Pi Delta Phi, the National French Honor Society, held its annual initiation ceremony and reception recently. New members include:

• Akin Bailey, Monroe
• Casey Fernandez , Mandeville
• Lam Emily Fettet, New Orleans
• Collin King, Ruston
• Yassine Kone, Ivory Coast
• Bailey Stevenson, Shreveport

At the ceremony, Certificats de mérite (Certificates of Merit), for outstanding support of the promotion of the French language and Francophone culture and civilization were awarded to:

• Mehi Diallo, Ivory Coast
• Charley Harp, Lake Charles
• Amber Harrington, Bennington, Vermont
• Hannah Josephson, Morris, Minnesota
• Albert Washington, New Orleans

Samuel Ehlmann, the society ‘s president, who presided over the initiation ceremony.  Nicholas Trichel, an honor society member and a Tech engineering student, assisted. Stacy Albritton, the invited guest speaker, spoke upon the expulsion of the Acadians from Nova Scotia and their resettlement in Louisiana. Her book, The Diary of Marie Landry, Acadian Exile, recounts the story of the Acadians and their “Great Upheaval.”