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Each semester the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Foreign Languages and Literature (FLL) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville welcomes new members into its chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society/La Sociedad Nacional Honoraria Hispánica, which is an academic honor society devoted to students of Spanish in four-year colleges and universities. Sigma Delta Pi is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies.

The mission of the organization is to honor those who excel in the study of the Spanish language and in the study of the literature and culture of the Spanish-speaking world, and to foster an understanding, appreciation and respect for its diversity of people, cultures and societies.

“The Society brings a place of recognition to those students who attain excellence in our programs; Spanish minors, majors and future Spanish teachers, as well as Spanish majors in the PK-12 teacher certification program,” said Heidy Cuervo, PhD, associate professor in the FLL department and faculty advisor for the SIUE chapter of Sigma Delta Pi. “Excellence entails academics and service. In the past, Sigma Delta Pi students have tutored beginner Spanish learners, hosted bilingual story times at local libraries, organized a poetry festival, traveled to conferences, and organized many other cultural activities and events.”

Established in 2015 by Cuervo and Chase Tiffany, its first president, SIUE’s chapter Alpha Alpha Epsilon is currently accepting applications for new members through Wednesday, Nov. 9. Initiation will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

 “Being inducted into Sigma Delta Pi is a monumental event for someone’s academic career,” stated Gage Peek, chapter president and Spanish education major. “When becoming part of this Society, you are now part of a safe space shared with like-minded individuals – all bonded by our dedication to the Spanish language and culture. This Society serves as a life-long avenue to express and grow your understandings of the Spanish language and culture with other scholars in the field, and it provides exclusive offers and benefits to its members to ensure our professional success.”

Sigma Delta Pi is the largest foreign language honor society in existence with more than 170,000 members, and several members of the SIUE campus community are making a concerted effort to re-energize the University's chapter. Its motto is the Greek phrase "Spanías Didagéi Proágomen" meaning "let's go forth/continue forth under the teaching/guidance of the Spanish language." 

“The importance of the Society for students is that it allows them to feel part of a community of people (other students, faculty) who value and appreciate the learning of the Spanish language and the Society’s traditions,” said Carolina Rocha, PhD, professor in the FLL department and director of the SIUE Women’s Studies Program. “For instance, students read a passage of Don Quixote that exalts individual merit. It is an opportunity for them to feel proud of their work and strengthen ties with their fellow inductees.”

While the COVID-19 pandemic forced the 2021 ceremony to be held online, the 2022 ceremony was held in person in April.

“I was very happy to have our initiation back on campus,” Cuervo stated. “This new group of members will bring back activities that contribute to their shared beliefs regarding Spanish language and Hispanic cultures.”

During the spring 2022 ceremony, nine undergraduate students were initiated into the Society:

• Eve Isabella Melliere; finance major, Spanish minor
• Isabella Rose Perryman; Spanish and psychology double major
• Julia Robin McCarty; Spanish and Spanish teacher certification double major
• Fatima Torres; Spanish major
• Sophia Hiromi Border; Spanish and Spanish teacher certification double major
• Mackenzie Ann Sievers; biology major, Spanish minor
• Carolann Marie Wolfe; biology major, Spanish and chemistry double minor
• Christian Ray Plymale; Spanish and CMIS double major
• McKen Andrew Troutt; Spanish major

And three students were presented with their graduation honorific cords:

• Blerta Beluli; international studies major, Spanish and business administration double minor
• Brooke Snyder; Spanish and Spanish teacher certification double major
• Sophia Hiromi Border; Spanish and Spanish teacher certification double major

“It was an honor to have been inducted into Sigma Delta Pi, because it means I have been recognized as someone with high proficiency and knowledge on Spanish language and culture,” Border said. “As someone who has made a career out of Spanish language and culture, being a part of an organization that surrounds me with individuals who can help one another to open perspectives about the cultures that exist in Spanish speaking countries is very valuable to me.”

To be accepted as a member, undergraduate students must have completed three years of college-level Spanish study including at least three semester hours of a course in Hispanic literature or culture and civilization at the junior level; a minimal GPA of 3.0 in all Spanish courses taken; and a ranking in the upper 35 percent of their class after completion of at least three semesters of college coursework. Graduate students qualify for a membership if they have unconditionally been admitted to a degree-granting program and upon completion of two graduate courses in Spanish with an average which, if continued, will make them eligible for a graduate degree.

For more information about this organization and to apply for membership, contact Cuervo at hcuervo@siue.edu. For more information about Spanish language programs at SIUE, visit siue.edu/artsandsciences/fll. Information about the PK-12 Spanish Teacher program can be found at here.

Photo: Members of the Sigma Delta Pi honor society at SIUE.