The David Harrop Memorial Scholarship

Every year, Sigma Pi awards one junior member of the fraternity the David Harrop Memorial Scholarship. This $1,000 award is given to the brother who demonstrates academic excellence while leading and supporting Sigma Pi, as well as staying active and giving back to the local Ithaca community.

The 2020 David Harrop Memorial Scholarship Recipient:
Chris Cavanaugh ’21

Chris Cavanaugh is a senior at Cornell’s College of Engineering, pursuing his Bachelor of Engineering in mechanical engineering. While academics are Chris’s top priority, his leadership skills and extracurricular involvement prove to be equally as compelling for Chris. He has served as Mu Chapter’s sage (2019–’20), and his list of other involvements is just as impressive, such as being TA for AEP 1200, Intro Nanoscience, and his current internship as a technical engineering for GE Aviation.

To close, here are Chris’s thoughts on his experience as a Pi man: “Sigma Pi has been a key component of my undergraduate experience and an invaluable support system throughout all my academic and professional endeavors. In my first year, I relied on Sigma Pi to provide me with a sense of community and connection that is hard to find at such a large university. As I continued through my academic career, Sigma Pi introduced me to excellent role models with experienced advice across all disciplines. When it was time to transition my focus to my professional career and life after college, I once again could rely on the brothers of Sigma Pi to teach me how to be proactive and competitive during the recruiting process. Through my leadership roles with Sigma Pi, such as diversity and inclusion chair, brotherhood chair, and sage, I have attained leadership and communication skills that I will put to great use for the rest of my life. I am incredibly grateful for the learning environment Sigma Pi created for me, and I strive to ensure that all undergraduates continue to experience this ecosystem and reap the benefits.”