The Randolph-Macon College Sigma Delta Pi chapter, Sigma Theta, held its annual induction ceremony on March 28, 2019 in Birdsong Pavilion. Sigma Delta Pi is a national collegiate Hispanic honor society.

The Ceremony
Austin Fortier ’20, chapter president, and Spanish Professor Maria José Bordera, chapter advisor, welcomed inductees and guests to the ceremony, and Ali Fay ’19 (a chapter member since 2018) read an excerpt about the history of Sigma Delta Pi.

Spanish Professors Kristina Soric, Kimberly Borchard and Maria José Bordera read excerpts by poets Rubén Darío and Jorge Luis Borges as well as an excerpt from Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quijote. After the readings, students gathered around a Sigma Pi Delta altar and were officially summoned to enter the society by proclaiming Sigma Delta Pi’s motto: Spanías Didagei Proagomen (“Let’s go forth/continue forth under the teaching/guidance of the Spanish language”).

The following students were inducted into Sigma Theta: Madison Albritton ’20, Keavy Baylor ’19, Jenna Burns ’19, Tulio Graciano Da Silva Santos ’19, Kaitlynn Herrington ’20, Catherine Hughes ’21, Jordan McCall ’19, Gabrielle Nelson ’20, Damon Reed ’19, Jennifer Sarbo ’19, and Carter Tyree ’19.

The inductees were each presented with a red carnation, a membership certificate and a pin, and Class of 2019 students were also presented with honor cords.

A Meaningful Ceremony
Bordera, who has helped plan the event for several years, says each year’s ceremony is meaningful.

“It takes quite a bit of work between the selection process, notifying the elected members, collecting dues, and planning the ceremony, but it is very rewarding, and I love doing it,” says Bordera. “We are proud of our students and were honored to celebrate them at this special event.”

Madi Albritton ’20 (biology and Spanish major) says that being a member of Sigma Delta Pi gives her a sense of pride and community.

“It’s rewarding to be part of a society that holds the Spanish language and culture in such high regard—and to share this honor with my peers,” says Albritton, “and having our professors at the ceremony made the experience even more enjoyable.” Albritton, whose post-RMC plans include Physician Assistant school, says her ability to speak Spanish will serve her well in her future career. “With more and more Spanish-speaking communities in the United States, it’s likely that I will be interacting with Spanish-speaking patients in the future,” she says. “I think it’s important to be able to communicate thoroughly in order to provide accurate health care.”

Tulio Graciano ’19 (business and Spanish major) says that “connecting with inspiring and high-achieving students through SDP is a wonderful opportunity. The most special thing about the ceremony was seeing some of the people I most look up to—my professors—cheering us on.”