This list of awards will be updated throughout the 2020-2021 school year as brothers, chapters, alumni and volunteers are recognized. SigEp is proud to support and encourage members and volunteers for demonstrating the values of the Fraternity in their chapter experiences, volunteer involvement and personal lives.
Know a brother, chapter or volunteer who is deserving of an award? View the full list of awards and nomination forms here.
Undergraduate & Chapter Awards
| Award | Recipient | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Excelsior Award: Academics | Virginia Xi - Old Dominion | After being on the brink of academic turmoil, the Virginia Xi chapter at Old Dominion University implemented a new accountability system requiring brothers to attend library hours, meet with professors and pre-plan their workload. Over the past 2 years, their chapter GPA has increased by over 1 full point and they were recently awarded the “Excellence in Scholarship” award by Old Dominion’s Fraternity and Sorority Life office. |
| Excelsior Award: Recruitment | Missouri SEC | One of SigEp’s newest chapters, the Missouri SEC at the University of Missouri continued to innovate and remain focused on recruitment despite the setbacks caused by COVID-19. They used the BMS as a lead generation tool and interacted with potential new members through Zoom, recruiting new members before the school year began. |
| Frank J. Ruck Leadership Award | Danny Thirakul, Cal-State Sacramento | A young leader with an extensive background in local government and higher education policy, Danny Thiraku honed his skills to pivot California Theta’s Balanced Man Scholarship and recruitment plan to entirely virtual. Engaging the entire chapter and local alumni, he led the chapter to exceed their BMS applicant goal and recruit stellar men to California Theta within just 6 months of becoming a brother. |
| Frank J. Ruck Leadership Award | Ohio Pi - Wright State | With the university president as their faculty fellow, this chapter takes community relationships seriously. Holding top roles and in nearly every campus organization, these brothers embody outstanding leadership on their campus and in their university’s community. |
| Excelsior Award: Chapter Leadership | D.C. Delta - American | In reflecting on the state of the world, campus and Greek Life at American University, the chapter instituted a series of reforms including changes to recruitment, internal operations and member education. Because of these improvements and their ability to better serve their members and campus community, D.C. Delta’s leadership is now in a position to accomplish their goals with motivated members. |
| Talent Power Award | Kentucky Beta - Louisville | Breaking down the barriers holding them back, Kentucky Beta acknowledged and addressed sensitive issues and devised a plan to increase inclusivity and recruit a group of young men that reflects the diversity of their campus. Leaning on the Balanced Man Scholarship to carry their recruitment through the pandemic, the chapter is offering more members an amazing SigEp experience at Louisville. |
| Talent Power Award | Tennessee Epsilon - Tennessee Tech | Throughout 2020, the chapter has pivoted their recruitment plan and planned safe activities to engage potential new members and conduct a successful BMS. Their dedication led them to surpass their recruitment goal this fall and set a new standard for year round recruitment. |
| Frank J. Ruck Leadership Award | Blaine Smith, Memphis | This brother is devoted to the betterment of Tennessee Beta and the Greek community at Memphis. Bringing the Order of Omega back to campus and leading the chapter, alongside serving on the IFC and other campus organizations, he’s committed to continuously improving his leadership and creating opportunities for the men in his chapter and students around the campus community. |
| Excelsior Award: Chapter Leadership | Indiana Zeta - Valparaiso | Indiana Zeta expanded its leadership from 8 to 20 men resulting in a noticeable, positive change in how effectively and efficiently events are planned and tasks completed — all while providing a high-quality experience for members. When brothers expressed concern around mental health during COVID as well as a need to focus on diversity and inclusion, the chapter adapted by identifying leaders who could provide applicable programming and resources to members. |
| Excelsior Award: Recruitment | Wisconsin Theta - Wisconsin-Platteville | Wisconsin Theta found creative ways to show potential new members the value that SigEp can provide. They effectively used the BMS, emailed all students on the Dean’s List, sold how the SigEp network can lead to professional connections, and actively sought non-traditional students. All of these efforts led to the highest recruitment in their chapter’s history, yielding a 100% growth while holding a chapter GPA of 3.53. |
| Excelsior Award: Finances | Tennessee Kappa - Tennessee-Martin | In the spring of 2019, this chapter facing financial difficulties, accruing over $8,000 in debt. Through aggressive savings and cost management, a renewed focus on recruitment, and a new agreement with GreekBill, they were able to pay off that debt. Additionally, the chapter built better standards for financial controls to ensure that future chapter leaders remain good stewards of the chapter’s money. |
