Christy Crouse of Truman State University Named 2017 Mario Vargas Llosa Award Recipient

Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, and the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) are pleased to announce that Christy Crouse of Truman State University is the recipient of the 7th annual Mario Vargas Llosa Award, granted yearly to one undergraduate Spanish major or minor who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in all upper-division courses completed and exemplary involvement in extra-curricular activities as related to Spanish. Ms. Crouse will be recognized formally at the 99th Annual Conference of the AATSP in Chicago, IL, during the awards banquet on July 8. Congratulations to Ms. Crouse for this exceptional honor.

Sigma Delta Pi and the AATSP’s Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica Announce Joint Chapter Grant Program

Sigma Delta Pi and the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (SHH) of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese are proud to announce their inaugural chapter grant program for 2017.  A Sigma Delta Pi chapter and a SHH chapter, both of active status, may apply for a joint grant of up to $300 to support a collaborative project in spring 2017 that complements the missions of Sigma Delta Pi and the SHH .  This grant program aims to promote collaboration between chapters of Sigma Delta Pi and the SHH to help raise the visibility of Spanish honor societies in our communities and to incentivize high school honor society members to continue their Spanish education at the collegiate level.  Deadline for applications: February 15, 2017.  For the downloadable application and further details, please visit: http://www.sigmadeltapi.org/SDP-SHHchaptergrants.html

Four Students Selected for Sigma Delta Pi’s 4th Annual “Best Practices” Session

Sigma Delta Pi congratulates the following four student members for being selected to participate in the 4th Annual “Best Practices” session at the 98th Conference of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese,
Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay Hotel, Miami, FL, July 8-11, 2016:

Rita Maria Hess, Illinois State University
“Los niños: El futuro de Sigma”

Gayle Jeffers, Alpha Phi- Texas Tech University
“Reaching Beyond Members : The ABCs of School Based Mentoring Programs.”

Meaghan Mormann, Illinois Wesleyan University
“Breaking Walls and Building Bridges”

Jourdan Schnabel and Nathan Schmid, University of MN Morris
“Bridging Cultures: Promoting Bilingual Literacy”

Additional details regarding session time and location forthcoming in early 2016.

Sigma Delta Pi National Events in April and July 2016: Plan to Attend Now!

Sigma Delta Pi chapter delegates (advisers, student officers and members), Executive Council Members and Honorary Presidents are cordially invited to join us for the following national events in 2016:

• Sigma Delta Pi’s 14th annual Informative Session at the 69thKentucky Foreign Language Conference (April 14-16, 2016).   The Informative Session will take place Friday afternoon, April 15 (time and location TBA) at the University of Kentucky.  Later that evening (April 15) at 6:30pm, Sigma Delta Pi will host a reception for our attendees and special guests in the Mason-Headley room at the Campbell House (1375 S. Broadway Rd.) in Lexington, KY.   Deadline for abstract submissions to the Kentucky Foreign Language Conference is November 16, 2015.  Deadline for early conference registration (required of all attendees, even if you are not presenting): TBA.
• Sigma Delta Pi will host its Triennial Convention at the AATSP’s Annual Conference in Miami, Florida (July 8-11, 2016) at the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay Hotel, followed by a reception for all our guests.  In addition, Sigma Delta Pi will host another “Informative Session” (similar to the Kentucky venue) and a “Student Best Practices” session to highlight the impressive chapter activities of our student members.   Deadline for submission proposals for the AATSP Conference is November 15, 2015.  Deadline for early conference registration (required of all attendees, even if you are not presenting): TBA.

Our National President, Dr. Lucy F. Lee of Truman State University, and I look forward to seeing you!

A special thanks to Vista Higher Learning for sponsoring Sigma Delta Pi’s receptions.

Unfortunately, funding for attendance to these events is not available through Sigma Delta Pi, but please consult with your local institution (home academic department, department chair, dean) for possible travel support.

Sigma Delta Pi Confirms Two New Honorary Presidents

Dr. David T. Gies, Commonwealth Professor of Spanish at the University of Virginia and President of the International Association of Hispanists, and Dr. Emily Spinelli,  Executive Director of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, have been elected Honorary Presidents of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society.  Their outstanding advocacy of Sigma Delta Pi and their ongoing accomplishments in academic leadership and scholarship earned them this exclusive recognition that prior to 2015 had only been granted to 15 other Hispanists during the Society’s 95-year history. Drs. Gies and Spinelli will be formally appointed at Sigma Delta Pi’s Triennial Convention in Miami, Florida during the annual conference of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish & Portuguese on July 8-11, 2016.  A complete list of past appointees is available at www.sigmadeltapi.org.

Sigma Delta Pi Holds 3rd Annual Student “Best Practices” Session in Denver, CO

Sigma Delta Pi held its 3rd Annual “Best Practices” Session at the 97th Conference of the AATSP in Denver, Colorado on Friday, July 17, 2015 from 1:30-2:45pm at the Denver Marriott City Center Hotel. Congratulations to the following three student members selected for their outstanding presentations:

Paige Bergan of Truman State University: “Utilization of Committees to Achieve Chapter Goals”

Chrysanthemum Gorospe of Marquette University: “Milwaukee Schools Ally Together”

Mayra Jaquez of the University of Northern Colorado: “Poesía a la lengua española”

All Sigma Delta Pi guests attended a special reception from 2:45-4:00pm at the same hotel.

 

 

Sigma Delta Pi’s 3rd Annual “Best Practices” Session and Members Reception at the AATSP Conference in Denver, CO

Sigma Delta Pi invites chapter members and delegates to its 3rd Annual “Best Practices” Session at the 97th Conference of the AATSP in Denver, Colorado on Friday, July 17, 2015 from 1:30-2:45pm at the Denver Marriott City Center Hotel. Congratulations to the following three student members selected for this year’s round of presentations:

Paige Bergan of Truman State University: “Utilization of Committees to Achieve Chapter Goals”

Chrysanthemum Gorospe of Marquette University: “Milwaukee Schools Ally Together”

Mayra Jaquez of the University of Northern Colorado: “Poesía a la lengua española”

All Sigma Delta Pi members and attendees to the “Best Practices” Session are invited to a special reception from 2:45-4:00pm at the same hotel.  Click here for registration and additional AATSP Conference information.

Johanna Cajina Castillo Named 2015 Mario Vargas Llosa Award Winner

Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, and the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) are pleased to announce that Johanna Cajina Castillo of The Catholic University of America is the recipient of the 5th annual Mario Vargas Llosa Award, granted yearly to one undergraduate Spanish major or minor who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in all upper-division courses completed and exemplary involvement in extra-curricular activities as related to Spanish. Ms. Cajina Castillo will be recognized formally at the 97th Annual Conference of the AATSP in Denver, CO, during the awards banquet on July 19. Congratulations to Ms. Cajina Castillo for this exceptional honor.