Each year, fewer than 72 college students join the prestigious lineage of Rhodes and Marshall Scholars. In the past year, three were SigEps.

Nicholas Picon, Georgia Tech ’14, was selected as a Marshall Scholar, while brothers Joseph Singh, Dartmouth ’14, and Vinay Nayak, Yale ’14, were selected as Rhodes Scholars.

Thirty-two Rhodes Scholars are chosen each year “not only for their outstanding scholarly achievements, but for their character, commitment to others and to the common good, and for their potential for leadership in whatever domains their careers may lead,” according to rhodesscholar.org.

Up to 40 “talented, independent and wide-ranging” Marshall Scholars are selected yearly as well. Both Rhodes and Marshall Scholars study for between one and three years in Great Britain after graduation.

Our brothers each have impressive backgrounds. Picon studies aerospace engineering with a minor in computer science, Singh majors in government with a minor in public policy, and Nayak will get his degree in political science. All three boast a current cumulative GPA above 3.85: Balanced Men by any measure.

What draws men of such high caliber to our Fraternity, and perhaps more importantly, how does SigEp help propel them on to ever higher aspirations? When you listen to their stories, four major themes stand out:

– the importance of growth and development

– an academic inclination

– balance, and

– support and encouragement

Growth and development

Involvement with the Balanced Man Program and SigEp’s leadership events provided a framework that all three scholars appreciated and credited for both personal and professional development.

Picon found his participation on the Quest to Greece a particularly transformative experience because he was able to have deep conversations with brothers from many chapters in a unique environment. Those interactions helped him understand how to define and lead a truly meaningful life.

Singh explained that the Dartmouth Chapter maintains a lively chapter listserv. Rather than capturing only superfluous conversation, the listserv and subsequent conversations tend to be conduits for serious deliberations about campus happenings.

An academic inclination

The second theme of an environment that cultivates academic success was high on the radar for our scholars. All three, who were already well established on the academic front, cited SigEp’s clear focus on academics as a compelling reason to join to ensure they did not stray from the true purpose of attending college.

Balance

Third, balance is a beacon for these highly accomplished men. They are inspired and shaped by the Fraternity’s mission, “Building Balanced Men,” the Balanced Man Program, and one of SigEp’s best recruiting tools, the Balanced Man Scholarship. Though highly accomplished themselves, our scholars are most impressed by how well-rounded their brothers are. Singh noted specifically that SigEp has encouraged him to prioritize his obligations and be more balanced and level-headed.

Support and Encouragement

Lastly, even the most talented among us need support. Seeking out that support is just plain smart, like getting good grades. Picon had to seek assistance with a massive campaign to be elected SGA President. Singh needed help with his Rhodes Scholar application. And they found it easy to accept a helping hand from their fellow SigEp brothers who shared their values and goals.