Members of these organizations are selected based on criteria such as grade point average, and, in general, exhibit a keen dedication to scholarship, service, and leadership.
The Upsilon Sigma branch of Sigma Tau Delta consists of Whittier's most accomplished students in the Department of English Language & Literature. Students who have completed two upper division English courses and who have a 3.5 GPA in English, are eligible for membership. Eligible students are tapped in English classes at the beginning of each semester.
In addition to activities for its own membership, including an annual Putrid Poetry Reading, Sigma Tau Delta also organizes occasional events for the department or the student body as a whole, and, each spring, coordinates and publishes The Literary Review, a compilation of the year's best student poetry, short fiction, scholarly writing, and artwork.
Sigma Tau Delta offers a wide range of scholarships/grants to its members. There are three scholarships available: one for upcoming juniors, one for upcoming seniors, and one for graduate studies. Applicants must be a member, have good academic standing, and have completed community service. All awards offer up to $3,000 for the next academic year. The deadline for all three scholarships is November 22. The winners will be announced at the annual National Convention in June. (Note: Seniors planning to teach full-time and study part-time do not qualify for the senior scholarship, but may apply for the P.C. Somerville Award.)
For information on joining Sigma Tau Delta, contact faculty advisor Sean Morris at sdp@poets.whittier.edu
