Sigma Phi Sigma (ΣΦΣ) is an American professional and service coed fraternity for college students studying to be funeral service practitioners.

Sigma Phi Sigma
ΣΦΣ
FoundedOctober 1965; 59 years ago (1965-10)
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
TypeProfessional
AffiliationIndependent
StatusActive
EmphasisMortuary science
ScopeNational
Chapters18
Headquarters
United States

History

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Sigma Phi Sigma was formed in the fall of 1965 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.[1] Its mission is to promote continuing education, professionalism, and a sense of social responsibility amongst college students studying to be licensed funeral directors throughout the United States.

Membership

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Membership in Sigma Phi Sigma is limited to college students studying funeral services.[2] The fraternity does not hold a rush for membership.[3] It is coed.[4] The fraternity admits chapters at four-year schools as well as community colleges that offer funerary service and mortuary science programs.

Activities

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The fraternity sponsors service projects such as cleaning headstones in local cemeteries.[5][6] Its members have also supported charities by participating in food drives and blood drives; holding fundraisers such as bake sales, haunted houses, and golf tournaments; and volunteering.[5][2][7][3][8] They also create educational displays for professional conventions.[3] The Gamma chapter at the University of Central Oklahoma has a restored horse-drawn hearse that is used in the university's homecoming parade.[3][9] Gamma also provides two scholarships to funeral service majors each year.[3]

Chapters

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There are eighteen chapters of Sigma Phi Sigma.[10] Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters and institutions are in italics.

Chapter Charter Date University Location Status Reference
Alpha 1965 Southern Illinois University Carbondale Carbondate, Illinois Active [1][11]
Beta ? c. 1965-1966 Kentucky School of Mortuary Science Louisville, Kentucky Inactive [12][13][a]
Gamma October 22, 1970 University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, Oklahoma Active [1][3]
Delta 19xx ?–19xx ?; 2014 John A. Gupton College Nashville, Tennessee [14]
Bef. 1970 Mt. Hood Community College Gresham, Oregon Active [15][16]
Bef. 1979 Vincennes University Vincennes, Indiana Inactive [17]
Bef. 1981 McNeese State University Lake Charles, Louisiana Inactive [18]
Bef. 1988 Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, Wisconsin [19]
Bef. 1998 Simmons Institute of Funeral Service Syracuse, New York Inactive [20][21][b]
Iota 2019 Mercer County Community College Mercer County, New Jersey Active [2][22]
Lambda Kansas City Kansas Community College Kansas City, Kansas Active [4]
Mu East Mississippi Community College Scooba, Mississippi Active [23]
Xi Jefferson State Community College Birmingham, Alabama Active [24]
Omicron c. 2008 Holmes Community College Ridgeland, Mississippi Active [25][26][c]
Pi March 10, 2005 Amarillo College Amarillo, Texas Active [10]
2019 Cypress College Cypress, California Active [27]
Carl Sandburg College Galesburg, Illinois Active [28]
Lake Washington Institute of Technology Kirkland, Washington Active [7]
Phi Northampton Community College Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Active [29]

Notes

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  1. ^ The chapter name and charter date are approximated from a 1966 graduate of the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science who was a member of Sigma Phi Sigma. The school closed in September 1980.
  2. ^ The school closed in 2013.
  3. ^ The chapter's charter date is approximated. It is in the 2008 yearbook but not the 2007 yearbook.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Sigma Phi Sigma". University of Central Oklahoma. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  2. ^ a b c "Sigma Phi Sigma". Mercer County Community College. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "CSU Funeral-Service Group Not the Average Fraternity". The Oklahoman. July 11, 1990. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Clubs, Organizations, and Special Interest Groups". Kansas City Kansas Community College. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Rosenbery, Pete (November 1, 2019). "SIU Carbondale mortuary science students beautify Galatia cemetery". Carbondale Times. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  6. ^ Thompson, Jasmine (November 8, 2023). "Dealing with the dead: A day in the life of a mortuary science student". The Daily Egyptian. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Join A Club". Lake Washington Institute of Technology. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  8. ^ "Frat to Donate Trophy for Blood". The Vista. Edmond, Oklahoma. 1977-10-27. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-12-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Boord, Juandra (1977-10-20). "Laughter Mixed With Memories". The Vista. Edmond, Oklahoma. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-12-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b "Sigma Phi Sigma Mortuary Science Fraternity". Sigma Phi Sigma Mortuary Science Fraternity Amarillo College. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  11. ^ "Clubs And Organizations". Southern Illinois University Carbondale, College of Health and Human Services. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  12. ^ "Obituary for Eugene "Gene" Lecerf". Murman & Wilson Funeral Home. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  13. ^ "History". Mid-America College. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  14. ^ "New Academic Fraternity" (PDF). The Ligature (Summer). Alumni Association, John A. Gupton College. 2014.
  15. ^ Lucas, Thelma M. (January 15, 2010). "Club fair culminates with pie-in-the-face for Sygielski". The Advocate. 45 (13): 1 – via Mt. Hood Community College.
  16. ^ "Completes Course". Idaho State Journal. Pocatello, Idaho. 1970-08-30. p. 25. Retrieved 2023-12-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Pfrang-Arvin". The Times-Mail. Bedford, Indiana. 1980-11-02. p. 33. Retrieved 2023-12-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Davis Joines Buckner-Jones Staff". St. Mary and Franklin Banner-Tribune. Franklin, Louisiana. 1981-12-04. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-12-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Schauer & Schumacher Funeral Homes, Inc., is proud to announce that Jeane M. Smits has joined their staff as an associate". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, Wisconsin. 1988-05-23. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-12-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Man Passes National Test". The Times-Tribune. Scranton, Pennsylvania. 1998-06-21. p. 23. Retrieved 2023-12-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Mulcahy, Matt (2013-10-31). "Century old Syracuse mortuary school closing in wake of allegations". WSTM. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  22. ^ "Local Resources". Camino del Sol Funeral Home. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  23. ^ "Get Involved". East Mississippi Community College. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  24. ^ "Sigma Phi Sigma". Jefferson State Community College. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  25. ^ "Clubs and Organizations" (PDF). Bulletin Holmes Community College. 92 (1): 125. 2020.
  26. ^ "Holmes alumnus gives back to the Surgical Tech Program". The Growl. Vol. 87, no. 9.
  27. ^ "Clubs". Cypress College. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  28. ^ "Student organizations". Carl Sandburg College. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  29. ^ "Student Clubs and Organizations". Northampton Community College. Retrieved February 1, 2024.