Editor’s Note: This article originally came from Online Athens.
https://www.onlineathens.com/story/news/state/2012/04/26/georgia-theatre-fraternity-win-preservation-awards/15612501007/
By: Blake Aued
Two downtown Athens buildings recently won awards for rehabilitation and stewardship from the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation.
The Georgia Theatre won one of 13 excellence in rehabilitation awards the nonprofit handed out for “compatible use of a building through repair, alterations or additions while preserving features of the property that convey its historic value.”
The 123-year-old concert venue, once a YMCA and a movie theater, reopened in August after a fire gutted it in 2009. Owner Wilmot Greene reconstructed the building’s interior and added a new roof while leaving the exterior shell intact.
Greene said he tried to preserve the theater’s spirit as well as the bricks and mortar.
“As different as it is physically, it still serves the same purpose as it did in 1889, which is a place for people to gather,” he said.
The Georgia Trust helped finance the project by collecting $300,000 in donations.
“It’s a huge honor,” Greene said. “It’s a big deal. I’m super thankful. The Georgia Trust was a big part of helping us pull this off.”
Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity won for its care of its house on Pulaski Street. The house, built for Col. Ross Crane in 1842, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
SAE, which has owned the house since 1935, renovated it several times. In 2008, alumni and parents who were concerned with the house’s condition undertook a $3 million renovation, repairing windows, redoing the kitchen, fixing walls and the heating and cooling system, mitigating water damage and painting the exterior.
“It’s something we’re very proud of,” said Mark Williams, president of the fraternity arm that owns the house. “We didn’t just do it, we did it right.”
The Georgia Trust had never given an award to a fraternity before, and it’s rare for a fraternity house to be in such good shape, communications director Traci Clark said.
The fraternity moved some of its parties to an outbuilding to help preserve the main house, Williams said.
“I think we’ve got some high-caliber kids who appreciate what they’ve got,” he said.
We’re saddened by the news of the passing of Brother Johnny Isakson (Georgia ’66).
Sigma Alpha Epsilon has a rich history of Brothers who have served the United States in an elected office, but few as many times as Isakson. He holds the distinction of being the only person elected to represent the state of Georgia in the state House (1977-1990, seven terms), state Senate (1993-1997, two terms), U.S. House (1999-2005, two terms) and U.S. Senate (2005-2019, three terms).
Isakson was born in Fulton County, Georgia where he began his official political career as a member of the state’s general assembly in 1976.
“Johnny was a proud Republican, but he put country before party, and valued building consensus over political combat. I always loved Johnny’s description of the only division he saw as between ‘friends and future friends. In Johnny’s memory, let us heed the wisdom he offered upon retiring from the Senate, where he urged everyone to devote less energy to describing problems and more effort to working together to provide answers,” President Joe Biden said in his statement.
For his professional success and bringing positive recognition to the Fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon bestowed Isakson, one of the biggest supporters of the Greater Atlanta Alumni Association, with The Highest Effort Award in 2015.
“I consider my fraternity experience one of the most important in my lifetime. It helped shape me in those early years and guides me now,” Isakson told us in 2019. “More than ever, it’s important that undergraduates live the ideals of the fraternity’s founders, rather than give in to momentary pressures. Conscience and courage will take you far.”
The Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation Board of Trustees and the members of our Scholarship Selection Committee proudly announce our 2020-2021 academic year scholarship winners. These brothers excel in their personal, professional, and academic pursuits, and their accomplishments have earned recognition among their peers. This year, the Foundation awarded 29 scholarships totaling $88,000.
We thank our generous supporters, alumni, and friends, who make these scholarships possible. In addition, we encourage you to congratulate any winners you may know. The name of the scholarship, followed by the scholarship’s category or area of interest, and its respective recipients are listed below.
Robert Hamrdla Award (History)
Harrison Ledda (Mansfield University)
Past Eminent Supreme Recorder Bob Hamrdla (Stanford ’60) established this award for a brother in any major with transcripts that reflect considerable study of 19th and 20th-century history.
Jones-Lawerence Award (Academic Performance)
Brennan Cox (University of Georgia)
Josh Figus (Western Illinois University)
Established in memory of past Eminent Supreme Archon Walter B. Jones (Auburn ’10) and Philip J. Laurence (Minnesota ’15), the award is given to the brothers who display the most outstanding academic achievement.
Dr. Charles A. Preuss (Medical)
Kapil Reddy (Indiana State University)
Ethan Yang (Northwestern University)
Established in memory of Brother Dr. Charles A. Preuss (Idaho ’24), this award recognizes brothers attending or planning to attend medical school, or enrolled in a course of study related to medicine and who have demonstrated service to their community and fellow man.
Frank C. Ginocchio Professional Staff Leadership Scholarship (Health & Safety)
Spencer Dubbels (Morehead State University)
Established in recognition of Brother Frank C. Ginocchio’s (Northwestern ’66) leadership while serving on the Sigma Alpha Epsilon staff, this scholarship recognizes brothers who have demonstrated a positive influence in the field of risk management.
Thomas W. Devine Volunteer Leadership Scholarship (Health & Safety)
Yianni Mercer (DePaul University)
Established in recognition of Brother Thomas W. Devine’s (Minnesota ’74) volunteer efforts on behalf of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, this scholarship recognizes brothers who have demonstrated a positive influence in the field of risk management.
W. Emil Forman Award (Community Service)
Nathan Gavelek (Colorado School Of Mines)
Senna Adachi (University of Cinncinati)
Brenden Wlodkowski (University of Toledo)
Aiden Ruble (Simpson College)
Jake Brend (Simpson College)
George Lippy (Western Carolina University)
Eddy Connors (University of Colorado-Boulder)
Alex Rogers (Bucknell University)
Jesse Jones (University of Cinncinati)
Dean Straton (Morehead State University)
Established in memory of Brother W. Emil Forman (Pennsylvania ’29), this award recognizes brothers who have shown extraordinary commitment to their community and fellow man as demonstrated by community service work.
Bradley M. Cohen Courage Award (Courage)
Peter Zhang (University of Missouri-Kansas City)
Past Eminent Supreme Archon Bradley M. Cohen (Arizona ’85) established this award to recognize brothers who have shown extraordinary courage in overcoming a major personal or organizational obstacle.
Ivan Allen Jr. Leadership Award
Tyler Allbritton (Nicholls State University)
Established in memory of Brother Ivan Allen Jr. (Georgia Tech ’33), this award was created by Atlanta-area brothers. The award is given to the brother whose leadership in the chapter and community demonstrates the spirit of Allen, a former Atlanta mayor.
Charles Collins Award for Outstanding Achievement
Phillip Necessary (University of Arkansas)
TJ Jacoby (South Dakota State University)
Nick Albers (University of Cincinnati)
Evan Sterling (Arizona State University)
Joshua Murillo (Western Illinois University)
George Lampen (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Chase Philport (Kettering University)
Sean Engler (Fort Hays State University)
Charles King (University of Missouri – Kansas City)
Carson King (Indiana University – Bloomington)
Styles Martin (East Tennessee State University)
Caleb McFarland (Simpson College)
Nicholas Purdie (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities)
Andrew Samrock (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities)
Gene Szyba (University of Colorado – Colorado Springs)
Established in memory of Brother Charles F. Collins (Boston ’12), this award recognizes brothers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and service in the Fraternity, on the campus and in the community.
Fred Archibald Leadership Award
Remy Lodrigues (Nicholls State University)
Edward Major (Centre College)
Established in memory of Brothers Fred J. Archibald (Cornell ’45) and his father, Fred I. Archibald (Nebraska ’14), this award recognizes brothers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their chapter, community and school.
Richard Generelly Leadership Award
Dante Filpula Ankney (University of Montana)
Stanton Thomas (Oklahoma State University)
Kieran Mangla (College of William & Mary)
Ethan Buck (Purdue University)
Logan Canada-Johnson (University of Puget Sound)
Established in memory of past ESA Richard Generelly (George Washington ’47), this award recognizes brothers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their chapter, community, and school.
Warren P. Poslusny Award For Outstanding Achievement
Conor Emery (California State University, Sacramento)
Rhett Theobald (Embry-Riddle Areonautical University)
Matthew Te Slaa (South Dakota State University)
Alex Glauthier (University of Mount Union)
Frank Cruz (Simpson College)
Collin Fiorentini (Simpson College)
Nick Giambrone (Simpson College)
Gabe Gross (Simpson College)
Nick Hanna (Simpson College)
Past Honorary Eminent Supreme Archon and former Foundation Trustee Warren Paul “Pos” Poslusny (Kettering ’69) established this award to recognize brothers who have demonstrated an enthusiastic commitment to the highest ideals expressed in “The True Gentleman” including exceptional personal integrity while leading chapter and campus activities, coupled with notable philanthropic service and scholastic achievement.
Trustees Award for Scholarship and Service
Logan Wolf (South Dakota State University)
Funded by Foundation Trustees, this award recognizes brothers who demonstrate quality involvement in campus and chapter leadership positions, particularly the measure of his contribution to the education of his chapter brothers.
In the 49th iteration of the Ham Ansley Memorial Fundraiser, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter at the University of Georgia raised $110,860 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Guided by chapter president Rolf Reynolds (’21) and philanthropy chairmen Jake Vrolijk (’22) and Jack Smith (’22), the chapter freshmen fundraised over eleven weeks amidst a pandemic. Gilland Lane (’24) raised $6,100, the highest amount individually collected in this year’s campaign. Since 1971, the chapter has raised $2.47 million in the fight against blood cancer.
The annual fundraiser is named in honor of Hamilton Goss Ansley, III (’71), a varsity Bulldog tennis player who joined Georgia Beta in the fall of 1967. As a senior, the chapter elected Ansley to serve as its president. Unfortunately, shortly after his election, Ansley, 22, was diagnosed with leukemia. Although fighting bravely for the next few months at Emory University Hospital, he ultimately succumbed to the disease on March 7, 1971. Devastated by Ansley’s passing, the chapter sought to establish a permanent legacy for their late brother and created the Ham Ansley Memorial Fund in 1971. Each year, the newest members of Georgia Beta coordinate the fundraising efforts, oftentimes with Ham’s younger brother and fellow chapter member Vic Ansley (’75).
Sigma Alpha Epsilon has a rich history of Brothers who have served the United States in an elected office, but few as many times as Johnny Isakson (Georgia ’66). He holds the distinction of being the only person elected to represent the state of Georgia in the state House (1977-1990, seven terms), state Senate (1993-1997, two terms), U.S. House (1999-2005, two terms) and U.S. Senate (2005-present, three terms). Senator Isakson will be retiring from the United States Senate effective December 31, 2019.
Isakson’s reputation is one of the highest esteem for his work ethic, patience, and humor. “He is part of the glue that holds this place together. Everybody respects his decency, his common sense, his humor, his kindness,” said Senator Christopher Coons.
An active Fraternity man, Isakson is a strong advocate for Greek-letter organizations in Washington, D.C., and supports his local Greater Atlanta Alumni Association. More than anything, Brother Isakson exemplifies commitment to service – one of the four pillars of SAE’s mission statement.
“I consider my fraternity experience one of the most important in my lifetime. It helped shape me in those early years and guides me now,” Isakson reflected. When asked what advice he would give to current SAE undergraduates, he said, “More than ever, it’s important that undergraduates live the ideals of the fraternity’s founders, rather than give in to momentary pressures. Conscience and courage will take you far.”
For his professional success and bringing positive recognition to the Fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon bestowed Isakson with The Highest Effort Award in 2015. Please help us with congratulating Senator Isakson on his much-deserved retirement.
Click HERE to send the Senator a personal message.