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, website, and blog construction. Awards typically are announced at the annual convention.

The Central Office provides awards information to every chapter in September. Application forms may be downloaded from this web page.

Rectangle Awards

Rectangle Awards are given to Society members who have submitted original works in poetry, critical essay, short story, and personal/informal essay to The Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle or The Sigma Tau Delta Review. Winners are announced at the annual convention. The award categories are:

  • Elenor B. North Poetry Award ($300)
  • Frederic Fadner Critical Essay Award ($300)
  • Herbert L. Hughes Short Story Award ($300)
  • Elizabeth Holtze Best Personal or Informal Essay Award ($300)
  • Judson Q. Owen Best Writing of Any Genre Award ($200)

Chapter Awards

  • Outstanding Chapter Awards  (up to $350 and a plaque)
    Due October 30
    Chapters are recognized for exhibiting outstanding motivation, creativity, and service.
  • Outstanding Literary Arts Journal Awards  (up to $500)
    Due October 30
    Literary Arts Journals coordinated and supervised by Sigma Tau Delta chapters (even if they receive funding from other sources) are eligible for a variety of awards.
  • Chapter Website Awards (up to $250)
    Due November 30
    Chapters may apply for an award for their web pages. Websites are judged on creativity, usability of design, and content, as well as how well they support or advance the purposes and principles of Sigma Tau Delta as outlined in the Society's Constitution.
  • New! Chapter Blog Awards  (up to $250)
    Due November 30
    Like the website awards, chapter blogs are judged on creativity, usability of design, and content, as well as how well they support or advance the purposes and principles of Sigma Tau Delta as outlined in the Society's Constitution.
  • Service Awards  (up to $200 to a designated agency and a plaque for the chapter)
    Due October 30 
    Designed to honor chapters with exemplary community service projects, these awards also benefit the agencies served by those chapters.

Individual Awards

  • Student Leadership Award ($250 and a plaque)
    Due October 30
    Introduced in 2008, this award recognizes a student member for demonstrating outstanding service to Sigma Tau Delta at the chapter level.
  • Elaine W. Hughes Outstanding Sponsor Award  ($500 and a plaque)
    Due October 30
    An outstanding chapter sponsor is recognized for giving generously of his or her time, talents, and creativity to a local chapter.
  • Delta Award (plaque)
    Due October 30
    An especially prestigious honor, recipients are recognized for outstanding service at multiple levels of the Society.
  • Individual Website Awards (up to $250)
    Due November 30
    Members may apply for an award for their personal web pages. Websites are judged on creativity, usability of design, and content, as well as how well they support or advance the purposes and principles of Sigma Tau Delta as outlined in the Society's Constitution.
  • New! Individual Blog Awards  (up to $250)
    Due November 30
    Like the website awards, individual blogs are judged on creativity, usability of design, and content, as well as how well they support or advance the purposes and principles of Sigma Tau Delta as outlined in the Society's Constitution.
  • P.C. Somerville Awards for Future Teachers  (up to $2,000)
    Due October 30
    For Sigma Tau Delta active members who will begin their first year of teaching elementary, middle, or high school English by September 15 following the application deadline.
  • Best Scholarship Application Essay Awards  ($100)
    Scholarship application essays of applicants not receiving other monetary awards are eligible to be considered for the Best Scholarship Application Essay Awards. 
  • Isabel Sparks President's Awards  (up to $500 each and totaling more than $6,500 annually)
    Given for the best presentations by active student members at the Sigma Tau Delta International Convention, these awards were established in 1991 by Isabel Sparks, the fifth President of Sigma Tau Delta. Awards are given in five categories: critical essay, creative nonfiction/personal essay, poetry, fiction, and drama/screenplay.
  • Scholarly Paper Awards (up to $150)
    Due October 30
    Sigma Tau Delta will award up to $150 each for the best undergraduate and best graduate student scholarly paper presented at a non-Sigma Tau Delta professional, academic conference between November 1st of the previous year and the application deadline.