The Keuka College Nursing Honor Society was founded in 1999.

“As the second oldest collegiate nursing program in New York, the faculty members in the Division of Nursing felt that it was a glaring omission that we did not have an honor society,” said Jeanine Benwitz Santelli ’83, who served on the steering committee with M. Janice Nelson.

So, on Oct. 22, 1999, the Keuka College Nursing Honor Society inducted 22 charter members and elected officers.

“We found it most thrilling to be involved in the inception of this distinguished group and see it as further evidence of the strength of the Division of Nursing and alumnae,” said Santelli, associate vice president for academic programs and associate professor of nursing.

When the honor society was established, Santelli said “the vision was, and has remained, to achieve chapter status in Sigma Theta Tau International, the honor society of nursing.

On April 25, that vision was realized when 118 faculty, alumni, students, and community leaders were inducted into the Upsilon Upsilon chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International.

Chapter officers are Kay Viggiani, retired nursing faculty member (president); Janet Mance, interim chair of nursing (vice president); Santelli (treasurer); and Beth Scherra Russo ’98, assistant professor of nursing (secretary).

Sigma Theta Tau International boasts more than 420,000 members world-wide (84 countries and territories). Upsilon Upsilon was the 474^th chapter to join the ranks.

-- Doug Lippincott