This year marks the 150th year since the Kappa Sigma fraternity was founded at the University of Virginia. Officially, the Kappa Sigma fraternity was founded on December 10, 1869, in the room William Grigsby McCormick, one of the five founders commonly called "The Five Friends & Brothers". The other Five Friends & Brothers are George Miles Arnold, Frank Courtney Nicodemus, John Covert Boyd, and Edmund Law Rogers.
Alongside the Founders of our Fraternity, the Golden Hearted Virginian is probably one of the most famous men within Kappa Sigma. Stephen Alonzo Jackson, the Golden Hearted Virginian, was not only the first Worthy Grand Master, but was also the writer of our Constitution and architect of our Ritual. During his speech at the 2nd Grand Conclave in 1878, Brother Jackson talked about the expansion of this Brotherhood, and the following words are still recited by all Pledges and Brothers today:
Why not, my Brothers, since we of today live and cherish the principles of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, throw such a halo around those principles that they may be handed down as a precious heirloom to ages yet unborn? Why not put our apples of gold in pictures of silver? May we not rest contentedly until the Star and Crescent is the pride of every college and university in the land!
I think Brother Jackson would be proud as Kappa Sigma currently has more than 200,000 living members, including over 20,000 undergraduates, and 320 chapters and colonies located throughout the United States and Canada.
Today in Charlottesville, VA, undergrads and alumni from all over have assembled to celebrate the Sesquicentennial anniversary as well as hold the 72nd Biennial Grand Conclave.
I was initiated into Kappa Sigma on October 28, 2006, into the Kappa Rho Chapter at Boise State University. I had quite the journey while in college: living in the Chapter House and serving the Chapter as House Manager, Grand Treasurer, and Grand Procurator.
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