This post was written by Hatchet reporter Genevieve Montinar.

Sigma Chi celebrated 150 years on campus Saturday as active members, alumni and University leaders came to the chapter’s F Street townhouse to honor one of GW’s oldest fraternities.

Here are the major takeaways from the event:

1. Service and philanthropy

Chapter president Eric Estroff highlighted the group’s successful philanthropy, pointing out that members surpassed their original $800,0000 fundraising goal for the fraternity’s signature Derby Days philanthropy event last year. Now the brothers are aiming to raise at least $100,000 at this year’s Derby Days.

The fraternity also plans to host sexual assault prevention training for all Greek chapters at the University, the first program of its kind.

2. Historical significance

Walter Cooner, the president of the chapter’s housing trust, spoke about how the group managed to stay intact during the Civil War, when many other fraternities were divided and shut down during the conflict.

The fraternity chose not to take sides during the war, and the Sigma Chi chapter at GW continued to grow, Cooner said.

3. Alumni relations

Dean of Student Affairs Peter Konwerski called the chapter’s 150-year anniversary “something we want to celebrate.”

He highlighted the fraternity’s alumni, whose donations have helped Sigma Chi expand.

“We’re excited that they’re on campus and we’re actually really excited that they have a really active prominent alumni who are so committed to their current students,” Konwerski said.

The fraternity also awarded scholarships between $500 and $1,500 to the chapter’s brothers.

Bruce Casner, president of the Epsilon Education Foundation and a member of Sigma Chi, thanked the chapter’s 1,600 alumni who have helped financially support the fraternity and its members.

“In the last 30 years we have given tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships in academic awards,” Casner said.