Spartan Echo - First HBCU affiliate of Virginia Association of Teachers of English name... Page 1 of 2 < Back I Home First HBCU affiliate of Virginia Association of Teachers of English named in honor of student By: JalizaBraxton Posted: l0ll3ll0 Just three years ago, an organization that was then The English Majors' Club was almost unheard of. It warranted just enough participation for faculty advisor Dr. Karen Tatum, Assistant Professor of the English and Foreign Language department, to hold occasional workshops and meetings for students that periodically stumbled in and out of the club; until one day, a student volunteered to take the position of president of the organization. Kim Jones, a student at the time, took on the duties of president and also took the initiative to recruit her peers to the organization. By the end of her senior year, Jones had helped the membership grow to over 30 members. By then, she had formed an executive board of five officers and changed the name of the club to The English Majors'Association. At the end of Jones' last semester, she introduced her president-in-training, Kendra Butler who then took office during the 2009-2010 academic years. In the fall of 2009, The Virginia Association of Teachers of English (VATE) asked the budding organization to establish an NSU-VATE affiliate. With the help of her cabinet, Butler took on the role of inaugural president of NSU-VATE, making it the first HBCU to have a VATE afhliate. Tatum was excited that VATE had come to the organization that once only consisted of a few students. "I was thrilled to death because I recognized what a tremendous opportunity that was for us," said Tatum. In the mean time, Butler managed to master GARF training, while she also planned, organized and implemented an Easter egg hunt for the children of the developmental lab on campus, held a Dr. Seuss reading and many other events for both NSU-VATE and The English Majors'Association. "She was reliable," Tatum said. "You didn't have to remind her to do anything." "It's a relief as a teacher and as a faculty advisor to know that you've got one student, especially the president, who's got it taken care of so you don't have to micro-manage." By the end of her senior year, like Jones, Butler introduced her president-in-training, Samantha Gallop. In May of 2010, she graduated from NSU with honors with the hopes of attending law school at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. On May 29,2010, tragedy struck at a Memorial Day barbecue and family reunion that she attended with her boyfriend of three years, Marcus Atkins. Butler collapsed and never regained consciousness. http://www.spartanecho.com/home/index.cfm?event:displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory... 41712011
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Spartan Echo - First HBCU affiliate of Virginia Association of Teachers of English name... Page 1 of 2
< Back I Home
First HBCU affiliate of Virginia Association ofTeachers of English named in honor of student
By: JalizaBraxton
Posted: l0ll3ll0
Just three years ago, an organization that was then The English Majors' Club was almost unheard of.It warranted just enough participation for faculty advisor Dr. Karen Tatum, Assistant Professor of theEnglish and Foreign Language department, to hold occasional workshops and meetings for studentsthat periodically stumbled in and out of the club; until one day, a student volunteered to take theposition of president of the organization.
Kim Jones, a student at the time, took on the duties of president and also took the initiative to recruither peers to the organization. By the end of her senior year, Jones had helped the membership grow toover 30 members. By then, she had formed an executive board of five officers and changed the nameof the club to The English Majors'Association.
At the end of Jones' last semester, she introduced her president-in-training, Kendra Butler who thentook office during the 2009-2010 academic years.
In the fall of 2009, The Virginia Association of Teachers of English (VATE) asked the buddingorganization to establish an NSU-VATE affiliate. With the help of her cabinet, Butler took on the roleof inaugural president of NSU-VATE, making it the first HBCU to have a VATE afhliate.
Tatum was excited that VATE had come to the organization that once only consisted of a fewstudents.
"I was thrilled to death because I recognized what a tremendous opportunity that was for us," saidTatum.
In the mean time, Butler managed to master GARF training, while she also planned, organized andimplemented an Easter egg hunt for the children of the developmental lab on campus, held a Dr.Seuss reading and many other events for both NSU-VATE and The English Majors'Association.
"She was reliable," Tatum said. "You didn't have to remind her to do anything." "It's a relief as ateacher and as a faculty advisor to know that you've got one student, especially the president, who'sgot it taken care of so you don't have to micro-manage."
By the end of her senior year, like Jones, Butler introduced her president-in-training, SamanthaGallop. In May of 2010, she graduated from NSU with honors with the hopes of attending law schoolat Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
On May 29,2010, tragedy struck at a Memorial Day barbecue and family reunion that she attendedwith her boyfriend of three years, Marcus Atkins. Butler collapsed and never regained consciousness.
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Spartan Echo - First HBCU affiliate of Virginia Association of Teachers of English name... Page2 of 2
The cause of her death is still unknown.
"Kendra's passing was extremely difficult for her family and friends, and I still find it difficult toaccept the fact the she is no longer here," said Samantha Gallop, Butler's successor. "She was verypassionate about speaking up on the students' behalf and voicing our concerns to the faculty andstaff."
This year, the English Majors'Association was renamed The Kendra Butler Association of EnglishMajors and NSU-VATE. Butler's hard work and encouragement has bought much attention to theorganization.
"I think it's gotten a lot more respect, it's taken a lot more seriously," said Tatum.
In October, Butler's friends and fellow off,rcers attended the VATE conference in Virginia Beach,VA., with the help of the English and Foreign Language department. There the students participatedin presentations with Tatum and Dr. Rosalie Kiah, a professor of the English and Foreign Languagesdepartment, and were awarded "Affiliate of Excellence" at the luncheon.
With accolades under their belt, The Kendra Butler Association of English Majors' and NSU-VATEare hopeful for a productive year.
"Hopefully, next semester we can better spread the word about our affiliation with VATE and invitethe Education majors to join so that we can enlarge our membership," said Gallop. "We also want toreach out to the surrounding communities and public schools so that we can give back to theTidewater area-"
The Kendra Butler Association of English Majors and NSU-VATE meet every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.in the Writing Center, J. Hugo Madison Hall room 112.
"As her successor, I hope that I can represent my university, the School of Liberal Arts, and Kendra'svision with pride," Gallop said.
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