Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter of Fresno

Archives for April 2021

Epsilon Eta Creates New Alumni Recognition Awards

“Each year, the Order of Constantine recognizes a group of Sigma Chi brothers for their commitment, dedication and service to the Fraternity. Induction into the Order of Constantine is considered to be the highest honor that the Sigma Chi Fraternity bestows upon one of its members. The honor of being named an Order of Constantine Sig has been conferred on just over 720 brothers since the Order’s inception at the 47th Grand Chapter in 1948.” This averages only ten new Order of Constantine inductees per year. 

Currently only twenty-one brothers can be inducted into the Order of Constantine each year. Epsilon Eta has a total of thirteen with seven still living. Epsilon Eta has more living and more deceased Order of Constantine brothers than almost any of the 244 chapters in North America. Because of the limits placed on annual inductions, on average a chapter would be able to induct one brother every 11.6 years.

We at Epsilon Eta are fortunate to have so many brothers who contribute to our local Active Chapter, Alumni Chapter, House Corporation and our Foundation, but until now we did not have a system in place to recognize those who do so much.  To correct this deficiency, we have created two new awards to recognize our local alumni.

Outstanding Alumni Award

This award recognizes alumni who over a long period of time have exhibited a high level of commitment, dedication and service to the Epsilon Eta Chapter. They have also not been awarded the Sigma Chi International Fraternity Order of Constantine.

The criteria for the award shall be contributions in an extraordinary way to one or more of the following Epsilon Eta Chapter organizations: Active Chapter, Alumni Chapter, Endowment or House Corporation. The service to Sigma Chi shall be demonstrated Internationally and/or locally, and can be contributions of time, talent and/or treasure.

The Fresno Alumni Chapter President shall appoint an Award Nomination Committee consisting of Sigma Chi alumni. The Award Nomination Committee shall review contributions of alumni and select brothers for the award that satisfy the criteria. The number of awardees shall not be limited, and the award shall not necessarily be awarded annually.

A suitable commemorative gift shall be presented to the awardee at an appropriate social gathering.

Alumni President’s Citation

The Alumni President’s Citations are presented to undergraduate or alumni members who perform outstanding service to the Active Chapter, Alumni Chapter, Endowment and/or House Corporation. The citation can also be presented non-members in special circumstances. The Alumni President selects the recipients, who receive certificates to honor their service.

Sean Gallaher Creates Momentum for Endowment

The Fresno Sigma Chi Alumni website, fresnosigsalumni.org, was busy between March 16 and 18. The website can be used to purchase donor bricks, pay alumni chapter dues and make donations to our endowments. During those three days, 10 donor bricks were purchased by Fresno Sigma Chi alumni. This easily sets the record for any three-day period.


Sean Gallaher

March 16 started off on the right foot when brother Dennis Ford went online and ordered a brick. Over the next three days ten more brothers made purchases for themselves. The catalyst for the purchase of 8 bricks was brother Sean Gallaher. Sean contacted several brothers in his era, and this created a landslide of orders. Brothers who purchased bricks over this period include Travis Bader (01-F), Peter Flores (01-S), Dennis Ford (91-F), Sean Gallaher (02-F), Jeff Hibbard (91-F), Matt Helon (00-F) who’s father is Marv Helon (71-F), Michael Luckey (02-F), Joe McCann (98-F), Brian O’Rourke (01-F), Frank Puccio (01-S) and Brian Stenklyft (00-S).

A brick is obtained by a $250 contribution to the Fresno Sigma Chi Endowment. Each brick is engraved with the purchasing brother’s name, or it can be designated in memory of a brother who has passed on to the the Chapter Eternal. The bricks are cemented on the patio south of the Chapter House.

The purpose of our endowment is to provide scholarships to brothers living in our Chapter House. Today many brothers must work full-time in order to meet their financial obligations while attending Fresno State. Donations for 289 bricks have been received to date, and we will end the donor brick program when we reach 400. When the goal is reached, $100,000 will have been raised providing $4,000 scholarships in perpetuity. We are within 111 bricks of our goal.