Sigma Delta Pi
Encyclopedia
Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society (La Sociedad Nacional Honoraria Hispánica), was established on November 14, 1919, at the University of California at Berkeley. Its insignia is the royal seal of Fernando
and Isabel
, representing Castille
, León
and Aragón
. The Society's colors are red and gold and its flower is the red carnation
.
There are also two other categories of membership: the Order of the Discoverers and the Order of Don Quijote. Both recognitions are considered prestigious and above the aforementioned categories. However, whereas active and honorary membership candidates are screened only by the local chapter, candidates for the Orders must be nominated through the national headquarters.
Each active chapter is required to have a faculty sponsor responsible for overseeing the activities of the chapter. Also, each chapter is encouraged to elect student officers to assist with the direction of the chapter.
Many of the society's members are Hispanic or Latino, but the majority are non-Hispanic students of the Spanish language and literature.
Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand the Catholic was King of Aragon , Sicily , Naples , Valencia, Sardinia, and Navarre, Count of Barcelona, jure uxoris King of Castile and then regent of that country also from 1508 to his death, in the name of...
and Isabel
Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I was Queen of Castile and León. She and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain. Later the two laid the foundations for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor...
, representing Castille
Kingdom of Castile
Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...
, León
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
and Aragón
Kingdom of Aragon
The Kingdom of Aragon was a medieval and early modern kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula, corresponding to the modern-day autonomous community of Aragon, in Spain...
. The Society's colors are red and gold and its flower is the red carnation
Carnation
Dianthus caryophyllus is a species of Dianthus. It is probably native to the Mediterranean region but its exact range is unknown due to extensive cultivation for the last 2,000 years. It is the wild ancestor of the garden carnation.It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 80 cm tall...
.
Participants
Sigma Delta Pi currently has over 570 chapters, 368 of these are considered active—a chapter that holds at least one induction of new members during a three year period.There are also two other categories of membership: the Order of the Discoverers and the Order of Don Quijote. Both recognitions are considered prestigious and above the aforementioned categories. However, whereas active and honorary membership candidates are screened only by the local chapter, candidates for the Orders must be nominated through the national headquarters.
Organization
The Society has a National President, an Executive Director, and five Regional Vice Presidents. All but the Executive Director and the Executive Committee Member-at-Large are nominated and elected by the active chapter members. The Society is governed by an Executive Council consisting of the seven aforementioned officials, the Immediate Past President, the Presidents Emeriti and the Executive Committee Member-at-Large.Each active chapter is required to have a faculty sponsor responsible for overseeing the activities of the chapter. Also, each chapter is encouraged to elect student officers to assist with the direction of the chapter.
Many of the society's members are Hispanic or Latino, but the majority are non-Hispanic students of the Spanish language and literature.