagement, celebrated her volunteer work as the founder of Diamond Dogs, which connects student volunteers with animal shelters; as well as her interests and leadership in fashion and sorority life. A transfer student and close friend of Eagle, she said that not only has the Communication Studies Program been a resource to her professionally and academically, but it is also where she found some of her closest friends.

“It hasn’t been easy from the jump, being a transfer, but I’ve definitely felt myself grow as a scholar and as a woman through my experience at Temple and through Klein specifically,” she said at the close of the ceremony. “Klein and communication studies specifically have been such a positive experience for me to grow and make friends.”

After three days of inducting 13 new members, Eagle feels he is ready to fully pass the organization into the hands of his co-president, Thomas Hernandez. Though this semester’s inductees had a unique, pioneering experience, the event provided new ways for the students to celebrate and remember this special moment.

“The Lambda Pi Eta Spring 2020 Induction will go down in history as one of the greatest achievements of the Alpha Beta Upsilon chapter of the National Communication Association's Lambda Pi Eta,” says Hernandez. “It is truly an honor to be inducting such a phenomenal class of students, even in light of the ongoing crisis.”