SAN ANTONIO, July 11, 2026 — Theta Chi Fraternity is proud to announce Cullen J. Carter (Iota Lambda/Longwood 2026) as the recipient of the 2025/2026 James Ralph “Shug” Jordan Award, which recognizes the International Fraternity’s top student-athlete. Brother Carter was selected from the Fraternity’s current collegians for demonstrating impressive leadership, service, and scholastic accomplishments alongside commendable athletic ability and a commitment to excellence in intercollegiate athletics.
A native of Mechanicsville, VA, Carter pursued a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing and a minor in economics at Longwood University, where he maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.747. A student in Longwood’s Cormier Honors College, Carter earned repeated academic recognition, including President’s List honors for a perfect 4.0 GPA in the fall 2025 semester and Dean’s List recognition for multiple semesters. He was also inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, which recognizes the top 10% of the senior class, and Mortar Board Honor Society, which honors students for scholarship, leadership, and service.
Within Iota Lambda Chapter, Carter served as President, Recruitment Chairman, Senior Planning Chairman, Fundraising Chairman, and Social Chairman. During his presidency, he guided the chapter through a demanding transition period, strengthened chapter operations, supported increased involvement among the chapter, and onboarded a new chapter adviser.
Carter’s leadership extended well beyond his chapter. At Longwood, he served as secretary for the Class of 2026 and represented student-athletes through both the Student Government Association and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He was also involved with the Honors Student Association, Greeks for Change, the Lancer Student Investment Fund, Junior Marshaling, and other campus organizations.
A member of Longwood University’s NCAA Division I Track & Field team, Carter lettered each year from 2024 through 2026. As one of the founding members of the program, he worked to establish and grow Longwood’s track team, simultaneously becoming one of its most consistent sprinters. Carter broke the school record in the 200-meter sprint and has recorded some of the program’s fastest 100-meter times. He also served as captain of the track team, mentoring younger teammates and setting expectations for a new program.
His campus leadership earned additional recognition, including the 2025 IFC President of the Year Award and Longwood University’s Joan of Arc Award for Excellence, which honors student citizen leaders on campus.
Carter also demonstrated a strong commitment to service in the Longwood and Farmville communities. His service involvement included The Big Event, a campus-wide service initiative supporting the local community through projects such as yard work, painting, and cleanup. He also volunteered with FACES Food Pantry, one of the largest food agencies in Virginia, and Habitat for Humanity.
John Miller, Ph.D. (2025), faculty adviser for Iota Lambda Chapter, described Carter as a leader “in his chapter, on his team, and in the classroom,” noting that Carter’s ability to balance Fraternity leadership, NCAA athletics, and academic excellence was “remarkable.”
Nicole Perkins, senior director of alumni engagement at Longwood University, also praised Carter’s character and campus involvement, writing that he “leads in a way that is grounded, inclusive, and focused on the success of others.”
Through his leadership in Iota Lambda Chapter, his academic discipline, his service to Longwood and Farmville, and his role in helping build Longwood’s NCAA Division I Track & Field program, Carter reflects the spirit of the “Shug” Jordan Award and the ideals of Theta Chi Fraternity.
About the “Shug” Jordan Award
The “Shug” Jordan Award was created by the Grand Chapter in 1996 to honor the scholar-athlete who best exemplifies the qualities of leadership, citizenship, academics, brotherhood, loyalty to alma mater, and a commitment to excellence in intercollegiate athletics.
The award is named in honor and memory of James Ralph “Shug” Jordan (Chi/Auburn 1932), who served as Auburn University’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.