Sigma Tau Delta

Sigma Tau Delta is the international English honor society. The Athens State Kappa Zeta Chapter, founded in 1954, welcomes English majors, minors, and students seeking teacher licensure and certification in English who have appropriate academic accomplishments.

Eligibility:

  • Candidates for undergraduate membership must have completed a minimum of two college courses in English language or literature beyond the usual requirements in freshman English. The candidate must have a minimum of a B or equivalent average in English and in general scholarship, must rank* at least in the highest thirty-five percent of his/her class, and must have completed at least three semesters or five quarters of college course work. Candidates for undergraduate membership need not be currently majoring or minoring in the discipline of English, but may have completed sufficient English coursework at transfer institutions, or been members of Sigma Kappa Delta.
  • The cost is $45 for a lifetime membership, payable to Athens State University Sigma Tau Delta. Scholarships from Athens State Sigma Tau Delta are available for students who demonstrate financial need.

Member Benefits

Academic Recognition

  • Members receive a personalized Sigma Tau Delta membership certificate and the official Society pin to signify high achievement in English language, writing, and literature.
  • Members may wear Sigma Tau Delta regalia at graduation and other important ceremonies to celebrate their accomplishments.

Scholarships

Writing Awards and Opportunities

Internships

Annual Convention

  • Members may submit papers for presentation at the annual Sigma Tau Delta international convention. Works selected for presentation are also eligible for overall awards and monetary prizes.
  • Members who attend the annual convention have opportunities to hear students from throughout the U.S. and abroad present their creative and critical writing, to attend sessions on student leadership and chapter activities, and to listen to presentations by noted authors. Featured speakers at recent conventions include Neil Gaiman (2009), Azar Nafisi (2010), Poet Laureate Kay Ryan (2011), Natasha Trethewey (2012), Ursula Le Guin (2013), Alison Bechdel (2014), Gary Soto (2015), Charles Baxter (2016), Jeff VanderMeer (2017), and Mary Norris (2018).

Student Leadership and Community Service

  • Members may compete for officer positions and take part in community service projects at many campus chapters.
  • Members may compete for student leadership positions at the regional and Society levels. Student leaders serve on the Sigma Tau Delta Student Leadership Committee and represent student needs and concerns to the Sigma Tau Delta Board of Directors.

Career Advancement

Lifetime Affiliation and Fellowship

For more information, contact:

Kimberly Jack Photo

Kimberly Jack, PhD

Professor of English