Sigma Gamma Tau Home Page
SIGMA GAMMA TAU
National Aerospace Engineering Honor Society
National Office
Department of Aerospace Engineering
Wichita State University
Wichita, KS 67260-0042
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 (~40 active
chapters) and from 1,900 to over 30,000 initiated members.
Membership
Distinguished scholarship or eminent professional attainment in
Aerospace Engineering is the primary eligibility requirement for
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.
You can review any of the following organizational information:
National Officers
Regional Coordinators
Regions & Student Chapters
Faculty Advisors
Constitution (pdf)
Chapter Officers Instructions,
Chapter Officers Instructions (pdf)
Best Practices & Lessons Learned
Initiation Ritual,
Initiation Ritual (pdf)
Annual Undergraduate Awards
1979 Brochure (History & Conventions) (pdf)
1994 Triennial Convention Minutes (pdf)
1997 Triennial Convention Minutes (pdf)
2000 Triennial Convention Minutes (pdf)
2003 Triennial Convention Minutes (pdf)
2006 Triennial Convention Minutes (pdf)
2009 Triennial Convention Minutes (pdf)
2012 Triennial Convention Minutes (pdf)
2015 Triennial Convention Minutes (pdf)
2018 Triennial Convention Minutes (pdf)
2021 Triennial Convention Minutes (pdf)
Society Merchandise
Nomination and Order Forms