The names under each listing are the 2025 recipients.
QUICK LINKS
These links take you to criteria and submission forms.
COLLEGIATE
Collegiate Chapter Province Achievement Award
E. Jane Ruby National Collegiate Service Project Award
Katherine Becker National Collegiate Chapter Achievement Award
National Collegiate Leadership Award
National Collegiate Outstanding Advisor Award
Province Collegiate Leadership Award (Ruby Sword of Honor)
ALUMNAE
Helen May Alumnae Chapter Province Achievement Awards
Annelle Chandler McAdams Alumnae Service Project Award
Dorothy Whinery Special Leadership Award
Helen May National Alumnae Chapter Achievement Award
National Alumnae Leadership Award (Diamond Sword of Honor)
HONORS
COLLEGIATE
National Collegiate Leadership Award
A collegiate chapter may annually nominate a senior or graduate student for the Collegiate Leadership Award. She must have the Sword of Honor or be nominated for the Sword of Honor at the same time. The award is based on four criteria:
- Qualities of leadership expressed in the member’s sense of organization and her ability to work well with chapter members, advisors, and faculty
- Fraternity service in terms of chapter offices held, committee chairmanships, performance on chapter musicales, cooperation in chapter activities, and national fraternity viewpoint
- Campus activities in terms of student organization participation, offices held outside of the fraternity, and general campus honors
- Maintenance of a high scholarship level.
Province Collegiate Leadership Award - Ruby Sword of Honor
All approved Collegiate Leadership Award nominees become candidates for the Province Collegiate Leadership Awards. The Province Officer chooses one person from these candidates to be the Province Collegiate Leadership Award recipient.
2025 Ruby Sword of Honor Recipients
Region Finalists in Italics
REGION 1
Calie Dunn
Sigma Zeta, University of Idaho, Nu
Kristina Stamper
Theta Epsilon, California State University, Stanislaus, Delta B
REGION II
Kailey Chinsethagid
Sigma Gamma, University of Tulsa, Zeta A
Mallory Ellen Jackson
Nu Beta, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Zeta B
Jordan Rodriguez
Theta Gamma, University of Texas at San Antonio, Kappa A
REGION III
Claire E. Epperson
Pi, Drake University, Xi B
Paige Rodewald
Epsilon Phi, Truman State University, Pi A
Ella Young
Kappa, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Xi A
REGION IV
Lexie Ellis,
Zeta Rho, Arkansas Tech University, Mu B
REGION V
Krystine Tran
Alpha Lambda, Michigan State University, Alpha C
REGION VI
Carlyle McDowell
Theta Lambda, Furman University, Tau E
Madeline R. Metz
Iota Tau, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Tau D
Stella Monner
Lambda Iota, Rollins College, Lambda C
REGION VII
Emily Griffith
Sigma Mu, Hillsdale College, Alpha D
Emily Morgan
Gamma Upsilon, Morehead State University, Sigma D
Carly Wagoner
Lambda Upsilon, Miami University, Ohio, Sigma A
REGION VIII
Emalina Ascenzo
Nu Alpha, The College of New Jersey, Phi A
Jazmine Carter
Delta Alpha, Lebanon Valley College, Chi B
Elizabeth Carey
Kappa Beta
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Chi C
Natalie Kully
Eta Rho, University of Delaware, Chi A
Destiny McDaniel
Gamma Iota, James Madison University, Iota C
Taylor Rakovic
Delta Lambda, State University of New York at Fredonia, Eta A
Marissa Sacco
Lambda Phi, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Phi B
National Collegiate Leadership Award
The National Collegiate Leadership Award is the highest award a collegiate member can receive.
All Province Collegiate Leadership Award recipients become candidates for the National Collegiate Leadership Award. The National Executive Board will choose one person from these candidates to be the National Collegiate Leadership Award recipient. The National Collegiate Leadership Award winner receives the National Collegiate Leadership Award pendant from the fraternity. The NEB will supervise the presentation of the award.
Krystine Tran
Alpha Lambda, Michigan State University, Alpha C, Region V
Collegiate Honor Award
(to be submitted through the SAI Officer Portal by chapter Faculty Advisor)
The purpose of the Sigma Alpha Iota Collegiate Honor Award is to give the Head of the Music Department an opportunity to recognize a Sigma Alpha Iota collegiate member for outstanding musicianship, scholarship, and fraternity service.
E. Jane Ruby National Collegiate Service Project Award
Collegiate Service Project Award is a new award, designed to acknowledge the wonderful volunteer projects that collegiate chapters do in the name of music. Patterned after the alumnae service project awards, a national winning chapter will be chosen from three chapter-size categories. Each national winner will receive a certificate and a $100 prize. Please read the application carefully when submitting it.
Category I (1-20 Members)
Psi
Knox College, Upsilon A, Region V
Category II (21-35 members)
Beta Psi
East Carolina University, Tau D, Region VI
Kappa Beta
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Chi C, Region VIII
Category III (36+ members)
Theta Chi
University of South Carolina, Tau E, Region VI
National Collegiate Outstanding Advisor Award
This award was first given at the National Convention in Dallas, August 4-8, 2000. It is an annual award, intended to recognize those individuals who volunteer their time, love, and advice to our college chapters. The advisor is not required to be an initiated member of Sigma Alpha Iota.
No 2025 Recipient
Katherine Becker National Collegiate Chapter Achievement Award
The Collegiate Chapter Achievement Award is given annually to chapters whose officers and members have achieved distinction in fulfilling the following criteria:
- The National Objectives
- Completion of the chapter's local obligations: financial good standing, good relationships with chapter advisors and school officials, good relationships with patroness members and alumnae members, development and/or implementation of school and/or community music projects, participation in Province Day activities.
- Completion of the chapter's national obligations: financial good standing, good relationships with province and national officers by submitting all required and especially requested reports on time, and support of national projects through participation and financial contributions. - Chapter Procedures Manual, p. 14-8.
Form available in the SAI Officer Portal document library
Lambda Omicron
Florida International University, Lambda A, Region VI
Collegiate Chapter Province Achievement Award
Regional finalists in italics
REGION I
Lambda Chi
California State University/Fullerton, Delta C
Theta Epsilon
CA State University/Stanislaus, Delta B
REGION II
Iota Alpha
Oklahoma State University, Zeta A
Theta Gamma
University of Texas at San Antonio, Kappa A
REGION III
Epsilon Pi
Truman State University, Pi A
REGION IV
Lambda Nu
University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Mu A
Mu Upsilon
Jackson State University, Omega C
Theta Beta
Jacksonville State University, Rho A
REGION V
Alpha Lambda
Michigan State University, Alpha C
Sigma Alpha
llinois Wesleyan University, Upsilon A
Sigma Delta
University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign, Upsilon B
REGION VI
Kappa Gamma
University of NC/Greensboro, Tau B
Lambda Omicron
Florida International, Lambda A
Theta Lambda
Furman University, Tau E
Zeta Tau
University of Central Florida, Lambda C
REGION VIII
Epsilon Epsilon
West Chester University, Chi A
Gamma Iota
James Madison University, Iota C
Lambda Phi
University of Massachusetts/Amherst, Phi B
Scholastic Award
(to be submitted through the SAI Officer Portal by chapter Faculty Advisor)
The purpose of the Sigma Alpha Iota Scholastic Award is to recognize academic achievement among Sigma Alpha Iota collegiate members.
ALUMNAE
Helen May National Alumnae Chapter Achievement Award
The Alumnae Chapter Achievement Award is given annually to chapters whose officers and members have achieved distinction in fulfilling the following criteria:
- The National Objectives
- Completion of the chapter's local obligations: financial good standing, support of college chapter(s) when located in the vicinity, good relationships with local patroness members, development and/or implementation of community music projects, participation in Province Day activities.
- Completion of the chapter's national obligations: financial good standing, good relationships with province and national officers by submitting all required and especially requested reports on time, and support of national projects through participation and financial contributions. - Chapter Procedures Manual, p. 7-1.
Kansas City
Pi A, Region III
Alumnae Chapter Province Achievement Awards
Regional Finalist in Italics
REGION I
Boulder
Xi C
Las Vegas
Delta A
Orange County
Delta C
Phoenix
Omicron
San Francisco Peninsula
Delta B
REGION II
Dallas
Kappa B
Houston
Kappa D
Lindsborg
Theta B
REGION III
Kansas City
Pi A
Madison
Epsilon A
REGION IV
New Orleans
Omega C
REGION V
Decatur
Upsilon B
Peoria
Upsilon A
REGION VI
Orlando
Lambda C
REGION VII
Cleveland
Sigma C
REGION VIII
Northern Delaware
Chi A
Northern New Jersey
Phi B
Annelle Chandler McAdams Alumnae Service Project Award
The Alumnae Service Project Award is given annually based on the following: the type of service, defined as something for others, not a fundraiser to benefit the chapter; the percentage of chapter members involved in the project; the originality of the project; and the financial good standing of the chapter.
Category 1 (1-20 members)
Milwaukee
Epsilon A, Region III
Category II (21-35 members)
Memphis
Mu A, Region IV
Category III (36+ members)
Cleveland
Sigma C, Region VII
HONORS
Sword of Honor
The Sword of Honor, a tiny gold sword, is given to a member who has fulfilled all duties in each office she has held in an outstanding manner. She has shown strong leadership within the chapter and she has forwarded all the required reports of her office(s) to the province officer and/or appropriate national officer. The Sword of Honor may be given to an active member of a chapter.
Patroness Sword of Honor
The Patroness Sword of Honor is awarded to patroness members (with or without training).This award recognizes a patroness who has been especially supportive of a collegiate or alumnae chapter and the ideals of SAI.
National Alumnae Leadership Award (Diamond Sword of Honor)
An alumnae chapter may nominate a member annually for the National Alumnae Leadership Award. The award is based on the following criteria:
-
-
- Outstanding or extraordinary service in all three of the following fields: fraternity, local chapter, and community
- Fulfilled all duties in each office held in an outstanding manner
- Made a special contribution to the program of the chapter
- Brought honor and distinction to the chapter through exceptional community leadership
- Must be a current member of the SAI Alumnae Association
- Must be in good standing with the chapter financially and participate in chapter meetings and functions
- Must have received the Sword of Honor and the Rose of Honor
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Selection of National Leadership Award Winners
The Regional Officers will choose regional recipients (up to eight, usually one from each region) from among these candidates. The fraternity will present the National Alumnae Leadership Award recipients with the Diamond Sword of Honor. The NEB will supervise the presentation of the eight awards. The Diamond Sword of Honor Ceremony from the Ritual will be used as directed by the NEB.
Edie Marshall
Pasadena, Delta A, Region I
Diamond Sword of Honor
REGION I
Edie Marshall
Pasadena, Delta A
REGION VIII
Raechyl Thieringer
New York, Phi B
Rose of Honor
The Rose of Honor, a tiny gold rose with a ruby center,is presented to a member who has given outstanding or extraordinary service in all three of the following fields: the fraternity beyond the local level, the local chapter, and the community.
Rose of Dedication
The Rose of Dedication is presented to a member who has given outstanding or extraordinary service in all three of the following fields for a minimum of 25 years: the fraternity, the local chapter, and the community.
Rose of Constancy
The Rose of Constancy is awarded after the Rose of Dedication. It is given for continued outstanding/extraordinary service, for a minimum of 35 years following college graduation, to the fraternity (beyond the local level), local chapter, community and musical activities.
Wreath of Achievement
The Wreath of Achievement is presented to a member for continued outstanding and faithful service in four fields: the local chapter, the fraternity (beyond the local level), the community, and musical activities. The Sword of Honor and the Rose of Honor are a prerequisite.
Dorothy Whinery Special Leadership Award
The Dorothy Whinery Special Leadership Award is given for outstanding leadership in the national organization. Originally named the Special Leadership Award, it was renamed the Dorothy Whinery Special Leadership Award to honor her years of service as National Executive Secretary (from 1956-1992). It has been presented 14 times:
- 1947 Convention to Gertrude Evans Messersmith, National President, 1931-1942
- 1953 Convention to Edna Hebel Geimer, National Treasurer 1925-1948, Director of Finance 1948-1950
- 1959 Convention to Kathleen Davison, National President 1942-1956
- 1965 Convention to Edna Hutton, National Editor 1944-1973
- 1978 Convention to Ruth Gould, National President 1968-1978
- 1990 Convention to Dorothy Cooke Whinery, National Executive Secretary 1956-1992
- 1997 Convention to Ruth Sickafus, retiring Vice Chairman, SAI Philanthropies, Inc.
- 2000 Convention to Helen May
- 2003 Centennial Convention to Bobbie Burk
- 2006 Convention to Barbara Staton
- 2009 Convention to Elise Sterrenberg
- 2012 Convention to Dixie Lou Morris
- 2015 Convention to Ginny Johnson
- 2018 Convention to Arlene Jospe Veron
The award is a gold pendant. Centered in an open circle is the fraternity crest surrounded by an inner circle of pearls. The outer circle is the laurel wreath.
Ring of Excellence
The Ring of Excellence is the fraternity's highest award. It may be given by the National Executive Board or by a chapter.
Given by the National Executive Board
When given by the National Executive Board, the Ring of Excellence is given for outstanding service to the national organization or to an internationally renowned artist, scholar, or teacher who was initiated as a collegiate or non-student member. The NEB may make the presentation directly, or a chapter may be asked to make the presentation.
Given by a Chapter
A collegiate or alumnae chapter may apply to the NEB to award the Ring of Excellence to an alumna member who has performed exceptional service to the fraternity, who is outstanding as a musician, performer, teacher, or composer, and who is in good standing, i.e. completely paid Life Member. The alumna member of recognized professional standards must have received the Sword of Honor and the Rose of Honor.
