Each year at the John O. Moseley Leadership School, Sigma Alpha Epsilon recognizes the chapters that stand out among the crowd for their efforts in the 12 Core Areas of the True Gentleman Initiative. And each year, the chapter that is given the Fraternity’s top award is singled out among all others as the most outstanding example of what our members can be. They take the concept of Fraternity, the principles on which we were founded and the notion of brotherhood and showcase what role-model chapters can achieve.

Zeal Award Winner:
Louisiana Chi, Nicholls State University

A chapter that’s only a few years old has achieved the pinnacle of excellence as the best in the Realm, all because the men have consistently gone above and beyond what it takes to be a great chapter. For its dedication to all the ideals of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Louisiana Chi has been named the winner of the 2008 John O. Moseley Award for Fraternity Zeal. A dedication to many aspects of Fraternity — but most of all the Ritual and the values it instills — helped Louisiana Chi emerge as the leader. As the men wrote in their application: “Louisiana Chi believes that the Ritual cannot be understood unless we, as a chapter, realize that our commitments to the Ritual are commitments to a way of life we all will try to live.”

The ideals put forth by our guiding document, the Ritual, influence everything the men of Louisiana Chi attempt to do on their campus. Just four years after its conception as a colony, the chapter can now boast:

• A number-one ranking among campus fraternities in both active- and pledge-class GPA
• A commitment of more than 4,000 hours of community service as a chapter
• A requirement that all chapter members be involved in at least two extracurricular activities
• A first-place ranking in the school’s intramural events
• 75-percent participation by the chapter in intramurals
• A first-place finish in the 2008 SAE World Series
• The top award at the Nicholls State Greek Life Songfest

A number of IFC awards:

• Best Fraternity Leadership
• Best Fraternity GPA
• Best Fraternity
• Community Service
• Athletics Award
• A number of Province Theta awards:
• Chapter Achievement Award
• J.L. Pope Zeal Award
• Chapter Management Award
• Community Service and Philanthropy Award
• Ritual Award
• Election of five members to homecoming court (out of eight spots)
• 24 initiates into Who’s Who Among Colleges and Universities for the 2007-2008 school year
• 31 men recognized on the president’s list, dean’s list and honor roll at the university

To view the rest of its award-winning program, see the chapter’s application online at www.thetgi.net.

Other Nominees

The awards-selection committee identified four other chapters as the best in the Realm when they were nominated for the Zeal Award. This prestigious group includes:

Minnesota Alpha (Minnesota), standard of excellence in Province Tau, has taken member education to a new level — and it’s paid off. A calendar full of leadership and educational events also helped the chapter get nominated for every award at the University of Minnesota Greek Awards.

Wyoming Alpha (Wyoming) has distinguished itself by taking stances on issues not common to fraternities. In the 2007-2008 school year, the men worked to uphold “The True Gentleman” by working with the Albany County SAFE Project; SPECTRUM, the Gay-Straight Alliance; and the Women’s Action Network for Take Back the Night.

Illinois Alpha-Omega (Loyola), is no stranger to success within the Fraternity or on Loyola’s campus. It was named organization of the year out of all extracurricular activities, not just within the Greek system; has 100 percent of its members involved in other activities on campus; and received six of the eight individual Greek Life awards.

Michigan Delta-Omega (Central Michigan) was described in its awards application as not only the best fraternity on its campus but also as the best chapter in Province Omega. Its members excel in campus involvement, representing organizations as diverse as Leadership Safari, Sibs Weekend, the Student Government Association and Program Board.