Sigma Chi - Oklahoma State University

SIGMA CHI FRATERNITY • OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY • FALL 2016 Inside • Sigma Chi Experience Inspires Greg Massey '87 ~ p. 2 • Gamma Delta Reaches New Heights ~ p. 3 • Alumni Update ~ p. 4 The Sig Scroll Gamma Delta Endowed Scholarship Fund Created Thanks to over $400,000 in Gifts O n February 29, Gamma Delta surpassed its fundraising goal when some 35 alumni deposited over $400,000 in cash in the Gamma Delta of Sigma Chi Endowed Scholarship Fund at the Oklahoma State University Foundation. All honor to their names! Constantine Sig Joe Porter '64 established the fund and gave the lead gift of $50,000. Significant Sigs John Clerico '63 and Jay Helm '70, along with brothers Greg Massey '87, Randy White '63, and Constantine Sig Jim Kuykendall '87, also made $50,000 gifts. These individuals will have scholarships given in their names. Our fund qualifies for a 1.5:1 match by the Boone Pickens Estate, bringing the potential value to over $1,000,000. Similarly, a $200,000 fund was established by the family of Significant Sig Chuck Watson '72 which qualifies for a 2:1 match, taking its potential value to $600,000. There are also endowed scholarships in honor of brothers Don Stout '65 and Trey Berryhill '97, which benefit our undergraduate brothers. Brothers, we are looking at potentially over $1.6M in scholarship funds for worthy brothers and pledges. Significant Sig Dr. Ken Case '66 is chairing our scholarship program and also serves as scholarship advisor to Chapter Advisor Ed Shaw. We are in the process of studying best practices of other Sigma Chi chapters and Greek letter fraternities and sororities who award scholarships. We are also working closely with the Sigma Chi and OSU Foundations to develop a philosophy and criteria for our endowment. In the meantime, we need to increase the size of the fund. Tax- deductible cash gifts are most appreciated, as are those made as part of your estate or planned giving program. They qualify for recognition by Gamma Delta as well as the OSU Foundation. It's a new day for the role scholarship plays at Gamma Delta. While we're no longer unique with our physical plant, we have the opportunity to lead the OSU fraternity system in helping deserving brothers and pledges defray the increasing cost of a college education. We may even be able to recruit great young men who otherwise could not afford to join a fraternity. Stay tuned for the rest of the story. Fraternally, Ken Klein '65 GAMMA DELTA THRIVING ON ALL LEVELS W e recently held our August board meeting at the house, and I'm happy to report that the items discussed did not include recent damage to the house, alcohol abuse issues, or concerns with hazing being involved in the pledge program. Instead, we spent our time discussing the fantastic recruitment that had just taken place, our plans for rolling out the Fraternity's new Preparation for Brotherhood pledge program, how to make scholarship funds readily available for deserving undergraduates, and congratulating the guys on yet another Petersen Award. I've been involved with the Gamma Delta Chapter for almost 20 years, having pledged in the fall of 1997. Never have I felt better about the men we have in the house and how they are operating than I do right now. As many of you are aware, we began a mandatory drug testing program in the spring of 2015 for all members and pledges. As a result of that process, we had approximately 30 brothers choose to walk away from the Fraternity, though keeping their pin. In the short term, it proved to be an expensive proposition, as our dues revenue fell by around $100,000 during the last school year. We are now through the discomfort of that experience, and the house is thriving and full of young men who have chosen to be a Sigma Chi because of our ideals. There are many alumni who have spent countless hours in service to the chapter over the last few years, but the following really went above and beyond: Jim Kuykendall '87, Joe Porter '64, George Clark, Mark Wollmershauser '04, Aaron Reinhardt '05, and especially Chapter Advisor Ed Shaw. We've got a house full of guys who we can all be proud of. Hope to see you this fall at the tailgate. In hoc, Whit Culver '01 President Gamma Delta House Corporation whit_culver@ml.com Consider giving to Gamma Delta's Endowed Scholarship Fund as part of your estate or planned giving program.

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