Love, Courage, and Honor
UConn Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing's Sigma Theta Tau Mu Chapter 2026 inductees. (Contributed Photo)
On April 19, UConn Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing's Sigma Theta Tau Mu Chapter held its annual induction ceremony, inducting 79 undergraduate and graduate students, along with nursing professionals and community leaders.
"Induction into Sigma Theta Tau is a significant milestone for our nursing students, recognizing their academic achievements and excellence in their programs of study," said Sigma Theta Tau Mu Chapter President Elizabeth Mayerson, DNP, RN, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE. "This year, we had two very special guests, Jonathan XIV and Jonathan XV."
The UConn Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing chartered the Mu Chapter in 1955 as the 11th chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, the Honor Society of Nursing.
Sigma Theta Tau is based in Indianapolis and now has more than 600 chapters internationally. Its mission is to develop nurse leaders to improve healthcare globally by promoting scholarship and research in the field of nursing.
The Mu Chapter hosts meetings throughout the year and sends delegates to the society's conferences at the regional, national, and international levels. It also supports exceptional research proposals through monetary awards provided by both the Mu Chapter and Sigma Theta Tau International.
Mayerson presided over the induction ceremony and explained, "In the name of our honor society, Sigma represents love, Theta represents courage, and Tau represents honor. Our crest represents wisdom and discernment, service, professional endeavor, strength of leadership, and knowledge. Our key, represented on Sigma's pin, denotes the satisfaction of professional life, the six founders, the lamp of knowledge, and our charge."
Dean Victoria Vaughan Dickson, Ph.D., RN, FAHA, FHFSA, FAAN, welcomed the inductees, followed by a keynote address from Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs Susan DeSanto-Madeya, Ph.D., APRN, FPCN, FAAN.
UConn Nursing Director of Student Success Chelsea McTigue and academic advisors Catie Grosso, Abby Clark, Nichole Hauser, and Lindsay Darcy received the Friends of Sigma Award. This honor is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the chapter.
"It is an honor to be recognized as a Friend of Sigma Theta Tau Mu Chapter. Within the lens of advising, we aim to encourage students to follow their passions and become the professionals they set out to be from the moment we first meet them at summer orientation," said Clark. "For me, this recognition reflects how advising and student support contribute to the many facets that shape students' educational journeys. Being able to celebrate students' milestones alongside them, especially their induction into this chapter, makes this award even more special and meaningful."
The School congratulates all inductees.
2026 Sigma Inductees:
Sunitha Abraham
Adebimpe Agbotode
Leila Akhouzine
Majeda Basilio
Josuet Bautista
Brooke Berlin
Maya Biblow
Kaitlin Biggin
Raymond Blair
Emma Bourassa
Lauren Canniff
Isabelle Crawford
Braydon Cretella
Yudelkis Cueva
Emily Damian
Leah Damphousse
Paige Dovhan
Michaela Elam
Tahmia Espinal
Jenaya Evelyn
Julia Farnoli
Samantha Fernandez
Kaitlin Gillespie
Allison Gonzalez
David Gorski
Caroline Gozaloff
Samantha Greenhut
Samantha Halloran
Naomi Hanoch
Katie Hanrahan
Kimray Haynes
Elizabeth Hinkson
Matthew Holihan
Tara Huta
Brenna Izatt
Carolyn Jandura
Taylor Jones
Zainab Kane
Kathryn Katz
Emily Kempka
Mikael Mahoney
Vanessa Mallilo
Caitlin Mancuso
Isabela Mejias
Amaly Mercedes
Megan Minicucci
Andrea Ngo
Samuel Palomba
Jack Parr
Pei Pei
Steven Pelle
Allison Pereira
Stephanie Perez
Karla Perez Fundora
Lila Pinho
Audra Porowski
Julia Puprriqi
Melissa Raquel
Amanda Romero
Taylor Roy
Juliana Sassano
Maria Schuler
Brittany Sendzik
Maryam Shabazz
Amanda Smeriglio
Jenny Smith
Alejandro Soriano
Amanda Steinberg
Lisette Tandazo
Zoe Tongtong
Riley Towle
Hannah Trocchi
Katrina Villegas
Cameran Weaver
Madeleine Willett
Azucena Zecua Herrera
