Recognizing a lifetime of service and loyalty to the Fraternity, the Distinguished Service Award is the highest individual award a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon may receive. Their actions exhibit their understanding of the Fraternity’s teachings, adherence to Fraternity Laws, attention to promoting its welfare, and exemplary conduct that guards its honor and high standing.
The Fraternity has 355,000+ initiated members; only 159 have been recognized with the Distinguished Service Award. Thomas J. Dement II (Middle Tennessee State ‘90) is the most recent recipient, which was awarded on June 17, 2023, at Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s 167th Anniversary Convention.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon has been an integral part of Tom’s entire adult life. He held leadership positions with both local House Corporation and Alumni Association and is still heavily involved with both. He also served several collegiate chapters as their Chapter Advisor and has been a regular faculty member for several Province Leadership Schools and the John O. Moseley Leadership School. For nearly a decade, he served as a Province Archon, with four of those years as Chairman of the Council of Province Archons. Tom also served on the Permanent Committee on Fraternity Laws and Permanent Committee on the Ritual, both of which he also served as Chairman.
A well-known ritualist, Tom has participated in numerous chapter installations over the past several years and conducted many special initiations throughout the Realm. In 2011, he helped create and launch the DeVotie Ritual Institute – a staple program of SAE and the first ritual-based program for any fraternity or sorority. In 2009, he was elected to the Supreme Council, ultimately serving as our Eminent Supreme Archon from 2017 to 2019. As such, Tom has already been recognized with the Order of the Lion, the Order of Minerva, and the Merit Key Award.
Congratulations to Thomas J. Dement II, the 159th recipient of Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s Distinguished Service Award.
