GW’s Sigma Chi fraternity was awarded the prestigious J. Dwight Peterson Award, making it one of three Sigma Chi chapters nationwide to be awarded the distinction this year.
The national Sigma Chi leadership gives the award annually to the Sigma Chi fraternity chapters that demonstrate exemplary service and performance to their campus and fraternal communities. GW shares the award this year with Arkansas State University and Vanderbilt University.
Epsilon chapter President Ashish Kumbhat said the award is a culmination of the hard work of the chapter members over the course of last year.
“The progress we have made as a chapter over the past year lies in the individual strengths of each of our brothers,” Kumbhat said. “Our brothers have a wide range of talents and interests that afforded us the opportunity to continuously give back to our community in unique ways.”
The chapter displayed the importance of giving back to the community in a challenge issued to each of its members this year. Each member was tasked with completing 24 hours of service over the course of the academic year.
Through service at the D.C. Central Kitchen, Vinsen Hall Retirement Community and Francis Stevens Elementary School, many members exceeded that goal, but overall the chapter came up a little short of its goal.
Vice President Ryan Heger said despite falling short of the goal, the community service was one of the factors he believes contributed to the chapter’s recognition.
“While we fell slightly short, we had the most community service hours per member of any Greek organization,” Heger said. “I am positive that we will meet this goal in the coming year.”
Last fall, the chapter had its largest pledge class in its history. Public Relations Chairman S.J. Tilden said while the award will demonstrate the strength of the chapter for potential brothers, the chapter will work hard to achieve success again.
“We are proud to showcase what we have worked so hard to achieve and will therefore work to achieve it again,” he said. “It is our hope and belief that our recruitment program will be as strong, if not stronger, in the semesters to come as it has been in the recent past.”
Social Chairman Ian Gray said the accomplishments of the chapter, including the Peterson Award, are a direct result of its dedication to several important values, rather than a single event or achievement.
“There is no single accomplishment I would point to, rather, I’d look at it holistically in terms of our dedication to service, scholarship and brotherhood,” Gray said. “I believe it’s the balance of these things that collectively represent real achievement.”
Last year, Sigma Chi also acquired its first official house on campus since the fraternity returned to GW in 2007. After being kicked off campus in 2000 for misconduct including bad behavior and financial problems, the chapter was examined by the University, the national Sigma Chi organization and the Internal Revenue Service before being permitted re-establish itself.
Gray said the recognition, coupled with this year’s achievements, will spark continued dedication to improving the chapter and building on its successes.
“Being recognized with this award has been a real source of motivation for our guys,” Gray said. “We have every intention of remaining one of the premier chapters in the country for years to come.”
The Peterson Award is given to chapters that score above 97 percent on their annual report submission, which documents the overall operations of the chapter, Mike Dunn, Sigma Chi’s executive director, said in a statement. Of the 235 chapters nationwide, only three were recognized as Peterson Gold Chapters.
The award was given during the fraternity’s annual leadership training workshop held in North Carolina at the end of July.
