By Brandi Wylie ‘24
The Alpha-Nu Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity unveiled the Craig D. Melvin Scholarship-Leadership Award at its 2024 Stephen Alonzo Jackson Weekend of Giving. The chapter amassed $51,311.80 to fund the scholarship.
Spearheaded by the Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund, this initiative is one of 17 Scholarship-Leadership awards instituted nationwide that celebrate distinguished fraternity members.
This scholarship pays tribute to Craig Melvin ’01, a member of Wofford’s Board of Trustees, for recently being named Kappa Sigma’s 2023 Man of the Year.
“I am so honored to be chosen as Kappa Sigma’s Man of the Year,” Melvin says in a statement. “I have such fond memories from my days at the Alpha-Nu Chapter at Wofford College and am so proud to continue the Kappa Sigma legacy of excellence.”
Dr. Dave Pittman, professor of psychology, who serves as both advisor for the chapter’s association with the college as well as an alumni advisor for the fraternity, expressed his pride in Melvin.
“If you look down the list of people named Man of the Year, it’s CEOs, senators, very impressive people,” Pittman says. “He’s made a very good name for himself and has done so by reflecting the principles of the fraternity.”
During past Weekends of Giving events, the Alpha-Nu Chapter has raised funds for the Chapter Scholarship Fund. Moving forward, donors will now have the option to contribute either to the Chapter Scholarship Fund or directly to Melvin’s named scholarship.
Donors, including alumni and parents, contributed this year, and the Alpha-Nu Chapter achieved 100% participation among its undergraduate members.
The endowed $50,000 Craig D. Melvin Scholarship-Leadership Award will provide one member of the Alpha-Nu Chapter annually with a $2,000 scholarship. The recipient will be chosen based on academics, leadership and service to the fraternity and the community.
This scholarship will be awarded each year on Kappa Sigma’s Founders Day, December 10.
Lawson Taliaferro ’25, a history major from Norfolk, Virginia, hopes the scholarship will make the recruitment process more affordable.
“I’m hoping that with scholarships like this, we can get people who may have previously been apprehensive about rushing,” Taliaferro says. “Not only that, but we want to be able to reward those brothers who are doing great things. I want the award to go to brothers who truly display the values of an Alpha-Nu.”
The national Kappa Sigma leadership is planning to honor Melvin as the 2023 Man of the Year during a private event on May 3. Attendees will include the Kappa Sigma Supreme Executive Committee officers and Alpha Nu’s alumni and undergraduate brothers.