Sigma
Gamma Tau is the honor society for Aerospace
Engineering. It seeks to identify and recognize
achievement and excellence in the Aerospace
field. Sigma Gamma Tau's collegiate chapters
elect annually to membership those students,
alumni, and professionals who, by conscientious
attention to their studies or professional
duties, uphold this high standard for the
betterment of their profession.
Purpose:
The
objectives of Sigma Gamma Tau, as stated in the
preamble of the Society's national constitution,
are: "to recognize and honor those individuals
in the field of Aeronautics and Astronautics who
have, through scholarship, integrity, and
outstanding achievement, been a credit to their
profession. The society seeks to foster a high
standard of ethics and professional practice and
create a spirit of loyalty and fellowship,
particularly among students of Aerospace
Engineering."
History:
Sigma Gamma Tau was founded on the campus of
Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, on
February 28, 1953, "to offer appropriate
recognition to persons of superior scholarship,
outstanding character, and professional
achievement in the field of Aeronautical
Engineering." The new society was formed by the
merger of two existing societies, Tau Omega,
founded in 1927 at the University of Oklahoma,
and Gamma Alpha Rho, founded in 1945 at
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The name of
the society was selected by combining the Greek
letter Sigma, indicating sum, with Gamma and Tau
from the initial letters of the parent
organizations. Since its modest beginnings in
1953, the society has grown from 14 to about 50
collegiate chapters and from 1,900 to over
23,000 initiated members.
Membership:
Distinguished scholarship or eminent
professional attainment in Aerospace Engineering
is the primary eligibility requirement Sigma
Gamma Tau. Undergraduate students enrolled in an
accredited Aerospace curriculum must have
completed at least five quarters or three
semesters of work toward the bachelor's degree.
Those in the upper one-third of the senior
class, upper one-quarter of the junior class, or
upper one-fifth of the sophomore class. Graduate
students must be in good academic standing and
have met similar requirements. After the
scholastic requisite is fulfilled, selection is
then based on a high moral character and a
strong interest in Aeronautics and/or
Astronautics. By recognizing this group of young
Aerospace engineers, Sigma Gamma Tau seeks to
identify those from which the future advances in
the profession are most likely to come.
Membership is also extended to those individuals
in the Aerospace industry who have made
significant contributions to the profession.
Activities:
As an honor society, Sigma Gamma Tau is
primarily a service organization for Aerospace
education. The student chapters participate in
activities such as tutoring, hosting campus
advisors, and serving on academic committees.
Sigma Gamma Tau complements the work and goals
of AIAA, the corresponding professional society
in which most student activity is centered.
Sigma Gamma Tau members traditionally are
members of AIAA, and the two organizations
frequently co-sponsor scientific, professional,
and social activities. In an effort to encourage
ethical and professional betterment in the
Aerospace field, nine regional awards of honor
in the amount of $250 each are presented
annually to outstanding undergraduate student
members of Sigma Gamma Tau with an additional
$750 awarded to the national winner. These honor
awards reflect the society's emphasis on the
pursuit and attainment of excellence.
