La Sociedad Nacional Honoraria Hispánica
About Sigma Delta Pi
Sigma Delta Pi is the only honor society dedicated to students of Spanish at four-year colleges and universities, as well as the largest foreign-language honor society in the world. According to the national organization’s website, benefits of membership include the following:
- 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.
- 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 VargasLlosa 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 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.
- Special rates on insurance through Geico and exclusive member discounts on select hotels and auto rentals.
- 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.
About the Alabama Chapter
Founded in 1919 at UC-Berkeley, Sigma Delta Pi is the national collegiate honor society for students of Spanish. UA houses the Beta Alpha chapter, with Dr. Sarah Moody as faculty advisor. Students can apply for membership in SDP after they have completed a course at the “Civilization” level or equivalent (SP 364 and SP 366). Contact Dr. Moody for more information. Membership applications are reviewed in September for fall induction, and in February for spring induction. Learn more about Sigma Delta Pi here: https://sigmadeltapi.org/.
For more information, contact us through Dr. Sarah Moody.
