Sigma Delta Pi: Announcements & News

Announcements & News
(updated September 1, 2010)

Giving to Sigma Delta Pi
Interested in donating to Sigma Delta Pi to help support our programs and activities? Click here for details.

Sigma Delta Pi's National Headquarters Now at the College of Charleston
After 13 years enjoying the generous support and facilities of The Citadel, Sigma Delta Pi's national headquarters has moved to the College of Charleston. All Sigma Delta Pi-related mailings should be addressed to the Executive Director at his new address:

Mark P. Del Mastro
Hispanic Studies
College of Charleston
66 George Street
Charleston, S.C. 29424-0001
delmastromp@cofc.edu

Sigma Delta Pi expresses its sincere appreciation to The Citadel for its long-standing support of Sigma Delta Pi and its gratitude to the College of Charleston for agreeing to serve as the new location of the Society's national headquarters. Click here for the College of Charleston's press release.

By-laws Amendments
On July 11, 2010, the Executive Committee of Sigma Delta Pi approved various amendments to the national by-laws. All active chapters of Sigma Delta Pi--those with at least one initiation ceremony in the past three years--are requested to vote accordingly (click here for a copy of the amendments and voting instructions).

Triennial Convention 2010
Sigma Delta Pi's Triennial Convention took place on Monday, July 12, 2010 from 3:00-3:45pm in Bellatrix II followed by a two-hour reception; both were held at the Presidente InterContinental Guadalajara in Mexico and in conjunction with the AATSP Conference (July 10-13). Numerous national awards and recognitions were announced to include the 2010 Honor Chapters, Premio Ignacio y Sophie Galbis, Premio Minaya Álvar Fáñez, Premios Octavio Paz, Premio José Martel, the newest inductee into the Orden de los Descubridores, the Charter Project Grant Recipients and the installation of the newest Honorary Presidents. Click here for pictures. Click here for the minutes.

Honorary Presidents Conferred
Professors Susan Carvalho of the University of Kentucky, Domnita Dumitrescu of California State University-Los Angeles and Gerardo Piña-Rosales of Lehman College-CUNY became Sigma Delta Pi's newest Honorary Presidents 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.

Annual Reports
The 2009-10 chapter annual reports were due with all supporting materials via e-mail to delmastromp@cofc.edu by Sunday, June 6, 2010. However, reports may still be submitted through the fall of 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 sdp@knology.net.

Informative Session at the 2010 Kentucky Foreign Language Conference (KFLC)
The 8th annual Sigma Delta Pi Informative Session was held on Friday, April 16 at 10:30am in Room 203 of the University of Kentucky's New Student Center at the 63rd Kentucky Foreign Language Conference (April 15-17, 2010). Later that evening at 6:30pm, Sigma Delta Pi sponsored a wine and cheese social for our attendees and special guests at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Lexington, KY. As both events are held yearly at the KFLC, please plan to join us every April in Lexington for this important meeting and enjoyable social.

Election of National Officers for 2010-13 Triennium
Sigma Delta Pi is pleased to announce the newly elected officers for the 2010-13 triennium:

National President
Dr. Germán D. Carrillo, Marquette University

Regional Vice-Presidents
Northeast
Dr. Marie-Lise Gazarian, St. John's University

Southeast
Dr. Maria Rippon, Furman University

Midwest
Dr. Benjamin Smith, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Southwest
Dr. Lucy F. Lee, Truman State University

West
Dr. Doreen O'Connor-Gómez, Whittier College

Sigma Delta Pi extends its profound gratitude to Drs. Anonio Fernández-Vázquez of Virginia Tech University and Dale J. Pratt of Brigham Young University for their exceptional services as Vice-Presidents of the Southeast and West respectively.

Membership Criteria
To ensure your chapter's candidates satisfy national eligibility requirements for membership, please review Article III of the national by-laws.

History Project
As the end of 2009 also marked the close of Sigma Delta Pi's 90th anniversary (1919-2009), the Executive Committee launched 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 the attention of Professor Mark P. Del Mastro at the following address:
Hispanic Studies, College of Charleston, 66 George Street, Charleston, S.C. 29424-0001

Sigma Delta Pi's national archives are currently stored in a secure area at the College of Charleston. 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.

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.

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 August 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 Director 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.

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 regarding Sigma Delta Pi's 2010 Undergraduate Scholarship Program are available at www.sigmadeltapi.org/schol.html.

Entre Nosotros, Spring 2010 Edition
The spring 2010 issue of Entre Nosotros is available online. One hard copy was sent to each chapter in April.
To submit material for possible publication in Entre Nosotros (in Spanish only), please forward by e-mail to sdp@knology.net; 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.

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 only made 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 are only accepted electronically. Do you have ideas to help us continue our "green" efforts? E-mail them to delmastromp@cofc.edu.

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
The 2010 Executive Committee Meeting was held in Guadalajara, Mexico in conjunction with the AATSP Conference on July 10-11 and prior to Sigma Delta Pi's Triennial Convention. The next Executive Committee Meeting will be held during the summer of 2011 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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 delmastromp@cofc.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 Director at delmastromp@cofc.edu.

Grants, Scholarships and Awards:

ACHS Chapter Grants
The Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) has launched a chapter grant program to encourage cross-campus collaboration and new initiatives among student organizations related to social responsibility. Six $500 grants are available for pilot projects to achieve the following objective: 1) conduct initiative or pilot project related to social responsibility or 2) strengthen current social responsibility or sustainability initiative of individuals and the campus. The deadline for applications is October 15, 2010. Download additional details and application guidelines here. Active chapters of Sigma Delta Pi are encouraged to apply.

Sigma Delta Pi Chapter Project Grants
For noteworthy chapter activities that reflect the mission of Sigma Delta Pi, chapter project grants of $300 each will be awarded in 2011. Active chapters--those with at least one initiation ceremony since the 2008-09 academic year--interested in funding for specific activities should downloadable and complete the official application form and review Form 1-B. Congratulations to Randolph Macon College and Wartburg College, recipients of chapter project grants in 2010.

Graduate Research Grants
Sigma Delta Pi will award three (3) graduate research grants of $2000 each for use during the summer of 2011 and the 2011-12 academic year. Only graduate students in Hispanic Studies who are active members of Sigma Delta Pi are eligible to apply for these grants. Download the application and related forms here.

Undergraduate Scholarships
Sigma Delta Pi awarded 30 undergraduate study abroad scholarships for use in 2010 and spring 2011. Only undergraduate students who are active members of Sigma Delta Pi are eligible to apply for these annual awards. The downloadable application and related forms for the 2011 program will be available here in September 2011.

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. Click here for application and further details.
Congratulations to Sigma Delta Pi member Evangelia Covarrubias of Dominican University! Evangelia was accepted into the WII Embassy and Diplomatic Scholars Program and was awarded an accompanying $500.00 academic scholarship for her membership in Sigma Delta Pi.

El Premio Frida Kahlo
This award is presented yearly to a chapter for its outstanding website. To be considered for the 2011 honor, chapters must e-mail their current website addresses to the Executive Director 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 in summer 2013), 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. A call for nominations for the next award (2013) will be issued in the fall of 2012.
        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 Director. 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 Director, 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 Director 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 via e-mail with a detailed supporting letter and résumé of the nominee to the Executive Director who will notify the nominating chapter or officer of the final decision within one week, 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 Director 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.