HWS News
13 November 2025 • Alums HWS Establishes National Hispanic Honor Society
Sigma Delta Pi network celebrates excellence in Spanish and cultural study.
Hobart and William Smith has joined the ranks of colleges and universities nationwide that honor excellence in Spanish language and culture through membership in Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society.
The HWS chapter — Alpha Beta Omega (#647) — was approved this fall following a successful application led by Professor Fernando M. Rodríguez-Mansilla, chair of the Department of Spanish, Latin American and Bilingual Studies. The inaugural induction ceremony took place Oct. 8 in the Vandervort Room, celebrating the achievements of students and community members who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to Hispanic language and culture.
Founded in 1919 at the University of California, Berkley, Sigma Delta Pi promotes the study of Spanish language, literature and culture and encourages students to deepen their engagement with the Spanish-speaking world. “Getting the approval to open a chapter requires demonstrating that our department has a strong academic curriculum, a tradition of engagement, and students who excel in Spanish,” Rodríguez Mansilla explains. “We wanted to open a chapter to inspire our students and to offer them many opportunities that the Society brings to their members.”
Professors of Spanish, Latin American and Bilingual Studies Carolina M. Travalia and May S. Farnsworth were already members of the national organization, which Rodríguez-Mansilla says strengthened the department’s case for charter approval. Sigma Delta Pi is considered the largest foreign language society in existence, with more than 600 chapters and 180,000 members.
The chapter’s first six members were inducted during the fall ceremony: students Isabel Goldblatt-Hamilton ’26, Haley Levine ’26, and Karen Padilla '27, along with three honorary members, were recognized for their lasting contributions to Hispanic studies and the local community.
Emeritus Professor of Economics Scott McKinney was honored for his decades of leadership in developing Latin American Studies at HWS, including introducing new courses and establishing the LASA prize (Latin America Studies Association Awards).
Former Director of the Adams Intercultural Center and adjunct faculty member Alejandra Molina was recognized for her advocacy and teaching that foster intercultural understanding and appreciation of Hispanic cultures.
West Street Elementary Teacher Marilú Segura ’07 teaches first and second grade and is a member of the Geneva 2030 Bilingual Success Action team. She was honored for her dedication to bilingual education and community engagement.
Looking ahead, the new chapter will organize events to promote Spanish language and culture on campus and in the Geneva community. Its first outreach activity took place Nov. 4, when members helped host the Día de los Muertos celebration at the Geneva Public Library in partnership with Geneva 2030 and its bilingual action team Vamos Geneva.
Rodríguez-Mansilla says the chapter will organize its own cultural events, hold an induction for new members early next semester and a recognition ceremony in April to present senior members with Sigma Delta Pi honor cords and stoles for Commencement. “This chapter represents both academic achievement and cultural engagement,” he says. “It’s an opportunity for our students to connect their language study with community, heritage, and global citizenship.”
Top: Karen Padilla '27, Haley Levine ’26, and Isabel Goldblatt-Hamilton ’26 are inducted into Sigma Delta Pi. They are joined by Hollins University Assistant Professor of Modern Languages Manuel Portillo; Marilú Segura; adjunct faculty member Alejandra Molina; Professor of Spanish, Latin American and Bilingual Studies May Farnsworth; Professor of Spanish, Latin American and Bilingual Studies Carolina Travalia; Professor Emeritus of Economics Scott McKinney and Professor of Spanish, Latin American and Bilingual Studies Fernando Rodríguez-Mansilla.
