Sigma Pi - Cornell University

Page 4 E very year, Sigma Pi awards one junior member of the fraternity the David Harrop Memorial Scholarship. This $1,000 award is given to the brother who demonstrates academic excellence while leading and supporting Sigma Pi, as well as staying active and giving back to the local Ithaca community. The 2020 David Harrop Memorial Scholarship Recipient: Chris Cavanaugh '21. Chris Cavanaugh is a senior at Cornell's College of Engineering, pursuing his Bachelor of Engineering in mechanical engineering. While academics are Chris' top priority, his leadership skills and extracurricular involvement prove to be equally as compelling for Chris. He has served as Mu Chapter Sage (2019-20), and his list of other involvements is just as impressive—TA for AEP 1200, intro nanoscience, and his current internship as a technical engineering for GE Aviation. Here are Chris' thoughts on his experience as a Pi man: "Sigma Pi has been a key component of my undergraduate experience, and an invaluable support system throughout all my academic and professional endeavors. In my first year, I relied on Sigma Pi to provide me with a sense of community and connection that is hard to find at such a large university. As I continued through my academic career, Sigma Pi introduced me to excellent role models with experienced advice across all disciplines. When it was time to transition my focus to my professional career and life after college, I once again could rely on the brothers of Sigma Pi to teach me how to be proactive and competitive during the recruiting process. Through my leadership roles with Sigma Pi, such as Diversity and Inclusion Chair, Brotherhood Chair, and Sage, I have attained leadership and communication skills that I will put to great use for the rest of my life. I am incredibly grateful for the learning environment Sigma Pi created for me, and I strive to ensure that all undergraduates continue to experience this ecosystem and reap the benefits." T he past six months have been undeniably difficult for the United States on many fronts, which is why the Educational Foundation is even more grateful for the many gifts made by our brothers and friends this year. The dedication of our alumni to help their younger brothers is both incredible and admirable. We have received 63 donations totaling $25,891 from 50 brothers and friends of Mu Chapter during this fiscal year. As of June 30, 2020, the Foundation's entire portfolio's value is $52,979, which contains $8,979 in the operating account and $44,000 in the investment portfolio. This year the foundation spent $38,884 toward its many initiatives. The investment portfolio returned 3.08% for the 2020 fiscal year versus 7.49% for the S&P 500 and 4.72% for MSCI EAFE (International). Over the past year, the managers performed in line with their respective benchmarks. During the global market decline in the first quarter of 2020, AB Growth, Yacktman, and Harbor protected capital better than the index-based ETFs. With the help of our wonderful donors this year, the Foundation has been able to: n Purchase plaques for the newly named James H. Keene III '57 Memorial Library. n Provide seven grants to brothers who were directly affected by, or took unpaid internships due to complications from COVID-19. n Sponsor three attendees at the Sigma Pi Mid-Year Leadership Conference in Kansas City, Mo. n Purchase digital headshots for the entire undergraduate brotherhood. n Fund two house intern positions focused on Career Services and supporting the Educational Foundation community activities for Sackett Terry '21 and Will Nuga '21. n Award our annual David Harrop Memorial Scholarship to Chris Cavanaugh '21. n Sponsor six attendees at The New York Times DealBook Conference in New York City hosted by Andrew Ross Sorkin '99 n Provide access to online studying and collaboration tools for undergraduate brothers. n Donate to the active chapter's No Kid Hungry fundraiser. Before the switch to virtual learning this semester, the Foundation was pleased to see how much the Learning Commons had truly become an educational hub for the undergraduate brothers. The chapter house is now able to provide not only a fantastic social atmosphere, but a deeply educational one as well. The Educational Foundation thanks all those who have supported our endeavors. None of these activities could have taken place without the generosity of our brotherhood and the greater Mu Chapter alumni community. We look forward to working together with our undergraduate brothers, alumni, and friends for the upcoming 2020-21 school year, no matter how different it may look. Fraternally, Connor Riser '16 Treasurer Mu Chapter of Sigma Pi Educational Foundation Educational Foundation Treasurer's Report To the Stars B rother Joseph Dervay '80, a flight surgeon for NASA, played a vital role in this summer's NASA- SpaceX rocket launch. Joseph served as the flight physician during the launch process. It was the first time in more than a decade that astronauts were launched into space from United States soil. Thank you and congratulations on the amazing accomplishment, Joseph! Chris Cavanaugh '21 Earns 2020 David Harrop Memorial Scholarship

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