Pictured: Fourteen of the 364 individuals who received academic scholarships from the Sigma Chi Foundation for the 2025 to 2026 academic year.
EVANSTON, IL (Sept. 9, 2025) — The Sigma Chi Foundation has awarded $600,000 in academic scholarships for the 2025–2026 academic year, furthering its mission to support excellence at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
In September, approximately 360 undergraduate and graduate brothers, along with four Sweethearts representing 130 chapters across North America, received a combined $571,000 in academic awards. An additional $29,000 was distributed to support the Fraternity’s International Balfour Award winner and finalists, Cooper and Legion of Honor recipients, and the International Sweetheart.
With the completion of this year’s awards cycle, the Foundation has now provided more than $5.36 million in academic scholarships since 2015.
“We are pleased to honor and recognize another deserving group of brothers and Sweethearts in support of their academic endeavors,” said Sigma Chi Foundation President Michael Greenberg, ILLINOIS WESLEYAN 1982. “Thanks to the contributions of alumni, Sweethearts and friends across North America, we are making a difference in the lives of our members.”
For the first time since the 2022–2023 academic year, all seven of Sigma Chi’s $10,000 Founders’ Scholarship awards were presented. Established in 2015, these scholarships are given to the highest-ranked applicants each cycle. Six awards this year were made possible through the generosity of past Foundation chairman and Significant Sig Jeff Gill, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 1978, and the Gill Family Foundation. They join the memorial award honoring the late John Thumel, NORTHWESTERN 2015, which has been presented annually since 2022.
Beyond the Founders’ Scholarships:
— 177 undergraduates received support from their chapter’s Thomas Cowan Bell Chapter Challenge endowment or yearly distributions.
—131 students were recognized through donor-funded scholarships.
— 30 brothers received graduate awards in a variety of fields including business, international affairs, medicine, law, engineering, media arts and general studies.
— Five brothers who are active duty or honorably discharged military veterans were awarded Sigma Chi’s Military Service Scholarships.
— Four current or past undergraduate chapter sweethearts were awarded Sigma Chi’s Chapter Sweetheart Scholarships.
“Thanks to the generosity of the Gill family, we are proud to recognize six additional brothers whose academic and leadership achievements bring great honor to our Fraternity,” Greenberg said. “We’re also proud to see alumni from more than 70 chapters directly supporting scholarships and leadership opportunities for their home chapters through the Bell Chapter program. Our goal is for every Sigma Chi undergraduate chapter to receive annual scholarship support by the 2028–2029 academic year.”
Scholarship applications are reviewed by a panel of more than 70 alumni volunteers and members of the Foundation Board of Governors, with recommendations overseen by the Foundation’s Grant and Scholarship Committee. The process is coordinated by Foundation Executive Assistant and Scholarship Administrator Heidi Holley at the organization’s headquarters in Evanston.
The application window for 2026–2027 academic scholarships will open in late January.
A major in Chemistry, Harmon holds a 3.71 GPA entering his fifth year.
Harmon has served the Mu Nu chapter as Consul, Social Chairman and Brotherhood Chairman and has given back on campus as a senator and College of Arts and Sciences division lead within the Student Government Association. Additionally, Harmon works part-time as a certified pharmacy technician at Publix Pharmacy and as a teaching assistant in the chemistry department at UAB. Following graduation, he hopes to pursue a master’s degree in pharmacology and attend medical school to become a physician specializing in internal medicine.
Harmon was recommended by UAB Professor of Chemistry Sadanandan Velu, Ph.D. who noted Jonathan ranked in the top 10 percent among students he has taught over his academic career, praising Harmon’s ability to apply advanced concepts and demonstrate analytical precision in his coursework.
Wrote Velu: “In every sense—through his work ethic, reliability, thoroughness, and commitment to service—Jonathan consistently exceeds expectations. He is dependable, thoughtful, and always focused on doing what’s best for both the team and the patients we serve. I recommend him with complete confidence for the Sigma Chi scholarship and have no doubt he will continue to represent your organization’s values with integrity and purpose.”
A major in Mathematics, Fan holds a 3.76 GPA entering his fourth year.
Fan has served the Theta Upsilon chapter as Consul and is active on campus as a member of the United States Air Force ROTC. He serves as photographer for Yale’s mathematics competitions for high school students, teaches local middle school students through Yale Mathcounts outreach, serves as a volunteer tutor for high schools in New Haven, Connecticut and is president of Yale’s Military History Society. He was the recipient of Yale’s prestigious F. Wilder Bellamy Jr. Memorial Prize, awarded to a junior who best exemplifies the qualities for which Bellamy is remembered.
Following graduation, Cory hopes to commission into the United States Air Force as an intelligence officer with the goal of becoming a Schwarzman Scholar to earn a fully funded master’s degree in global affairs. His long-term ambitions include pursuing a Ph.D. in both astrophysics and geophysics while working into a major command position within the Air Force.
Fan was recommended by Hessaire General Manager Charles Chen who noted his work ethic as a high school student in the organization’s warehouse, quickly distinguishing himself with his maturity, diligence and natural leadership.
Wrote Chen: “More than just a skilled worker, Cory exemplifies the values of integrity, perseverance, and service. He leads not by title, but by example—through action, empathy, and a deep commitment to excellence. His charisma and sincerity draw people in, but it’s his work ethic and follow-through that truly set him apart. Cory embodies what it means to be a values-based leader.”
A major in Mechanical Engineering, Shuron holds a 3.5 GPA entering his fifth year.
Shuron has served the Lambda Kappa chapter as Consul, Annotator, Editor, Kustos, Ritual Chairman and Philanthropy (Derby Days) Chairman, attended both Krach Transformational Leaders Workshop and Horizons Huntsman Leadership Summit, and has served the International Fraternity as Undergraduate Representative to the Executive Committee. On campus, he has given back as President of RIT’s Student Government Association, Vice President of Judicial Affairs for the Inter-Fraternity Council and the inaugural president of the Greek Leadership Counsel. Following graduation, he hopes to start an engineering consulting firm.
Shuron was recommended by R.I.T. Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Nicole Boulais, Ph.D. who noted Alex’s strong academic success and leadership beyond the classroom.
Wrote Boulais: “As an active participant in weekly meetings and as an advocate and voice for the students, Alex has shown exemplary ability to manage his own emotions, exhibit sensitivity and support to others and maintain an appropriate focus on policy and reasonable/sustainable outcomes. In many instances, Alex leads dialogues with senior administrators as well as peer leaders. He has posed insightful questions and worked effectively with others to come to consensus on next steps. Alex has become one of our “go to” student members and is a role model for others.”
A major in Computer Science, Escamilla holds 4.0 GPA entering his fourth year.
Escamilla has served the Zeta Phi chapter as Quaestor and House Manager and attended the Horizons Huntsman Leadership Summit. On campus, he has served as a volunteer of the Big Event (community service event), webmaster of the student government website and election board committee member. He has served as a Google Tech Exchange fellow and a Netflix x Formation fellow, interned with both the National Science Foundation and Northrop Grumman while serving as a Back of House Team Lead and Front of House Shift Lead at Chick-Fil-A. Following graduation, he hopes to attain his master’s and work as a software engineer, rising to a product management or engineering management role.
Luis was recommended by Lawrence Technological University Professor of Computer Science C.J. Chung, Ph.D. whose National Science Foundation research project hosted Escamilla as one of eight interns to develop, analyze and evaluate self-drive algorithms using legal electric vehicles on the Southfield, Michigan campus.
Wrote Chung: “I am confident that Luis has the motivation and potential to become a highly successful computer scientist. He has demonstrated an ability to swiftly grasp new technologies and shows a strong drive to achieve his goals. His diligent teamwork and leadership skills further enhance his qualifications.”
A major in Music Business, Orbaugh holds a 3.68 GPA entering his fourth year.
Orbaugh has served the Mu Xi chapter as its founding Consul, Editor, Historian and Social Media Chairman. On campus, he is a member of the Pre-Law society, a resident assistant and member of the Tennis Club team. He is the recipient of a Grand Consul’s citation and has received recognition from The Recording Academy for his work as an outstanding student within the music industry. Following an internship, he was hired as a full-time booking agency assistant for The Neal Agency, which represents country music stars Morgan Wallen, Bailey Zimmerman and Riley Green, among others. In his role, Orbaugh has worked on a variety of projects including serving as a tour manager for country music artist Travis Denning. Following graduation, he hopes to continue spearheading tour logistics and artist development, while working into an executive role at a major label or music management firm ultimately becoming a partner in an agency.
Hayden was recommended by The Neal Agency co-founder Austin Neal, whose management firm hired Hayden as its first full-time student following an internship.
Wrote Neal: “(Hayden) consistently demonstrated a remarkable commitment to going above and beyond expectations. … During the hiring process we stressed to Hayden that this would be an occasion he would have to rise to. Sure enough he did and even has exceeded our expectations. Whether he is engaging with clients, networking within the music community, or representing our brand at writers’ rounds, he approaches every interaction with enthusiasm, integrity, and a clear sense of purpose. What sets Hayden apart is his ability to build meaningful relationships while maintaining a strong sense of responsibility and accountability—qualities that are necessary for a successful leader in the music industry.”
A major in Aerospace Engineering, Esposito holds a 3.58 GPA entering his fourth year.
Esposito has served the Eta Iota chapter in a plethora of roles including Consul, Pro Consul, Risk Manager, Kustos, Scholarship and Ritual Chairman and Assistant Magister, receiving a Grand Consul Citation for his leadership following the tragic loss of the chapter’s preceding consul Hayden Ritchart in a plane accident. On campus and in the community, he is an active member within the honors program and serves the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics with the Design Build Fly team. Michael has interned with both Gulfstream Aerospace and the Boeing Company. Following graduation, he hopes to attain his masters and MBA and utilize his systems engineering ability to work into a management role within the aerospace industry.
Michael was recommended by Embry-Riddle Fraternity & Sorority Life Advisor Nicholas Damiano, who noted Esposito’s leadership within the Eta Iota chapter and on campus.
Wrote Damiano: “The raw strength, maturity, and resilience Michael demonstrated during this time was nothing short of extraordinary. He became a steadfast pillar of stability, compassion, and courage for the entire chapter. His leadership during such a difficult period exemplified what it means to be a values-based leader. … Michael is someone who actively seeks outgrowth, not only within himself but through the diverse experiences and insights of others. He invests deeply in building mentorships across a wide range of backgrounds, and the wisdom he gains from these relationships is reflected in everything he does. He is thoughtful, empathetic, and driven by a clear sense of purpose.”
A major in Computer Science, Singh holds a 4.06 GPA entering his third year.
Singh, a native of Nepal, has served the Theta chapter as its House Manager. On campus he is involved in the school’s OSAGL Tech Team overseeing all events on campus, a member of the Association of Computing and Machinery and is a teaching assistant for two computer science courses. He has worked on community-driven projects in his home country such as Kishan Ko Lagi, an initiative that aims to improve farmers’ access to market prices and promote agricultural development, as well as Hospice Nepal and St. Xavier’s Orphanage Home. He is a recipient of Gettysburg’s prestigious Lincoln Scholarship. Following graduation, he aspires to become a highly skilled software engineer and work at a leading technology company or research institution specializing in fields like A.I., cybersecurity or data science.
Rajwat was recommended by Sunghee Kim, who serves as Professor and Chair of Gettysburg’s Department of Computer Sciences. Kim noted his work ethic as a teaching assistant and the “maturity and compassion” shown for students struggling to understand computing concepts.
Wrote Kim: “Rajwat has strong academic ability, and he is conscientious, responsible, hard-working, mature, focused and organized. … He is not afraid of challenges and, in fact, seems to thrive on taking and successfully overcoming them. Rajwat is methodical in his approaches to difficult problems and prefers to be independent rather than asking for help too early, as is often the case with many other students.”
Clark is in his third year at the University of Tulsa, where he holds a 2.56 GPA in pursuit of a degree in business management.
He was honorably discharged following four years of service in the United States Marine Corps, where he was deployed twice to the Middle East and served as a Combat Engineer Team Leader at Camp Pendleton, CA. He is the recipient of the National Defense Ribbon, Global War on Terror Ribbon, Operation Inherent Resolve Ribbon, among others.
Within Sigma Chi, he has served his chapter as Recruitment Chairman, Tribune, Kustos and Social Chairman. Following graduation, he plans to start his own company.
Baumgartner is in his fourth year at the University of Memphis, where he holds a 3.38 GPA in pursuit of a degree in Sport and Leisure Management.
He presently serves the United States Air National Guard reserves with the 164th Airlift Wing in Memphis and has been deployed overseas once during his service. He has received the Global War on Terrorism Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal and the Air Force Achievement Medal, among others.
Within Sigma Chi, he has served as the Epsilon Kappa chapter Recruitment Chairman. He has been actively involved in the community with the Campus Outreach bible study program, Back the Blue 901, the Alpha Eta Rho aviation fraternity and the Sky West Pilot Pathway Program. Following graduation, he plans to complete Air Force undergraduate pilot training, earn commission as an officer and later pilot for a legacy airline.
Baumgardner is in his third year at the University of Tulsa, where he holds a 3.75 GPA in pursuit of a degree in Music Education.
He was honorably discharged in in 2023 following six years of service in the United States Air Force where he served as a Radar, Airfield and Weather Systems technician, supervisor and lead trainer at both Laughlin and Luke Air Force bases in Texas. He is the recipient of a Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal for his work raising $35,000 for LGBT youth in the greater Phoenix area.
Buxton is in his second year at the University of Colorado-Boulder, where he holds a 3.245 GPA in pursuit of a degree in Business Management.
Buxton presently serves the Colorado Air National Guard as an F-16 crew chief. He has served as aircraft maintainer and crew chief and is currently stationed at Buckley SFB. He received the National Defense Service Medal and is an Air Force Basic Military Training honor graduate. Following graduation, he plans to become an Air Force pilot and transition to a commercial airline pilot.
Bills is in his third year at the University of Montana, where he holds a 2.64 GPA in pursuit of a degree in History.
He was honorably discharged in in 2023 following four years of service to the United States Army where he led a team in coordinating fire support plans, enforcing safety protocols and was recognized as an Army Sexual Harassment Assault Response Program Ambassador. He has received the Army Achievement Medal and was on the Basic Leadership Course Commandant’s List. Following graduation, he plans to attain his master’s degree in education, teach high school history and coach high school sports.