Small but Mighty: How UA Little Rock’s Kappa Sigma is Making a Difference in Academics, Service, and Brotherhood

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Theta Eta Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity is proving that size is no measure of success. With just over 20 active members, the fraternity has achieved remarkable growth over the past year. The chapter has earned national recognition for academic excellence, logging thousands of community service hours, and raising tens of thousands of dollars for charitable causes.

Their efforts culminated this summer when Kappa Sigma received two national awards from the fraternity’s international headquarters: the Academic Excellence Award and the Silver Bowl Award, recognizing chapters that maintain a GPA higher than the all-men’s campus average for three consecutive years.

A Year of Record Growth

Under the leadership of President Ryan Gillenwater, a junior finance and real estate major from Little Rock, the chapter has experienced one of its most successful years in recent memory.

“We’ve all worked really hard these past two years, especially on academics,” Gillenwater said. “We make sure every member stays on top of their classes. If someone falls behind, we create an action plan that includes study hours, tutoring, or pairing them with a study partner. We want to show that academics are just as important as leadership and service.”

The results speak for themselves. Kappa Sigma’s chapter GPA rose from 2.9 to 3.2, now standing 20 percent higher than the all-men’s campus average. Beyond the classroom, the fraternity more than doubled its community service from 883 hours to over 2,000 in a single year. Members participated in cleanup projects along Coleman Creek, volunteered at community festivals, and assisted with events like the Paul Dunn Classic golf tournament, which raises funds for ALS research.

The chapter also raised nearly $17,000 for charitable causes during the 2024-25 academic year, which is a giant leap from just a few hundred dollars raised the previous year. Much of this success comes from the fraternity’s commitment to the Kappa Sigma Military Heroes Campaign, a nationwide initiative supporting veterans and first responders.

“One of the organizations we support is Sons of the Flag, which helps revolutionize burn care for veterans and first responders,” Gillenwater explained. “We take pride in making sure the money we raise goes directly toward helping people who have served.”

The chapter’s spirit of service also thrives on collaboration. Members have partnered with groups like Keep Arkansas Beautiful, the UA Little Rock Sustainability Club, and Delta Chi Fraternity to organize monthly volunteer projects.

“We just try to be better every year,” Gillenwater said. “It’s about branching out, building partnerships, and making a positive impact both on campus and in the community.”

Brotherhood that Builds Leaders

For Jeremy Laxton, the chapter’s advisor and a 2011 UA Little Rock graduate who first joined Kappa Sigma in 2004, watching the fraternity’s growth has been deeply rewarding.

“I am so proud of the hard work our undergraduates have accomplished,” Laxton said. “They’ve set high goals for themselves and are achieving them. Out of all eight Kappa Sigma chapters in Arkansas, UA Little Rock’s is currently outperforming them overall.”

Laxton, who served twice as chapter president and later as Interfraternity Council president, said the fraternity helped him develop leadership and organizational skills that continue to benefit him professionally. As the university’s undergraduate recruitment manager in the Office of Admissions, he now helps guide a new generation of Trojans; many of whom are discovering the same opportunities for personal growth that Kappa Sigma offers.

“The leadership experiences I gained through Kappa Sigma shaped who I am today,” Laxton said. “I see those same qualities in our current members. They’ve brought new energy, accountability, and pride to the chapter.”

Building for the Future

Today, Kappa Sigma boasts 21 active members and nearly 20 pledges in training. The fraternity’s momentum continues to build as it sets its sights on earning the Founder’s Award for Chapter Excellence, the highest honor a Kappa Sigma chapter can receive.

“We were just two points away from earning it last year,” Gillenwater said. “I’m confident we’ll get it this time. We tell ourselves that we’re always moving the goalpost. We’re always striving to be better than we were yesterday.”

Beyond the accolades, the fraternity’s greatest accomplishment may be the lasting impact it has on its members.

“Kappa Sigma has taught me what it means to make an impact—on campus, in the community, and in life,” Gillenwater said. “The brotherhood here is phenomenal. You gain a support system, lifelong friends, and connections that last well beyond college.”

For a small fraternity with big goals, Kappa Sigma’s story is a great example of what happens when dedication meets purpose.

“We may be small, but we’re proving every day that determination, leadership, and unity can make a huge difference,” Laxton said.