Former Penn State fraternity has donated more than $1 million in scholarships

Talk about fraternities lately and people might expect bad behavior, alcohol and vandalism.

One Penn State fraternity would rather have their name synonymous with philanthropy, education and an historic tradition of real brotherhood.

The fraternity is Phi Sigma Delta, a group of men whose national organization ceased years ago. At Penn State, however, it kept going as an independent group. When even its local group folded in 2001, that didn’t sever the bonds. Instead of going their separate ways, they pulled together and kept a presence on campus that is so much more than a house.

This year, 90 years after Phi Sigma Delta first opened its doors at the university, they will make a gift to Penn State that will put them over $1 million in supporting scholarships.

They started in 1976 with a few thousand here and there, giving scholarships without much direction. Today they work with Penn State’s Office of Student Aid to keep the criteria on point. Recipients have to have at least a 3.0 GPA and they have to have a financial need.

In return, the brothers of Phi Sigma Delta give a variety of scholarships, in different amounts.

There are 16 that were established in memory of loved ones or in honor of others. Those put $5,000 in student accounts.

There are eight more in honor of the deans of different colleges. Those $2,500 awards are selected by the deans.

“Over the years, as this thing has grown, when we had our reunions, we decided to honor our founders, so we donated four trustee scholarships,” said Jim Meister, Phi Sigma Delta’s scholarship chairman. Giving to the university is nothing new for Meister, who retired from Alcoa only to become a special assistant to Penn State’s athletic director. Steering the way people give money is part of what he has done best, as he developed a marketing campaign for the suites and club seats at Beaver Stadium.

But when it comes to the scholarships, Meister credits Harold “Hal” Hein, Class of 1945, as the catalyst. He said Hein frequently met someone in the dining hall, liked him and gave him a scholarship.

The group has also given $25,000 to the Nittany Lion Club to support Penn State student-athletes.

They don’t just give as a group, either. According to the university, the 646 Penn State alumni’s individual contributions to the school have approached $40 million.

“We just want to help as many people as possible,” said education foundation president John Bernstein.

The scholarships are given gladly, but they also come with a reservation that encourages a connection between the brothers and their recipients. Before the money is received, there has to be a thank-you note sent to the donor or his family. It’s more than just polite. It’s also a touchstone. Scholars are also brought to a brunch with the brothers when they meet on a Nittany Lion football weekend, something Meister says has resulted in networking and jobs.

It might have taken 49 years to get to the $1 million mark, but Meister says the giving will be increasing as funds from the sale of the former fraternity house are directed into education.

“We hope to hit the second million mark within a decade,” said Bernstein.

This story was originally published September 1, 2015 at 9:33 PM with the headline "Former Penn State fraternity has donated more than $1 million in scholarships."