2021 to 2022 FOUNDERS’ SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Awardees (Listed alphabetically) receive $10,000 each for the present academic calendar year.

Carlos Angeles-Solis, CUMBERLAND 2022 | John & Nancy Peterson Scholarship

A major in Biology, where he is attaining a Bachelor of Science with a Pre-Medicine concentration, Angeles-Solis holds a 2.8 GPA and has landed on the Academic All-Mid-South Conference team three times while twice being nominated as a Champion of Character on behalf of Cumberland University.

A first-generation immigrant from Mexico, who was raised in a single-family household, Angeles-Solis used hard work through academics and athletics to become the first of his four siblings to attend college. His work-ethic is visible on campus, within his chapter and as a collegiate athlete.

While training year-round as a member of both the track and cross-country team, serving as co-captain for the latter, Angeles-Solis served his chapter as both Quaestor, Social Chairman and Greek Council Chairman while maintaining employment at Publix Supermarket and on a local farm. He serves Cumberland University as Residential Advisor and Presidential Ambassador, the latter role leading tours for potential students and serving as a peer mentor to incoming freshmen. He has also volunteered on behalf of the Nu chapter, Baptist Christian Ministries, the Gamma Beta Phi society and abroad through Cumberland University’s mission team in Haiti.

Jordan Ayerza, CAL. STATE-FRESNO 2022 | Bob & Sabrina Johnson Scholarship

A major in Agricultural Biology, where he is working towards a career as a Botanist, Ayerza held a 3.1 GPA entering his senior year at California State University-Fresno while serving as Consul of the Epsilon Eta chapter.

Within the chapter, he has continuously held offices from his date of initiation also serving as Recruitment Chairman, Kustos, IFC Representative, Public Relations, Social Chairman and Assistant Risk Manager, while volunteering annually through Epsilon Eta’s Derby Days and Kids Day events. Through his leadership as Consul, the chapter pulled through the COVID-19 pandemic with strong brotherhood, a full chapter house and collective GPA exceeding the school’s all-men’s average.

His academic pursuits have been entirely self-funded through scholarships and a full-time position at the agribusiness company Wilbur-Ellis, which specializes in agri-chemicals. Ayerza plans to continue work for the company post-graduation as works towards his career objectives.

John Choe, YALE 2023 | Benjamin Piatt Runkle Scholarship

A major in Political Science and Biology, where he is attaining a Bachelor of Arts in pursuit of a career as a non-profit consultant, Choe holds a 3.7 GPA at the prestigious Yale University. An official United Nations Student Ambassador, Choe is a prestigious Yale Club Scholar and recipient of the Annexstad Family Foundation and Yale University Leaders for Tomorrow Scholarship. He serves his chapter as Recruitment Manager.

A first-generation, low-income student from a single-parent household, Choe holds three on-campus jobs alongside his scholarship recognition, using those funds to help support his family in California. On campus he works as Financial Advisory Manager for the Yale Undergraduate Organizations Funding Committee and as a student caller for the Yale Alumni Fund. He holds positions within the Scholars of Finance at Yale, the Yale Student Financial Education Group, Yale Entrepreneurial Society and Yale College Council.

Choe is a national award-winning poet through the Get-Lit(erate) program, where he shared and performed original poems to middle and high schools across California to increase literacy rates in underprivileged neighborhoods. He is also a site leader and board member for the Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project, managing weekly shifts at the Yale Community Kitchen and leading communications efforts on behalf of the organization.

Brandon Coughlin, BOSTON 2022 | Joe & Judy Durzo Scholarship

A major in Human Physiology, where he is attaining a combined Bachelor and Master of Science, Coughlin holds a 3.54 GPA and has landed on the Boston University Sargent College Deans List on four occasions.

Through his leadership within the Sigma Chi Upsilon colony and on campus, Coughlin played a major role in the colony’s re-chartering as the Iota Upsilon Chapter in April 2021 serving as Consul, Pro Consul, Risk Manager and IFC Representative.

On campus, he has served as a lifeguard and swim instructor, student facilitator and undergraduate researcher. In the community, Coughlin is a founding member of the Boston University American Lung Cancer Society, serving on both the education and engagement committees, and also volunteers for both the Boston University Human Systems Neuroscience Lab and the Boston Red Cross Food Bank.

Lukas Kawano, IDAHO 2022 | Isaac M. Jordan Scholarship

A major in Environmental Science with a certificate in climate change, Kawano holds a 3.62 GPA and has landed on the University of Idaho’s Dean’s List on four occasions.

Kawano is actively involved in Sigma Chi, having served the Gamma Eta chapter as Editor, House Manager, IFC Representative, Philanthropy Chairman, Social Chairman, and, most recently, as Recruitment Chairman, helping the chapter successfully recruit 16 new members under COVID-19 restrictions. He also serves internationally on Sigma Chi’s Chapter and Member Accountability Committee (CAMAC) as an undergraduate representative and is a graduate of the Horizons Huntsman Leadership Summit. Overcoming significant challenges in his early life and teenage years, he credits Sigma Chi for helping make significant positive changes in his life.

On campus, Kawano is a member of the Environmental Science Club which undertakes frequent cleanups on campus and within the Moscow, Idaho community. Alongside the Vandal Excellence Academic Achievement and Gamma Eta’s Seven Lights Endowment Scholarship, Kawano has supported his academic efforts with full-time work during the summer as a forklift driver and part-time employment as a subcontractor for University Tees during the school year.

Grant Sisk, OKLAHOMA STATE 2022 | Chuck & Kim Watson Scholarship

Pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a major in Finance and minors in Economics and International Business, Sisk holds a 3.78 GPA at Oklahoma State, where he has earned an Out of State Achievement Award, made the President and Dean’s lists and been named member of the Order of Omega for his academic efforts.

Sisk has been actively involved on campus and within the Gamma Delta chapter, where he has served Recruitment Chairman, IFC Representative, Homecoming Director and Philanthropy Chairman. Serving as Vice President of Philanthropy and Community for the school’s Interfraternity Council, he helped the Greek community at Oklahoma State collectively raise over $200,000 during a pandemic year. He has also held roles within Junior Greek Life, Spears School of Business ambassadors and the Homecoming Big Committee.

In the community, he is an active volunteer within his hometown of Grapevine, Texas and presently serves Stillwater, Oklahoma as a volunteer at Into The Streets and Our Daily Bread. He presently works on campus as a student worker, having prior served as a teaching assistant and also a package runner for FedEx between semesters.

Porter Windell, MONTANA STATE 2024 | Greg & Carol Harbaugh Scholarship

A major in Architecture with a minor in Environmental Design, Windell holds a 3.83 GPA entering his sophomore year at Montana State University.

Growing up in a single-parent household, Windell has completely financed his education through the Pell Grant and savings via employment from the age of 14. He worked 33 to 37 hours per week during his first year on campus to help lower costs as an out-of-state student and save money to assist with a larger class load once he gained residency in Montana.

In the community, Windell participated in a traveling community service program that included tutoring fifth grade students and highway cleanups in Montana. In the future, he hopes to study abroad in Africa and help improve infrastructure in impoverished environments.