2021 Alumni Awards
Division Commander of the Year
The Division Commander of the Year award recognizes those regional volunteers who have provided years of service to the Fraternity and have had special achievements noted during the past twelve months.
Dino N. Bozonelos (Cal State San Bernardino)
Dino Bozonelos, Ph.D. is a 1999 graduate of California State University, San Bernardino and alumnus of Sigma Nu Fraternity’s Lambda Chi Chapter. He currently serves as a Lecturer for California State University, San Marcos’ Department of Political Science & Global Studies. Dino has been a strong Sigma Nu supporter and active volunteer since graduation. He has served as a Division Commander for the Southwest region for 12 years.
Throughout his tenure he has shepherded growth and improvement in Alumni Advisory Boards (AABs) throughout his Division. His passion for the chapters in his Division and his brothers has fueled much of his work in recruiting and training other volunteers.
Dino’s nominators for the Division Commander of the Year award reflect on his positive impact.
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- “Dino epitomizes the idea of the Helping Hand. The practice of service above self to live daily in a way that showcases how Sigma Nu can be a positive influence in the lives of our undergraduate Brothers and our regional Alumni.”
- “When our Chapter was in need of support the first call was to Dino who jumped at the chance to support the Chapter. With his help gathering Headquarters and regional chapters’ alumni support, our chapter has been able to rebuild and recover with a support network in place for the future.”
- “Dino has been a rock of consistency with his knowledge, excitement, and genuine desire to help develop young men in our chapter. He has been integral in the formation of our Alumni Advisory Board and greatly increased participation of the alumni with the active chapter as well as within our own ranks. We can't say enough about the positive impact that Dino has had on our chapter, and we are excited for what the future holds as we continue to work together!”
Even during challenging times, he continued to look for the greater good in each chapter and lend the helping hand. He encourages brothers to realize their full potential, as well as making sure they are held accountable to the Fraternity’s high standards. He is steadfast in supporting the achievement of the Fraternity’s honorable mission in his Division.
Chapter Advisor of the Year
The Chapter Advisor of the Year award recognizes a Chapter Advisor who demonstrates a genuine commitment to the ideals of Sigma Nu and has modeled them through attendance at officer and chapter meetings, support for chapter goal-setting and achievement, assistance in the development of special chapter events and programs, and support for The Ritual and its values.
Jeffrey J. Hollings (Purdue)
Jeffrey Hollings is a Purdue University alumnus and has served as Beta Zeta Chapter (Purdue) Chapter Advisor and Alumni Advisory Board Chairman since 2015. At that time he created the Beta Zeta Alumni Advisory Board and laid the groundwork for the return of the collegiate chapter to Purdue. He was instrumental in leading Beta Zeta through the rechartering process from 2017-2021. His efforts also won him recognition as Purdue University’s 2021 Chapter Advisor of the Year.
Jeffrey’s impact on the Beta Zeta Chapter (Purdue) is best described by its student members. Nathan Sislow, President, says:
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- “His dedication has been outstanding. He regularly attends our chapter meetings and would consistently drive up to the house from Indianapolis to talk with members, pre-COVID. He also heads the alumni board which helps us in various ways. Recently, the most notable has been starting a house renovations campaign, which has raised around $1.7 million so far. They also raise money for scholarships, which give thousands to the collegiate brothers with good grades and leadership on campus every year.”
House Corporation Officer of the Year
The major emphasis in selecting a recipient for the House Corporation Officer of the Year award is a housing corporation officer whose active participation in the affairs of the chapter and the General Fraternity has been a noteworthy example and who has demonstrated leadership, involvement, and overall achievement. The House Corporation Officer of the Year demonstrates a genuine commitment to the ideals of Sigma Nu and has modeled them through his efforts with the chapter’s House Corporation.
Daniel W. Hearn (Oregon State)
Daniel W. Hearn is a 1970 graduate of Oregon State University and alumnus of Sigma Nu Fraternity’s Delta Tau Chapter (Oregon State). He served as Chapter Advisor from 2015-2017 when the Delta Tau collegiate chapter was returning to campus. He joined the House Corporation in 2016 and has served as its Secretary since that time. He has been responsible for leading the re-chartering effort of Delta Tau Chapter, revising the articles of incorporation for the house corporation, chartering the alumni chapter, establishing the alumni chapter website, and supplying the chapter with personal protective equipment and coordinating parent communication on housing matters during the pandemic.
Stephen Langenberg, Delta Tau (Oregon State) Alumni Chapter officer, speaks of Hearn’s character, “Dan’s life embraces the posit that all men should attempt to embrace all knowledge and develop their own capabilities as fully as possible.”
Alumni Chapter Officer of the Year
The major emphasis in selecting a recipient for the Alumni Chapter Officer of the Year award is an alumni chapter officer whose active participation in the affairs of the alumni chapter and the General Fraternity has been a noteworthy example and who has demonstrated leadership, involvement, and overall achievement. The Alumni Chapter Officer of the Year demonstrates a genuine commitment to the ideals of Sigma Nu and has modeled them through his efforts with the chapter’s Alumni Chapter.
Jason D. Smith (Louisiana Tech)
Jason Smith is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Citizens National Bank in Louisiana. He is a 1990 (bachelor’s) and 1995 (master’s) graduate of Louisiana Tech and has been with Citizens National Bank since 1994. He is actively engaged in the banking, business, and local community and honorably serves the Fraternity as Eta Zeta (Louisiana Tech) Alumni Chapter Commander (President).
His contributions to the alumni and collegiate chapters are best told in the words of his nominators.
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- “Jason exemplifies the values of Sigma Nu, and it most definitely shows through in his actions. He has helped lead multiple Executive Council leadership trainings within the chapter and has spoken to almost every executive member about their role in the chapter.”
- “Connecting the alumni and collegiate chapters has been one of Jason’s biggest goals. He has been extremely involved with all of our operations lately and I am certain it is because he truly cares about the betterment and perseverance of Eta Zeta”
- “Jason has worked tirelessly since becoming Alumni Chapter Commander. In 2019, the chapter house was destroyed by a tornado. Jason has been key in securing a mortgage loan for renovations and repairs to the house as well as our fundraising efforts to build a new home.”