Honor Society
Phi Sigma Iota
Phi Sigma Iota is an International Honor Society dedicated to promoting the
scholarly study of foreign languages and is comprised of the best foreign
languages students. If you meet the eligibility requirements and are interested
in membership with Phi Sigma Iota, inform your professor that you would like to
be considered for this honor.
The Eligibility requirements for membership:
- MUST be either MAJORING or MINORING in a foreign
language
- MUST have reached Junior standing or
higher; Graduate Students are also eligible
- Must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher; a GPA of
3.0 or higher in foreign languages courses
- MUST have successfully completed a third year level
course in a foreign language
- An invitation for membership in the society can only be considered for
students who have been nominated by their professors.
Phi Sigma Iota History
Phi Sigma Iota was founded in 1922 at Allegheny College by Dr. Henry W.
Church, members of his department of languages, and advanced students, who used
to meet to discuss linguistic and literary matters. It became a national society
when Daqhe Beta and Gamma Chapters were founded at the University of
Pennsylvania and Whooster College respectively. With these three chapters as the
nucleus of the national organization, the first convention was held in May 1926.
Since that time, expansion has been steady. There are now more than 175 chapters
throughout North America and the Virgin Islands.
Every year, Phi Sigma Iota awards several scholastic grants to its members.
The first scholarship was founded in 1939 in memory of the founder and first
National President, Dr. Henry W. Church. In 1978, under the presidency of Dr.
Santiago Villas, the Society expanded to honor outstanding achievement in any
foreign language field including Classics, Philology, Applied Linguistics, and
Comparative Literature.
In 1982, the Society became the International Foreign Language
Honor Society by installing its first Chapter in another country, at
the Universidad Regiomontana, in Monterrey, Mexico. In 1986, the Kappa
Mu Chapter was formed at San Jose State
University, being the 155th Chapter of Phi Sigma
Iota.
Signs and Symbols of Phi Sigma Iota
The signs and symbols of the society are four: the insignia in the form of
either a key or a pin, the shield, the certificate of membership, and the
colors.
The Insignia is comprised of the following elements:
- A chaplet of ivy “the prize of the learned brow” in
honor of Horace, the Roman poet, model for much of universal language
verse.
- A stem at the bottom from which the foliage grows.
- A five point star standing for the languages
originally rewarded by Phi Sigma Iota.
- The Greek letters Phi Sigma Iota superimposed on the five point star
which stand for:
Philotes: meaning friendship
Spoude: meaning research
and individuality
Idioma: meaning zeal for languages
Congratulations 2008 Phi Sigma Iota Recipients:
Kalisa Beagle
Renee Cailloux
Sarah Joy Callahan
Kai en
Liang
Sonia Gandara
Esther Diaz Martin
Jeanette Mathios
Arielle Goni
Okane
John Richter
Charles Shen
Karen Steward
Carmen
Valdivia
Clara Varjavandi
Ian Glenn Viajar
James Williams
Felicia K.
Wong
Ting-Fang Yen
Images 2008 Phi Sigma Iota Recipients:
Phi Sigma Iota 2008 Recipients with
Faculty Advisor Dr.Eleanor Marsh and Aude Sanchez ( PSI
President)
(larger version available, click image)
Phi Sigma Iota 2008 Recipients with Dr.
Inaba
(larger version available, click image)
Phi Sigma Iota
website
For more information, please contact:
Marsh,
Eleanor
Spanish
Lecturer
Clark Hall 412N
408-924-4614
eleanor.marsh@sjsu.edu
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