Announcements & News
(updated June 17, 2009)
Twitter | Design Contest | Annual Reports | New Scholarship Partner | National Charter Month | Entre Nosotros | Frida Kahlo Award 2009 | In Fond Memory | Informative Session | Grants, Scholarships & Awards | Going Green... | Career Services | Chapter Starter Kit | Executive Committee Meeting | New Ritual | Featured Chapter | Merchandise | Chapter Anniversary Certificates | Entre Nosotros | The Orders | Triennial Convention 2010
Twitter
Sigma Delta Pi is
now on Twitter, a real-time
short messaging service that works over multiple networks and devices. From
your mobile phone, you can follow Sigma Delta Pi's most recent activities.
Our website will also still publish the most up-to-date information on the
Society, but Twitter
gives us one more way of staying in touch with our membership. Visit the Twitter
website to learn how to sign up for this service.
Annual
Reports
The
2008-09 annual report form should have been received
by Friday, May 29, 2009. However, all Sigma Delta Pi chapters are still encouraged
to complete and submit this form to the national office, preferably by e-mail
to delmastrom@citadel.edu. These
reports are used to determine several national awards and to help the national
headquarters keep its database current. Information submitted with the annual
report is not intended for publication in our annual, Entre
Nosotros. Submissions to be considered for publication in Entre
Nosotros should be e-mailed separately from the annual report to delmastrom@citadel.edu.
New
Scholarship Partner
For its 2010 Undergraduate
Summer Scholarship Program, Sigma Delta Pi will be collaborating with the
Universidad de las Americas
Puebla to offer one undergraduate scholarship in Mexico for six weeks:
May 14-June 24, 2010. Further details will be published in the official call
for applications to be released in late August 2009.
National
Charter Month
To commemorate its
90th birthday (November 14, 2009), the Society has declared November 2009
as National Charter Month. During November, all chapters are encouraged to
find and display their charters and/or organize special activities to celebrate
Sigma Delta Pi's 90th birthday.
Entre
Nosotros, Spring 2009 Edition
Commemorating 70 years of publication
(1939-2009) and honoring the late Richard E. Chandler, the spring 2009 issue
of Entre Nosotros
is now available online: http://www.sigmadeltapi.org/en.html.
One hard copy was sent to each chapter in early May.
To submit
material for possible publication in Entre Nosotros
(in Spanish only), please forward by e-mail to Dr.
Mark P. Del Mastro. To be considered for the spring 2010 issue, please
e-mail ALL material by October 1, 2009 and include the name of the chapter
adviser with all submissions. Photographs must be in .jpg or .gif format and
accompanied by the names of the individuals pictured and the chapter.
Frida
Kahlo Award 2009
Sigma Delta Pi is
pleased to announce that Millikin
University is the recipient of the 2009 Frida
Kahlo Award for its outstanding website. Chapter websites currently linked
to the national directory are considered
annually for this recognition (for consideration for the 2010 award, chapters
should e-mail their website addresses to delmastrom@citadel.edu
by December 1, 2009). For guidelines in designing your websites, please click
here.
Richard
E. Chandler and James Castañeda
Sigma Delta Pi mourns
the loss of Richard E. Chandler, Honorary President and President Emeritus,
who left this life on December 11, 2008 at the age of 92. Dr. Chandler was
honored in the spring 2009 issue of Entre
Nosotros. Click
here for his online obituary. We also remember
James Castañeda, Honorary President, who died on Saturday, November
1, 2008 at the age of 75.
Informative
Session at the 2009 Kentucky Foreign Language Conference (KFLC)
Did you miss
the 7th annual Sigma Delta Pi Informative Session on Friday, April 17 at 10:30am
at the 62nd Kentucky
Foreign Language Conference (April 16-18, 2009)? Plan to send a chapter
representative to our 8th annual session at the 63rd Kentucky
Foreign Language Conference, April 15-17, 2010.
Going
Green...
To reduce its carbon
footprint, Sigma Delta Pi continues to rely on electronic formats in place
of paper. The distribution of only electronic versions of application forms
for our Undergraduate Summer Scholarship, Graduate Research Grant and Charter
Project Grant programs is an example. Also, in 2009 Sigma Delta Pi will only
make available one hard copy of its annual, Entre
Nosotros, for each chapter. Because electronic versions of this publication
have been available online since 2003 (www.sigmadeltapi.org/en.html),
it is no longer necessary to print excessive copies. Beginning in 2010, chapter
annual reports will only be accepted electronically. Do you have ideas to
help us continue our "green" efforts? E-mail them to delmastrom@citadel.edu.
Career
Services
Sigma Delta Pi is
pleased to announce its partnership with Experience,
Inc. to provide Sigma Delta Pi members FREE career opportunities and services
through its new website: sigmadeltapi.experience.com.
All members are encouraged to take advantage of this newest benefit of Sigma
Delta Pi membership.
Chapter
Starter Kit
Thanks to
Kalamazoo Regalia,
Sigma Delta Pi's only authorized merchandise seller, new and veteran chapters
of the Society may purchase the Sigma
Delta Pi Chapter Starter Kit (click here for purchase) for initiation
ceremonies. The kit includes two 8" solid brass candle holders, one solid
brass pillar candle holder, the red hardcover chapter registry and the Sigma
Delta Pi altar runner. Purchased separately, these items sell for $139.35,
but the complete set is specially priced at $109.35.
Executive
Committee Meeting
On August
1-3, members of the Executive Committee convened in Milwaukee for their annual
meeting where various national awards were also determined. See the "Scholarships,
Awards and Recognitions" link of the main
page for most recent awardees. The 2009 Executive Committee Meeting will
be held June 12-14 in Charleston, S.C. Chapters wishing to make suggestions
to the Executive Committee for this meeting should e-mail delmastrom@citadel.edu.
New
Ritual
Thanks to
the work of the national Ritual Investigative Committee (Dr. Charles B. Moore,
Committee Chair, Gardner-Webb University; Dr. Raysa Amador, Adelphi University;
Dr. Maria Redmon, University of Central Florida; Dr. Maria Trillo, Western
New Mexico University; Dr. John C. Wilcox, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
in the spring of 2007 and the Ritual Revision Committee (Dr. Charles B. Moore,
Committee Chair, Gardner-Webb University; Dr. Michelle Hamilton, University
of California, Irvine; Dr. Antonio A. Fernández-Vázquez, Virginia
Tech University; Dr. Marta Loyola, Lakeland College) in the fall of 2007,
the Executive Committee of Sigma Delta Pi published a revised initiation ritual
that is available online (e-mail delmastrom@citadel.edu
for access). This new ritual does NOT replace the 1974 versions, but simply
serves as an alternative. All the approved rituals are currently available
online, and a new consolidated booklet containing the 1974 and 2007 versions
were distributed to all chapters on February 12, 2008. Extra copies of the
booklet may be purchased for $3 each (simply write in this item on the standard
order form for pins and certificates).
En
el foco: Kean University
Sigma Delta Pi congratulates
Kean University's Chi Mu Chapter, an Honor Chapter in 2007 and 2008 and the
the subject of our En el foco
webpage for the 2008-09 academic year.
Merchandise:
Apparel
and Ceremony Paraphernalia
Kalamazoo Regalia is the only authorized
seller of Sigma Delta Pi's official honor cords (for graduating members),
stoles (for SDP-related ceremonies and/or graduations), induction ceremony
items, apparel and select paraphernalia for our interested chapters and members.
Online purchasing is available at www.honorgrads.com.
El
repostero
Sigma Delta
Pi banners are available to chapters through our National Office. For further
details and a photo, visit the following link: El
repostero.
Chapter Anniversary
Certificates:
Chapters that
plan to commemorate founding anniversaries are asked to notify the National
Office three weeks prior to the event. Upon request, a complimentary
certificate will be sent to chapters for each 10, 25 and 50 year celebrations.
Please inform the Executive Secretary-Treasurer at mark.delmastro@citadel.edu.
Grants, Scholarships and Awards:
Charter
Project Grants
To celebrate its 90th
birthday (1919-2009), Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor
Society, presented its inaugural charter project grant program in 2009. Eligible
chapters of active status--at least one induction of new members in the past
three years to include 08-09--were invited to apply for one of three grants
of $300 each to support a chapter project planned for November 2009 (the month
of Sigma Delta Pi's founding) that both commemorates the Society's 90th birthday
and complements the mission of Sigma Delta Pi. For fairer availability of these
grants, one award will be given to a chapter with an average of 15 or more initiates
per induction; two awards (one award per chapter) to chapters with an average
of less than 15 initiates per induction. The application deadline was May
1, and the awardees will be announced in late June 2009.
Graduate
Research Grants
Sigma Delta Pi awarded three
(3) graduate research grants of $2000 each for use during the summer of 2009
and the 2009-10 academic year. Click
here for downloadable application and related forms. Only graduate students
in Hispanic Studies who are active members of Sigma Delta Pi are eligible to
apply for these grants. The call for applications for our 2010 program will
be released in late August 2009.
Undergraduate
Summer Scholarships
Sigma Delta Pi awarded 23 undergraduate
summer scholarships for use in 2009. Click
here for downloadable application and related forms. Only undergraduate
students who are active members of Sigma Delta Pi are eligible to apply for
these annual awards. The call for applications for our 2010 program will be
released in late August 2009.
The Richard E.
Chandler Scholarship:
This award is
named in memory of Honorary President and President Emeritus, Richard E. Chandler. Chandler
served as President of Sigma Delta Pi for a total of fifteen years (1977-92)
during which time 141 new chapters were installed.
The highest ranked
applicant who accepts one of the undergraduate summer scholarships
for study in Spain will receive this award. The scholarship will consist
of a supplement to the basic award.
The
T. Earle Hamilton Scholarship:
This award is
named in memory of Honorary President and President Emeritus, T. Earle Hamilton,
who died October 2, 1996. Hamilton served as President of Sigma Delta
Pi for a total of fifteen years (1960-68 and 1972-77). He wrote and published
a history of Sigma Delta Pi in 1994-95 to commemorate our seventy-fifth anniversary.
The highest ranked
applicant who accepts one of the undergraduate scholarships
for study in Spanish America will receive this award. The scholarship
will consist of a supplement to the basic award.
Merit-Based
Scholarships for ACHS/WWI Internship Program
The Association of College Honor
Societies (ACHS) and the Washington Internship Institute (WII) are pleased to
announce that all inducted student members of Sigma Delta Pi are eligible to
receive a merit-based scholarship for the ACHS/WII Internship Program. For application
details, please visit www.ielnet.org/admissions-scholarships.shtml.
El
Premio Frida Kahlo
This award will be presented yearly
to a chapter for its outstanding website. To be considered for this honor, chapters
must e-mail their current website addresses to the Executive
Secretary-Treasurer by December 1 of the year in question. Websites will
be judged on the basis of information provided, navigability, appearance, innovation
and current maintenance. For guidelines in designing your websites, please click
here.
A handsome plaque will be presented
to the 2009 recipient in February to coincide with National Website Month. Congratulations
to The
College of New Jersey (Upsilon Psi), the 2008 recipient of the Frida
Kahlo Award.
El Premio José Martel
Once every
three years, at the national triennial convention (next will be in 2010), Sigma
Delta Pi honors one of our most outstanding chapter advisers with a check for
$1000.00 and a beautiful plaque. Click
here for a list of past recipients.
A nominee for the Premio José Martel
must have served at one college or university as a successful chapter adviser
for five consecutive years with at least one initiation each year, be currently
serving as chapter adviser, and be nominated by a chapter or by a member of
the Executive Council. The nomination must document the accomplishments of the
adviser in connection with the chapter, as well as the adviser's other academic
attainments. Supporting letters from the nominee's dean and another high college
official must accompany the nomination. It is suggested that the activities
of the chapter during the past five years be enumerated and described, and that
a résumé that details the nominee's professional activities be included. The
next call for nominees will be in the fall of 2009.
The Premio José Martel commemorates
the service of Dr. José Martel, who died August 22, 1979, at the age of 96,
after serving Sigma Delta Pi loyally and unselfishly for over half a century
in many capacities: chapter adviser, vice president, honorary president, faithful
counselor, orator on national occasions, and polished author in the rewriting
of parts of our ritual and in the preparation of certificates of award. The
Premio José Martel was first presented to Dr. Lucía D. Bonilla of Hunter College,
CUNY in December 1971 at the triennial convention in New York .
El
Premio Minaya Álvar-Fáñez
Each year, Sigma Delta Pi may choose
one Chapter Adviser for the Premio Minaya Álvar-Fáñez for exemplary initiative
in encouraging and assisting with chapter activities. The honoree will receive
a plaque and a check for $100 and will be chosen on the basis of the Annual
Reports that each active chapter submits at the end of the academic year.
El
Premio Gabriela Mistral
Any active chapter
may nominate one oustanding student per year for El Premio Gabriela Mistral.
The awardee, who may be either a graduate or undergraduate student, must be
an active member of Sigma Delta Pi, as defined in the By-laws.
Nominations, together with supporting documentation, including several letters
of recommendation and a current transcript, should be sent to the Executive
Secretary-Treasurer. Winners will be given a handsome certificate.
Capítulos
de Honor y Mérito / Honor Chapters
Outstanding
chapters will be designated Capítulos de Honor y Mérito
and will receive a special certificate and recognition on the national
website and in Entre Nosotros. The top
10 Honor Chapters will also receive a credit to be applied to future orders
of pins and certificates. All Honor Chapters will be selected on the basis of
Annual Reports that each chapter is asked to submit
at the end of the academic year.
El
Premio Ignacio y Sophie Galbis
The Premio
Ignacio y Sophie Galbis is named in memory of Ignacio Galbis, former Executive
Secretary-Treasurer, who, along with his wife Sophie, served Sigma Delta Pi
for more than two decades with uncommon love, dedication and efficiency.
This award will be presented each year to a chapter whose Annual
Report of activities is judged to be indicative of genuinely outstanding
work in the furtherance of our purposes.
El
Premio Octavio Paz
Chapters that
maintain Capítulo de Honor y Mérito status for a complete triennium will
receive El Premio Ocavio Paz. The inaugural award was announced for 11
chapters on July 31, 2004 at Sigma Delta Pi's Triennial Convention in Acapulco,
Mexico.
El
Premio Jorge Luis Borges
Established
in 2007 as one of Sigma Delta Pi's most prestigious honors, this recognition
for lifetime achievement is reserved for those persons who have demonstrated
sustained and exemplary dedication to the work of the Society. Nominations detailing
the candidate's relevant contributions must be sent to the Executive Secretary-Treasurer
by a chapter or a member of the Executive Council; awardees will be approved
by a majority vote of the Executive Committee, and the award presented in a
venue determined by the same committee. The inaugural recipients were Drs. Richard
E. Chandler and John H. LaPrade who were honored on August 4, 2007 at our Triennial
Convention in San Diego, CA.
The Orders:
La Orden de los Descubridores
One of the highest honors conferred by Sigma Delta Pi, the Order of the Discoverers
recognizes (1) outstanding teachers of Spanish or Hispanic studies at the college
or university level; (2) outstanding community-college or high-school teachers
of Spanish, with a proven record of excellence in teaching, who were elected
to membership in Sigma Delta Pi while in college; (3) Chapter Advisers and regional
Vice Presidents who have given distinguished service to Sigma Delta Pi; (4)
others--such as government officials, professional people, and university personnel--who
have served the cause of Sigma Delta Pi in an exceptional way.
Nomination to this order may be made
by a local chapter (by unanimous vote of all active members and approval of
the Chapter Adviser), or by a national or regional officer, and must be sent
together with a detailed supporting letter and résumé of the nominee, to the
Executive Secretary-Treasurer. He will examine the nomination and notify the
nominating chapter or officer of his decision within three weeks, unless additional
information is needed. If this award is granted, the nominating party must purchase
the plaque and confer the honor at an appropriate ceremony of a local chapter.
La
Orden de Don Quijote
The highest honor conferred by Sigma Delta Pi, the Order of Don Quijote recognizes
(1) nationally or internationally distinguished scholars in the field of Hispanic
studies; (2) distinguished teachers of Spanish who are employed in an accredited
four-year college or university, or retired from such service, and have published
extensively in the field of Hispanic studies; and (3) college officials, members
of the clergy, officers of service clubs or fraternal organizations, members
of the judicial, legislative, or executive branches of our federal or state
governments, and other such professional people who have served our cause in
a very distinguished manner and who would honor us by accepting this award.
Nominations for this award shall
be sent via e-mail with a detailed supporting letter and résumé of the nominee
to the Executive Secretary-Treasurer
who will then submit the nomination to a committee consisting of at least three
past inductees of this Order. If this award is granted, the nominating party
will receive an emblem and plaque (no charge) and confer the honor at an appropriate
ceremony of a local chapter. Please allow at least 3-4 weeks for the review
of the nomination.
Triennial
Convention 2010
Mark your calendars
now for Sigma Delta Pi's Triennial Convention in 2010 to be held at the Presidente
InterContinental Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico in conjunction with
the AATSP Conference on July
10-13. Further details including exact time and date of the convention will
be available in early 2010. All chapters are invited to send delegates to this
important meeting.