News
A Significant Homecoming at the Chapter House
On December 4th, undergrads and alumni gathered at 4028 Walnut Street, after a Penn football victory over Cornell, to celebrate the life of Alex (“ARob”) Roberts, the late son of Doug Roberts, ’83.
Alex was a very special young freshman at the University of Pittsburgh who died of cancer in 2021. Active in his community, an Eagle Scout, a member (and co-captain) of his high school football team, and a close friend to many of his classmates, Alex was posthumously initiated into SigEp by our Penn Gamma chapter at Pitt.
In Alex’s memory and honor, Doug established the “Alex Roberts Memorial Scholarship” at the Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation to benefit a Penn Delta undergraduate each spring, starting in 2024. This is a SPEcial scholarship because the check presented to the awardee is payable directly to him (and not to the University).
Alumni turn-out at Homecoming, especially from Doug’s era, was strong and enthusiastic, and our undergraduate hosts were welcoming and, frankly, somewhat awe-struck to hear from Doug about Alex.
Doug’s initial contribution was $25,000, allowing alumni the opportunity to augment Doug’s contribution, and already the alumni board has committed $5,500 in personal contributions and the chapter itself has made a commitment.
What Doug did is “historic,” in the sense that it is the first time in our chapter’s 119 years of continuous existence that a Penn Delta alumnus has established a scholarship fund with the SigEp Educational Foundation to benefit one of our undergrads
Below is a direct way for any of us to support the augmentation of Doug’s contribution. All of us in Philadelphia look forward to the first scholarship presentation at our spring, New York City McCron undergrad/alumni gathering–which will also be Penn Delta’s 120th anniversary.
Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation
310 South Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Richmond VA 23220
And a Happy Thanksgiving to you all.