Omicron Theta

The Omicron Theta Chapter of the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society at California State University, Bakersfield, was reinstated on May 16, 2025. On that evening, the induction ceremony was conducted by Dr. William Flores and Dr. Anthony Nuño, who are Sigma Delta Pi Honorary Members. Four new charter members were inducted on that day. The event was also attended by the inductees’ families and friends, along with two distinguished guests: Professor Rusalina Flores and Professor David Meléndez. The MLL Department plans to hold an average of one initiation ceremony per year, and preparations for the next event are already on their way.

Immediately following its inception, our Omicron Theta Chapter began organizing activities to foster the study of Spanish and promote global awareness on our campus.

Chapter Advisor

Dr. William Flores
wflores@csub.edu 
HOB 246 | 661-654-3312

Co-Advisor

Student Members

Biviana Ruiz Lopez
Blanca Guapo Marquez
Eduardo Martinez
Rosemary Viera

There shall be three classes of membership: active, alumnus, and honorary.

Active Membership

Active membership shall be limited to college students who have demonstrated high scholarship in general and excellence in the academic study of Spanish. Specifically, they must meet the following requirements:

1. Each must have completed three years of study of college-level Spanish (eighteen semester credit hours) or the equivalent thereof, including at least three semester hours of a course in Hispanic literature or Hispanic culture and civilization at the junior (third-year) level. A student may be admitted to active membership while still enrolled in the second junior-level course if all other requirements have been met and if the instructor of the course certifies that the student's work is of "B" or "A" quality.
2. The candidate for active membership must have a minimal grade point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 point scale in all Spanish courses taken.
3. Graduate students who have been unconditionally admitted to a degree-granting program may be elected to membership upon completion of two graduate courses in Spanish with an average which, if continued, will make them eligible for a graduate degree.
4. Sigma Delta Pi does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, or disability.

Alumnus Membership

This category shall be composed solely of active members who have been graduated or for other reasons have left college. If alumnus members re-enroll either as undergraduate or as graduate students they shall revert to active membership. Alumnus members are welcome at all chapter meetings, but they shall not have the right to vote on matters brought before the chapter nor can they hold office in the chapter.

Honorary Membership

Persons who are obviously interested in, and supportive of, things Hispanic may be elected to this category of membership. Members of the college Spanish teaching staff and other faculty members or college administrative officials notably devoted to the goals and ideals of Sigma Delta Pi and who have supported the work of the chapter are generally initiated as honorary members. Outstanding high-school or community-college teachers of Spanish may be granted honorary membership. This class is not open to students, graduate or undergraduate. For honorary and all other types of members, the national initiation fee must be paid and the membership certificate and insignia presented during the initiation ceremony.

Founder, inspiration and guiding spirit of Sigma Delta Pi; we remember with gratitude and appreciation.

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 in 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. Its motto is the Greek phrase "Spanías Didagéi Proágomen," meaning: "Let's go forth/continue forth under the teaching/guidance of the Spanish language."

With the guidance of such notable Hispanists as S. Griswold Morley, Elijah C. Hills, Rudolph Schevill, Leavitt O. Wright, William Berrien, John D. Fitz-Gerald, Tomás Navarro Tomás, José Martel, Archer M. Huntington, John T. Reid, Stuart M. Gross, James O. Swain, F. Dewey Amner, Carl A. Tyre, T. Earle Hamilton, Dolores Brown, Richard E. Chandler, Ignacio R.M. Galbis, John H. LaPrade and Germán D. Carrillo, the Society has expanded its activities and now has over 500 chapters in 49 states.

The following reveal the diverse nature of the colleges and universities which form the Sigma Delta Pi family: the Catholic University of America, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Southern Methodist University, Baruch College-CUNY, the University of Hawaii, Oral Roberts University, Georgian Court College, Stanford University, Texas Christian University, Hood College, Brigham Young University, College of William and Mary, Howard University, Friends University, Georgia Southern College, Marquette University, Baylor University, Brown University, Auburn University, The Citadel, and California Baptist University.

In order to serve its many chapters efficiently, the Society has a National President, an Executive Secretary-Treasurer, and five Regional Vice Presidents. All but the Executive Director 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, and the Presidents Emeriti. The sponsor of the chapter (preferably chosen by the student members but sometimes appointed by the department head) is of the utmost importance, for his/her wisdom, imagination, and dedication largely determine the success of the local branch of the Society.

Visit sigmadeltapi.org for more information.

Distinctions

Chapter Awards

Capítulos de Honor y Mérito / Honor Chapters – 10-15 chapters are recognized annually for their outstanding activities.

Chapter Project Grants – Eligible chapters of active status–at least one induction of new members in the prior three years to include the current–may apply for a grant to support a chapter project that complements the mission of Sigma Delta Pi during the upcoming academic year.

Sigma Delta Pi-SHH Chapter Grants – Eligible Sigma Delta Pi and SHLE chapters of active status–at least one induction of new members in the prior three years to include the current–along with an active chapter of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (SHH) may apply for a joint grant of up to $300 to support a collaborative project that complements the missions of Sigma Delta Pi, SHLE and the SHH.

Premio Frida Kahlo – First established in 2006 to recognize a chapter’s outstanding website, it was updated in 2022 to recognize yearly an active chapter for its outstanding submission as accepted by the Executive Committee for inclusion in Sigma Delta Pi’s Museo Virtual Ruth H. Barnes. 

Premio Ignacio y Sophie Galbis – Established in 1997 to honor two individuals who dedicated their lives to Sigma Delta Pi.  Ignacio, with the help of his wife Sophie, served more than 20 years as Executive Secretary-Treasurer (1977-1997).   The Ignacio and Sophie Galbis Award is granted yearly to a chapter for its exemplary activities representing the highest ideals of the Society.

Premio Octavio Paz – Founded in 2004 for those chapters that maintain Honor Chapter status for a complete triennium.

Premio Fénix – Established in 2012, the Phoenix Award recognizes one chapter for a year of extraordinary and exemplary activity as compared to the previous year(s).

Student Scholarships and Awards

Graduate Research Grants – Eligible graduate students who are active members of Sigma Delta Pi may apply for grants to support travel ABROAD to Spain or Spanish America for the sole purpose of research related to Hispanic Studies. 

Undergraduate Study Abroad Awards – Eligible undergraduate students may apply for a variety of study abroad scholarships or stipends for use during the summer and the academic year.

Undergraduate Internship Grants – Eligible undergraduate students may apply for a grant to support qualifying internships during the summer and the academic year.

Premio Gabriela Mistral – Granted to an outstanding graduate or undergraduate student of Spanish who is an active member of Sigma Delta Pi and who has demonstrated noteworthy involvement and initiative in their chapter. Honorary members are not eligible. Any active chapter may nominate one student per year for the Gabriela Mistral Award and shall send the nomination together with supporting documentation, including at least two letters of recommendation and a current transcript, to the Executive Director.  Winners of the award will be given a beautiful certificate compliments of Sigma Delta Pi and the book From Chile to the World–70 Years of Gabriela Mistral’s Nobel Prize or The Mistral Review courtesy of the Gabriela Mistral Foundation.

Premio Mario Vargas Llosa – Granted yearly to one undergraduate Spanish major or minor who is a member of Sigma Delta Pi and who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in all upper-division courses completed and exemplary involvement in extra-curricular activities as related to Spanish. This is a joint award of Sigma Delta Pi and the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese. 

Premio Ana María Matute – Granted each triennium to one graduate student of Spanish/Hispanic Studies who is a member of Sigma Delta Pi and who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in coursework completed and exemplary involvement in extra-curricular activities as related to Spanish/Hispanic Studies. This inaugural award was granted in summer 2016 and is a joint recognition of Sigma Delta Pi and the Asociación Internacional de Hispanistas. 

Advisor Awards and Recognitions

Distinguished Service – Select Chapter Advisers are recognized for their exemplary commitment and years of service to Sigma Delta Pi.

Premio Albatros –  Established in 2022, a subvention award of $1,500 that may be granted yearly for one Sigma Delta Pi chapter adviser whose manuscript is accepted and published by Albatros Ediciones.

Premio Lucy F. Lee* – Established in 2004, this award may recognize yearly one Chapter Adviser for exemplary initiative in encouraging and assisting with chapter activities. The awardee will receive a plaque, a cash award and will be chosen on the basis of the annual reports that each active chapter submits at the end of the academic year.

Premio José Martel – Once every three years, at the national triennial convention, Sigma Delta Pi honors our most outstanding chapter adviser with a cash award and a beautiful plaque. A call for nominations for this distinction is announced the fall prior to the national triennial convention.

*Formerly the Premio Minaya Álvar-Fáñez.

See https://sigmadeltapi.org/blog/awards/ for more information.

1. How do I become a member of Sigma Delta Pi?

You are nominated by your instructor or a member of the Society. You can also nominate yourself. See the membership requirements above. If you believe you qualify for membership, send an e-mail to the Chapter Adviser, Dr. William Flores at wflores@csub.edu.

​2. How much is the annual contribution and how can I pay it?

The annual contribution is $30. You may pay with a check or cash. Send a check written out to California State University, Bakersfield to the following address:

Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
California State University, Bakersfield
10HOB
9001 Stockdale Hwy.
Bakersfield, CA 93311

If you are on campus, you may also drop it at the reception of the Department of Modern Languages and Literature, HOB 246.

​3. When does the Society have meetings and how do I know what activities are taking place?

Please contact the chapter advisors for more information on meetings and activities.

4. If I become a member of the Society, am I obligated to attend all meetings and participate in all activities?

No, you participate when you can.

Dr. William Flores
California State University, Bakersfield 
Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
9001 Stockdale Hwy.
Bakersfield, CA 93311
Office: HOB 236 | (661) 654-3312