November 20, 1999

SIGMA THETA TAU INTERNATIONAL APPROVES VITERBO CHAPTER

LA CROSSE, Wis.—A new chapter has begun at Viterbo College—a Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) nursing honors society chapter.

Viterbo’s Nursing Honors Society President-Elect Mary Christianson, Treasurer Terri Kunavich, and Faculty Counselor Delayne Vogel, presented Viterbo’s chapter application to the Sigma Theta Tau House of Delegates in San Diego last November and received unanimous approval from the prestigious group.

That presentation was the culmination of four years of hard work that included an intensive self-study; meeting all STTI requirements for a three-year review period, which includes offering two scholarly programs to members per year; an evaluation visit on campus; and Sigma Theta Tau Board approval.

"Receiving approval for the STTI chapter is an honor for the college, an opportunity for our students and a means of recognizing and promoting nursing scholarship in our community," says Christianson.

Membership in the organization is by invitation to graduate nursing students who demonstrate academic excellence and to community nurses with demonstrated leadership in their area of expertise.

Founded in 1936, STTI was the first organization in the U.S. to fund nursing research. Today, it contributes more than $650,000 dollars per year to nursing research and is the second largest nursing organization in the world. STTI has 383 chapters and more than 120,000 active members in 78 countries.

Nurses who wish to inquire about membership in the STTI chapter should contact Vicki Moss, Viterbo nursing professor, at 608-796-3694 or by email at vamoss@viterbo.edu.