Sigma Delta Pi: Announcements & News

Announcements & News
(updated January 23, 2012)

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Frida Kahlo Award 2012
Sigma Delta Pi is pleased to announce that the Alpha Pi Chapter of the University of North Texas is the 2012 recipient of the Frida Kahlo Award, granted yearly to a chapter for its outstanding website.

En el foco
Sigma Delta Pi congratulates the Kappa Phi Chapter of Friends University, the subject of En el foco for the 2011-12 academic year. En el foco highlights a chapter annually for exemplary activities that reflect the mission of the Society.

Informative Sessions
Please plan now to send a chapter delegate to our 10th annual Sigma Delta Pi Informative Session in Lexington, Kentucky to be held on Friday, April 20 from 2-3:30pm in Room 203 of the University of Kentucky's New Student Center at the 65th Kentucky Foreign Language Conference (April 19-21, 2012). Later that evening at 6:30pm, Sigma Delta Pi will sponsor a wine and cheese social for our attendees and special guests at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Lexington, KY (exact room TBA).

Sigma Delta Pi will also hold an Informative Session during the 94th Annual Conference of the AATSP at the Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This will be the second such session held at an AATSP conference. A special thanks to the AATSP Executive Council and Staff for their assistance with scheduling this event. Details regarding exact date, time and room location will be forthcoming.

National Partnership with Geico
Sigma Delta Pi is pleased to announce its new partnership with Geico to offer our members opportunities for more competetive insurance rates. Click here for quotes or call 1-800-368-2734 and mention your affiliation with Sigma Delta Pi. Geico will also be co-sponsoring our undergraduate study abroad awards in 2012.

Twitter
Sigma Delta Pi is 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 still publishes 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.

Facebook Photo Contest
Sigma Delta Pi conducts its inaugural Facebook Photo Contest for all our active chapters.

Rules for submissions:

1) Photo must be posted at www.facebook.com/sigmadeltapi by April 1, 2012. Photos submitted any other way will NOT be considered.
2) In Facebook photo caption line, must write “SDP Photo Comp” and name of chapter. Eg: “SDP Photo Comp, Gamma Gamma”
3) Eligible entries must show name of "Sigma Delta Pi" and the Society's logo within the picture.
4) Competitive entries will reflect mission of Sigma Delta Pi in creative, entertaining and coherent way.
5) Person who posts/submits the photo must be a member (not an alumni member) of an active chapter of Sigma Delta Pi; chapter Facebook group pages may also submit the photo.
6) Maximum of two photo entries per chapter.

Winning entry along with 2nd and 3rd place distinctions will be announced in May 2012.

Sigma Delta Pi is grateful to the contest judging committee:
Jennifer Corry (Chair), Berry College
Elena Deanda, Washington College
Agustín Martínez-Samos, Texas A&M International University
Lila Carlsen, Pepperdine University

Executive Committee Meeting
The 2012 Executive Committee Meeting will be held in the summer at the College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C.

Alumni
All alumni members of Sigma Delta Pi are asked to send their permanent e-mail addresses to the Executive Director at delmastromp@cofc.edu. Alumni will be added to our e-mail database in order to receive future news and announcements directly.

Annual Reports
The 2010-11 chapter annual report form is available online at the forms link. The completed form and all supporting materials were due via e-mail to delmastromp@cofc.edu by Sunday, June 5, 2011. However, late submissions are still accepted but will not be considered for national awards. Paper reports are not accepted. Annual 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 sdpnational@gmail.com.

The Motto
In the fall of 2010, and in light of observations by certain scholars of Greek that our national motto "Spanías Didagéi Proágomen" is misspelled, we asked our chapters to complete an online survey to explore possible solutions. The survey results, however, were inconclusive with no concensus on a course of action. Consequently, and thanks to the participation of our membership, the work of the national Motto Committee (Professor Benjamin Smith [chair], Minnesota State University Moorhead; Elizabeth Scarlett, University at Buffalo SUNY; Berta Bermúdez, Kean University) and the extensive feedback from multiple scholars of Greek at four different universities, the Sigma Delta Pi Executive Committee concluded that the motto, which then-President Leavitt O. Wright of the University of California Berkeley created in the mid 1920s, is indeed correctly spelled and will remain "Spanías Didagéi Proágomen."

Given the recurrent confusion and misunderstandings of the meaning of Sigma Delta Pi's Greek motto, the following translation should clarify: "Proágomen" is the verb, meaning "Let's go forth." "Didagéi" is the dative instrumental form, having to do with "teaching" (didactic): "under the teaching/guidance." "Spanías" is the genitive form used as an adjective and refers to the Spanish language, thus the feminine form. The most accurate translation of the motto into English is "Let's go forth/continue forth under the teaching/guidance of the Spanish language."

Member News
On June 27, 2011, University of Wisconsin Press published the book Ambientes: New Queer Latino Writing, which is co-edited by Sigma Delta Pi member Lázaro Lima.

From the information gathered during her trip to Spain in 2008, courtesy of a Sigma Delta Pi Graduate Research Grant, Christine Weisglass has authored the article "An Acoustic Study of Rhotics in Onset Clusters in La Rioja," which will be published in the selected proceedings of the 40th Linguistic Symposium on Romance Languages. Christine is currently in her second year as a Ph.D. student focusing on Hispanic Linguistics at Florida State University.

Drs. Germán Carrillo (National President), Mark P. Del Mastro (Executive Director) and Domnita Dumitrescu (Honorary President) have been elected "Miembros Correspondientes" of the North American Academy of the Spanish Language (ANLE). This appointment/honor is bestowed upon a select few in the field who have distinguished themselves professionally and internationally in supporting the mission of the ANLE, which is primarily the promotion of the Spanish language. Carrillo, Del Mastro and Dumitrescu are among 20 new appointees in 2011 from across the globe.

In Memory
Sigma Delta Pi mourns the loss of our following members and friends:

Juan Manuel Sampere Villar, President of Estudio Sampere and Order of the Discoverers Member, passed away on March 4, 2011 in Madrid, Spain, after battling a long illness. Juan Manuel, a member of Sigma Delta Pi's prestigious Orden de los Descubridores, was a devoted annual supporter of Sigma Delta Pi's summer scholarship program.

Noemy Zepeda, Student Vice-President of the Iota Epsilon Chapter at the University of North Carolina-Pembroke, passed away in a car accident on November 18, 2010.

Dr. Patrica Jane Hamel, Founding Chapter Adviser of Alpha of Wyoming, the first and only chapter to date of "The Equality State." Professor Hamel's energy and dedication to Sigma Delta Pi resulted in her chapter receiving in 2002 a national Ignacio and Sophie Galbis Award, granted annually to the most outstanding chapter in the U.S. Dr. Hamel died peacefully at home in Laramie, Wyoming on July 2, 2010.

Dr. Juan Bruce-Novoa, Chapter Adviser at the University of California-Irvine, passed away on June 11, 2010. Visit his online memorial at http://juanbrucenovoa.wordpress.com/. Sigma Delta Pi honors his past service.

Student Chapter Officers
Has your chapter submitted the e-mail addresses of its student officers to national headquarters? Please e-mail your chapter's consolidated list to delmastromp@cofc.edu.

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

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

Entre Nosotros
Sigma Delta Pi's annual, Entre Nosotros, is published each spring with one copy distributed to each chapter and an electronic version downloadable to all visitors here.

To submit material for possible publication in Entre Nosotros (in Spanish only), please forward by e-mail to sdpnational@gmail.com; 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.

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.

Ritual
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
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 2012. Active chapters--those with at least one initiation ceremony since the 2009-10 academic year--interested in funding for specific activities should review the criteria and related application forms. Congratulations to Creighton University, Texas Tech University and Washington College, recipients of chapter project grants in 2011.

Graduate Research Grants
Sigma Delta Pi will award up to four graduate research grants of $2000 each for use during the summer of 2012 and the 2012-13 academic year. Only graduate students in Hispanic Studies who are active members of Sigma Delta Pi are eligible to apply for these grants. Click here for additional details and downloadable application form.

Undergraduate Study Abroad Awards 2012
Sigma Delta Pi will award 10 undergraduate study abroad scholarships (two for Ecuador, eight for Spain) for use in the summer of 2012 and 10 stipends of $2,500 each for study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country during the summer of 2012 or the 2012-13 academic year. Only undergraduate students who are active members of Sigma Delta Pi are eligible to apply for these annual awards. Click here for additional details and downloadable application form.

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 Ecuador or 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 stipends 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 Mario Vargas Llosa
Sigma Delta Pi and the the American Association of Spanish and Portuguese co-sponsor their Mario Vargas Llosa Award, granted yearly to one undergraduate Spanish major or minor who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in all upper-division courses completed and exemplary involvement in extra-curricular activities as related to Spanish. Check back in the spring of 2012 for the official nomination form and award criteria.

El Premio Frida Kahlo
This award is presented yearly to a chapter for its outstanding website as linked on the national chapter directory. The 2012 awardee will be announced in early February 2012. To be considered for the 2013 honor, chapters should submit their web addresses to delmastromp@cofc.edu by December 1, 2012. The winner will be announced in late January/early February 2013. Websites will be judged on the basis of content, navigability, appearance, innovation and current maintenance; webpages that have not been updated in the previous four months (120 days) at the time of judging will be ineligible for the award. Facebook pages and most blogs are also ineligible, although both may be linked to our national directory. 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. Congratulations to the 2011 awardee: Dr. Valentín Soto, Chapter Adviser of Montclair State University.

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 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 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.