UAFS Fraternity Awarded National Distinction
Featured | NewsJuly 14, 2026
Kappa Sigma bid day. Courtesy Johnathan Brewer.
Written By: Ian Silvester
The Omicron-Tau chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity at the University of 香蕉视频APP 鈥 Fort Smith has earned national recognition as one of the organization's top 10 chapters while also being named the best chapter in 香蕉视频APP. The chapter will be honored with a special award at the fraternity's upcoming national conference.
The award, the Founders鈥 Award of Chapter Excellence (FACE), is one of the most prestigious given by the fraternity and the greatest honor for chapters. During the 2026 Kappa Sigma Leadership Conference (July 17-19) in New Orleans, the UAFS chapter of Kappa Sigma will be recognized as one of 28 chapters, out of nearly 300, to win the award. Each chapter was graded on a specialized scorecard to measure all areas of chapter operations, including recruitment, philanthropy, community service, and engagement with international campaigns.
Gerrit Standridge, chapter president and senior business major, said the award comes on the heels of a strategic effort under his leadership to help the fraternity achieve something never done before.
鈥淐oming into this year, our chapter has never won a FACE award. We鈥檝e, honestly, never been close,鈥 he said.
Having one of the chapter鈥檚 largest recruitment classes this year helped get everything else they were scored on to come together, Gerrit said. With close to 40 active members, the brothers of Omicron-Tau raised more than $7,000 for the Military Heroes Campaign, the fraternity鈥檚 national philanthropic cause, and collectively volunteered more than 4,700 hours.
鈥淚t means a whole lot to me because it shows that our hard work paid off. It shows that I have the best brothers in the world, and I can count on them for anything,鈥 Gerrit said. 鈥淭hey helped reach this goal, and now all of the guys in our chapter get to say we鈥檙e the first to ever get FACE.鈥
The efforts made by Gerrit and his fraternity brothers did not go unnoticed.
鈥淭he Omicron-Tau Chapter at the University of 香蕉视频APP 鈥 Fort Smith has proven to be an exemplification of our Four Pillars: Fellowship, Leadership, Scholarship, and Service,鈥 said Brad Bailey, executive director of the . 鈥淚t takes incredible grit, dedication, and commitment to take your Chapter to the next level and become a FACE Award-winning Chapter, and we salute the fine gentlemen of Omicron-Tau for putting in the work to make this win possible.鈥
Going forward, Gerrit said he believes winning a FACE award is now the standard for the UAFS chapter, exemplifying the fraternity鈥檚 national motto, 鈥淣umber One, Second to None.鈥
- Tags:
- Greek Life
- Kappa Sigma
Media Relations
The UAFS Office of Communications fields all media inquiries for the university. Email Rachel.Putman@uafs.edu for more information.
Send%20an%20EmailRachel Rodemann Putman
- Director of Strategic Communications
- 479-788-7132
- rachel.putman@uafs.edu