UAFS Fraternity Awarded National Distinction

Written By: Ian Silvester

The Omicron-Tau chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith has earned national recognition as one of the organization's top 10 chapters while also being named the best chapter in Arkansas. The chapter will be honored with a special award at the fraternity's upcoming national conference. 

The award, the Founders’ 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. 

“Coming into this year, our chapter has never won a FACE award. We’ve, honestly, never been close,” he said.  

Having one of the chapter’s 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’s national philanthropic cause, and collectively volunteered more than 4,700 hours. 

“It 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,” Gerrit said. “They helped reach this goal, and now all of the guys in our chapter get to say we’re the first to ever get FACE.” 

The efforts made by Gerrit and his fraternity brothers did not go unnoticed. 

“The Omicron-Tau Chapter at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith has proven to be an exemplification of our Four Pillars: Fellowship, Leadership, Scholarship, and Service,” said Brad Bailey, executive director of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. “It 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.” 

Going forward, Gerrit said he believes winning a FACE award is now the standard for the UAFS chapter, exemplifying the fraternity’s national motto, “Number One, Second to None.” 

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