Chicago Society End of Year Recap

Cody Rapp
5 days ago
3 min read

We are grateful to everyone who has been a part of the exciting journey we've been on in the last few years to formalize and mobilize the Chicago Society. Here is a brief recap of what has taken place recently.

A Record-Breaking Two Years of Growth

Since our 2023 Chicago Society Reception in San Antonio, TX, the Chicago Society has continued to thrive. Together, we’ve raised $27,171.35 in support of the Chicago Society Funds—an incredible milestone that demonstrates the strength and generosity of our community.

Our collective efforts have made it possible to establish the Donald McCleary Memorial Leadership Endowment, a permanent fund that will support our deserving GBTQ+ undergraduate brothers and their Conclave experiences for generations to come.

As of December 2025, the endowed fund totals over $41,000.00, and every contribution helps it grow—expanding the number and size of scholarships we can provide. Thank you for helping us make a lasting difference.

A Note from Our Scholarship Recipients

Earlier this summer two undergraduate brothers had the opportunity to attend Conclave thanks to your generosity. We’ve invited this inaugural Don McCleary Memorial Leadership Award recipients to share a few words—reflecting on what it meant to attend, learn, and connect with brothers from across the country.

Pictured left to right: Josiah Peters, Moravian University in Pennsylvania and William Soteria, University of Lynchburg in Virginia.

Donors like you help make the vision a reality - providing leadership and development experiences like Conclave for our GBTQ+ undergraduates. Because of your gifts we were able to award two $500 scholarships this summer to two of our outstanding SigEp undergraduates.

2026 Chicago Society Scholarship

This spring we’re excited to be awarding two more $500 scholarships to our undergraduates.

Here’s the scholarship application link. The deadline for receiving scholarships is February 1, 2026.

Please share with any undergraduate SigEp. Note that applicants do not need to identify as GBTQ. The application will ask them how they’ve supported the GBTQ+ community.

End-of-Year Giving: Support the Donald McCleary Memorial Leadership Endowment

As we celebrate all that we can achieve together and approach the end of the year, we invite you to continue your support through a recurring monthly gift to the Donald McCleary Memorial Leadership Endowment.

Your ongoing generosity ensures that future brothers have the same transformational leadership and brotherhood experiences that shaped each of us.

👉 Set up your recurring gift today and invest in the future of SigEp.

Thank You to Our Supporters

A heartfelt thank you to all who have given their time, talent, and treasure to strengthen the Chicago Society and our mission over the past two years:

Ron Binder

Mitchel Burkholder

Scott Dudis

Adam Fowler

Troy Hanson

Grahaeme Hesp

Tyler Laughlin

Chad Mandala

Nate Peters

Cody Rapp

Darren Rodgers

Isaac Roman

Matt Rowe

Chris Sacra

Josh Schien

Scott Schwartz

Paul Seymour

Chuck Stegman

Steve Sutow

Luis Enrique Fernández Torres

Nick Warrington

Carrie Whittier

Eric Wright

Thea Zunick

Your generosity continues to shape lives and strengthen our brotherhood.

Volunteer Opportunities | Get Involved!

We need your help to continue building the future of the Chicago Society!

Open Roles:

Scholarship Review Committee – Up to 6 volunteers to review and select recipients each scholarship cycle.
Scholarship Director – Lead the scholarship process, coordinate the committee, and ensure a fair and impactful selection process.
Content Creation Team – Help develop newsletters, manage social media, and gather stories from brothers.
Mentorship & Engagement Opportunities – Serve as a mentor or help plan alumni events.

If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact sigepchicagosociety@gmail.com.

Your involvement keeps our brotherhood thriving!

Join Us in Phoenix in 2027!

Thank you to everyone who joined us during the last two Conclaves and Chicago Society Receptions —whether it was at our Friday evening reception or in our suite, your presence made the weekend unforgettable. We’re already looking forward to reuniting in Phoenix in 2027 for the next Conclave celebration!

Fraternally,

The Chicago Society Leadership Team