Lamplighters, Hillsdale College’s honorary for senior women, initiated eight new members from the class of 2022 this past weekend: juniors Sarah Haught, Rachael Kiti, Sophia Spinazze, Elizabeth Hughes, Reagan Linde, Sonya Wirkus, Maya Kaniaupio, and Gladys Oster.
The honorary was founded in 1949 in response to an all male honorary that existed at the time. Senior Claire Lupini, a current Lamplighter, said this makes the honorary unique.
“The women at the college knew that they deserved to be honored for all that they had contributed to Hillsdale and then founded Lamplighters,” Lupini said. “The reason that Lamplighters is so unique today is that Hillsdale is one of the only schools in the nation in which you can have an honorary just for women.”
Lupini said Lamplighters selects students based on outstanding character, service, leadership, and scholarship at Hillsdale. It “functions to honor women,” and they build community with one another to celebrate, according to Lupini.
“Due to COVID-19, we have not been able to get together that often this year, so I am uncertain of what it would be like in a normal year,” Lupini said in an email. “I have gained a different and exceptional community and have been blessed to be among these women.”
Junior Rachael Kiti is one of the new members. She received an email about applying earlier this year, and when she was accepted, women in black gowns came to where she was seated in the Grewcock Student Union and swore her in.
“It was awesome,” Kiti said. “My friends are so happy, so it feels like it’s a graduation.”
Kiti said she believes she was chosen for the honorary because of her work with international students on campus. An international student herself, Kiti knew how these students struggle to integrate into the campus. She has been coordinating an international student mentorship program to help them settle in and provide connections for them in the town community and on campus.
“Their needs are quite different,” Kiti said. “They’re not only coming to a new country, but everything else is just different. Now the relationship between the international students and the community and the school is very strong and very friendly.”
Junior Maya Kaniaupio is also a new member. She said she believes Lamplighters chose her because they look for students who have very diverse experiences with leadership on campus.
“I’m in Chi O, and I’ve had some leadership positions within the house,” Kaniaupio said. “I also work for GOAL right now and I’m helping basically oversee all the programs, so I’m not attached to one specific program.”
Kaniaupio said she looks forward to getting close with the other women in the honorary and seeing what they are involved in.
“I think something I love about Hillsdale is everyone that I know on campus is so passionate about whatever they’re doing,” Kaniaupio said. “One of the things that unites us is that we’re all very invested in whatever it is that we do. And I’m really excited to get closer with them and hear more about what they found at Hillsdale and what’s really blessed their experience here.”
You don’t get into Lamplighters because you want to gain something, but because you want to give something, Kiti said.
“Do something you want that will keep you up at night, something that you really care about, because that one thing will make your life,” Kiti said. “Do it at your best, do it with all you are. And that means if no one honors you for that, you still have done and served a purpose that satisfies yourself, and that’s already a big honor.”
