Sigma Phi Epsilon knows the importance of recognizing the brothers and chapters that excel and strengthen our Fraternity. Some of SigEp’s awards honor brothers who have shown lifelong commitment to the Fraternity, while others recognize chapters for impressive results. SigEp is proud to support and encourage brothers as they demonstrate Virtue, Diligence and Brotherly Love in their chapter experiences, volunteer involvement and personal lives.
We seek to celebrate success as it happens and feature brothers, chapters and volunteers in incredible ways throughout the year. This continuous recognition is central to creating a strong connection to the Fraternity and fostering success. If you have questions, contact events@sigep.net.
Annual Awards
Annual recognition is central to creating a strong connection to the Fraternity and fostering success. These awards celebrate undergraduate leaders, volunteers, chapters and alumni and volunteer corporations (AVCs), celebrating their work and success. You can view past annual award recipients here.
2024 ANNUAL AWARD NOMINATIONS CLOSED - SELECTIONS TO BE ANNOUNCED EARLY 2025
| Award | It Recognizes | Description | Presentation will be | Nomination |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVC Operational Excellence Award | An AVC | Recognizes an Alumni and Volunteer Corporation (AVC) that has shown outstanding service with tangible results to an undergraduate chapter or in a core area of AVC operations. | Via local chapter during the spring semester | Nominations closed |
| Benjamin Hobson-Frayser Award for Excellence in Communication | A chapter or AVC | Recognizes chapters/AVCs that foster a strong connection with their undergraduate brothers, alumni, parents and the university community through effective communication, including through newsletters, social media and their chapter site. | At Carlson Leadership Academy | Nominations closed |
| Distinguished Alumnus and Distinguished Volunteer Award | A volunteer | Recognizes devoted and productive volunteer service at the chapter, district, regional and/or national level for a minimum of 10 years. | At an in-person program or event | Nominations closed |
| Donald C. McCleary Award for Excellence in Member Development | A chapter | Recognizes chapters that exercise a committement to the Balanced Man Program and provide compelling and individualized opportunities to develop members throughout their time in college in the five philosophical tenets: equal rights and responsibilities, continuous development, accountability, living the Ritual, and mentoring. | At Carlson Leadership Academy | Nominations closed |
| Excelsior Award for Improvement in Areas of Operation | A chapter | Recognizes chapters that show movement “upward and onward” in a specific area of chapter operations: recruitment, member development, volunteer engagement, academics, finance, member safety, standards & accountability, housing or chapter leadership. | Via local chapter during the spring semester | Nominations closed |
| Exemplary Service Award | A volunteer | Recognizes devoted and productive volunteer service at the chapter, district, regional and/or national level for a minimum of 20 years. | At an in-person program or event | Nominations closed |
| Frank J. Ruck Leadership Award | A chapter or an undergraduate | Recognizes chapters or individuals who show outstanding campus or community leadership and make significant positive changes on the campus and community as a whole. | Via local chapter during the spring semester | Nominations closed |
| J. Edward Zollinger Outstanding Senior Award | An undergraduate | Recognizes seniors that are balanced leaders and models of excellence in scholastic achievement, fraternity, and campus leadership and community involvement. | Via local chapter during the spring semester | Nominations closed |
| Outstanding New Volunteer Award | A volunteer | Recognizes new volunteers (less than four years experience in the role) who have had a significant impact on either the AVC or the undergraduate chapter with which they volunteer. | Via local chapter during the spring semester | Nominations closed |
| Sunago Award for Excellence in Mentorship | An AVC | Recognizes mentor teams that foster an exceptional connection and collaboration among their volunteers and with undergraduate members, leading to a healthy experience and supportive environments. A minimum of 75% of mentor roles for all chapter officers and challenge coordinators must be filled to be eligible. | At Carlson Leadership Academy | Nominations closed |
| Talent Power Award for Excellence in Recruitment | A chapter | Recognizes chapters that demonstrate a strong ability to identify and recruit talented, values-aligned men. This award is selected through an assessment of data readily available in mySigEp. | At Carlson Leadership Academy | Nominations closed |
| University Partner of the Year Award | A higher-education professional | Recognizes campus partners who have played an outstanding role in the development of a chapter, and in turn, the fraternal movement. | Via local chapter during the spring semester | Nominations closed |
| Volunteer of the Year Award | A volunteer | Recognizes volunteers who have given outstanding volunteer service that has had a significant impact on either the AVC or undergraduate chapter over the past year, regardless of years of service. | Via local chapter during the spring semester | Nominations closed |
Biennial Awards
These awards will be presented to brothers, chapters and volunteers at the Grand Chapter Conclave in July 2025.
Nominations for awards presented at the 2025 Grand Chapter Conclave have varying due dates in early 2025. Please see below for more information
| Award | It Recognizes | Description | Presentation will be | Nomination |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buchanan Outstanding Chapter Award (Buc Cup) | A chapter | Recognizes our highest performing chapters, the best-of-the-best SigEp chapters. Chapters are measured in relation to the accomplishments of their peers on campuses across the country. Only the chapters that excel in every area of operations and further the Grand Chapter's priorities qualify for this high honor. | At Grand Chapter Conclave | Nominations will be available in early 2025 |
| Cornerstone Award | An AVC | Awarded to Alumni and Volunteer Corporations (AVCs) that have undergone major improvement projects on chapter facilities. Projects can vary from cosmetic updates to major renovations, from safety upgrades to new construction; what remains consistent is the hard work, thoughtful approach and brotherly love that goes into maintaining facilities capable of developing high-achieving balanced leaders. | At Grand Chapter Conclave | Nominations due by March 30, 2025 |
| Sigma Phi Epsilon Fellow | An undergraduate | Awarded to brothers who assume large-scale service learning projects that push service learning to the highest level and solve genuine problems within a community. Fellow projects provide hands-on experiences that teach leadership, mentoring, and how to care about and serve others — all essential steps toward becoming a balanced man. They put into real world practice our cardinal principles of Virtue, Diligence and Brotherly Love. | At Grand Chapter Conclave | Applications due March 30, 2025 |
| Honor of Philias | An undergraduate(s), chapter, volunteer(s), alumnus/alumni, and/or AVC | Awarded to chapters or individuals in recognition of their special expression of the Fraternity’s cardinal principle of brotherly love. Recipients may apply for a grant through the Educational Foundation Honor of Philias Endowment to continue the work for which they are being recognized. | At Grand Chapter Conclave | Nominations due by March 30, 2025 |
| Clayton-Doud Award | Undergraduates, volunteers and/or alumni | Recognizes brothers who come to one another’s aid in times of trouble; brothers helping brothers. The biennial award provides $10,000 in scholarships to brothers who exemplify the relationship shared by Brothers Clayton and Doud. | At Grand Chapter Conclave | Nominations due by March 30, 2025 |
| Sigma Phi Epsilon Citation Award | An alumnus | Presented to a small, highly-select group of alumni who have achieved uncommon success and stature in their particular professions and careers, and have brought honor to themselves and to their Fraternity. | At Grand Chapter Conclave | Nominations accepted on a rolling basis |
| Order of the Golden Heart (OGH) | A volunteer | The OGH is the Fraternity’s highest honor, awarded to alumni who, with great personal sacrifice, have given exceptional service to Sigma Phi Epsilon for at least 30 years. Each nomination is carefully considered by the OGH Nominating Committee and voted upon by the Fraternity's National Board of Directors. | At Grand Chapter Conclave | Nominations due by February 1, 2025 |
Chapter Awards
These awards can be presented to brothers and volunteers by their respective chapters. All awards can be ordered through the Official SigEp Store.
| Award | It Recognizes | Description | Presentation will be | Nomination |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career Achievement Award | An alumnus | Recognizes alumni who have excelled in their careers. | At a local event | Order through Official SigEp Store |
| Clifford B. Scott Key Award | An undergraduate | Recognizes the brother in each chapter who has the highest grade point average for the year. | At a local event | Order through Official SigEp Store |
| Recruitment Excellence Award | An undergraduate | Recognizes the brother in each chapter who shows hard work and dedication to recruiting men who meet the high moral and academic standards worthy of being a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. | At a local event | Order through Official SigEp Store |
| Ulysses Grant Dubach Award | An undergraduate | Recognizes the brother in each chapter who shows the greatest academic improvement between consecutive academic terms. | At a local event | Order through Official SigEp Store |
| Volunteer Excellence Award | A volunteer | Recognizes volunteers who have given outstanding service to a chapter. | At a local event | Order through Official SigEp Store |
| Partner Recognition Award | A university, community or vendor partner | Recognizes a partner that contributes to chapter success. | At a local event | Order through Official SigEp Store |
