Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Merit
  • Contact Us
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
    • Mission, Vision, and Values
      • Notable Members
      • Founders’ Day
    • Leading in the 21st Century: FY 2022-24 O∆K Strategic Plan
    • Fast Facts
    • Leadership
      • Board of Trustees
      • Emeriti Trustees
      • Student Advisory Board
      • Staff
    • Governance
      • 2023 Elections for Student and Faculty/Staff Trustees
      • Articles of Incorporation
      • National Bylaws
      • Governing Committees
      • Operating Committees
      • Omicron Delta Kappa Policies and Procedures
    • History of the Society
      • Our Founders
      • Toward a More Inclusive Society
      • Women in Omicron Delta Kappa
      • Former National Presidents, Foundation Presidents, and Board Chairs
      • Circle Installations
    • Commitment to Diversity and Equal Opportunity
  • Members
    • Prospective Members
    • Collegiate Members
    • Lifetime Members
      • Help Our Circles Thrive
      • Become a National Level Volunteer
      • Governance and Fundraising Volunteer Opportunities
    • Member Benefits
    • Update Your O∆K Record
    • Read The Circle
  • Programs
    • National Leadership and Service Awards
    • Scholarships
    • National Day of Service
      • National Day of Service Report
      • 2021 National Day of Service Stories
    • National Leadership Conference
      • 2023 National Leadership Conference
      • Past National Conventions
    • Clay Leadership Development Grants
    • Stone Ethical Leadership Challenge

Omicron Delta Kappa

Omicron Delta Kappa
  • About
    • Mission, Vision, and Values
      • Notable Members
      • Founders’ Day
    • Leading in the 21st Century: FY 2022-24 O∆K Strategic Plan
    • Fast Facts
    • Leadership
      • Board of Trustees
      • Emeriti Trustees
      • Student Advisory Board
      • Staff
    • Governance
      • 2023 Elections for Student and Faculty/Staff Trustees
      • Articles of Incorporation
      • National Bylaws
      • Governing Committees
      • Operating Committees
      • Omicron Delta Kappa Policies and Procedures
    • History of the Society
      • Our Founders
      • Toward a More Inclusive Society
      • Women in Omicron Delta Kappa
      • Former National Presidents, Foundation Presidents, and Board Chairs
      • Circle Installations
    • Commitment to Diversity and Equal Opportunity
  • Members
    • Prospective Members
    • Collegiate Members
    • Lifetime Members
      • Help Our Circles Thrive
      • Become a National Level Volunteer
      • Governance and Fundraising Volunteer Opportunities
    • Member Benefits
    • Update Your O∆K Record
    • Read The Circle
  • Programs
    • National Leadership and Service Awards
    • Scholarships
    • National Day of Service
      • National Day of Service Report
      • 2021 National Day of Service Stories
    • National Leadership Conference
      • 2023 National Leadership Conference
      • Past National Conventions
    • Clay Leadership Development Grants
    • Stone Ethical Leadership Challenge
  • Circles
    • Find a Circle
    • Membership Fees
    • Circle Officers (Advisors and Student Officers)
      • Dates and Deadlines
      • Member Management System
      • Monthly Officer Updates Newsletter
      • Recruitment and Selection
      • Initiation
      • Branding, Templates, and Downloads
      • Circle Reports and Forms
      • Recognition and Awards
      • Webinars and Training
    • Resources to Promote Leadership Embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
      • Circle Programming and Practices
      • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Awards
      • Glossary of Terms
      • Key Fund
      • Organizations Advocating for Social Justice
      • Publications Focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
      • Toward a More Inclusive Society
      • Websites Focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
    • Establish a New Circle
      • Extension Process
    • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Donate
    • Give Now
    • The Campaign for Our Second Century
      • Campaign Giving Opportunities
      • Scholarships for Collegiate Members
      • Opportunity Fund (Gift of Membership)
      • Key Fund
      • Developing the Campus Leaders of Today
      • Collaborative Leadership Initiatives
      • Preservation, Renovation, and Expansion of National Headquarters
      • Campaign Initiatives Supported to Date
    • Ways to Give
      • Planned Giving
      • Charitable Gift Annuities
      • Heritage Society
    • Gift Acceptance Policies
    • Endowment Information
    • National Day of Giving
    • State Charitable Registration Disclosures
  • Circles
    • Find a Circle
    • Membership Fees
    • Circle Officers (Advisors and Student Officers)
      • Dates and Deadlines
      • Member Management System
      • Monthly Officer Updates Newsletter
      • Recruitment and Selection
      • Initiation
      • Branding, Templates, and Downloads
      • Circle Reports and Forms
      • Recognition and Awards
      • Webinars and Training
    • Resources to Promote Leadership Embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
      • Circle Programming and Practices
      • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Awards
      • Glossary of Terms
      • Key Fund
      • Organizations Advocating for Social Justice
      • Publications Focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
      • Toward a More Inclusive Society
      • Websites Focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
    • Establish a New Circle
      • Extension Process
    • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Donate
    • Give Now
    • The Campaign for Our Second Century
      • Campaign Giving Opportunities
      • Scholarships for Collegiate Members
      • Opportunity Fund (Gift of Membership)
      • Key Fund
      • Developing the Campus Leaders of Today
      • Collaborative Leadership Initiatives
      • Preservation, Renovation, and Expansion of National Headquarters
      • Campaign Initiatives Supported to Date
    • Ways to Give
      • Planned Giving
      • Charitable Gift Annuities
      • Heritage Society
    • Gift Acceptance Policies
    • Endowment Information
    • National Day of Giving
    • State Charitable Registration Disclosures

University of Maryland, College Park

Circle established February 2, 1927 • Circle Website • University of Maryland, College Park

InstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn

About the Circle

The Sigma Circle of OΔK was founded on February 2, 1927, by six men who immediately began tapping undergraduate members of OΔK. Formerly, men knew that they were being considered for OΔK if they were invited to the Calvert Cotillion in December. Their formal initiation would occur at a convocation in the Spring.

Many famous people have been initiated into Sigma Circle, some as student and faculty members, others as Honorary members. Some of Sigma Circle’s famous members include President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Vice President Alben W. Barkley, the Earl of Halifax, Admiral Stansfield Turner, and Congressman Steny Hoyer.

Sigma Circle is very proud of its long and proud history. It originated the Annual Awards Banquet; awards an annual scholarships to ODK leaders; selects the “Top Ten Freshmen” and the “Sophomore Leader of the Year;” and with the help of alumni donations constructed the OΔK Fountain on McKeldin Mall, which was built to create a lasting monument to leadership and to those who have contributed so much to the campus. All of the names of those people involved with OΔK since 1927 are engraved on the granite sides of the OΔK Fountain, which was dedicated in April 1997.

During the academic year, the Sigma Circle holds monthly meetings with full membership and bi-weekly meetings with the ten officers. Selection and Initiation are held once each semester.

Programs

Each year, the Sigma Circle sponsors three leadership award programs including the Top Ten Freshmen, Sophomore Leader of the Year, and the Col. J. Logan Schutz Omicron Delta Kappa Leader of the Year award. Additional yearly traditions of the Sigma Circle include co-sponsoring the annual campus awards banquet. Also, at each Maryland Day (a campus open house for more than 80,000 visitors and community members), the Sigma Circle sponsors a game for kids at the ODK Fountain. Each year, the Sigma Circle also co-sponsors a Leadership Lecture Series, with speakers like Nate Silver, Paul Farmer, and Van Jones.

Honors and Awards

2022 Presidential Award of Excellence

2021 Presidential Award of Excellence

2020 Presidential Award of Excellence

2019 Presidential Award of Excellence

2018 Membership Growth & Stability Award

2018 Presidential Circle of Excellence

2017 Presidential Circle of Excellence

2016 Presidential Circle of Excellence

2015 Presidential Circle of Excellence

2014 Superior Circle

2013 Circle of Distinction

The Sigma Circle is a Circle of Distinction, as named by ODK National. Additionally, In the academic year of 2013-2014, the Sigma Circle was awarded a Maurice A. Clay Leadership Development Initiative Grant, which helped fund the launch of Terps Mentoring Terps, a mentoring program pairing up ODK members with freshmen on campus. Another Maurice A. Clay Leadership Development Initiative Grant was received in 2020-2021 to provide a LinkedIn Workshop to enhance our ODK members profiles.

The Sigma Circle has been honored to host a number of National ODK Leader of the Year finalists and recipients.

 

 

 

 

Back To Circles

Primary Sidebar

Circle Officers

Circle President
Matthew Ober
Email: mober@terpmail.umd.edu
Phone: (301) 602-6826

Circle Coordinator
Sarah Williamson
Email: smruz@umd.edu
Phone: (301) 314-8431

Faculty Advisor
Dr. Dean Chang
Email: deanc@umd.edu
Phone: 301-314-8121

Student Vice President
Ethan Jenkins
Email: ejenkins@umd.edu
Phone: (443) 987-0337

Circle Assistant
Zimri Diaz
Email: zimri@umd.edu

Footer

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Merit

Copyright © 2023. All Rights Reserved.
O∆K, a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit, is a member of the Honor Society Caucus.

 

Johnson Center for Leadership 
O∆K National Headquarters
224 McLaughlin Street
Lexington, Virginia 24450-2002
1-877-ODK-NHDQ (635-6437)
odknhdq@odk.org

Privacy and Website Policy
Diversity, Equal Opportunity, and Hazing Statements

Web Development by Charlottesville SEO Web Development, LLC

This site uses cookies to maintain the highest quality performance. By using this site you consent to our privacy and cookies policy.