2024 Alpha Affiliate Award Recipients
In 1962, the Grand Chapter adopted a proposal by Brother Ora Baldinger, an initiate of the Alpha Chapter at VMI, to create the Alpha Affiliate Award. Brother Ora Baldinger made the proposal based on a conversation he had many years earlier with Founder Hopkins in 1909, on the occasion of Alpha Chapter’s second installation.
Hopkins' request of Baldinger was, “Don’t ever let Alpha Chapter die, don’t ever let it die.” Regrettably, not many years later, VMI abolished fraternities permanently.
Baldinger conceived of the Alpha Alumni Chapter Affiliate Award to symbolically meet Founder Hopkins’ request. The program was designed to award an Alpha Chapter initiate number to the Fraternity’s most outstanding graduating seniors in recognition of their achievements. Each academic year, ten outstanding seniors are selected to be honored with the Alpha Affiliate Award.
Alpha #700 – Caleb A. Covarrubias (Houston)
Caleb Covarrubias graduated from the University of Houston with a 3.20 GPA in Finance. He served Zeta Chi Chapter as Commander, Marshal, and Alumni Relations Chairman. In 2023, he served as a Collegiate Advisor to the Fraternity’s High Council.
Within his campus community, Caleb was a member of the Order of Omega Honor Society and Student Veterans of America. Since 2017, he has been a service member of the Army National Guard. He has received numerous citations and commendations, including the Texas Medal of Merit, National Defense Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal.
“What truly stands out about Caleb is his unwavering integrity and reliability. He consistently followed through on his commitments, demonstrating a level of trustworthiness and dependability. This was evident in our overall operational success that was recovering from the detriments caused by the pandemic. Brother Covarrubias was a trusted partner in developing the chapter and we could not function as a board as efficiently as we did without having an Eminent Commander that has the qualities listed previously.” - Tanner Miller (Houston), Chapter Advisor of the Zeta Chi Chapter
Alpha #701 Emilio D. Ferrara, IV (Georgia)
Emilio Ferrara graduated from the University of Georgia with a 3.99 GPA in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He served Mu Chapter as a Lieutenant Commander, the UGA fraternity and sorority community as IFC President, and as a Collegiate Advisor to the Fraternity's High Council.
Within his campus community, Emilio was a member of several campus organizations, including Phi Beta Kappa, the Dean William Tate Honor Society, the Order of Omega, the Omicron Delta Kappa, the Blue Key National Honor Society, SPHINX, and the Gridiron Secret Society. UGA recognized him as a Male Leader Among Leaders and UGA Student of the Year. He also received the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, the most prestigious national undergraduate scholarship in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering.
“He is an extremely mature, articulate, personable, and highly motivated individual, and, simply put, he is an exceptional student.” – Dr. Michael Adams, Professor of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Microbiology
Alpha #702 – G. Dare Lovett, IV (Oklahoma State)
Dare Lovett graduated from Oklahoma State University with a 3.49 GPA in Agribusiness. He served Epsilon Epsilon Chapter as a Commander, Recorder, and member of several committees, including the Bylaw Committee and the chapter’s Recruitment Team. Dare also served the chapter as Temple Classic Chairman, leading the chapter’s signature sand volleyball philanthropy event, which in 2024 raised $50,000 for a charity supporting women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Within his community, Dare served as an IFC Chapter Delegate, a group leader for an Into the Streets community service initiative, and as a Greek Show Director, overseeing the chapter’s performance in five shows, which are a cherished and historic tradition at the university and within the fraternity and sorority community.
“Dare is committed to the collegiate chapter doing what is right over what is popular. Dare is a role model for Sigma Nu’s Mission, ‘to develop ethical leaders.’ Yet, Dare does not place himself on a throne and give orders to people below him. Dare leads by example. If Dare sees someone that needs help, he helps them. If Dare sees trash in the hallway, he picks it up. Dare is a better man as a result of being a Sigma Nu brother, and the Epsilon Epsilon Chapter is a better chapter as a result of his leadership.” - Neil Gilpin (Oklahoma State), Chapter Advisor to the Epsilon Epsilon Chapter
Alpha #703 – Charles "Charlie" A. McKenzie (Louisiana State)
Charlie McKenzie graduated from Louisiana State University (LSU) with a 3.89 GPA in Biological Sciences. He served Phi Chapter as a Commander and Recruitment Chairman and as a member of the chapter’s Recruitment and Philanthropy committees. In 2023, he served the General Fraternity as a Collegiate Advisor to the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation.
As a member of his LSU community, Charlie served as a delegate to the IFC, as a member of the IFC Judicial Review Board, and as a founding member of the LSU Film Club. Charlie’s most notable achievements were leading Phi Chapter to its first Rock Chapter recognition, the first Chapter of the Year award from LSU, and the creation of Rock for Reclaimed, the chapter’s philanthropy that has raised over $170,000 in its first three years.
“Charlie is the epitome of what it means to be an intentional thinker, dedicated student, and driven leader. In my time advising Charlie, I have observed his strong work ethic, his ability to adapt to any situation, and his caring interpersonal skills. Charlie always meets position expectations and communication is a strong suit. His ability to time-manage and prioritize his tasks is a quality that is important to note. Charlie is soft-spoken but has intelligent and thoughtful words to share. Working with Charlie is a highlight of my role at LSU.” - Shawna Eberhard-Smith, Director of Greek Life, Louisiana State University
Alpha #704 – Gareth L. Morton (Central Oklahoma)
Gareth Morton graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a 3.98 GPA in Political Science. He served the Mu Tau Chapter as Lieutenant Commander, Marshal, and Alumni Relations Chairman and as a member of the House Manager’s Committee.
Within his campus community, Gareth was heavily involved in organizations outside of the chapter, including service as the Director of Recruitment and Talent Acquisition for TEDxUCO, Senator and member of the Ways and Means Committee within the UCO Student Association, Director of Campus Connections for Central Pantry, and Team Lead for Broncho Bites, a campus sustainability initiative.
“I can honestly say that I have never worked with a student who is so devoted to the many positions they hold while also maintaining peak academic excellence. I first met Gareth when he came by my office with some ideas for the Central Pantry, UCO’s on-campus food pantry. From that first interaction, I knew that Gareth was someone who would make a difference on campus…I constantly see his passion for hard work, people, and for serving and guiding those around him. Many students that I work with are very good at balancing involvement or very good at balancing academics. Gareth stands out as the student who has figured out how to balance all of it at the same time.” - Nicole Doherty, Director of Community Engagement, University of Central Oklahoma
Alpha #705 – Cole M. Murdoch (UC Davis)
Cole Murdoch graduated from the University of California, Davis, with a 3.60 GPA in Political Science and a concentration in Public Service. He served the Zeta Xi Chapter as Commander and member of the Recruitment, Alumni, and Housing Committees. The UCD IFC recognized him as President of the Year for his service as a Commander.
Outside of his chapter, Cole was involved in the UC Student Association as an Executive Board Member and held numerous positions with the Associated Students of UC Davis. Cole also spent much of his collegiate time working on numerous political campaigns across California. Cole is now pursuing his Master of Education at the University of Southern California and wants to work professionally in the field of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
“Over the past 35 years in manufacturing and finance, I managed hundreds of employees and managers. As a business coach, I have developed dozens of leaders to high achievement. I have extremely high standards and do not pass out praises or even recommendations casually. I can honestly say that Cole is as good an individual contributor and leader as I have seen in either my career or personal life. He is the kind of man that I look for and promote in my own business endeavors. He is extremely talented and has the character, confidence, persistence, and teachability it takes to succeed. “ - Michael Wheeler (UC Davis), Chapter Advisor for the Zeta Xi Chapter
Alpha #706 – Rafael "Ralph" Ortiz, III (Arizona State)
Ralph Ortiz graduated from Arizona State University with a 3.75 GPA in Astrophysics. He served the Zeta Upsilon Chapter as a Risk Reduction Officer and the chapter’s Involvement Chairman.
Ralph’s involvement in his campus community was extensive. Ralph held many positions of leadership, including service as President of the Order of Omega, Chief of Staff for The Leadership Forum, Director and Senator for the Undergraduate Student Government, Community Assistant for ASU Fraternity and Sorority Life, a Student Success Advisor for NASA L’SPACE Academy, a Student Ambassador for ASU Space, and the Founder and Vice President for the campus Consciousness Club.
“This year, Ralph was recognized as the Outstanding Undergraduate of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Dean’s Medalist for the School of Earth and Space Exploration, and was awarded the title of Outstanding Graduate in Research by the Honors College, recognizing his significant contributions to research with the James Webb Space Telescope at ASU. It is exceedingly rare for a student at ASU, the largest university in the world, to receive all three of these prestigious awards simultaneously. In addition to his academic excellence, Ralph has been a devoted member of Sigma Nu. Ralph is a man of honor whose character is beyond reproach, making him an outstanding individual who will continue to serve Sigma Nu throughout his life.” - Scott Rutledge (Arizona State), Chapter Advisor for the Zeta Upsilon Chapter
Alpha #707 – Bailey S. Powledge (Arizona State)
Bailey Powledge graduated from Arizona State University with a 3.30 GPA in Marketing and Sports Business. He served the Zeta Upsilon Chapter as Commander, Chaplain, Sentinel, Social Chairman, and member of several chapter committees. While serving as Commander, he was named IFC President of the Year, and he led the Zeta Upsilon Chapter to local and national recognition, including recognition as a Rock Chapter, IFC Chapter of the Year, and NIC Chapter of Distinction.
Within the ASU community, Bailey served as the Vice President of Risk Management and Member Development for IFC, the Vice President of Marketing for Order of Omega, and as the Head Personal Trainer for the Sun Devil Fitness Center.
“Bailey's accolades speak volumes about his exceptional leadership qualities and dedication to service. From being named New Member of the Year to receiving the Officer of the Year award at Zeta Upsilon to being a finalist for various honors, such as the ASU President of the Year, Bailey has consistently set a standard of excellence that is truly commendable. Importantly, Bailey has balanced his academic, professional, and extracurricular responsibilities with incredible diligence. His ability to excel academically and hold leadership positions while working part-time and full-time is a testament to his strong work ethic and time management skills. I am confident that Bailey will continue to be a driving force for positive change within Sigma Nu and the broader community, all while leading with Love, Truth, and Honor.” - John Hopkins (Arizona State), Member of the Zeta Upsilon Alumni Advisory Board
Alpha #708 – Brandon D. Vogt (Southeast Missouri State)
Brandon Vogt graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a 3.97 GPA in Secondary Social Studies Education. He served Mu Kappa Chapter as Lieutenant Commander, Chaplain, and Community Service Chairman and was an active member of many of the chapter’s committees, including Recruitment, LEAD, Bylaws, and Risk Reduction.
Brandon held many leadership positions within the SEMO community, including President of the Order of Omega, SGA Senator, and Vice President of Iota Chi, a Greek-led organization to bring awareness to and eliminate sexual assault, discrimination, and violence on campus. Brandon was also an active member of SEMO IFC, holding positions as Vice President of Judicial Affairs and Vice President of Community Service and Philanthropy. Brandon was named SEMO’s 2024 IFC Greek Man of the Year for his leadership within his chapter and the community. He was also the First Runner-Up for SEMO Man of the Year.
“Brandon is a young man of uncommon honor and character. He is a student leader who can be counted on to both say and do the right thing, especially in critical moments. More importantly, Brandon leads others to live lives of achievement and philanthropy. He is beloved by his fellow students, faculty, and staff and can always be counted on to lift up those with whom he interacts. The rise of Mu Kappa’s regard as men of character, scholarship, kindness, and service among the campus and local communities is a direct reflection of Brandon’s example.” - Dr. Trae Mitten, Dean of Students, Southeast Missouri State University
Alpha #709 – Christian E. Winingar (Missouri S&T)
Christian Winingar graduated from Missouri University of Science and Technology with a 3.82 GPA in Electrical Engineering. He served the Gamma Xi Chapter as Commander, Service Chairman, Alumni Relations Chairman, and as the Chairman for the chapter’s 120th Homecoming celebration.
He held several leadership roles within his community, including IFC Greek Week Chairman, Fundraising Chair and Secretary of the IEEE Student Branch, and President of IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu. While leading IEEE-HKN, Christian helped the chapter earn the Outstanding Student Chapter Award each year he was a member. This award is the highest honor an IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu Chapter can receive.
“I’ve had the opportunity to work with Christian in multiple roles throughout his campus experience – most significantly as Commander of the Gamma Xi Chapter, the chapter’s IFC representative, and leader of the Eta Kappa Nu honor society. In every role, he left the organization in a stronger position to succeed in the future than when he began. Christian embraced the challenge of leading the Gamma Xi Chapter through a revision of their brotherhood and commitment to the values of the Fraternity. As Commander, he took several key steps to reorient the membership toward defining the concept of a fraternity for the campus. His actions included a strategy that established a clear vision focused on accountability, relationships, recruitment, and action, which has remained engrained in chapter leaders over one and a half terms since his term ended.” - John Gallagher, Director of Student Involvement and Assistant Dean of Students, Missouri University of Science and Technology