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Delta Alpha Pi Making A Difference on so Many Levels at Hartwick College

Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society has been a great way for Abigayle Olson '25 to find her place at Hartwick.

“All my family and people I am close to seemed so far away,” she said. “I struggled to make friends and find my people here. But I was able to find my people through the honor society. It gave me an avenue where I connected with peers who were similar to me. It also connected me with staff I now feel very close to.”

Olson, a creative writing major, is not only the president of this academic honor society, but is also president of the Education Club and a Faculty Scholar. She achieved all this despite discovering at a young age that she had multiple learning disabilities and being diagnosed with autism during her sophomore year of college. Olson’s natural talent and hard work were key reasons for these achievements, but she credits the honor society for the sense of belonging she now feels on Oyaron Hill.

Abigayle Olson '25

“This honor society gave people with disabilities a voice as, a lot of times, our voices get taken away. A lot of people think about disabilities as physical impairments. That is not everyone. Some disabilities are invisible and no one knows you have a disability unless you disclose it. And that is the most important thing. We want everyone in our honor society to be seen, to be heard and feel that they have a place on campus.”

Abigayle Olson '25

Creative Writing Major & President of Delta Alpha Pi - Eta Mu Chapter

Lara Sanford, director of AccessAbility Services and Academic Inclusivity, explains why Hartwick College’s Eta Mu Chapter of the Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society was established in 2021.

“We, in the AccessAbility Services office, started the chapter at Hartwick to acknowledge high-achieving students and to provide leadership opportunities,” she said. “We also wanted to provide an affinity group option for students to help them find peace and comfort with their disability versus being at odds with it.”

Each spring, the Office of AccessAbility Services inducts a new class into Delta Alpha Pi’s Eta Mu chapter and this year, on Friday, April 12, 19 students were inducted.

Hartwick College Inductee Class 2024 of Delta Alpha Pi, Eta Mu Chapter International Honor Society

According to Olson, since their chapter is relatively new, the honor society is still taking shape and building awareness. Activities included tabling outside the Commons and bringing in guest speaker, Dan Pezzetta ’20, on “Rare Disease Day,” held on Feb. 29. The society’s current project is to review door accessibility on campus.

Because of her strong desire to create positive change, Olson seized the opportunity to become president of Delta Alpha Pi.

“I became president to help this honor society come together as a collective and educate the campus community on different disabilities in hopes that they will take that knowledge with them after they graduate,” she said.

Learn more about Hartwick College’s Eta Mu Chapter of Delta Alpha Pi here.

May 22, 2024
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