About Sigma Tau Delta

National

Sigma Tau Delta was founded by Judson Q. Owen on December 12, 1922 as the English Club of the Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, South Dakota. As the club prospered, it attracted interest from other campuses, eventually prompting Owen to expand the club into a English national honor society.

Our ultimate goal as a society is to "promote the mastery of written expression, encourage worthwhile reading, and foster a spirit of fellowship among men and women professionally engaged in the study of or teaching of the English language and literature. It endeavors to stimulate among its members a desire to express life in terms of truth and beauty and to make first-hand contacts with literary masterpieces." ~from the National Sigma Tau Delta web site.
The Greek letters Sigma, Tau, and Delta symbolize the motto of our organization, which is, "Sincerity, Truth, and Design."

Local

Theta Zeta, Eau Claire's Chapter of STD, was founded January 1956. Besides the goals of the national society, the Theta Zeta chapter seeks to promote English on a local level, to give back to the local and world community, and to have fun with people who share our interest in English.

Some of our many activities include going to the National Convention, fundraisers to send books to schools in Russia and Nicaragua, and our annual Children's and Young Adults' Writing Contests for the Chippewa Valley's young aspiring authors.

The Theta Zeta Chapter has received many awards including the 2006 Sigma Tau Delta Outstanding Chapter Award and the 2005 UW-Eau Claire Outstanding Student organization Award. Many of the awards our chapter has received are on display in the Kate Gill Library on the fourth floor of Hibbard.

Our fundraisers vary by year. We primarily fundraise by having a book sale each semester and by applying for awards and grants. In the past we have hosted a benefit concert to help fund our Books Over Borders campaign.

We invite everyone to look at the information on this site and to come to one of our general meetings to learn more on what our group is all about.