The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Epsilon Chi Chapter of Kappa Sigma recently captured two prestigious awards during its Grand Conclave in San Antonio.
The fraternity received the FACE (Founders Award of Chapter Excellence) Award along with the Founder’s Circle Award.
FACE awards recognize outstanding chapter management, achievement and program development in all areas of operations, according to Cris Morgan, District Grand Master for Kappa Sigma.
The UL Lafayette chapter was one of 36 chapters to receive the FACE award. About 15 percent of chapters win this award.
The Founder’s Circle Award is the highest award given to Kappa Sigma chapters. It recognizes success in all areas of fellowship, leadership, scholarship and service – the four pillars of the fraternity.
“ Winners of the Founder’s Circle Award set a shining example to which all chapters should aspire,” said Morgan. “They must meet 100 percent of the requirements set up by the fraternity to receive this award.”
Jon Stephenson, Epsilon Chi chapter president, said the awards are based on hard work and commitment to the community.
Just last semester, the fraternity raised more than $30,000 for charity. “We do a lot of work in the community,” said Stephenson. The chapter has partnered with United Way, Relay for Life, United Blood Services and St. Joseph’s Diner.
Stephenson said he sees the awards as “new standards for next year.”
Other awards received by the Epsilon Chi Chapter at the conclave include:
• Outstanding District Award;
• Outstanding Alumnus Advisor Award to Lee Ritter, a graduate of UL Lafayette;
• Outstanding Assistant Alumnus Advisor to Scott Bercegaey, a graduate of UL Lafayette; and
• Outstanding First Year Volunteer to John Stockstill, an employee at UL Lafayette.
The chapter was also recognized as one of the top recruiting chapters and as the largest on campus.
“ It’s wonderful to see our students excelling in and out of the classroom,” said Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president and an alumnus of the fraternity. “These awards are reflective of their hard work and dedication.”
The chapter has a membership of 70 undergraduates and has an alumni base of more than 1,000 initiates.
“ I am very proud of this undergraduate chapter for they have earned these awards and I feel comfortable that this will be an annual tradition,” said Morgan.