Phi Sigma Pi

Phi Sigma Pi
File:PhiSigmaPiCrest.jpg
Founded:	1916 at Central Missouri State University (Warrensburg, Missouri)
Founders:	E.L. Hendricks C. A. Phillips C.H. McClure
Colors:	Purple and Gold with White as the auxiliary color for Gold
Philanthropy:	Teach for America
Songs	Brothers Are We Brother

Phi Sigma Pi (ΦΣΠ) is a coeducational national honor fraternity. It currently has over one hundred undergraduate and alumni chapters nationwide. Its membership includes nearly 5,000 undergraduate members and over 25,000 alumni and faculty members. All collegiate chapters maintain affiliation with Student Government or the Honor Groups on their campuses. Phi Sigma Pi maintains no affiliation with the Social Greek System.

History

Phi Sigma Pi was founded at Central Missouri State University on February 14, 1916, by E.L. Hendricks, C.A. Phillips, and C.H. McClure. The fraternity became national in 1921 when a second chapter was founded at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. The National Fraternity has since evolved from an honorary professional fraternity to a professional education fraternity, and then, in 1966, to an honor fraternity for all disciplines. Phi Sigma Pi became coeducational in 1977.

Mission

In carrying out the purpose of the National Fraternity, Phi Sigma Pi shall strive to personify and encourage three ideals:

The acquisition and dissemination of information and knowledge through scholarship,
The application of professional skills and the fostering of leadership qualities by promoting and advancing the welfare of humanity, and
The fostering of non-discriminatory, fraternal fellowship within Phi Sigma Pi's ranks.

These three goals are known by members as "The Tripod". These ideals are most often referred to in their abbreviated form: Scholarship, Leadership, and Fellowship.

Eligibility

Membership in Phi Sigma Pi is open to those with a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average and one semester or one quarter of coursework completed at the college/university level. Honorary memberships are also available, though these are somewhat rare.

Philanthropy

The national philanthropy of Phi Sigma Pi is Teach for America. Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools. Their mission is to build the movement to eliminate educational inequity.

Scholarships

The Richard Cecil Todd and Clauda Pennock Todd Tripod Scholarship

In September 1991, Dr. and Mrs. Richard Todd established the Richard Cecil Todd and Clauda Pennock Todd Tripod Scholarship to promote the future academic opportunity of Phi Sigma Pi brothers who have excelled in embodying the ideals of scholarship, leadership, and fellowship. While both Dr. and Mrs. Todd had passed away in the 1990s, their memory and innumerable contribution to both Phi Sigma Pi and education will not be forgotten. Eligibility for the Todd Tripod Scholarship is available to all active undergraduate members of Phi Sigma Pi who meet the criteria outlined in the scholarship's charter and award criteria. For the past several years chapter members have been contributing to the Todd Tripod Scholarship. One example of this generosity is through the "Miles for Todd" campaign. Grand Chapter Conference Delegates have been donating their chapter's mileage reimbursement to have the scholarship to flourish.

Rolla F. Wood Graduate Scholorship

In 1928, Rolla F. Wood became national president, and with his tenure came changes to our brotherhood. Wood made the National Council a more cohesive unit and helped increase expansion. The fraternity grew from four chapters to seven during his presidential term.

Following his successful term Wood exemplified true brotherly dedication in ways many don’t—he continued to serve. He went on to volunteer as part of council for the next six years as vice-president of chapter development (formerly national counselor) for a year, senior vice-president for a year and historian from 1931 through 1935. During his years on council, his push for expansion resulted in a total of 14 new chapters joining the original four.

Wood, a brother at Alpha chapter, attended graduate school at Vanderbilt University, where he founded Epsilon Chapter. In honor of Wood’s national contributions, dedication and continued pursuit of knowledge, the fraternity now has its graduate scholarship named for him.