The Louisiana Chi Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon took home the 2013-2014 Zeal Award for being the best chapter in the nation from the John O. Moseley Leadership School.
Among the 240 chapters in the nation, Louisiana Chi won the criteria for The True Gentlemen Initiative. They advanced through the first round of the Zeal honor winning the province award among 15 other school chapters. To determine the final winner for the Zeal Award, each fraternity wrote a total of four essays, including why they deserved to win and the work they accomplished during the school year.
SAE President, Anothy Naquin said, “We were all very honored to win the Zeal Award and though it was my job to write the essay for us to look good on paper, it was everyone’s job to come together and contribute.”
According to Naquin, Louisiana Chi is highly involved in philanthropic work, which contributed to their Zeal Award win. They donate money to their national philanthropy, Children’s Miracle Network, a hospital in New Orleans. They work telethons, Boo at the Zoo during Halloween, and any other type of event for the hospital.
Naquin said SAE also helps with other local philanthropies. They work with and donate money to the Ross Mullooly Project which gives to Hope Lodge, a place for people to stay in New Orleans when their family members are going through chemotherapy.
Although Louisiana Chi won the Zeal Award for the 2013-2014 school year, Naquin said of the ten years they have been established as a fraternity, they were nominated nine times for the award and won twice.
Eugene Dial, Associate Professor of Education and Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services said, “It is great recognition for a sustained period of outstanding performance by SAE because a group can’t go from being an outstanding chapter in just one year.” He said that it means Louisiana Chi is doing things right. Dial also said he thinks they won the Zeal Award because of their great leadership and academics.
Adding to the chapter honor of leadership and academics for Nicholls is the Gamma Pi chapter of Tri Sigma, which also won 2013 Chapter of the Year. Tri Sigma President, Anna Catherine Lee said there are all kinds of accreditation standards such as philanthropy, involvement, grades, and service for Chapter of the Year.
Tri Sigma’s national philanthropy is the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation in which they donate throughout the year along with many local services.
Lee said, “We won Chapter of the Year because our chapter is really well rounded and we always strive for the best and that shows with what we accomplish.” She said Tri Sigma truly gives its all into everything it does.
Both chapters strive every year to be the best they can for Nicholls. Naquin said, “It’s awesome we have achieved the Zeal Award, but that doesn’t mean we can be complacent or slack off.”