Contest Sponsors

Thank you to IDEAL and the Sigma Pi Fraternity as the creators and sponsors of the Dr. Michael N. Compton Essay Contest:

Dr. Compton, a 1970 graduate of MSU, wanted IDEAL to support the Public Affairs mission of the University. He envisioned an essay contest as the vehicle for achieving that support. The conduct of the contest is a joint undertaking between the Alpha Rho Chapter, IDEAL, its alumni, and the faculty and staff of MSU.

Sigma Pi Fraternity: Alpha Rho Chapter

Sigma Pi Fraternity was founded in 1897 at Vincennes University, in Vincennes, Indiana. Our Executive Office is located in Lebanon, Tennessee. The Fraternity is one of the top men’s collegiate organizations in North America, with more than 120 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada. With over 100,000 alumni and 5,300 undergraduates; our men strive for excellence by living our core values to promote fellowship, develop character and leadership, advance heightened moral awareness, enable academic achievement, and inspire service. Sigma Pi is the only Greek letter organization with an international service program, The ACE Project, specifically designed to give back to our host institutions.

IDEAL: Institute for Development of Ethics and Leadership

IDEAL is a non-profit organization established by the alumni of the Alpha Rho Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity at MSU with the mission to further the development of ethics and leadership in the men of the fraternity. Dr. Compton, a 1970 graduate of MSU, wanted IDEAL to support the Public Affairs mission of the University. He envisioned an essay contest as the vehicle for achieving that support. The conduct of the contest is a joint undertaking between the Alpha Rho Chapter, its alumni, and the faculty and staff of MSU.

MSU Political Science and Philosophy Department

The Department of Political Science and Philosophy will again sponsor two 2nd place prizes of $300 each in the form of MSU Bookstore gift cards.