The English Department held its annual English Night on Dec. 6, in which students received awards, gave presentations and were inducted into the Sigma Tau Delta honor society.

“Much of what we do in English studies is done in isolation; English Night is an antidote to that, a reminder that we have a community of like-minded individuals who share a love of reading and writing,” said Steve Ferruci, chair of the English Department. “It's a reminder that even when we labor away on our own, we are in conversation with others through the texts they have written, the conversations we have had with colleagues and friends, and the text we write ourselves. So, the best part of English Night is that reminder of how much we owe to one another, how interdisciplinary our work really is.” 

Attendees were invited to walk around the room and enjoy refreshments and conversation. Students who had worked on independent projects within the English major engaged with guests and discussed their work. 

Among them was Catherine Pendola ’24, who presented “A Sermon with No Words: The Absence of Religion in Children’s Books and Curricula about Martin Luther King, Jr.” Pendola explained that she wanted to “see if the children’s books ever talked about religion since religion was a huge part of King’s life.” She also examined curriculum surrounding King that teachers would pair with the texts. She noted the relevance of her research to her career aspirations, as she hopes to teach after graduation. In her conclusion, Pendola found that while King’s religion is never mentioned, the books feature countless religious symbols. 

“I have worked so hard on this project, and it was nice to share my knowledge with other people,” Pendola said. “My findings were interesting to me, and I hope they were interesting to everyone else. People asked lots of good question, and I was so excited to talk all about my project.” 

James Donahue, who is graduating this winter, presented his creative piece, “The Itinerary of Ezra Young: A Novel.” His work engages with the style of the classical modernists from the beginning of the 20th century, chiefly the use of antiquated poetics in forming the text. Donahue’s novel demonstrates his technical mastery to create a cohesive narrative.  

The plot follows “anthropology graduate Ezra Young, who has self-alienated from his peers, from contemporary culture,” as he takes a vacation ending with his death. Donahue said, “What begins as a mockery of bourgeois vapidity soon becomes the rudiments of substantive connection to humanity and nature.” His intent with the piece was to bring obsolete form and aesthetics of the era into the composition of a contemporary piece of creative media. 

“It was exhilarating hearing the interest and feedback of respected faculty whose ability to so effortlessly ask the most incisive questions is emblematic of their standing in the field,” said Donahue. “I especially enjoyed seeing the presentation inspire conversations I could have never predicted.” 

The induction was announced by Sigma Tau Delta’s president and vice president, Benjamin Williams ’23 and Jocelyn Madden ’23. Twenty-six students earned a certificate, chords for their commencement robe and membership in the English honors society. 

“Bringing together majors and their families to celebrate their hard work and tenacity,” said Ferruci, “to honor that work by becoming part of a larger community means that we, again, recognize how even though we seem to work in isolation, we do so in the company of friends, colleagues, strangers and with the support of those who love us. How can you not stand in awe of the written word — that we read, that we write ourselves — when you see the ways it forges such a community of scholars?” 

“It was so nice seeing a new round of capstone projects, every year they are all so diverse and unique,” said Williams. “I can tell the new members of Sigma are a motivated, articulate group. I can tell that Eastern's English Department will be full of good ideas and engaging stories. It was a great honor to induct the new members. I am so excited to hear all the new voices that come from the English Department.” 

“It was such a rewarding experience to award them. They all deserve their membership in Sigma Tau Delta based on their passion for the academia of English,” Madden said. “It’s a bittersweet but wonderful experience to pass on the torch to other members of Sigma Tau Delta. I have no doubt that the new and current members will do incredible work for the English Department here at Eastern and beyond.” 

Students were also recognized for their achievements in and out of the classroom. The Constance Campo Memorial Scholarship was presented to senior Megan Franzino. The scholarship was established to honor the memory of Campo, a long-serving staff member in the English Department. It is awarded to a nontraditional student whose work demonstrates a sensitivity to topics of gender and diversity. 

Franzino was described as well deserving of the award, taking on an “older student” role for her peers, offering them advice and helping them better understand the content learned in class. 

“I feel extremely humbled and honored. I can't fully express my gratitude for all of the wonderful support and recognition of my hard work,” Franzino said. “I was initially very insecure when I returned to school because of my age. I soon realized that everyone that I encountered was so welcoming and accepting. I have learned so much from my fellow students and my professors. I have formed very strong bonds with classmates half my age, and they never cease to amaze me with their insights and intellectual acumen. I largely attribute this to Eastern's culture.”