Honors

Pi Delta Phi (for French students)

Pi Delta Phi, the National French Honor Society, was founded as a departmental honor society at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1906 and became a national society in 1925. At present, it numbers more than 300 chapters nationwide, as well as chapters in Paris and Aix-en-Provence. The Society was admitted to membership in the Association of Honor Societies in 1967.

Mu Gamma is the name of the Pi Delta Phi chapter at UWM. Since the founding of the chapter in 1996, over forty outstanding students of French have become members.

The purpose of the society is…

• to recognize outstanding scholarship in the French language and its literatures;
• to increase the knowledge and appreciation of Americans for the cultural contributions of the French-speaking world
• to stimulate and encourage French and francophone cultural activities.

As a member of Pi Delta Phi, you…

• become part of a vibrant community united by appreciation of francophone cultures
• enhance your academic achievements by belonging to a national honor society
• enhance your professional portfolio by highlighting your excellence in French
• become eligible to apply for Pi Delta Phi sponsored scholarships.

Membership…

Membership is open to any student who has taken at least one French course numbered 350 or higher and who has a minimum 3.0 GPA in French coursework and overall coursework. Students do not have to be a full French major or minor to qualify for membership.

There is a one-time membership fee of $35, and the Pi Delta Phi national office will provide you with a certificate and a pin. Your name will be added to the national Pi Delta Phi roster, and you may also purchase ($15) a cord to wear at commencement.

Application…

Application deadlines are usually October 15 and March 15. For more information or an application form, contact russelnc@uwm.edu 

Scholarship information…

• go to www.pideltaphi.org

Vive le français! et à bientôt! 

What is Sigma Delta Pi?

Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, is a non-profit organization incorporated in the State of South Carolina, a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and partners with the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese and the North American Academy of the Spanish Language. Founded at the University of California, Berkley in 1919.

What Are the Advantages of Membership?

There are many benefits for being a member in Sigma Delta Pi. Besides looking great on a resume, members are entitled to apply for study abroad scholarships for programs in both Spain and Latin America. Also, the UWM chapter sponsors cultural activities that will increase members’ awareness of Hispanic culture, making them very competitive in an increasingly global society. Some benefits are listed below. Read the complete list of benefits at the Sigma Delta Pi website.

• Association with the only honor society devoted exclusively to students of Spanish in four-year colleges and universities, the largest foreign-language honor society in existence (over 170,000 members) and one of the elite as attested by its membership in the Association of College Honor Societies, the nation’s only certifying agency for college and university honor societies.
• Exclusive access to Sigma Delta Pi’s growing scholarship program comprising annual undergraduate awards for summer study in Spain, Mexico and Ecuador (locations subject to change) and research grants for graduate students.
• Active and ambitious student members may apply as a chapter for Chapter Project Grants to help finance their group’s activities that complement the mission of Sigma Delta Pi.
• Members are eligible to apply for $500 merit-based scholarships from the Washington Internship Institute (WII) for the ACHS/WII Internship Program.
• Bolstered credentials for any professional field, including business. For example, see the Qualifications Standards for General Schedule Positions at the website of the United States Office of Personnel Management.
• Distinctive student honors such as the Gabriela Mistral Award, available to one outstanding member per chapter annually, and the Mario Vargas Llosa Award, a joint Sigma Delta Pi-AATSP Recognition granted yearly to one outstanding, undergraduate student major or minor of Spanish.
• Leadership opportunities through election to chapter offices and the direction of various chapter projects (see handbook for ideas) that may result in such national distinctions as the Honor Chapter Award, the Premio Ignacio y Sophie Galbis and the Premio Frida Kahlo.
• An enhanced résumé afforded by serving as an active chapter officer: organizational leadership and initiative are attractive qualities to prospective employers.
• Supportive network of regional and national officers to provide guidance for chapter activities and Society-related issues.
• Available awards for outstanding faculty of Hispanic Studies or members of one’s local community who have made exceptional efforts in furthering Sigma Delta Pi’s mission.
• Closer association with students of similar interests and out-of-class interaction with members of faculty.
• Opportunities to participate in Sigma Delta Pi’s annual informative sessions, held in conjunction with the AATSP and the Kentucky Foreign Language Conference, and the triennial convention, held during the meeting of the AATSP.

For scholarship information, go to …

• Sigma Delta Pi Scholarships/Awards

How do I become a member?

• To be considered for admission, applicants must have taken, at minimum, Spanish 350 or Spanish 341.
• Students should have a 3.0 GPA in all Spanish courses taken at UWM.
• Students must have a 3.2 cumulative GPA in all college work.

What are the dues?

Along with a completed application form, students must also pay a one-time fee of $39, which will cover initiation costs.

For more information contact: cferr@uwm.edu