Opportunities

Grants, Scholarships & Awards

This page provides information about the Southwest District Alumni Association's Grants, Scholarships, and Awards. We encourage you to check our Linktree regularly for current opportunities, submission deadlines, and additional details.

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Scholarship · $100

Ritual Scholarship

This scholarship is intended to award chapters whose ritual supplies are in disrepair or damaged so that the chapter can afford to buy new items. One chapter from Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma in the Southwest District will receive $100 to purchase ritual supplies for their chapter. The selected recipients will be announced on the last day of District Convention. Please relay any questions to our Programs Director at swdaaprograms@gmail.com.

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Graduating Seniors & New Alumni

D.C. al Coda

D.C. al Coda is a way for graduating seniors and alumni who have yet to connect with SWDAA to connect with the organization and help their chapter earn an awesome prize. To participate, fill out the form with your name, email, affiliation, chapter, and graduation year. Your name will count towards your chapter and will help your chapter win. One chapter from Tau Beta Sigma and one chapter from Kappa Kappa Psi will be randomly selected to win a $50 gift card your chapter can use to have a graduation celebration for your members. The more people from your chapter who participate, the better your chances of winning! Email our Membership Director at swdaamembership@gmail.com if you have any questions!

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Grant · $50 Visa Gift Card

SWDAA for Education

SWDAA For Education recognizes alumni educators within the Southwest District who dedicate their lives to enriching the lives of others through education. This initiative celebrates the impact educators have on their students and communities while highlighting the outstanding work of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma alumni serving in education.

How It Works

Any SWDAA member or active member of Kappa Kappa Psi or Tau Beta Sigma may nominate an eligible educator. The Finance Committee and Board of Directors will select one recipient to receive a $50 Visa gift card to support their classroom efforts. All nominees will also be recognized through SWDAA social media.

Eligible Nominees Must

Be Alumni members of Kappa Kappa Psi or Tau Beta Sigma
Live and work in the Southwest District or be SWDAA members
Teach at any level or in any subject area
Have made a meaningful impact on their students during the current semester

Alumni status will be verified with National Headquarters before a recipient is selected.

Nominate an educator Past recipients

Kappa Kappa Psi · Alumni of the Year

Dionicio Cardenas Alumni of the Year Award

The Southwest District Alumni Association's Dionicio "Dino" Cardenas Alumni of the Year Award is presented annually to a member of Kappa Kappa Psi who was initiated in the Southwest District or currently resides within the Southwest District. The recipient must exemplify the ideals of Kappa Kappa Psi and actively support alumni and the continued growth of the Southwest District. The recipient will be announced annually at the Southwest District Convention.

This award is named in honor of Dionicio "Dino" Cardenas, a Life Member of the Alpha Psi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. Dino served his home chapter as Vice President for Membership while also serving the Southwest District as a Member-at-Large. He received the J. Lee Burke Student Achievement Award during the Centennial National Convention of Kappa Kappa Psi.

During the 2019–2021 Biennium, Dino served as Chair of the National Communications Committee, helping maintain connection and engagement among members during the COVID-19 pandemic. He later served the Southwest District Alumni Association as Communications Director from 2021–2023 and became the first Hispanic member to serve in a national leadership position within Kappa Kappa Psi as Communications Director of the Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association. Through his service, leadership, and dedication to the Brotherhood, Dino represents the spirit of service and commitment that this award seeks to recognize in alumni of the Southwest District.

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Tau Beta Sigma · Alumni of the Year

Chris Foster Alumni of the Year Award

The Southwest District Alumni Association's Chris Foster Alumni of the Year Award is presented annually to a member of Tau Beta Sigma who was initiated in the Southwest District or currently resides within the Southwest District. The recipient must exemplify the ideals of Tau Beta Sigma and actively support alumni and the continued growth of the Southwest District. The recipient will be announced annually at the Southwest District Convention.

This award is named in honor of Chris Foster, a Life Member of the Tau Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma. Chris was initiated in 1998 and has exemplified what it means to remain actively engaged as an alumnus, serving his chapter in numerous roles, including President, as well as serving the Southwest District as Secretary/Treasurer and President.

Chris was also a founding member of Alumni Network of the Southwest: Encouraging Relationships (ANSWER), the predecessor to the Southwest District Alumni Association. He went on to serve for many years on the Executive Council of the Tau Beta Sigma Alumni Association, playing an important role in its continued development. The lasting impact Chris has made on Tau Beta Sigma and its alumni community is significant, and this award honors his dedication to service, leadership, and lifelong involvement in the organization.

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