Ben Malek, Janelle Tipton, Lucy Stackpole, and Olivia Kelly. 

Our department has continued to welcome Miami University President’s scholars (the Presidential Fellows program) to our current list of Spanish majors. Current presidential fellows include Ben Malek and Janelle Tipton. There were only nineteen such students for the university for their entering class. 

Very recent graduates who were part of that program are Lucy Stackpole and Olivia Kelly. Many of our majors have truly outstanding academic records, such as BA/MA, triple major, honors, and summa 2023 graduate Emma Grupe. One of our stellar current students is Macy Kocher (pictured at right) — another triple major honors student and earner of a 4.0. Macy is currently the secretary of our Sigma Delta Pi honorary society.

We continue to have many Fulbright scholars, more than other departments. Last year, four of the six finalists for the Fulbright that the CAS Dean’s alumni newsletter highlighted were Spanish majors: Erin Fetters, Olivia Kelly, Sam Ross, and Samantha Shetterly. Kelsey Norris is our most recent Fulbright scholar.

Kelsey Norris, Valentina Santiago, Emma Grupe, and Alaina Yarwick 

Newly elected president Michael Valentino, vice president Ben Malek, secretary Macy Kosher, and treasurer Kaden Williams are motivated to expand the role of our Sigma Delta Pi honorary society.

Here is part of a statement from Michael to our faculty:

Mi nombre es Mike Valentino, y soy estudiante en mi último año con una especialización en español. Me complace presentarme también como el nuevo presidente de Sigma Delta Pi, la sociedad nacional de honores dedicada a la difusión de la lengua y cultura hispánica.

En Sigma Delta Pi, estamos comprometidos con el crecimiento de nuestra comunidad estudiantil, tanto en número como en impacto. Es una organización dirigida por estudiantes que tiene el objetivo de retribuir a la comunidad, y nos esforzamos por continuar promoviendo los objetivos de nuestro departamento de español.

Lorenzo Franciosi, Sam Ross, Samantha Shetterly, and Valerie Higuera 

Miami Presidential Fellows (president’s scholars):

• Ben Malek (current student, Professor Willis K Jones Award recipient)
• Janelle Tipton (current student, Dr. Glenn Barr Scholarship recipient)
• Olivia Kelly
• Lucy Stackpole

Fulbright recipients:

• Kimberly Forster (Brazil) — 2016
• Anna Borchers (Peru) — 2016
• William Smeal (Bulgaria) — 2017
• Olivia Kelly (Taiwan) — 2024
• Samantha Shetterly (Argentina) — 2024
• Erin Fetters (Colombia) — 2024
• Kelsey Norris (Uruguay) — 2025

Robert Newman Memorial Award (Outstanding Senior) recipients:

• Michael Valentino
• Valentina Santiago
• Lindsay Douglass
• Emma Kane 

Irvin Essay contest winners:

• Yaw Osei-Tutu 
• Lorenzo Franciosi 
• Valerie Higuera 

Current executive staff of our Sigma Delta Pi honorary society:

• Michael Valentino, president
• Ben Malek, VP
• Macy Kocher, secretary (Dr. Glenn Barr scholarship recipient)
• Kaden Williams, treasurer

Current departmental student assistants:

• Ben Malek
• Valentina Santiago
• Alaina Yarwick (Timothy Rogers Memorial Scholarship recipient)

Emma Kane, Erin Fetters, Kaden Williams, and Lindsay Douglass

Approximate total of SPO scholarship and award money distributed to our students since 2022: $50,000