Month: September 2015

Sigma Delta Pi Announces New Graduate Student Award!

The Ana María Matute Award will be granted each triennium to one graduate student of Spanish/Hispanic Studies who is a member of Sigma Delta Pi and who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in coursework completed and exemplary involvement in extra-curricular activities as related to Spanish/Hispanic Studies. This inaugural award will be granted in summer 2016 and is a joint recognition of Sigma Delta Pi and the Asociación Internacional de Hispanistas.  Click here for additional details and the downloadable nomination form.

Sigma Delta Pi Offers Numerous Awards, Honors and Grants!

Chapters and members have numerous opportunities at the national level.  See details of the numerous awards, honors, grants and other opportunities at http://www.sigmadeltapi.org/SAR.Scholarships.Awards.Recognitions.html.

Loss of Dr. Dorothy Mitstifer, Past Executive Director of ACHS

dorothy-mitstiferDr. Dorothy I. Mitstifer

9/14/2015

It is with great sadness that I share with you today the passing of Dr. Dorothy I. Mitstifer, Executive Director Emerita, on September 13, 2015. Dr. Mitstifer was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in February and underwent several rounds of chemo in her fight to beat it. As tough as Dorothy was, the cancer was tougher. She left us last night with both of her sons at her side.

Since 1976, when Dr. Mitstifer first stepped into her role as secretary-treasurer for ACHS, and throughout her years as executive director, Dorothy worked as a tireless advocate for the best and brightest of our students across the nation and around the world. As a staunch proponent of ethical, transparent practices for honor societies and a champion for high standards, she set a tone of integrity and wisdom that each of our member societies works hard to achieve on the campuses we serve. We could ask for no better role model and no better friend.

Dr. Mitstifer will long be remembered and lauded for the contributions she’s made to all institutions and organizations supporting higher education. Her gifts and her guidance have left an indelible mark upon the scholarly landscape, and her legacy will inspire many generations to come to “Aim Higher.”

In closing, I would like to ask that you remember Dorothy Mitstifer as a champion. A champion for the highest standards of excellence, a champion for meaningful collaboration, a champion for the students and professionals she served, a champion for her family, friends and colleagues… and simply, a champion. She will be forever remembered for her advocacy and efforts on behalf of scholastic excellence and leadership in post-secondary education, and particularly among our collegiate honor societies. The contributions she’s made are immeasurable and her legacy is a lasting one that will inspire generations to come.

With fondness and great respect,

Lisa Wootton Booth
Interim Executive Director, Association of College Honor Societies
lwbooth@kon.org

Call for Nominations: Sigma Delta Pi’s José Martel Award

Once every three years, at its national triennial convention, Sigma Delta Pi honors one of our most outstanding chapter advisers with a cash award and a beautiful plaque. Click here for a list of past recipients. The next José Martel Award will be presented in 2016 at Sigma Delta Pi’s Triennial Convention in Miami, FL, in conjunction with the AATSP’s 98th annual conference at the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay Hotel, July 8-11.

A nominee for this 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 achievements. 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 (including the 2015-16 academic year) be enumerated and described, and that a résumé detailing the nominee’s professional activities be included. For the 2016 award, the complete nomination packet must be sent by May 1, 2016 via e-mail to the Executive Director at delmastromp@cofc.edu. Incomplete nominations will not be considered.

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 award certificates. The inaugural José Martel Award was presented to Dr. Lucía D. Bonilla of Hunter College, CUNY in December 1971 at the triennial convention in New York. 

Important Chapter Planning Info for New Academic Year!

Sigma Delta Pi

PLEASE SAVE THE FOLLOWING FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

When planning for your upcoming chapter activities and induction ceremonies for the fall 2015 term, please note:

1) Chapter Handbook: For ideas regarding chapter activities, procedures, etc, all chapters advisers and student officers are encouraged to review this useful reference at http://www.sigmadeltapi.org/Pubs/SigmaDeltaPiChapterHandbook3rdEdition.pdf (3rd edition).  Remember that chapter-initiated regional projects should be coordinated closely with neighboring active chapters to ensure there are no conflicts of interest with other chapters’ activities.  And NO chapter projects may be executed at the national level without authorization of Sigma Delta Pi’s national office.

2) Chapters without an induction of new members within the past three years must complete the Chapter Reactivation Petition to resume chapter activities and before planning future initiation ceremonies: http://www.sigmadeltapi.org/Pubs/SDPreactivationpetition.doc

3) PLEASE DOWNLOAD a current order form, which is always found at http://www.sigmadeltapi.org/CR.Forms.html (all chapters MUST pay national dues for new initiates, both active…

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