In July 2016, Sigma Delta Pi formalized a new partnership with the Gabriela Mistral Foundation, which will provide all future winners of the Gabriela Mistral Award a copy of the Foundation’s book From Chile to the World–70 Years of Gabriela Mistral’s Nobel Prize.
Category: Awards
Southern Utah U and Loyola U New Orleans Awarded Chapter Project Grants
Sigma Delta Pi Chapters at Southern Utah University and Loyola University New Orleans were both awarded Chapter Project Grants for endeavors planned for fall 2016. Chapter Phi Iota at Southern Utah will undertake a Day of the Dead celebration on November 2, 2016, and Chapter Mu Kappa of Loyola U New Orleans will execute a Hispanic Cultural Celebration and related fund raiser on October 14, 2016.
Each spring the 610+ chapters of Sigma Delta Pi are invited to submit applications for funding to support special chapter projects that reflect the mission of the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society. Proposals are evaluated over the summer, and applicants are notified prior to the start of the fall term. Click here for more information on the Chapter Project Grant program.
Dr. Comfort Pratt of Texas Tech U Granted Germán D. Carrillo Service Award
Professor Comfort Pratt of Texas Tech University was granted the inaugural Germán D. Carrillo Award for her outstanding service to the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society during the 2013-16 triennium.
Montclair State U’s Chapter Adviser Granted José Martel Award
Dr. Valentín Soto, Faculty Adviser of the Delta Chi Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi at Montclair State University, was named the 2016 recipient of the José Martel Award, which is granted once every three years to the most outstanding chapter adviser.
Recipient of 2016 Minaya Álvar-Fáñez Award
Professor Angela Bailey de las Heras, Faculty Adviser of the Eta Upsilon Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi at Illinois State University, has been named the 2016 recipient of the Minaya Álvar-Fáñez Award for exemplary initiative in encouraging and assisting
with chapter activities.
Co-recipients of the 2016 Phoenix Award
The Sigma Delta Pi chapters of the University of North Carolina Pembroke and Wittenburg University have been named co-recipients of the Phoenix Award for extraordinary and exemplary activity as compared to the previous year(s).
Octavio Paz Awardees Named
The following chapters of Sigma Delta Pi were bestowed the Octavio Paz Award in 2016 for maintaining “Honor Chapter” status for the 2013-16 triennium:
College of Charleston
Illinois State University
Marquette University
Montclair State University
Texas Tech University
Truman State University
University of Northern Colorado
Sigma Delta Pi’s “Honor Chapters” Named for 2015-16 Academic Year
During its Triennial Convention in Miami, Florida on July 8, 2016, the National Executive Committee of Sigma Delta Pi named the Capítulos de Honor y Mérito for the 2015-16 academic year:
Arkansas State U
Arkansas Tech U
College of Charleston
Florida Atlantic U
Georgia College & State U
Illinois State U
Marquette U
Montclair State U
Texas Tech U
Truman State U
U of Northern Colorado
U of Virginia
West Virginia U
Philanthropists James and Esther Ferguson Inducted into Order of the Discoverers
On Wednesday, June 8, 2016, Executive Director Mark P. Del Mastro inducted James and Esther Ferguson into Sigma Delta Pi’s prestigious Order of the Discoverers. The Fergusons are well known for their philanthropic activities throughout the southeast region, but most notably for their donation to the College of Charleston of two historic buildings in Trujillo, Spain for the purpose of providing study abroad opportunities to students. This year the College of Charleston commemorates 20 years of its study abroad program in Trujillo, thanks to the generosity of the Fergusons.
Left to right: Dr. Del Mastro, Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson, and
Dr. Andrew Sobiesuo, Associate Provost of International Education
Lidia I. Martínez, Recipient of 6th Annual Mario Vargas Llosa Award
Lidia I. Martínez of Sigma Delta Pi’s Chi Gamma Chapter at Stockton University (Galloway, NJ), was selected as the 2016 recipient of the Mario Vargas Llosa Award, a joint recognition of the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society and the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP). A Spanish major with a minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies at Stockton University, Lidia distinguished herself not only through academic excellence as an undergraduate, but also through her impressive activities beyond the classroom that included a lead acting role in Spanish in a play at the Dante Hall Theatre in Atlantic City, and a Community Engagement Student Fellow with countless hours of service to the local Hispanic community, among other activities. A leader of Stockton’s local chapter of Sigma Delta Pi and a member of the Caribbean Students Association, she has also facilitated the organization of student field-trips to New York City as well as various events for Hispanic Heritage Month. Lidia will be formally recognized during the 98th Annual Conference (July 8-11) of the AATSP in Miami, Florida during the conference’s awards banquet on Sunday, July 10, 2016 from 6:00-8:30pm.
In its 6th year, the Mario Vargas Llosa Award is granted annually to one undergraduate Spanish major or minor who is a member of Sigma Delta Pi and who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in all upper-division courses completed and exemplary involvement in extra-curricular activities as related to Spanish.