Posted on Thursday, June 4, 2026
Eleven Westminster College students were inducted into Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society, during a ceremony on April 30.
Faculty adviser Dr. Kristin Park, professor of sociology, conducted the ceremony and congratulated the new members.
“We are proud of your accomplishments,” Park said. “Your intellectual curiosity and concern for humanity represent the best that our discipline has to offer. You also light up our classes with your serious attention and thoughtful insights.”
New members include:
Angela Dalessandro ’26, a child and family studies major from Hermitage, Pa. Dalessandro graduated magna cum laude in May.
Haily Rusnak, a rising junior criminal justice studies major from Youngstown, Ohio.
Angelena Butchelle, a rising senior criminal justice studies major from New Castle, Pa.
Hallie Hughes ’26, an environmental science major from Jeannette, Pa. Hughes graduated in May.
Julia Ravazza ’26, a criminal justice studies major from Tuolumne, Calif. Ravazza graduated in May.
Kevin Kestner, a rising senior criminal justice studies major from Canonsburg, Pa.
Andres Vallejo ’26, a criminal justice studies major from Miami, Fla. Vallejo graduated in May.
Nicholas Vitale ’26, an environmental studies major from New Castle, Pa. Vitale graduated in May.
Emma Maloberti ’26, a criminal justice studies and psychology double major from Cranberry Township, Pa. Maloberti graduated summa cum laude in May.
Kole Alcorn ’26, a psychology and criminal justice studies double major from Eau Claire, Pa. Alcorn graduated summa cum laude in May.
Dalton Koehler, a rising senior criminal justice studies major from Chardon, Ohio.
Alpha Kappa Delta promotes human welfare through fellowship and the development of scientific knowledge to address social problems.
Membership benefits include a subscription to Sociological Inquiry, eligibility for undergraduate paper competitions, travel funding opportunities for academic conferences and enhanced consideration for certain civil service positions.
To be eligible for membership, students must be sociology majors or minors, or enrolled in a program sociological in nature; have attained junior standing; rank in the top 35% of their graduating class; maintain at least a 3.0 GPA in sociology courses completed at their institution; and complete at least four sociology courses, or 12 semester hours, prior to induction.
Pictured, front row from left, are Angela Dalessandro, Haily Rusnak, Angelena Butchelle and Hallie Hughes. Back row, from left, are Julia Ravazza, Kevin Kestner, Andres Vallejo, Nicholas Vitale, Emma Maloberti and faculty adviser Dr. Kristin Park. Not pictured are Kole Alcorn and Dalton Koehler.
