Coastal Carolina University has established a local chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honors Society (NCHHS). The society is for students who are enrolled in a program that includes a component of Spanish. Membership provides opportunities for mentorship, scholarships, and connections to cultural events. The first 12 members were recently inducted into the Alpha Beta Sigma chapter at CCU.

The Fall 2022 inductees include:

• Logan Bellos, double major in psychology and languages and intercultural studies (LIS) (multiple languages track: German and Spanish)

• Talana Banks, biology major with Spanish for health professions minor

• Jacey Ballard, marine science major with Spanish minor

• Valentina Bermejo, history major with Spanish minor

• Megan Brouse, management major with minors in marketing and Spanish

• Brindusa Hyman, LIS major (multiple languages track: Italian and Spanish)

• Johnathan LaVecchia, political science major with minor in LIS (multiple languages track: Chinese and Spanish)

• Justin Merrick, double major in intelligence and national security studies and LIS (Hispanic studies track)

• Ella Schad, biology major with Spanish minor

• Christian-Antho Simmons, accounting major with Spanish minor

• Olivia Sundman, biochemistry major with Spanish for health professions minor

• Vanessa Venegas-Soriano, LIS major (multiple languages track: Chinese and Spanish) with minors in peace and conflict studies and Asian studies

Undergraduates interested in joining the society must meet the following criteria:

• Completed at least three semesters of college.

• Completed at least 18 hours of Spanish courses.

• Maintained at least a B average in all Spanish courses.

• Maintained a minimum GPA 3.2.

Edurne Beltrán de Heredia, Ph.D., assistant professor of Spanish, established and advises the Alpha Beta Sigma chapter. She is a lifetime member of NCHHS, having joined as a student.

“Having a new chapter at CCU shows that Coastal acknowledges the value of languages and the importance of multiculturality,” she said.

The mission of NCHHS is to recognize the value of the Spanish language and the multicultural Hispanic community that continues growing in the USA.

“Students who belong to this society will be of invaluable mentorship to other students currently taking Spanish courses and for others who may also be thinking of declaring a minor/major,” said Beltrán. “I hope this society will create a great community among the students who become members, so they can practice oral Spanish together and support ongoing cultural events on campus.”

Banks, a new inductee, said, “The support from my professor, Señora Beltrán, really helped me in my decision to join the chapter. I thought it would be a great opportunity, and I was excited to have a group of people that I could go to and be a part of something for life.”