Chapter of the Year

The Alpha Sigma Nu Board of Directors is pleased to announce the 2021-2022 Alpha Sigma Nu Chapter of the Year award winners. The awards honor student chapters truly exemplifying exceptional chapter programming that embodies the Alpha Sigma Nu tenets of scholarship, loyalty and service. Each year, student chapters are awarded for adding immense value to Alpha Sigma Nu membership in the following categories: overall chapter of the year, best scholarship programming, best loyalty programming and best service programming. The past two years the following categories have been awarded: best incorporation of diversity and inclusion measures in induction and best chapter innovation. The winners in these categories demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility and original and creative programming during these unique and challenging times. Alpha Sigma Nu is proud of the inspiring work taking place across all our member campuses and for the opportunity to highlight and recognize those who have been extraordinary in their efforts. Each winning chapter will receive a framed certificate and a financial contribution for chapter programming for the next academic year. In this year of continued uncertainty and instability, we at Alpha Sigma Nu commend our student chapters for their perpetual resilience, energy and fortitude to promote the ASN mission, engaging with members, partnering with their campuses, creating original programming, and serving our communities. The winners were announced on Instagram Live by Alpha Sigma Nu board members, Francisco Sánchez Cuéllar, Loyola Andalucía '17 and Maria Meyer, Boston College '18. If you missed the live announcement, visit ASN’s Instagram page at www.instagram.com/alphasigmanu to view a recording.

Six awards honor outstanding work by our chapters this year. We congratulate all the winning chapters and their hardworking leaders!

Overall Chapter of the Year: Universidad del Pacífico

The 2022 overall Chapter of the Year is Universidad del Pacífico. Even though they are a smaller chapter in size, UDP exceeded in executing superior programming and promotion of the ASN ideals. The executive board of the ASN chapter at UDP, led by Carla Macedo, consistently promoted the ASN and Jesuit mission. UDP demonstrated the promotion of scholarship by recognizing outstanding students from the previous year at their academic year opening ceremony. Through their Christmas campaign, UDP donated toys and food baskets to the underprivileged in partnership with Creere Perú, providing a service to the local community. They engaged with other ASN chapters by participating in the “Caring for our Common Home: A Hope Filled Future” event in alliance with ACSOS Peru and John Carroll University. The chapter was actively involved in the campus community by writing over four hundred thank you notes expressing gratitude to the Universidad del Pacífico community and leading workshops for university administration children. Further, the ASN chapter at UDP leveraged social media to introduce nonprofits to university students. We congratulate this chapter on their efforts to increase visibility of ASN on campus and build awareness of Ignatian spirituality.

Best Scholarship Programming: Fordham University

Through the past year, led by chapter president, Jin Lin Chen, the Fordham University chapter demonstrated excellence in scholarship programming. The Fordham University chapter’s strong leadership is exhibited through their consistent programming efforts each year. They participated in an Executive Leadership Series where ASN members joined the university’s President’s Council for an in-depth discussion with Fordham alumni and conducted a Young Alumni Club Career Night where ASN alumni members from various professions joined together for networking. The Fordham University ASN chapter further participated in various lectures including Unearthing Buried Narratives: Reconstructing Experiences of Enslaved People Through Jesuit Records, the 17th Annual Rita Cassella Jones Lecture the Juncture of Worlds: Scholarship as a Way of Life and Living as a Scholarly Practice, Lenten Forum on Housing Instability, and Immigration Justice and Covid 19 w/Jairo Guzman, President Mexican Coalition. This year, the Fordham University ASN chapter regularly engaged with their campus community and promoted scholarly dialogue on important and relevant global topics including social justice initiatives.

Best Loyalty Programming: Marquette University

Through the Ignatian year and the marking of the 500th anniversary of St. Ignatius' cannonball moment, the ASN chapter at Marquette University created outstanding programming demonstrating loyalty and a commitment to the Jesuit mission. The chapter coordinated an event where university and ASN students wrote down their “cannonball moment” on balls resembling cannonballs. These personalized pieces were placed in a display in the student union on campus. The chapter held another event for the campus community where ASN members interacted with students and discussed ASN, Jesuit values and personal cannonball moments. These activities furthered the ASN mission and immersed the campus community in the promotion of the Jesuit ideals. We are impressed with Marquette University chapter’s connection to the Jesuits and unique programming to engage the campus community.

Best Service Programming: Universidad Loyola Andalucía

The ASN Chapter at Universidad Loyola Andalucía consistently creates outstanding service programming. The chapter’s exemplary leadership team imagines and executes events that immerse student members, alumni, the university and local community into partnership and participation in activities that further the Jesuit mission. This year, led by chapter president, Juan Galera Calleja, the Andalucía chapter coordinated the creation and delivery of two hundred stress relief packs for finals season and organized a “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” simulation with reflection sessions on the Sevilla and Córdoba campuses in partnership with various university departments and local organizations. The chapter further demonstrated their commitment to service by coordinating a tree planting and immersive experience with members from Alpha Sigma Nu and the campus community at a local sustainability farm focused on reintegrating excluded individuals back into society. At this event, ASN members and the campus community spent the day with the employees at the farm who are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. These employees are taught professional skills that can be applied to future jobs once they depart the farm.

Incorporation of Diversity & Inclusion Measures in Induction: Rockhurst University

The chapter for the best Incorporation of Diversity & Inclusion Measures in Induction goes to Rockhurst University, led by chapter president, Taylor McCarthy. This year, the ASN chapter at Rockhurst University included a preamble to their induction ceremony with a land and labor acknowledgement. The ceremony also incorporated a moment to recognize current events and the impact on members of ASN and humanity. The moment specifically focused on the invasion of Ukraine and called for ASN members to be the change to create a more inclusive global society. Rockhurst University’s inclusion of a land and labor acknowledgement along with the moment of reflection and prayer focusing on social justice is an excellent example of using Ignatian spirituality practices of embracing prayer and discernment towards a life of service to others.

Chapter Innovation: John Carroll University

In honor of the Ignatian Year, John Carroll University, led by chapter president, Jonathan Sandstrom, hosted an International Student Panel: Caring for our Common Home: Our Hope Filled Future. Over 250 individuals participated in the virtual presentation from all over the world including representation from Lima, Peru, Loyola Chicago, Spain, India, South Africa, and Belize's St. Johns College. The ASN chapter at John Carroll University partnered with AJCU, the ASN central office and the Society of Jesus to bring together hundreds of individuals with a deep commitment to care for our global environment. At the event, students were given the opportunity to share their thoughts about the environment and what actions they personally and collectively take to care for our earth. The innovative event created a space for dialogue directly focusing on the Universal Apostolic Preference of Caring for Our Common Home. Widespread promotion pre-event and broad distribution of the recorded event post-event increased awareness and discussions surrounding our environment, thus furthering the mission of the event. The event proved successful in energizing and motivating participants.