Alpha Alpha Pi Chapter
Alpha Alpha Pi (AAP) is Alma College's local chapter of Sigma Tau Delta. Alma College's AAP chapter has been active since 1990 and continues today to pursue the goal of encouraging the love of literature, or as the Sigma Tau Delta pledge states, to "endeavor to advance the study of the chief literary masterpieces, to encourage worthwhile reading, to promote the mastery of written expression and to foster a spirit of fellowship among students specializing in the English language and literature, ever keeping in mind our international motto--Sincerity, Truth, Design."
Alma College's Sigma Tau Delta chapter activities include book
swaps, hosting receptions, publishing a campus magazine entitled "Books
that Matter" and more. Initiations take place fall and winter terms.
Dr. John Ottenhoff, Professor of English and Associate Provost, is the
advisor of Sigma Tau Delta.
What Sigma Tau Delta symbolizes
The words Sigma Tau Delta are the initial letters in Greek of the English words symbolizing "Sincerity, Truth, and Design." Only students of high scholarship are admitted into membership.
Membership
There are two categories of membership: active and associate.
Active Membership
Active membership is available, in general, to students with a minimum of a B or equivalent average in English, who rank at least in the highest thirty-five percent of their class in general scholarship, and who have completed at least three semesters or five quarters of college work. Full-time faculty members who sponsor a chapter are also eligible. (Specific details are listed in the Society's constitution.)
Prerequisites:
- currently enrolled at Alma College
- requisite academic background
- majoring or minoring, or the equivalent, in the discipline of English
Associate Membership
Associate membership is available to currently enrolled students, undergraduate or graduate, who have the requisite academic background but who are not majoring or minoring in English. In addition, non-sponsoring faculty members with a degree in English may be associate members.
Prerequisites:
- currently enrolled at Alma College
- requisite academic background
- not majoring or minoring in English
- can be an alumni with the requisite background
Benefits of Membership
- Available scholarships
- Distinction and recognition for outstanding achievements
- Enrich your education
- Help you make career choices
- Advance your career
- Sense of academic community
- Making friends who also love literature
Alpha Alpha Pi activities
- Reading to children at daycare centers
- Book swap
- "Books That Matter" - a published compilation of book reviews and recommendations from students and staff
- Attending plays
- Hosting English department and other receptions
- Hosting discussion panels with Alma College English department alumni
- Students attending the national STD conference
Awards
Sigma Tau Delta has many awards for qualified student members, faculty sponsors, and chapters. These awards are given annually in the areas of teaching, writing, performance, conference paper presentation, and web site construction.
The Central Office sends an application packet to every chapter in September. Additional application forms may be photocopied, obtained from the Central Office, or downloaded from the Sigma Tau Delta website.
Sigma Tau Delta holds its annual international convention every spring. It is a truly wonderful event that allows hundreds of Sigma Tau Deltans from around the globe to gather in one locale, share experiences and ideas, be recognized for their achievements, and participate in the official side of the society. At the convention, opportunities abound to meet face to face with other students, faculty, and respected authors, make new friends, discuss the disciplines of the English language and literature, and enjoy the offerings of the convention's location.
Scholarships
Sigma Tau Delta presents a variety of international scholarships each year. Chapters may nominate one member to apply for each of the Junior, Senior, Graduate and Study Abroad Scholarships, worth up to $2,000 apiece. Additionally, chapters may nominate one member for the Regnery Scholarship, endowed in 1992 in honor of Henry Regnery, the noted publisher. This scholarship, worth up to $2,500, is given to an outstanding student scholar. In addition to the scholarships, runners up in each category are presented with awards of up to $500.
Upcoming Events
AAPi initiated its new members on Thursday, March 8 at
the home of our advisor, Dr. John Ottenhoff. Congratulations to our new initiates!
Our bookswap took place on Wednesday, March 21 from 9 a.m.
until 3 p.m. in SAC. This year was a success - please remember to donate books for our next swap!
