The James L. Hills Memorial Scholarship was created to honor a great Sigma Pi brother, Honorary Grand Sage James L. Hills who passed away on February 3, 2014. Through his work, he has shown others what it means to be a Sigma Pi, and was dedicated to the beliefs and values of Sigma Pi.
While Hills was a student at the University of Maryland in 1948, he joined Sigma Pi Fraternity. This, in turn, launched his 66-year relationship with the Fraternity, serving on both a local and international level. He was a Founding Father of the Alpha-Chi Chapter of Sigma Pi at the University of Maryland and served as the Chapter Sage (President). From 1954 to 1971, Hills held national positions as Field Representative, Executive Assistant and Executive Secretary with the Fraternity.
As Executive Secretary, in 1963, he supervised the move of the Sigma Pi Executive Office from Elizabeth, New Jersey to Vincennes, Indiana. In 1965, Hills also played a role in re-establishing the Fraternity’s mother chapter, Alpha, at Vincennes University after a 55 year hiatus. In the late 1980’s, he was part of a group that was instrumental in the construction of the current chapter house of the Alpha Chapter, as well as raising the funds and building the Sigma Pi Clock Tower, which commemorates the centennial of the Fraternity’s founding. The street behind the chapter house is named in Hills’ honor.
In 1992, Hills was given the title of Honorary Grand Sage of Sigma Pi Fraternity, International; an honor bestowed upon only six men in the Fraternity’s 117-year history. He received the Fraternity’s Founders’ Award in 2000, which is the Fraternity’s highest and most prestigious form of recognition. More recently, he served on the boards of the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation and the Sigma Pi Fund. Hills also was a Founding Father of the Alpha Alumni Association. At the time of his death, he was the President of the Alpha of Sigma Pi House Corporation, a position he held for 16 years.
The James L. Hills Memorial Scholarship was created to honor his life, dedication to Sigma Pi, and the importance of higher education.
Criteria
Self-Managed Process
This is a self-managed process. This means that the applicant is required to collect all application materials (cover letter, academic transcripts and photo), and submit them all in one packet to the Scholarship Selection Committee.
Application Deadline
All applications must be submitted no later than February 1st. NO applications will be accepted after this date.
While Hills was a student at the University of Maryland in 1948, he joined Sigma Pi Fraternity. This, in turn, launched his 66-year relationship with the Fraternity, serving on both a local and international level. He was a Founding Father of the Alpha-Chi Chapter of Sigma Pi at the University of Maryland and served as the Chapter Sage (President). From 1954 to 1971, Hills held national positions as Field Representative, Executive Assistant and Executive Secretary with the Fraternity.
As Executive Secretary, in 1963, he supervised the move of the Sigma Pi Executive Office from Elizabeth, New Jersey to Vincennes, Indiana. In 1965, Hills also played a role in re-establishing the Fraternity’s mother chapter, Alpha, at Vincennes University after a 55 year hiatus. In the late 1980’s, he was part of a group that was instrumental in the construction of the current chapter house of the Alpha Chapter, as well as raising the funds and building the Sigma Pi Clock Tower, which commemorates the centennial of the Fraternity’s founding. The street behind the chapter house is named in Hills’ honor.
In 1992, Hills was given the title of Honorary Grand Sage of Sigma Pi Fraternity, International; an honor bestowed upon only six men in the Fraternity’s 117-year history. He received the Fraternity’s Founders’ Award in 2000, which is the Fraternity’s highest and most prestigious form of recognition. More recently, he served on the boards of the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation and the Sigma Pi Fund. Hills also was a Founding Father of the Alpha Alumni Association. At the time of his death, he was the President of the Alpha of Sigma Pi House Corporation, a position he held for 16 years.
The James L. Hills Memorial Scholarship was created to honor his life, dedication to Sigma Pi, and the importance of higher education.
Criteria
- Recipient will not be restricted to a specific major.
- Recipient shall be at least a part-time student at Vincennes University, Vincennes Campus.
- Recipient must be an 'initiated' member of Sigma Pi Fraternity,International, Alpha Chapter and in good standing with Vincennes University and Sigma Pi Fraternity, International.
- Recipient may be either traditional or non-traditional student.
- Recipient may be in any year of attendance at Vincennes University.
- Financial need shall not be a primary consideration in awarding the scholarship.
- Recipient shall have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in high school.
- Scholarship awardee shall maintain a 2.5 GPA at Vincennes University.
- In awarding the scholarship, preference will not be dependent on scholarship applications from any specific high school attended or county of residence.
Self-Managed Process
This is a self-managed process. This means that the applicant is required to collect all application materials (cover letter, academic transcripts and photo), and submit them all in one packet to the Scholarship Selection Committee.
Application Deadline
All applications must be submitted no later than February 1st. NO applications will be accepted after this date.
