Sigma Delta Pi
National Spanish Honor Society
Sigma Delta Pi is an organization of outstanding students of the Spanish language. The goal of Sigma Delta Pi is to encourage the study, teaching, and scholarly research of Spanish at Longwood University. It also seeks to educate its members and the public at large on the societal and institutional character of the Spanish speaking cultures of the world.
To qualify for membership in the Society, students must meet the following requirements:
- Students must have completed at least 6 hours of Spanish above the 202 level, including at least 3 hours of a course in Hispanic literature or culture and civilization,
- Students must have a GPA of 3.25 or above in Spanish, and
- Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or above.
Sigma Delta Pi was established in 1919 as the "Sociedad del Prado" at the University of California, Berkeley. In 1921, with Mr. Heriberto M. Stein as president of Alpha Chapter, the young society began to be extended to other institutions of higher learning.
In 1925, when there were five chapters, and under the presidency of Mr. Leavitt O. Wright and the support of the well-known Hispanists Elijah C. Hills, S. Griswold Morley and Rudolph Schevill, it became a national organization whose motto is "Spanías Didagéi Proágomen" (Prosigamos bajo la inspiracion de España/Let us carry on under the inspiration of Spain).
Since then there has been a continuous and energetic campaign to establish chapters in English-speaking Universities and colleges where advanced Hispanic studies are offered and supported by the administrations.
Honorary membership may be granted to members of the Spanish Faculty, diplomats and community leaders who have shown a strong support of Spanish culture.