Tri Sigma Foundation

The Alpha Mu scholarship was established in 2018 by its chapter members with a preference for this scholarship awarded to a member of their chapter at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. With the rising cost of higher education, Alpha Mu hopes its scholarship will empower its sisters to strengthen their commitment to education. The chapter aims to alleviate the financial burden on a chapter member each year and remind them that belonging to this ever-expanding network of sisters provides and will continue to provide opportunities that are not offered anywhere else.

Mary Crumpton Brown, a member of Rho Chapter at Florida State University, fully endowed a scholarship in 2014. Mary has been devoted to Tri Sigma since her collegiate days, She has been active in alumnae chapters throughout the United States, and now is part of Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter. She lives in Tallahassee and is a widow with two grown children. Mary was a teacher for many years, and her volunteer activities in Tallahassee still include work with the nearby Head Start program. Mary endowed two additional scholarships in 2015.

In April 2012 in honor of its 90th anniversary, Chi Chapter began a campaign to endow a scholarship fund for Chi members.  With support from alumnae and collegiate members, the scholarship is fully endowed as the chapter prepares to celebrate its 100th year on the campus of Pittsburg State University in 2022.  The scholarship will be awarded annually to a member of Chi chapter who demonstrates outstanding leadership and genuine sisterhood, the trademarks of Chi Chapter women.

The Catherine Panarese Combs Graduate Scholarship was established to honor a graduating Sigma who chooses to attend graduate school in secondary education. The Combs Scholarship is a Violet Fund Scholarship with a $1,000 scholarship given annually and named in rotating order between Devor, Methard and Combs.

This scholarship was set up by the family of Lori Dahm, after her sudden death in 2007. Her mother, Sheryl White Dahm, Iota and Denver Alumnae Chapter, and her sister Carolyn, Iota and Denver Alumnae Chapter, spearheaded efforts to endow the scholarship to memorialize this young woman as a tribute to the support Tri Sigma provided to her family at the time of Lori’s death. They hope that the women receiving this scholarship find the joy and fulfillment in Tri Sigma that they both had. Preference for this scholarship is given to an undergraduate student enrolled at Wingate University, where Lori’s brother, Dr. Chris Dahm, is a professor.

Husband Mark Davids and the sisters of the Omicron chapter at Eastern Michigan University established this fund to honor the memory of Kim Kokko Davids. Kim considered the Omicron chapter and Tri Sigmas as her extended family, and she was determined to repay their kindness throughout her life. She entered Omega Chapter in December 2018.

Her dedication to Tri Sigma included serving as an Omicron chapter adviser, long-standing National Officer, and representative of the Detroit Area Alumnae Panhellenic. At the 2013 National Convention, Kim received the Woman of Distinction Award.

Kim’s professional life was dedicated to helping abused, neglected, and abandoned children. She worked for several social service agencies and volunteered for numerous nonprofits. Preference for this scholarship is given to a member of Tri Sigma’s Omicron chapter who is pursuing a career in social work.

Endowed in 2004 by an anonymous Sigma in memory of her parents, the Destination Sigma scholarship provides for scholarship aid to collegiate women attending Convention, every three years. The scholarships are awarded to collegiate delegates of Sigma Sigma Sigma only during a Convention year.

Helen Cookston Devor was a charter member of Kappa Chapter and after graduation served Sigma Sigma Sigma as a long-time volunteer. The scholarship in Helen's name was sponsored by the alumnae who were members of Kappa Chapter when Helen served on the chapter's advisory board.

The Devor Scholarship is a Violet Fund Scholarship with a $1,000 scholarship given annually and named in rotating order between Devor, Methard and Combs.

The Marie Santee Dunham Scholarship, sponsored by the Tulsa Alumnae chapter, to honor this outstanding Tri Sigma volunteer and member of Alpha Iota chapter. The scholarship honors the 80th birthday of Dunham's national service from 1935 to 1988. She served as Tri Sigma's Regional Deputy, Examinations and Pledge Manual Chairman, and a member of the first Board of Directors of the Educational Foundation. Santy has also been honored with the Sorority's Founder's Award and the Golden Violet.

The Epsilon Xi Scholarship was established by the women of Epsilon Xi, whose chapter at the University of Indiana became inactive in 1994.

The Margaret Freeman Everett Scholarship was sponsored by the Denver Alumnae Chapter to honor Margaret's life-long commitment and enthusiastic support of Sigma Sigma Sigma. Margaret was a member of Sigma chapter.

This scholarship is named for Genevieve June Christoff Fowler and her daughter Jennifer Rae Fowler. Both mother and daughter attended Western State College and were initiated into Sigma chapter. Genevieve received her degree in education in the 1940s and taught elementary school for 35 years. Following her lifelong interest in art, she taught herself to use a potter's wheel and enjoyed embroidery and painting in watercolor and in oils. Jennifer considers herself fortunate to have been able to follow her heart and major in English and art with no pressure to take a more commercial degree. She spent her career as a supply chain manager and in retirement became a docent at the Denver Art Museum. She is sorry that her mother Genevieve did not live to see her become a docent as her mom would have been thrilled.

The Lucile Mertz Hendrick Scholarship was begun in 2003 by Louisiana alumnae and collegians to honor "Miss Lucile," a revered Sigma volunteer. Preference for this scholarship is given to a member of Tri Sigma's Alpha Zeta chapter.

In May 2012, Mimi Brandt Hiner, Tri Sigma's 8th National President, died after a lingering illness. She served the Tri Sigma Sisterhood in many different roles over the years -- as a collegiate chapter officer, National President, Chairman of the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation and a St. Louis Alumnae chapter member. Although seriously ill, Mimi kept her dedication to Tri Sigma alive, even in her darkest days. Just a few months before entering Omega Chapter Mimi went to Cape Girardeau to help Beta Xi, her chapter, with recruitment, wrote a grant to assist a child life program at Cardinal Glennon Hospital, and even attended the installation of Theta Delta Chapter at Lindenwood University. She showed her love and dedication to Tri Sigma throughout her life. The Mimi Brandt Hiner Scholarship Fund was started by the Hiner family and Mimi's many friends and co-workers because they knew the importance of Tri Sigma and education to her. The scholarship was quickly endowed.

Stephani Hoch, a member of Beta Chi chapter at Queen’s College in Flushing, New York, and Denver Area Alumnae Chapter, endowed her scholarship in 2021.  She was an educator for many years and her sister was a nurse.  Stephani has strong convictions for both fields and established this scholarship to ensure that a Tri Sigma member with a calling to one of these noble professions has the opportunities she had.  This scholarship will be awarded annually to a member in her final year of study pursuing a degree in either nursing or education.

The Gertrude Lawrence Ledford Scholarship was sponsored by the Phoenix Alumnae Chapter to honor a beloved member whose loyalty and devotion was an inspiration to many. Gertrude was a member of Pi Chapter and charter member of the Topeka, Kansas Alumnae Chapter where she held several offices. She was a dedicated member of the Phoenix Alumnae Chapter for over 40 years.

This scholarship, sponsored by the South Carolina Alumnae Chapter, honors Emily Lewis Lee, Alpha Upsilon, James Madison University. Emily is a long-time volunteer who passed away in 2014.

The woman of Beta Beta Chapter at Missouri State University established the Jennifer Methard Scholarship as a memorial to their much loved and talented sister, Jenny. Jenny was a victim of the floods of 1993 in St. Louis. Jenny died while trying to save the life of a child in a flash flood in a cave.

The Methard Scholarship is a Violet Fund Scholarship with a $1,000 scholarship given annually and named in rotating order between Devor, Methard and Combs.

The Lucille Morrison Scholarship Endowment Fund honors the memory of Lucille Morrison, charter member of the Omicron Chapter on the occasion of the chapter's 100th anniversary. As the most recently endowed scholarship, the Foundation will begin awarding an annual scholarship to an undergraduate or graduate member of Sigma Sigma Sigma, with preference to a qualified Omicron member.

In 2016 Margaret Parker Munger, Alpha Tau chapter at Wilson Teachers’ College, established her scholarship for graduate studies within her will. Margaret served as a National officer for over 24 years. She served on Executive Council and the then Robbie Page Memorial Foundation and Sigma Sigma Sigma Educational Foundation. She received many awards for her service to Tri Sigma, culminating in the Founders Award recognized at National Convention. Margaret entered Omega chapter in 2016.

Violenda's scholarship was sponsored by the Grosse Pointe Alumnae Chapter in Michigan. From the time of her initiation into Omicron Chapter until she entered Omega Chapter, Violenda was a dedicated Tri Sigma.

The Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter Scholarship is established to award collegiate women in the Virginia chapters for excellent character and scholastic competency. The scholarship, supported by the women of the Northern Virginia Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma, aims to acknowledge collegiate women of excellence by providing awards to assist with their educational endeavors.

Karen Lynn Pratt joined Tri Sigma in April of 1959 at the University of Central Missouri. After her death in 2015, Karen left an estate gift to begin a Foundation scholarship endowment to benefit the Nu chapter – her initiation chapter. The active chapter members completed the endowment in 2019 in her memory. Preference for this scholarship is given to a member of Nu chapter annually.

Bonnie L. Rainey, a member of Alpha Sigma at the University of Southern Mississippi, fully endowed her scholarship in 2018. She served as Chair of the Foundation Board of Directors from 2017 - 2020 and dedicated more than 18 years of service to our philanthropy.

Bonnie believes that education is key to unlocking our sister's futures, giving them the exposure and leadership experiences needed to make a difference in the world. When her employer announced that they would be matching donations for scholarships, Bonnie knew she wanted to ensure her legacy lived on by endowing a scholarship that would benefit a Tri Sigma sister. Each year Bonnie impacts another Tri Sigma sister, making it possible to continue their journey and become the leader our world needs.

The Louisa Replogle Scholarship was started by the Phoenix Alumnae Chapter to honor a long-time, dedicated member. Louisa was a member of Beta Epsilon chapter.

The Ann DeCecco Rutkowski Scholarship Endowment Fund was established by Ann, Epsilon Delta, Gannon University, and her husband Charlie. They both value education and know how their lives were impacted as a result of their college experiences. It is their desire to help others have the same opportunity that they had.

The Diana Sarber Scholarship was created to honor our tenth National President, who entered Omega chapter in 2019. Diana Hornick Sarber was a member at the Beta Mu chapter at Central State University in Oklahoma. She very seriously pursued our charge of lifelong membership. Diana served nearly 30 years in various volunteer positions, including NPC delegate from 1986-1995 and our national president from 1995-2001. Under her leadership, much was accomplished, but it is her words that leave an indelible mark for us all. In her Convention address, Diana stated, “we are responsible for ensuring that the legacy of our Founders will be preserved and that the future will be full of promise and hope. Their vision is our inheritance. Allegiance to one another and our Sisterhood is a bond that can never be broken. It is the essence of who we are.”

When endowed, this scholarship will be awarded annually to a member in good standing that is a resident or a student of a university in the state of Oklahoma that shows significant financial need. If no member with a connection to Oklahoma applies, then the scholarship should benefit a member seeking a business degree that shows significant financial need.

This scholarship was established by the friends of Dr. Doris Schroeder and by part of a bequest from Doris to the Foundation. Doris, who died in late 2012 at age 94, before her death wrote the following: "I first met Mabel Lee Walton, former National President of Sigma Sigma Sigma, in 1936 when Mabel Lee made her official visit to Alpha Epsilon Chapter where I was a sixteen-year-old freshman pledge. I promised always to be a model Tri Sigma in all thoughts, words, and deeds. My parents had lovingly taught me the breadth, length, and depth of a promise, and to a 16-year-old that seemed almost overwhelming, so that first meeting with Mabel Lee made a powerful impact upon me." A synopsis of Doris' activities and accomplishments: Tri Sigma member for 77 years; initiated October 21, 1936, Alpha Epsilon Chapter; past President of Omaha-Council Bluffs, San Diego, CA and Long Beach, CA Alumnae Chapters; served as National Parliamentarian and Corresponding Secretary; attended many conventions; received the following awards - Emily Gates Achievement Award, 1970, Alumna Recognition Award, 1982, Steadfast Alumna Citation, 1999, Woman of Distinction Award, 2004 Founders Award, 2010; mother of two daughters; Professor of Education for 30 years at California State University.

In December, 2010 Dixie and Robert Shelton of Houston, TX, signed a Scholarship Agreement Form to begin to endow a scholarship in Dixie's honor. The scholarship became fully endowed in December 2012, and it will aid a Sigma Sister who is studying to become a play or child life therapist.

This scholarship was set up by the family and friends of Helen Marie Eggert Snyder, Alpha Xi, the seventh National President of Sigma Sigma Sigma, after her death in 2007. Helen Marie was President from 1971-1983.

In April, 2013 Foundation Board Member Stephanie Sabol Strom endowed a scholarship at the $50,000 level to be awarded to the applicant ranked highest by the Foundation's Scholarship Committee. Stephanie is from Plano, TX and is a member of Beta Iota Chapter in North Dakota.

The Mabel Kane Stryker Memorial Graduate fund was established in 1950 to honor "Stryker" for her service to Sigma Sigma Sigma as National Vice President and Treasurer. Because of her lifelong involvement in education, this fund was marked for graduate study. Mabel Stryker was a member of Pi chapter.

The Stryker Scholarship is a Pearl Fund Scholarship with a $1,000 scholarship given annually and named in rotating order between Walton and Stryker.

The Carl J. & Shirley L. Ursprung Memorial Scholarship was established by Catherine M. Ursprung, Alpha Nu, Phoenix Alumnae Chapter, and Denver Area Alumnae Chapter to honor the memory of her hard-working and loving parents. Carl was a dedicated and successful dairy and grain farmer. Shirley was a professional seamstress and dedicated 4H leader who raised six children. This scholarship will be awarded annually to a deserving Tri Sigma member in good standing with preference given to a member that is pursuing a degree in Agriculture Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Animal Sciences or Family and Consumer Sciences.

This fund was established by the Denver Area Alumnae Chapter to honor the memory of Carolyn White Wallisch. Carolyn became a devoted Tri Sigma as a member of Iota Chapter at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, in the spring of 1958. She was unwavering and steadfast in her commitment and devotion to Tri Sigma until she entered Omega Chapter in March of 2018.

As a Denver Area Alumnae Chapter member, Carolyn held positions as President, Philanthropy Chairman, Founders Day Chairman and helped create the endowment fund and playroom for Denver Children's Hospital. She dedicated her career to education, including roles as principal, elementary teacher, leader on PTA and advisory boards, Cub Scout and Girl Scout Leader, Sunday School teacher and much more.

The Mabel Lee Walton Scholarship was established by the 1974 Tri Sigma convention, in honor of Mabel Lee Walton, Gamma chapter, National President from 1913 until 1947.

Mabel Lee represented the finest in Sigma leadership, and this scholarship is intended to honor that leadership and devotion to Sigma by recognizing Sigmas who display outstanding leadership in the sorority, on their campuses, and in their communities.

The Walton Scholarship is a Pearl Fund Scholarship with a $1,000 scholarship given annually and named in rotating order between Walton and Stryker.

The Barbara Moseley Welsh Scholarship was established in 2003 after her sudden death. Barbara was a member of Beta Tau Chapter and the Grosse Pointe Alumnae Chapter. She was a long-time volunteer for the Foundation and a National Officer, editor of The Triangle, for many years.

The Mike Welsh Scholarship is the first Foundation scholarship established in the name of a man. The fund was set up by his widow, Barbara Moseley Welsh, Beta Tau, and their many friends. The scholarship honors the love that Mike had for Tri Sigma and Barb's Sisters

The Shelby Whitten Memorial Scholarship was created by the members of the Eta Omicron chapter to honor their sister who passed away suddenly in the spring of 2018. Shelby never knew a stranger, and whenever she walked into a room, she brought positive energy and joy that would always make you smile and laugh. Shelby was a dedicated member of Tri Sigma and was passionate about being involved in the community to give back. While she was taken from the world too soon, she has taught so many others to continue their passions and dreams in life, to live their life to the fullest, and to never give up, no matter what challenges come your way. Preference for this scholarship is given to a member of Tri Sigma's Eta Omicron chapter.

The Ann Buchler Williams Scholarship was sponsored by the New Orleans Alumnae Chapter to honor Ann's 15 years of service on Tri Sigma's Executive Council. Ann is a charter member of Gamma Eta Chapter and a long-time Tri Sigma volunteer.

Winnie Warner has diligently served as the Collegiate Advisory Board Chair for the Alpha Beta Chapter of Tri Sigma since 1992.  During that time she encouraged the undergrad women to become the "greatest version of yourself" and represent their sorority with honor and dignity.  When they needed a campus home she found a way to build them a safe new chapter house.  Her mission now is to establish a scholarship fund legacy that will grow to always benefit the women of Alpha Beta and Tri Sigma.

One of the tenets of our sorority is in order "to receive much, you must give much."  That without a doubt is the reason Winnie looks for this award to be presented to sisters who understand and makes every effort to move Tri Sigma "above and beyond" currently and into the future.

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Paula Marie Gillis attended the University of Detroit Mercy, where she was a member of the Beta Tau Chapter. She graduated in 2003 with honors with a bachelor of mechanical engineering. She was an exceptional student who excelled in a discipline that is truly challenging for most people—and rarely comprised of women.

In addition to her talent in her field and the classroom, Paula greatly contributed to her Tri Sigma chapter. Through her collegiate years, she held numerous chapter offices and chairmanships, including Chapter President. She was instrumental in revitalizing the chapter and personally recruiting many members, creating tremendous personal bonds with a generation of women. During her short life, Paula touched so many hearts and she truly is the embodiment of what all Sigma Sigma Sigma members should strive to be.  

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The Kaye Schendel scholarship honors the work and dedication Kaye has given—and continues to give to Tri Sigma. Kaye is a graduate of Gamma Phi chapter at University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She has held many volunteer and leadership roles in Tri Sigma, most notably serving as Tri Sigma’s 13th National President from 2010-2015. She has also served as National Vice President, Vice Chair of the Tri Sigma Foundation, and various national volunteer positions. Kaye’s career has also been in service to fraternity and sorority life, as she has held multiple positions at universities and fraternal organizations. Her work has been recognized with several awards, including the Vision Award from Alpha Chi Omega, the Jack L. Anson Award from the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors, and the Adele Williamson Research Award from the Center for the Study of the College Fraternity, just to name a few.

Kaye’s passion for Tri Sigma continues to impact our members. She’s active in the Twin Cities and Wisconsin Fox Valley Alumnae Chapters and advises Theta Kappa chapter at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. With this scholarship, Kaye’s passion will continue to impact the women of Tri Sigma for years to come.

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The Phoenix Alumnae Chapter is proud to sponsor a scholarship to honor a special sister who has shown a sincere commitment to Tri Sigma over many years—Joyce Newcom O’Daniel.

Joyce O’Daniel, current National President, is a graduate of Alpha Chi chapter at Murray State University. Joyce has previously served as National Vice President on Executive Council as well as various other roles with the national organization impacting areas of recruitment and Panhellenic relations. She has also held multiple offices in the Phoenix Alumnae Chapter including chapter president. She loves to participate in local chapter activities and volunteers in her community. She has served as chair and vice chair of her legislative district in Arizona and was a State Committee Representative.

Joyce’s positive influence extends beyond her commitment to Tri Sigma. She was a highly respected mortgage broker and area manager for a major financial institution. After retiring in 2018, she opened three successful small businesses. Joyce enjoys spending time with her son Ryan, daughter-in-law Courtney and her two delightful granddaughters. Joyce enjoys a morning walk to get her day going, dotes on her two dogs, and loves to travel.

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