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.