National Hispanic Honor Society
SIGMA DELTA PI
Sociedad Nacional Honoraria Hispánica
Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, is currently accepting applications for membership by Tuesday, October 12, 2023.
Undergraduate sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible if they are currently enrolled in upper-level Spanish courses and:
Those who are already members of another chapter are requested to contact Prof. Idania Cater icater@fiu.edu.
- Completion of three years of study of college-level Spanish (18 semester credit hours) or the equivalent thereof, including at least three semester hours of a course in Hispanic literature or Hispanic culture and civilization (or a course whose content includes at least 1/3 of these) at the junior (third-year) level. A student may be admitted to active membership while still enrolled in the second junior-level course if: a) all other requirements have been met; b) the course’s instructor certifies that the student’s work is of “B” or better; c) the first junior-level course has already been completed with a grade of “B” or better at the current institution.
- A minimal grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all Spanish courses taken. (The candidate MUST have earned grades in completed Spanish courses in order to qualify for membership.)
- Ranking in the upper 35% of their class—sophomore, junior, or senior— and the completion of at least three semesters or five quarters of college work (institutions unable to generate class rank should use a 3.2 cumulative grade point average as this criterion).
Graduate students who have been unconditionally admitted to a degree granting program may be confirmed for membership upon completion of two graduate courses in Spanish with an average that, if continued, will make them eligible for a graduate degree.
Application form and an unofficial FIU transcript to the mailbox of Idania Cater at icater@fiu.edu, Secretary of Sigma Delta Pi.
Election to Sigma Delta Pi is based on scholarship in general, a high level of attainment in the study of Spanish, a genuine interest in things Hispanic, and professorial recommendation. If accepted, the student must attend the induction ceremony on November 16 at 6 pm. A one-time dues charge of $30 includes a certificate and pin.
The deadline for application is Tuesday, October 12, 2023.
Applications are available to download.
Please direct any questions to Prof. Mileusnich and/or Prof. Cater at mmileusn@fiu.edu or icater@fiu.edu.
MEMBER BENEFITS
REASONS TO BECOME A MEMBER OF SIGMA DELTA PI:
- Association with the only honor society devoted exclusively to students of Spanish in four-year colleges and universities, the largest foreign-language honor society in existence (over 180,000 members) and one of the elite as attested by its membership in the Association of College Honor Societies, the nation’s only certifying agency for college and university honor societies.
- Exclusive access to Sigma Delta Pi’s undergraduate study abroad awards for study in Spanish-speaking countries and virtual internship grants for remote professional experiences in Madrid, Barcelona, Santiago (Chile) and Medellin (Colombia).
- Graduate students may apply for research grants.
- Active and ambitious student members may apply as a chapter for Chapter Project Grants to help finance their group’s activities that complement the mission of Sigma Delta Pi.
- Bolstered credentials for any professional field, including business. For example, see the Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions at the website of the United States Office of Personnel Management.
- Distinctive student honors such as the Gabriela Mistral Award, available to one outstanding member per chapter annually; the Mario Vargas Llosa Award, a joint Sigma Delta Pi-AATSP recognition granted yearly to one outstanding, undergraduate student major or minor of Spanish; and the Ana María Matute Award, a joint Sigma Delta Pi-Asociación Internacional de Hispanistas recognition that may be granted each triennium to one exceptional graduate student of Spanish/Hispanic Studies.
- National and local leadership opportunities through appointment to the national Board of Student Advisers, election to chapter offices, and the direction of chapter projects (see Chapter Handbook for ideas); the latter may result in such national distinctions as the Honor Chapter award, the Premio Ignacio y Sophie Galbis , the Premio Fénix, and the Premio Frida Kahlo.
- An enhanced résumé afforded by serving as an active chapter officer: organizational leadership and initiative are attractive qualities to prospective employers.
- Supportive network of regional and national officers to provide guidance for chapter activities and Society-related issues.
- Available awards for outstanding faculty of Hispanic Studies or members of one’s local community who have made exceptional efforts in furthering Sigma Delta Pi’s mission.
- Closer association with students of similar interests and out-of-class interaction with members of faculty.
- Opportunities to participate and/or present in Sigma Delta Pi’s annual sessions, held in conjunction with the AATSP and the Kentucky Foreign Language Conference, and the triennial convention, held during the meeting of the AATSP.