Honors and Awards
We honor our top students with outstanding academic and service excellence, and provide our majors and minors the chance to join national honor societies. There are honors tracks, national honor societies and top-senior awards you can consider in each of our programs.
French Honors and Awards
National French Honor Society- Pi Delta Phi
The Program in French and Francophone Studies in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures is proud to be a member of Pi Delta Phi, the National French Honor Society, since May 2000.
The purpose of the society is:
- to recognize outstanding scholarship in the French language and its literatures;
- to increase the knowledge and appreciation of Americans for the cultural contributions of the French-speaking world;
- to stimulate and encourage French and Francophone cultural activities.
As a member of Pi Delta Phi, you...
- become part of a vibrant community united by the appreciation of francophone cultures;
- enhance your academic achievements by belonging to a national honor society;
- enhance your professional portfolio by highlighting your excellence in French;
- become eligible to apply for Pi Delta Phi sponsored scholarships
Scholars in Notre Dame's Chapter, Mu Phi, have been selected for this honor because they have demonstrated excellence in the study of the French language and of French and Francophone literatures and cultures. Pi Delta Phi members nationwide have gone on to excel in education, business, and public service.
Our Chapter normally invites third- and fourth-year undergraduate students as well as graduate students at any level, with the understanding that they will continue to perform at a superior level and that they will assume a leadership role in promoting French on campus in at least one of the following ways: through activities of the “Cercle français” student club, through participation in a French play or other cultural performance on campus, through humanitarian work on behalf of French-speaking peoples (with the Center for Social Concerns, for example), or other. All Honor Society inductees are requested to publicize their efforts in as many ways as possible, for instance via the “Cercle français” listserve, the French bulletin board, and the Romance Languages Facebook page.
General requirements for undergraduate students:
1.Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in all academic course work;
2.Completion of at least two French courses at the 300 level or above (three courses in the case of senior students), in residence at Notre Dame, with a GPA of at least 3.5 in French, with no grade lower than B.
Students welcomed into the French Honor Society will be invited to participate in a simple ceremony during the fall semester.
The formal induction ceremony for members of the National French Honor Society at Notre Dame is held once a year, for graduating seniors and graduate students, during Commencement week. In addition to remission of their diploma and honor insignia at the induction ceremony, graduating members of Pi Delta Phi receive the tri-colored cord and are recognized, along with their families, at the Department's recognition ceremony.
Those inducted will pay a one-time fee of $40.00 for life membership in the Society.
For all questions pertaining to the Honor Society, please contact the Faculty Advisor, Sonja Stojanovic.
French Awards
The Walter J. Langford Award for Excellence in French Literature.
The award is given to the graduating senior whose work is deemed most outstanding in French literature.
The Charles and Simone Parnell Award for International Awareness and Social Service.
The Parnell Award is granted annually to a Notre Dame Senior who participated in the Angers Program and “has demonstrated a high level of international awareness and social service activities participation.”
Italian Honors and Awards
National Italian Honor Society - Gamma Kappa Alpha
The Gamma Kappa Alpha National Italian Honor Society acknowledges superior scholastic performance in the field of Italian language, literature, and culture, and is open to the membership at institutions of higher learning in the United States and Canada. The Society encourages college students to acquire a greater interest in, and a deeper understanding of, Italian culture, art, and history.
Students of Italian at Notre Dame are encouraged to apply for membership in Gamma Kappa Alpha. To be eligible for membership, a student must have taken at least five courses in Italian (the fifth course may be a current one), have obtained at least a B average in those courses, and be in the upper 1/3 of his/her graduating class. The Department will pay the membership fee. This money goes to the national office of GKA and is used for defraying the cost of a handsome certificate suitable for framing.
New members of Gamma Kappa Alpha will be inducted into the society during the Italian Studies Honors Convocation in the Spring. Members will also be recognized at the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures annual Recognition Ceremony in May.
Italian Awards
Joseph Italo Bosco Award for Excellence in Italian Studies
The award is given to a graduating senior for excellence in Italian studies.
Italian Studies Honors Convocation
A yearly ceremony, including a guest speaker, the presentation of the Joseph Italo Bosco Award for Excellence in Italian Studies, the Ravarino Travel Scholarships, and inductions onto the Italian National Honor Society, Gamma Kappa Alpha, of which Notre Dame is a longstanding member.
Portuguese and Brazilian Honors and Awards
The AATSP outstanding student in Portuguese. Awarded by the Indiana Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) for seniors who demonstrate outstanding academic record, exceptional interest for the Iberoamerican/Brazilian culture, exemplary community service, remarkable overseas experience and astonishing passion for Spanish and Portuguese.
Spanish Honors and Awards
As a senior, you’ll have the opportunity to become a member of the National Spanish Honor Society, to apply for Spanish Service Learning Awards, and to be considered for the Walter J. Langford Award for Excellence in Spanish.
National Honors Society for Spanish - Sigma Delta Pi
To qualify for induction into the Honors Society students must have a minimum GPA of 3.8 in the Spanish first or supplementary major, Romance Languages Major, International Econ Major and a cumulative GPA of 3.6 or above. Students are normally invited to participate in the Spring semester of their senior year. The Sigma Delta Pi Spanish honors society is a national organization that is administered through the Department. The current faculty advisor for Sigma Delta Pi is Professor Pedro A. Aguilera-Mellado.
Spanish Awards
The Walter J. Langford Award for Excellence in Spanish Literature. The award is given to the graduating senior whose work is deemed most outstanding in Spanish literature.
AATSP Spanish Majors-State Award
The AATSP Indiana Outstanding College Student of Spanish award is a competitive award that requires a minimum GPA (3.7) and at least two activities from the following list: volunteer at community events where Spanish is spoken, participate in CEL projects that benefit younger students, tutor in Spanish for community or other students, participate in Spanish language/cultural group (choir, club, film, etc.), study abroad, present at an undergraduate conference related to Spanish.
Spanish Service Awards
To be eligible, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and must be a graduating senior. Awards are open to majors and non-majors, and students must submit materials for review in a competitive selection process. Please contact contact Professor Rachel Parroquin early in the spring semester for deadlines and procedures.
Each spring, the University of Notre Dame recognizes select graduating seniors for their outstanding service to the community through the use of their Spanish language skills and cultural knowledge.
The awards are…
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The Mara Fox Award for Service to the Hispanic Community
To the senior who has studied Spanish at Notre Dame and contributed outstanding service to the Hispanic community
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William Richardson Award in Hispanic Culture
To the African-American senior who has studied Spanish at Notre Dame and demonstrated an active interest in, and awareness of, Hispanic culture
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Jose Tito Siguenza Award for Service to Hispanic Youth
To the senior who has studied Spanish at Notre Dame and contributed outstanding service to Hispanic youth
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Albert Le May Award for Service to the Hispanic Community
To the senior who participated in the Puebla Program and used the Spanish Language to serve the community
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Carlos Aballi Award in Hispanic Cultural Awareness
To the senior who has studied Spanish at Notre Dame, demonstrated pride in their Hispanic culture and given significant service to the Hispanic community
International Economics Romance Languages Awards
The Academic Achievement Award for International Economics Romance Languages.
The award is given to a graduating senior whose work is deemed most outstanding in International Economics Romance Languages.
Romance Languages and Literatures Major Awards
The Endowment for Excellence Award in Romance Languages and Literature.
This award is given to a graduating senior for excellence in Romance Languages and Literature.
For questions about the Romance Languages and Literatures major please contact Professor Keith Schaefer, Director of Undergraduate Studies.