Delta Delta Scholarships Spur Academic Achievement
As a chapter we have been very fortunate to have a number of our alumni establish and contribute to scholarship funds for the benefit of our undergraduate Delta Delta brothers.
Available Scholarships
At this time the House Corporation’s Scholarship Committee oversees seven primary scholarships that are awarded to one brother each year. In addition $3,000 is allotted for academic scholarships that are given to the brother with the highest grades each semester in each pledge class, plus the most improved GPA in each pledge class for the year.
The scholarships offered are the John Puterbaugh Scholarship by the Class of 1980; Class of 2008 Leadership Scholarship; Xavier Somerville Scholarship by the Class of 2016; Dr. N. Reed Dunnick Academic Scholarship; Charles T. Dye III Consul Scholarship; and the John Eddy Scholarship, Delta Delta Academic and Brotherhood Scholarships from the Delta Delta General Scholarship Fund.
These Delta Delta Scholarship funds have total assets of almost $400,000 of which $21,000 is awarded annually to approximately 22 brothers. Need based scholarships are also available to any brother.
In addition the Kenneth Kraft ’56 Scholarship is offered to Delta Delta brothers through the Sigma Chi Foundation.
The Importance of Offering Scholarships
Dr. Dunnick ’65** stated, “The Sigma Chi Fraternity plays an important role in preparing young men for success in both their personal and professional lives. The brotherhood of the fraternity provides a secure home that fosters mature development during the college years and creates friendships that last a lifetime.
Formal education at institutions of higher learning contributes to that development in several ways. There is much information to be gained from course work, and successful completion of a challenging curriculum prepares one for graduate school. Possibly most important, however, is the intellectual exercise of gaining new information. Successful people make a habit of life-long-learning.
As the cost of higher education rises, many students must take jobs during the school year to cover their expenses. This decreases the time available for study and limits their ability to fully participate in other activities, thus, detracting from their college experience.
Scholarships provide money to help cover college expenses. Often it makes the difference between being able to fully focus on classwork and having to take a job. This means the student can complete his scholarly work in an exemplary fashion and still participate in the many activities college life has to offer. He can participate in fraternity activities, do volunteer work and enjoy the full college experience. I am grateful to my brothers in Sigma Chi for providing the environment in which I could thrive. Endowing this scholarship for men of the Delta Delta chapter enables me to give back to the fraternity that was so helpful in preparing me for a productive and enjoyable life.”
Scholarship Application Process
Each year the Delta Delta Scholarship Committee led by Brian Ballard ‘08 reviews all applications submitted for these awards. Working with the alumni donors and the scholarship committee, Brian announces the recipients each summer for the upcoming school year.
Contributions to any of these scholarship funds can be made at any time. Scholarship applications can be handled online at Delta Delta Scholarships – The Delta Delta Chapter of Sigma Chi (thesighouse.com).
**Dr. N. Reed Dunnick ’65 is the retired Fred Jenner Hodges professor and radiology department chairman at the University of Michigan. Significant Sig Dunnick has been recognized for his numerous contributions to the field of radiology as a clinician, scientist, mentor, and leader.
Douglas Wilton 1963
Well said, Reed. I enjoyed in particular your suggestion that assiduous pursuit of formal studies can lead to the practice of lifelong learning. My own pursuit of formal undergraduate studies was hardly exemplary. I did observe and learn from the enthusiastic study of my pledge brothers, however, and learned to love learning through that experience. All the best!