NGU Skyliner

The evening commenced with a word from Dr. Don Dowles, vice president of academic affairs. Dowles congratulated the five Spanish students who were to be inducted into the society that evening. He encouraged the students to continue to excel and to develop their Spanish speaking gifts for the glory of God and for the furthering of the Gospel.

Dr. Maria Rippon, adviser of the Furman University Sigma Delta Pi chapter, conducted the induction ceremony. She spoke to the students and professors and led the ceremony in Spanish. The ceremony involved the recitation of a pledge to Sigma Delta Pi and a candle lighting ritual. In the ritual, a flame representing passion for the study of language and culture was passed from the Furman University chapter’s candle to the North Greenville University chapter’s candle to signify the commencement of North Greenville’s chapter.

The candle lighting ritual was followed by three musical presentations to celebrate Hispanic culture.

The induction ceremony closed with a word from Nathaniel Williams, president of the North Greenville chapter.

According to Omar Mirabal, NGU’s Sigma Delta Pi adviser, one of the main purposes of Sigma Delta Pi is to celebrate and to get to know “the richness of real culture at various levels.”

 Sigma Delta Pi gives its members many opportunities to explore Spanish culture by offering scholarships to study abroad and by recognizing students and professors who contribute to knowledge of Hispanic culture in the English speaking world.

The North Greenville Sigma Delta Pi chapter also provides its members with cultural experiences. Mirabal said that the chapter will begin a long term missions related project, such as working with poor Hispanic children or supporting a Latin American school.

Beginning next semester, the chapter will sponsor a monthly exhibition of Hispanic art. The chapter will also host a week long Spanish film festival. Mirabal hopes to find thought provoking films that lend insight to Hispanic culture to show during the festival.

Sigma Delta Pi offers many opportunities for students, but the honor of being inducted into the society involves meeting stringent requirements. Students must display overall academic excellence by maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students must also display a mastery of the Spanish language by completing at least six Spanish classes, including three Spanish literature and culture classes, with an A.

Mirabal hopes that the opportunity to be a part of Sigma Delta Pi will encourage North Greenville students to pursue further learning and greater achievement in Spanish courses. He also hopes that Sigma Delta Pi will attract new students with a passion for the Spanish language.