Brothers at SigEp’s New York Rho chapter have come up with a novel way to showcase Sound Mind and Sound Body on their campus while also honoring St. John’s University athletic heritage. At a school where highly competitive basketball is a tradition, the AVC decided hosting a 3-on- 3 tournament would serve as an ideal fundraiser for its scholarship.

AVC President Cesar Pozo, St. John’s ’09, and Chapter Counselor Gabriel Vazquez ’10, reached out to the university’s alumni relations office for assistance with organizing the tournament and promoting the scholarship. That outreach resulted in more than just administrative support. “St. John’s University is a true partner with our SigEp alumni,” Pozo stated. He added that St. John’s provided courts for the tournament and communicated with alumni and students to ensure its success. In addition, three members of the university’s staff served on the scholarship committee.

Upon learning the office also oversees the university’s diversity and inclusion efforts, brothers thought it would be appropriate to use the scholarship to recognize students involved in diverse communities. The chapter decided to make its scholarship available to undergraduates who have made an impact on the lives of veterans, women, or members of multicultural or LGBTQ+ communities.

It seemed like an ideal fit, because as Vazquez noted, “St. John’s is one of the country’s most diverse college campuses.”

“Much of our chapter’s diverse alumni network is successful in their respective fields because of the opportunities provided by SigEp and St. John’s,” Pozo added. “It’s up to us to pay that forward by opening doors for other students at the university.”

Since launching the tournament in 2022, the chapter has raised more than $68,000 through corporate gifts, alumni donations (including some matching donations from employers), entry fees, ticket sales and a raffle of memorabilia from New York sports teams. During the second annual event, held during the university’s 2023 homecoming weekend, the chapter awarded its first scholarship for $1,000.