Announcements & News
(updated February 8, 2010)

Webpage Makeover/2010 Frida Kahlo Awardees | Honorary Presidents | National Agreement with ANLE | Election of National Officers | History Project | En el foco | Twitter & Facebook | New Scholarship Partners | Informative Session 2010 | Triennial Convention 2010 | Annual Reports | Entre Nosotros | In Fond Memory | Informative Session | Grants, Scholarships & Awards | Going Green... | Career Services | Chapter Starter Kit | Executive Committee Meeting | Ritual | Featured Chapter | Merchandise | Chapter Anniversary Certificates | Entre Nosotros | The Orders

    Webpage Makeover and 2010 Frida Kahlo Awardees
         To commemorate the anniversary of the founding of our national website (February 1999), Sigma Delta Pi proudly announces a new look for its main webpage and the 2010 co-recipients of the Frida Kahlo Award for their outstanding websites: Illinois Wesleyan University and Truman State University.

    New Honorary Presidents Elected
         Professors Susan Carvalho of the University of Kentucky, Domnita Dumitrescu of California State University-Los Angeles and Gerardo Piña-Rosales of Lehman College-CUNY will become Sigma Delta Pi's newest Honorary Presidents when their appointments are officially conferred on Monday, July 12, 2010 in Guadalajara, Mexico during the Society's Triennial Convention. Congratulations to these three distinguished supporters of Sigma Delta Pi for this exclusive honor. Click here for complete list of past appointees.

    Sigma Delta Pi Partners with ANLE
         Sigma Delta Pi is very pleased to announce that it has signed a formal agreement with the North American Academy of the Spanish Language (ANLE) for future collaboration and advocacy of the two organizations' missions. As part of this agreement, and beginning in April 2010, ANLE will provide Sigma Delta Pi with 10 copies annually--for an initial period of three years--of its book on Gabriela Mistral for the purpose of distributing one copy to each winner of Sigma Delta Pi's Gabriela Mistral Award. An Oversight Committee comprising Sigma Delta Pi's National President and Executive Secretary-Treasurer along with two members of the ANLE will be charged with identifying other areas, activities and projects of mutual interest. Sigma Delta Pi extends a special thanks to Dr. Gerardo Piña-Rosales, Director of the ANLE, for his indispensable role in finalizing this important accord.

    Election of National Officers for 2010-13 Triennium
         Each active chapter of Sigma Delta Pi--"active" is a chapter with at least one initiation ceremony in the past three years--will have the opportunity to vote for National President and Regional Vice President. Please check back here in early February 2010 to download the offical ballot.

    History Project
         As the end of 2009 also marks the close of Sigma Delta Pi's 90th anniversary (1919-2009), the Executive Committee launches one more commemorative effort with the Society's "History Project." The idea for this new, very important endeavor was sparked by Dr. Michael P. Harrison, Chapter Adviser of Monmouth College (Illinois), who shared with the National Office a copy of the 1945 version of the Sigma Delta Pi Ritual. Unfortunately, our national archives in Charleston, S.C. did not contain this version until Professor Harrison's generous donation of one of the originals. The "Sigma Delta Pi History Project" aims to recover many other historical documents that have been lost and/or misplaced over the past 90 years due to various leadership changes, the multiple transfers of our national archives across state borders, house fires, etc. As Dr. Harrison brought to our attention last week, many other chapters besides Monmouth College likely have similar historic "gems" that would indeed fill many of the current holes of our national records. In addition, since 2002 Sigma Delta Pi has been working on a comprehensive History that will be published as a book in 2019 to commemorate our 100th anniversary (it will be combined with T. Earle Hamilton's 1994 publication that commemorated Sigma Delta Pi's 75th anniversary). Additional historic information will be invaluable for this project. Consequently, we kindly request of our "older" chapters (those founded before 1974) to search their local records/archives for the following:
1) any versions of the initiation ritual prior to 1945 and between 1946-1973;
2) any national "Manual" published prior to 1945 (referred to in the 1945 Ritual);
3) besides the 1945 ritual, all national Sigma Delta Pi publications prior to 1965, including any and all issues of our national journal Entre Nosotros;
4) any correspondence between your chapter and the national office prior to 1958;
5) any other historical documentation prior to 1974 not included above.

         If you find any of these materials, please send a copy (or the original if you are comfortable with donating it to our national archives) to Professor Mark P. Del Mastro at the following address:
Modern Languages, Literatures & Cultures
The Citadel
171 Moultrie Street
Charleston, S.C. 29409-6430

         Six years ago Sigma Delta Pi acquired a secure storage area on The Citadel's campus where all our national archives are currently stored safely. Your contributions, therefore, will be well guarded.
         Finally, this history project will continue well through 2010 since we understand that chapters will certainly need time to search for the relevant materials.

    En el foco
         Sigma Delta Pi congratulates the Pi Zeta Chapter of the University of Northern Colorado, the subject of En el foco for the 2009-10 academic year. En el foco highlights a chapter annually for exemplary activities that reflect the mission of the Society.

    Twitter & Facebook
         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. When searching for us on Twitter, please type "SigmaDeltaPi" without spaces.
         You can also join us on Facebook to interact, exchange ideas and network with other members and friends of Sigma Delta Pi.

    New Scholarship Partners
         Sigma Delta Pi warmly welcomes two new partners to its Undergraduate Summer Scholarship Program: the Universidad de las Americas Puebla (UDLAP) in Mexico and the Universidad de Alcalá de Henares (UAH) in Spain. The UDLAP will offer one undergraduate scholarship in Mexico for six weeks: May 14-June 24, 2010; the UAH will offer five undergraduate scholarships for study during a semester (spring or fall of 2010-11 academic year) or the summer (June or July 2010). Further details and the downloadable application for Sigma Delta Pi's 2010 Undergraduate Scholarship Program are available at www.sigmadeltapi.org/schol.html.

    Informative Session at the 2010 Kentucky Foreign Language Conference (KFLC)
        The 8th annual Sigma Delta Pi Informative Session will be held on Friday, April 16 at 10:30am at the 63rd Kentucky Foreign Language Conference (April 15-17, 2010) Please plan to send a chapter representative. On Friday, April 16 at 6:30pm, Sigma Delta Pi will sponsor a wine and cheese social for all our attendees and special guests at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Lexington, KY (room TBA).

    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.

    Annual Reports
        
The 2009-10 annual report form should be completed and submitted along with all supporting materials via e-mail to delmastrom@citadel.edu by Sunday, June 6, 2010. Paper submissions are no longer accepted. 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.

    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; all submissions must be accompanied by the name of the chapter adviser. Photographs must be in .jpg or .gif format and accompanied by the names of the individuals pictured and the chapter.

    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.

    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 June 12-14, 2009, members of the Executive Committee convened in Charleston, S.C. 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 2010 Executive Committee Meeting will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico in conjunction with the AATSP Conference on July 10-13 and prior to Sigma Delta Pi's Triennial Convention.

    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 may be purchased for $3 each: simply write in this item on the standard order form for pins and certificates.

    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:

    Chapter Project Grants
         Sigma Delta Pi is pleased to announce its Chapter Project Grant Program for 2010. Eligible chapters of active status--at least one induction of new members in the past three years to include 09-10--are invited to apply for one of four grants of $300 each to support a chapter project that complements the mission of Sigma Delta Pi during the 2010-11 academic year. The application deadline is May 1, 2010. For further information, please download and review Form 1-B of the application; click here for the downloadable application. The Executive Committee reserves the right to award less than four grants as deemed appropriate.

         Sigma Delta Pi congratulates the recipients of the 2009 Charter Project Grant Program: Emporia State University and Scripps College.

    Graduate Research Grants
        Sigma Delta Pi will award three (3) graduate research grants of $2000 each for use during the summer of 2010 and the 2010-11 academic year. Click here for downloadable application packet. The faculty advisor of chapters with more than one applicant must complete the following Ranking Form. Only graduate students in Hispanic Studies who are active members of Sigma Delta Pi are eligible to apply for these grants.

    Undergraduate Summer Scholarships
        Sigma Delta Pi will award 30 undergraduate study abroad scholarships for use in 2010. Click here for downloadable application packet. The faculty advisor of chapters with more than one applicant must complete the following Ranking Form. Only undergraduate students who are active members of Sigma Delta Pi are eligible to apply for these annual awards.

    The Richard E. Chandler Scholarship:
        This award is named in memory of Honorary President and President Emeritus, Richard E. Chandler, who died December 11, 2008 at the age of 92. 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.

    Internship Scholarships
        The Washington Internship Institute (WII) and the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) are pleased to announce that all inducted members of Sigma Delta Pi are eligible to receive a $500 merit-based scholarship for the ACHS/WII Internship Program. To obtain this scholarship, eligible students must 1) apply and be accepted to the Capital Experience, Embassy Scholars, or Go Green program; 2) obtain the signature of your chapter adviser on the Intern Profile. WII will then verify your membership with the national office of Sigma Delta Pi. Please note these two steps must be successfully completed prior to the beginning of your semester in DC in order for you to receive an ACHS/WII scholarship; 3) apply the $500 scholarship to WII's tuition or housing fees. The ACHS/WII scholarship can be combined with other WII scholarships as long as the cumulative award does not exceed WII's tuition. See www.wiidc.org/costs.php for application and further details.

        El Premio Frida Kahlo
        This award will be presented yearly to a chapter for its outstanding website. The 2010 recipient will be announced in early February.
        To be considered for the 2011 honor, chapters must e-mail their current website addresses to the Executive Secretary-Treasurer by December 1, 2010. Websites will be judged on the basis of content, navigability, appearance, innovation and current maintenance. For guidelines in designing your websites, please click here.

        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 José Martel Award 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/e-mails 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 detailing the nominee's professional activities be included. For the 2010 award, the complete nomination packet must be sent by April 1, 2010 via e-mail to the Executive Secretary-Treasurer at delmastrom@citadel.edu. Incomplete nominations will not be considered.
        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 José Martel Award 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 outstanding 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
        Each summer, 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 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 must be sent via e-mail with detailed supporting letters and a 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 2-3 weeks for the review of the nomination.