A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation formed in 2015 to advance the Illinois Alpha Residential Learning Community (RLC) of Sigma Phi Epsilon at the University of Illinois.
The current initiatives of the Illinois Alpha Foundation include the following:
Illinois Alpha Chapter Leadership Endowment
Launched in 2020 with a lead gift from Conrad W. Hewitt ’58 and a partnership with the SigEp Educational Foundation, Illinois Alpha’s Chapter Leadership Endowment provides access to leadership programming for future generations of SigEps. The endowment prioritizes leadership and development opportunities for undergraduate officers and emerging leaders, significantly reducing the chapter's annual dues and expanding access to impactful programming. Once the endowment is fully funded at $110,000, our participation in Ruck, Carlson and the Grand Chapter Conclave will be secured in perpetuity.
Matthew D. Anson Star and Scroll Honorary
In 2017 the Illinois Alpha Alumni Corporation voted to name the Star and Scroll honorary in remembrance of Matthew D. Anson ‘04. A gifted athlete and a humble leader, Matt served as an influential vice president of recruitment during a critical time in the chapter’s re-establishment. The Star and Scroll honorary dates back to 1938, honoring outstanding freshmen in the fraternity. Over the years the scholarship evolved to recognize an undergraduate brother that balances academic and athletic success.
New Member GPA Scholarship
Launched in 2019 in conjunction with the 50 Something Reunion (organized by Jim McGreevy ’69), this $350 scholarship offsets the one-time national fraternity registration fee required of new members. Scholarships are awarded to all new members that have signed a lease for the chapter house and achieved a first semester GPA of 3.4 or higher. The program rewards top academic performers and reinforces the importance of living in the chapter house.
Illinois Alpha Founders Fund
To support the chapter during its 2023-2024 expansion, this $500 scholarship offsets the chapter dues for new members joining fall 2023 and spring 2024. Scholarships are awarded to all new members that are in good standing and achieve a GPA of 3.5 or higher; or members that are in good standing and directly recruit three (3) new members (assigned within MySigEp). All new members are eligible for their first two semesters of membership (e.g., a new member joining fall 2023 is eligible fall 2023 and spring 2024 and a new member joining spring 2024 is eligible spring 2024 and fall 2024), for a potential award of $1,000. The program rewards top academic performers and reinforces Illinois Alpha’s unwavering commitment to redefine fraternity at the University of Illinois.
Vinci/Miller Scholarship Fund
In 2018 brothers and friends from the 1980s came together to create the Vinci/Miller scholarships to honor the memories of Chuck Vinci ’84 and Jeff Miller ’87, both influential brothers deeply committed to SigEp. The Vinci award recognizes a member with a STEM background who has displayed exemplary leadership in the chapter. The Miller award recognizes a business student who demonstrates leadership and selflessly works for the betterment of the chapter, while also showing perseverance in overcoming obstacles in life.
All gifts of $250 or more join the Illinois Alpha Society, our lead donor group. Unrestricted gifts are allocated 75% towards long-term housing improvements and 25% to existing scholarship programs.
Donations to the Illinois Alpha Foundation are tax deductible.