SIGMA CHAPTER

NATIONAL AWARDS

Sigma Tau Gamma National Fraternity began its awards program in the 1960’s.

Edwards H. McCune Distinguished Chapter Award

Established in 1966 to honor chapters that have best exemplified the principles of the Fraternity.

Winner – 1968, 1971, 1975, 1981, 1984

Finalist – 1973, 1974, 1978, 1980, 1986, 1991, 1994

Emmett Ellis Scholarship Award

Established in 1963 to honor chapters that have achieved the highest scholarship index.

Winner – 1969, 1994

Finalist – 1971, 1973, 1975, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1993, 1996

Thomas M. Hutsell Chapter Efficiency Award

Established in 1967 to honor chapters that have demonstrated high levels of efficiency in administration.

Winner – 1967

Finalist – 1984, 1995

E. Kennedy Whitesitt Newsletter Award

Established in 1967 to honor chapters that have the best alumni newsletter program.

Winner - 2003

Finalist – 1984, 1986

Robert Nagel Jones Charitable Project Award

Established in 1975 to honor chapters that have excelled in service to others.

Winner – 1996

Finalist – 1981, 2002

W.T. Hembree Award

Established in 1983 to honor chapters that have conducted successful fundraising for BACCHUS.

Finalist – 1990

Man Mile Award

Established in 1989 to honor chapters that brought the most members the most miles to attend the National Convention.

Winner – 1993, 1998

Basil D. Hunt Membership Award

Established in 1989 to honor all chapters who have attained certain membership levels.

Century Club (100+ members) – 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998

Diamond Club (75 – 99 members) – 1989, 1999

Gold Club (50 - 74 members) - 2001

As of 2000, the Century Club had only been awarded 11 times, with Sigma Chapter receiving 8 of those awards.

SIGMA CHAPTER INDIVIDUAL MEMBER

NATIONAL AWARDS

Ellsworth C. Dent Man of the Year Award

Established in 1966 to honor members who have shown outstanding leadership ability.  Listed below are Sigma Chapter national runner-ups and national winners.

1967 – Dick King

1968 – Tommy Anderson

1974 – Keith Vaughan – National Winner

1975 – Ron Sutherland

1978 – Keith Bell

1981 – Mark Hampton

1984 – Tab Townsell

1986 -  Bill Byrd – National Winner

1991 -  Keith Svagerko

1994 -  Paul Vitale – National Winner

-  Brad Lacy

1995 -  Kevin Reed

Stan Musial Sportsmanship Award

Established in 1963 to honor members who have excelled in varsity or intercollegiate athletics.

1967 – Ricky Richardson – National Winner

1968 – Danny Lynch

1972 – Lamonte Bolding

1975 – James Wright

1984 -  Verlon Spencer

2000 – Jeremy Gardner – National Winner

Professor Grubbs Distinguished Advisor Award

Established in 1983 to honor chapter advisors who have displayed long-standing and effective service.

1986 – Tom Marshall – National Winner

SIGMA CHAPTER ALUMNI

NATIONAL AWARDS

Society of Seventeen

Established in 1980 to recognize continuous and distinguished service and leadership to Sigma Tau Gamma.  It is limited to 17 living members, and is the highest honor bestowed by the Fraternity.

1986 – Michael J. Steinbeck, 1965

           19^th National President, 1976–78; Board of Directors,

           1970-82

Distinguished Achievement Award

Established in 1970 to honor an alumnus nationwide who has achieved distinction in his chosen profession.  Only one man is honored each year with this prestigious award.

1973 – Dee Brown, 1931

           Award-winning author Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

1997 – Sheffield Nelson, 1963

           Chairman & CEO of Arkla Gas Company

Michael J. Steinbeck Graduate Fellowship

Established in 1986 to award deserving young alumni who have chosen to pursue graduate degrees. Named in honor of Sigma alumnus Michael J. Steinbeck, who served as the Fraternity’s 19^th National President.

1996 – Brad Lacy

1997 – Kevin Reed

        - Jerry Sanders

WHITE ROSE

NATIONAL AWARDS

White Rose of Sigma Tau Gamma

Established in 1966 to honor a Chapter’s sweetheart, the White Rose Queen.

1972 – Marilyn Morgan – National Winner

1975 – Paula Sanford

1980 – Debra Waddle – National Winner

1981 – Marsha Belew

1985 – Mathilda Hatfield

1987 – Sandra Hilliard

1988 – Vita Barre – National Winner

1990 -  Kathy Ellis – National Winner

1993 -  Sherri Tidwell – National Winner

1994 – Missy Murphy

1995 – Bethany Briscoe

1997 – Heather Ezell – National Winner

1999 – Kelly Leigh Meins

2000 – Mary Allison Farrell

2002 – Melissa Swaim – National Winner

2003 - Linzi Davasher - National Winner

2004 - Tiffany Barnes

LANEY AWARD

This award was established by Sigma Chapter in 2000 to honor Sigma alumnni that have demonstrated outstanding leadership and achievement.  The award is named in honor of alumnus Ben Laney (1924) who served as Governor of Arkansas from 1945 to 1949. 

Ben Laney was born in 1896 in rural Ouachita County.  He joined the Navy in 1918 and served in World War I.  After the war, he returned to Arkansas and enrolled at UCA.  Before graduating, he worked on the Echo staff and served as senior class president in 1924.  After graduation, Laney was a successful businessman in Conway and then Camden. His first venture into politics occurred when he was elected Mayor of Camden in 1935.  He was later elected to two terms as Governor of Arkansas.  In addition, he was offered a nomination for President of the United States, but declined the nomination.  During his tenure as Governor, "business" Ben Laney, as he was called, oversaw the passage of the Revenue Stabilization Act.  The construction of the Governor's Mansion and War Memorial Stadium were set forth during his time in office.  Laney passed away in 1977.  Winners of the Laney Award receive a plaque and their names are listed on a plaque that hangs in Buffalo Alumni Hall at UCA.

Recipients

2000 – Sheffield Nelson (1963) - Became President & CEO of Arkla Gas Co. at age 30; Republican nominee for Governor of Arkansas in 1990 and 1992; named UCA Distinguished Alumnus in 1986.

2001 – Dee Brown (1931) - Award winning author of numerous critically acclaimed books about the American West, including the landmark "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee"; named UCA Distinguished Alumnus in 1988.