Benjamin Hanks Recipient of the Military Service Academic Scholarship during the 2023-2024 academic year. Chapter: Delta Zeta School: George Fox University Graduation Year: 2018

My Testimonial

When intentional choices lead to wonderful experiences there is a cause to celebrate skill and prowess with exuberant pride, when they fall into your lap without thought or intention through healthy relationships it can spark deep joy and gratitude. That latter is where I find myself in relation to my recent journey with Sigma Chi. When my friend, the Consul for the Delta Zeta chapter, asked me to rush in 2016 I thought to myself, "there is little chance of that happening." Primarily due to the fact that I was a transfer student starting my junior year in my early 30's. I had already been in organizations that left a lot to be desired and saw Greek life on campus as just another opportunity to be disappointed. This friend eventually convinced me that I would find it meaningful and it would enhance my undergraduate experience. Looking back on it I guess I could've expected more from the start, but am quite pleased with the surprise and blessing the fraternity turned out to be in my life. I very much enjoyed the brotherhood in undergrad, and it was a great learning experience on many levels. I would not have even considered if I had the resources or drive and intellegence to achieve at the doctorate level without the encouragement and support of my undergraduate brothers. It was a great experience and I have enjoyed the opportunity to stay involved with the alumni board at my university throughout the first four years of my doctorate program.

The scholarship means a lot to me in many ways. I am raising a young family that started around the time I joined Sigma Chi and has now grown to 4 members within the last 3 months. We just moved from Oregon to Michigan to finish the last year of my clinical psychology program, an internship at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, MI. With the birth of a new child, a 2000-mile move with a family of four, and the accrued costs of a 5-year graduate program, any financial help is a great blessing. The Sigma Chi Foundation has been doing that for me every year since I was accepted into the program in 2019. It has been an incredible help to me psychologically, knowing that people who don't know me personally are willing to put up financial support to help me succeed in challenging situations simply becuase they care. I am very grateful and a life-loyal Sig because I've been shown over and over that the fraternity is true to its word, in that it will help its members strive toward the values represented by the founding fathers. As it says "I say these words in all sincerity; that Sigma Chi has given me favor and distinction; that the bond of our fellowship is reciprocal." Thank you, generous donors!