CARMEL, IN. – Theta Chi Fraternity proudly announces Sam Kelly (Gamma Phi/Nebraska Wesleyan 2024) as the winner of the Fraternity’s 2022/2023 James Ralph “Shug” Jordan Award. Brother Kelly was selected from the Fraternity’s active chapters for demonstrating impressive leadership, service, and scholastic accomplishments as well as athletic ability and a commitment to excellence in intercollegiate athletics.
Originally from Omaha, NE, Brother Kelly is working toward his bachelor’s degree in business sociology at Nebraska Wesleyan University, where he is maintaining a 3.5 cumulative GPA. He is also a member of the Alpha Kappa Delta Sociology Honors Society. A leader within the chapter, he has served as the Brotherhood Chair, Marshal, and currently serves his chapter as the Vice President. At the International level, he earned the Fraternity’s Resolute Man distinction after attending the Resolute Man Experience Track in Washington, D.C. with Former Congressman Dennis Cardoza (Alpha Psi/Maryland 1981), a current member of the Foundation Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity’s board of directors.
Brother Kelley is also active in his campus community and has served as the Founder and President of the Greenhouse Club since 2021. After he revitalized the greenhouse on campus and secured funds to purchase a new hydroponic watering system, the efforts at the NWU greenhouse evolved into a student organization that grows produce that is regularly donated to the campus food pantry.
Brother Kelly has been a varsity letter recipient for swimming each year since his freshman year. After suffering a radial head fracture in his elbow in 2020, he returned following his surgery during the same season to win the 200-yard freestyle at American Rivers Conference Championship only four months after the injury. During his sophomore year, he won the 200-yard butterfly and the 200-yard freestyle. In his Junior year, he was awarded ARC All-Conference First Team-200 IM, 400 IM, 400 Freestyle Relay, and the 200 Butterfly. He was also the ARC All-Conference Second Team- 400 Medley Relay. Brother Kelly has also been the team captain for two years where he acts as a mediator between coaching staff and athletes.
Kyle Hunt, head coach of Nebraska Wesleyan’s men’s swim team said, “Sam is a team builder, a competitor, an intellectual, and most of all, a leader…He is a reliable person that has a terrific understanding of what is important. He continued, “Having Sam in our swimming program is a tremendous asset to the team and the Nebraska Wesleyan University community.”
The Grand Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity 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.
###
About Theta Chi: Founded in 1856, Theta Chi Fraternity is a men’s collegiate fraternity with more than 200,000 initiated members and has established 245 chapters. Theta Chi’s mission is to develop college-age men into successful students, good citizens, lifelong brothers, and resolute leaders.