{{Short description|American German studies honor society}} {{Infobox fraternity | name = Delta Phi Alpha | letters = {{lang|grc|ΔΦΑ}} | coat of arms = DPA Crest.png | image_size = 180px | alt = German National Honor Society | founded = {{Start date and age|1929|5|27}} | birthplace = Wofford College | affiliation = Independent | status = Active | type = Honor society | emphasis = German studies | scope = National (US) | slogan = | colors = {{color box|#000000}} Black, {{color box|#FF0000}} Red {{color box|#FFCC00}} Gold | symbol = Weimar Eagle | mascot = | chapters = 300+ | members = 31,000+ | publication = | address = 60 South Lincoln Street | city = Washington | state = Pennsylvania | ZIP code = 15301 | country = United States | website = {{URL|https://www.aatg.org/delta-phi-alpha/}} | motto = "Torchbearer of Human Spirit" }}
'''Delta Phi Alpha National German Honor Society''' ('''{{lang|grc|ΔΦΑ}}''') ({{langx|de|'''Deutsche Ehrenverbindung'''}}) is an American collegiate honorary society for German studies. Delta Phi Alpha was founded on May 27, 1929, at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The society has chartered over three hundred chapters at colleges and universities in the United States.
==History==
Delta Phi Alpha was established by James A. Chiles and John Olin Eidson at Wofford College in Spartenburg, South Carolina.<ref name=":1">{{Bairds17|pages=657–658}}</ref> Chiles, a professor of modern languages, met with 21 students in Old Main in February 1928 to establish a German club they named Deutscher Verein.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date= |title=Delta Phi Alpha {{!}} Getting Involved |url=https://www.wofford.edu/student-experiences/getting-involved/student-organizations/delta-phi-alpha |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301020324/https://www.wofford.edu/student-experiences/getting-involved/student-organizations/delta-phi-alpha |archive-date=2022-03-01 |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=Wofford College |via=web.archive.org}}</ref><ref name="Zeydel">{{cite journal |author=Zeydel |first=Edwin H. |date=February 1939 |title=Delta Phi Alpha |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/30169529 |journal=Monatshefte für Deutschen Unterricht |publisher=University of Wisconsin Press Stable |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=104–106 |jstor=30169529 |access-date=2022-03-01 |number=}}</ref> Over the next year, student Eidson contacted German clubs at other small colleges to see if they were interested in forming a national society.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Zeydel" />
This led to the formation of Delta Phi Alpha honorary society on May 27, 1929.<ref name=":1" /> Chiles became its president, a position he held for the rest of his career.<ref name=":0" /> Three chapters formed in 1929: ''Alpha'' at Wofford, ''Beta'' at Central Methodist College, and Gamma at Bates College.<ref name="Zeydel" /><ref name=":1" />
Delta Phi Alpha encourages the study and understanding of the German civilization, language, and literature.<ref name=":1" /> It recognizes excellence in academics and scholarship amongst students who study German.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Delta Phi Alpha |url=https://www.aatg.org/delta-phi-alpha |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=American Association of Teachers of German}}</ref>
The society adopted its constitution on March 1, 1932.<ref name=":1" /> In its first nine years, Delta Phi Alpha chartered 40 chapters across the United States.<ref name="Zeydel" /> It published the ''Delta Phi Alpha Bulletin'' annually.<ref name=":1" />
As of 2022, Delta Phi Alpha has 31,000 living members.<ref name=":0" /> It operates from Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania.
==Symbols== The name Delta Phi Alpha was chosen to represent ''Deutscher Verein Amerika''.<ref name="Zeydel" /> The society's colors are black, red, and gold.<ref name=":1" /> Its coat of arms includes these three colors.<ref name=":1" /> The Delta Phi Alpha shield depicts an eagle in gold on a black background; here is a red shield on the eagle's chest with the Greek letters '''{{lang|grc|ΔΦΑ}}'''.<ref name=":1" />
The society's symbol is the Weimar Eagle from the Coat of arms of Germany. Its slogan is "''Fackelträger des menschlichen Geistes''" or "Torchbearer of Human Spirit".<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=German Honorary Society {{!}} Department of Germanic Languages & Literatures |url=https://germanic.illinois.edu/resources/student-awards/german-honorary-society |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |language=en}}</ref>
==Membership== Membership is open to students of all genders have an interest in German language or literature.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> Students are eligible for membership if they have completed two years coursework in college or university German, with at least a 3.3 GPA in those courses.<ref name=":2" /> In addition, potential members must have at least a 2.75 GPA overall.<ref name=":2" /> The society also awards honorary membership to non-students who have made significant cultural, literary, or scholastic achievements in the German language or culture.<ref name=":2" /> Faculty who teach German at chapter institutions can also join.<ref name=":1" />
==Governance== The society is managed by a National Council consisting of five officers: a national president, first vice president, second vice president, a secretary, and a treasurer.<ref name="Zeydel" /><ref name=":1" />
==Chapters== {{Main|List of Delta Phi Alpha chapters}} The society had chartered over three hundred chapters.<ref name=":2" /> As of 2024, it has 234 active chapters.<ref name=":3" />
==See also== *Honor Society
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|https://www.aatg.org/delta-phi-alpha/|Delta Phi Alpha website}}
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Category:Student organizations established in 1968 Category:1968 establishments in Florida Category:Honor societies