2017/2018 James Ralph “Shug” Jordan Award Announced
Carmel, IN - Theta Chi Fraternity presented Carter Lyons (Gamma Phi/Nebraska Wesleyan 2019) with the 2017/2018 James Ralph “Shug” Jordan Award during the 162nd Anniversary Convention in Las Vegas. The Shug Jordan Award honors a collegiate member who demonstrates excellence as a scholar-athlete.
Brother Lyons is a double major in math and physics. He is a member of several honor societies including Order of Omega, Sigma Pi Sigma Physics Honorary Society, Kappa Mu Epsilon Math Honorary Society, Blue Key Academic Honorary Society, and Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society. He is a Goldwater Scholar and has achieved five semesters on the Dean’s List as a 4.0 student.
Carter is a three-time varsity letter winner in swimming and holds school records in the 100-m freestyle, 200-m freestyle relay, 400-m freestyle relay, 200-m medley relay, and the 400-m medley relay. He is also on the liberal arts all-championship team and is a member of the College Swimming Coaches Association of America All-America Team.
Although he has only been a member of Theta Chi for a little over a year, he was a member of the scholarship committee and currently serves as Treasurer.
On campus, Carter has held leadership positions as the Math Club President, Physics Club Vice President, Sigma Pi Sigma Vice President, Kappa Mu Epsilon President, Blue Key Academic Honorary Society Treasurer, and is a member of Society of Scholars.
In the community, Brother Lyons volunteers as a mathematics and physics tutor, as a swim coach at the Greater Nebraska Swim Team, at the Center for People in Need, at Matt Talbot Hunger Relief and Outreach Kitchen, and also participates in a local biannual highway cleanup.
Gamma Phi Chapter now boasts four total Shug Jordan Award recipients. Previous recipients include Dan Novinski (2019), Connor Bohlken (2016), and Derek Kay (2014).
The Shug Jordan Award is named in honor and memory of Brother James Ralph “Shug” Jordan, of Chi Chapter at Auburn University, who served as Auburn’s head football coach from 1951 to 1975. Brother Jordan’s team went undefeated in the 1957 season and won that year’s National Championship.
The Grand Chapter created the Shug Jordan Award in 1996 to honor the scholar-athlete who best exemplifies the qualities of leadership, citizenship, academics, brotherhood, loyalty to alma mater, and commitment to excellence in intercollegiate athletics.
Founded in 1856, Theta Chi Fraternity is a men’s collegiate fraternity with more than 191,000 initiated members and has established 239 chapters. Leadership development, personal development, and service to alma mater are fundamental to Theta Chi Fraternity’s mission.