The Kappa Sigma fraternity awarded a record $250,000 in scholarship-leadership awards in 2001, increasing the amount given in 2000 by 5 percent. This year, the Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund, the source fund for the project, provided merit awards to 349 Kappa Sigma’s Fraternity members, including three Mississippi State students. While some of the awards were only certificates, 278 of the awards were cash awards.
MSU students Sebron Harrison, Parker Wiseman and Nathan Moore, were each awarded $1,000.
Harrison said there are three main criteria by which applicants were judged.
“One area they look at is how much you’re involved in your fraternity chapter,” he said. “The second is how much you are involved on your campus apart from the fraternity, and the third is based on academic performance.”
“A large part of it is based on your GPA,” he added.
Wiseman said he was very surprised to receive the award.
“I didn’t necessarily expect it,” said Wiseman. “I just decided to apply to see what would happen. I was thrilled when all three of us, Sebron, Nathan and myself, received awards. I think it reflects well on our chapter to have that many receive a scholarship, and it will definitely help me out with school.”
The Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund has been in operation since 1948. Since then, the fund has supplied more than $3.25 million to thousands of undergraduate Kappa Sigma members.
Last year marked another fund record as well; 764 eligible undergraduate members of the fraternity applied for the fund nearly 50 more than in 2000.
The MSU chapter of Kappa Sigma tries to do its part in helping the fund continue its growth. The MSU chapter was able to donate over $1,300 last year to the fund.
MSU Kappa Sigma President Lee Hill was unable to be reached for comment.