Sigma Phi Delta () is an international
professional
A professional is a member of a profession or any person who works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skil ...
-
social
Social organisms, including human(s), live collectively in interacting populations. This interaction is considered social whether they are aware of it or not, and whether the exchange is voluntary or not.
Etymology
The word "social" derives from ...
fraternity
A fraternity (from Latin language, Latin ''wiktionary:frater, frater'': "brother (Christian), brother"; whence, "wiktionary:brotherhood, brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club (organization), club or fraternal ...
of
engineer
Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considering the l ...
s. As "The Premier International Fraternity of Engineers", the organization is the only fraternity of its kind that draws its membership exclusively from male
engineering
Engineering is the use of scientific method, scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad rang ...
students at
ABET
The ABET (incorporated as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.) is a non-governmental organization that accredits post-secondary education programs in applied and natural sciences, computing, engineering and engineering ...
-accredited colleges and universities, as other similar organizations are co-ed or admit students not strictly in traditional engineering programs (such as architecture or technical sciences).
History
Sigma Phi Delta was founded at
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in C ...
on April 11, 1924 and currently has 25 active chapters.
Chapters
Symbols
Blazon for the Sigma Phi Delta Coat of Arms
Gules, a pall or, between, in chief two retorts crossed argent, in dexter base a quill sable surmounting a key in saltire, of the third, in sinister base a hammer fesswise of the fourth debruising a compass, points downward, of the third; over all the escutcheon of pretense, azure, charged with a castle or, masoned sable, with a bordure argent.
Crest, over a duke's helmet and a torse of the colors, a dexter cubit arm, proper, grasping a thunderbolt, winged or
Mantling: Gules doubled, or
Supporters: Two lions, rampant, proper
Motto: Sigma Phi Delta, in upper and lower case Greek letters
Insignia
The Name of the Fraternity is represented by the capital form of the Greek letters Sigma (Σ), Phi (Φ), Delta (Δ) which stand for Science, Friendship and Duty.
Pledge Pin
The Pledge Pin is described as: "A red triangular background on which is a black Castle, the whole bordered in gold".
Membership Badge
The Membership Badge is described as: "A triangle having concave corners on which are superimposed three smaller triangles having concave sides and having their vertices at the center of the badge on which is placed a ruby. The smaller triangles, which contain the letters Sigma, Phi and Delta, are black, the background between them being white. A gold star is located near each of the vertices of the large triangle. The border may be engraved gold or may be jeweled. The crown pearl badge has four pearls on each side of the badge. The ruby point badge has two rubies and two pearls on each side, the pearls being in the middle and the rubies at the outside".
Fraternity flag
The fraternity flag is 4' × 6' cotton bunting or nylon. The design is black letters, bordered with white and a gold Castle on a red field. This is a standard flag, that is, read correctly from left to right on one side and in reverse on the other.
Strategic partnerships
In 2015, Sigma Phi Delta and Alpha Omega Epsilon joined together to form a strategic partnership with the
FIRST Robotics Competition
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is an international high school robotics competition. Each year, teams of high school students, coaches, and mentors work during a six-week period to build robots capable of competing in that year's game that weig ...
in order to fulfill their respective mission to further Engineering Education. Together, they plan to advocate and promote career opportunities in STEM, within grades K–12 as well as higher education, build on existing STEM related programs, and seek ways to engage their memberships in FIRST Mentor/Coach opportunities as a means of workforce development, increased community involvement and/or encourage employees to give back to the communities where they live/work. Most Sigma Phi Delta chapters were already involved with their respective communities FIRST teams, but this further cements Sigma Phi Delta's object of further Engineering as a whole.
Sigma Phi Delta notable alumni
*
Eric Newell
Eric Patrick Newell, OC, AOE, (born December 16, 1944) was the 17th Chancellor of the University of Alberta, having previously served as Chair of its Board of Governors. He is a former Chairman and CEO of the oil company Syncrude.
In 1999, he ...
(''Theta chapter'') – Former Chairman and CEO of the oil company
Syncrude
Syncrude Canada Ltd. is one of the world's largest producers of synthetic crude oil from oil sands and the largest single source producer in Canada. It is located just outside Fort McMurray in the Athabasca Oil Sands, and has a nameplate capaci ...
. Chancellor of the
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta, also known as U of A or UAlberta, is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford,"A Gentleman of Strathcona – Alexander Cameron Rutherfor ...
.
References
*
External links
ΣΦΔ's Official International Website
{{North American Interfraternity Conference
Student organizations established in 1924
Professional fraternities and sororities in the United States
Student societies in the United States
Active former members of the North American Interfraternity Conference
Former members of Professional Fraternity Association
1924 establishments in California