Sigma Chi, one of North America's largest fraternities, is bringing its new chapter initiatives to UTM. The program involves the on-site recruitment of male students who embody the fraternity's standards.

Recruitment will start with a welcoming presentation to be held on Monday September 15 in Boling University Center. It will continue until October 8 and the process will be led by fraternity headquarters staff members Andy Hughes and Brian Burbrink, local alumni and local undergraduate chapters.

"Its mission is to be a value-based organization that stresses the character development of each member and its guiding principles, unchanged for almost 150 years, continue to define the essence of Sigma Chi," Hughes said.

Sigma Chi is offering its leadership scholarships to non-greek male students. Scholarships will be awarded to incoming freshmen, sophomores and juniors with two years of academic coursework remaining. One winner and two runner-ups will be determined in each academic class. The winner of each class will receive a $400 scholarship and each runner-up will receive $200. Winners are not required to join Sigma Chi.

The award ceremony for the scholarships will be held at 7 p.m. September 22 in the University Center ballroom.

According to Hughes, the Sigma Chi fraternity was founded in 1855 on the ideals of friendship, justice and learning at the Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. There are currently 219 undergraduate chapters, 134 alumni chapters and five petitioning chapters of Sigma Chi across North America. "This is a great opportunity for the students and for the expansion of the Greek system at UTM," said coordinator of student activities, Denny Bubrig.

The standard with which the fraternity was founded was declared by Isaac M. Jordan, one of the founding fathers, to be that admitting no man to membership in Sigma Chi who is not believed to be a man of good character, a student of fair ability and ambitious purposes, a congenial disposition, possess good morals, have a high sense of honor and a deep sense of personal responsibility.

"Sigma Chi is excited about coming to Martin and intends to establish positive relationships with all members of the Martin community while providing personal development opportunities to many students," said Hughes.

For more information about Sigma Chi, contact the office of student life or contact associate director of expansion for Sigma Chi Andy Hughes at (847) 869-3655 or at andy.hughes@sigmachi.org.