“Brothers Remembered, Brothers Honored” Update
The Brothers Remembered, Brothers Honored (BRBH) committee, in conjunction with the Alpha Sigma Foundation, presents this update on the BRBH Graduate Scholarship fund, based on the end of the past calendar year.
We recorded $140,282 of donations for the calendar year from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, with a total of 79 donors. This included $119,127 donated from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, with numerous donations during the 2-for-1 match period in the fall. Very impressive! Thanks to all who donated and especially to a few major donors and several new ones!
Our final balance at December 31, 2025, was $573,000. BAM! Our goal was to reach to 500K, but we more than exceeded our goal. We killed it! Many thanks to everyone.
This year, the BRBH committee had to say goodbye to past undergraduate committee representatives, including JT Tygart, who graduated, and Cam Dinkenor, who has been studying abroad. However, we have had the pleasure of welcoming new #1 Joss Gowar to the BRBH committee and appreciate his contributions already.
The committee met on May 13 to discuss nine applicants for consideration for a new scholarship: several more than any year before. We have one continuing scholarship from last year (Nolan Gingrich ’23; see progress report below) and one new scholarship to award this year (Scott Grant ’21; see news feature on this web site). Learn more about the BRBH committee and the scholarship here.
YITB,
The BRBH Committee
Progress Report of Nolan Gingrich ’23,
BRBH Recipient in 2025
During his second year at New England College of Optometry in Boston, Nolan Gingrich continued to make outstanding academic and professional progress. Scholarship support was used to offset increased tuition costs and to purchase a specialty contact-lens fitting kit required for his training. Nolan completed 45.25 credit hours across the summer, fall, and spring semesters while maintaining an exceptional cumulative GPA of 3.933.
His coursework included advanced studies in biochemistry, immunology, pharmacology, ocular disease, contact lenses, binocular vision, neural basis of vision, clinical medicine, and patient care. A major focus of the year was mastering the comprehensive eye examination process, particularly retinal evaluation techniques. Through extensive laboratory training, Nolan developed proficiency in binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy and optic nerve head assessment, gaining valuable hands-on experience in clinical skills essential for optometric practice.
In addition to classroom and laboratory work, Nolan began direct patient care through weekly clinical assignments at the South Boston Community Health Center. Under faculty supervision, he evaluated approximately 30 patients, strengthening his diagnostic abilities, clinical confidence, and professional judgment. Looking ahead, he anticipates further growth through expanded summer clinical rotations. Overall, this year represented an important transition from classroom learning to patient-centered care and marked significant advancement toward his goal of becoming a skilled practicing optometrist.
Brothers Remembered, Brothers Honored: 2026 Award Recipient
Scott Grant ’21
Scott Grant is an exceptional scholar, leader, and community servant whose academic and professional achievements reflect a deep commitment to education, entrepreneurship, and public impact. Scott earned degrees in history and interdisciplinary studies in 2021 while maintaining a 3.99 GPA and then earned a Master of Accounting in 2022. Scott has combined intellectual excellence with meaningful service throughout his career.
Growing up in Burlington, North Carolina, as the son of two teachers, Scott developed an early appreciation for the transformative power of education. This passion informed his honors thesis on South Korea’s post-war education reforms and continues to shape his long-term goal of acquiring and operating an education-focused business that creates economic opportunity within communities.
Professionally, Scott has built a strong foundation in finance through work in mergers and acquisitions advisory at Ernst and Young and investment roles at Blackstone Inc. He will begin the full-time MBA program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 2026, preparing for a career in entrepreneurship through acquisition.
Scott’s leadership and service record is equally impressive. As philanthropy chair of Alpha Sigma, he expanded support for PORCH, a nonprofit addressing food insecurity, and led successful fundraising initiatives. He also served on UNC’s Honor System Attorney General’s staff, tutored non-native English speakers through ENRICH, contributed to Business Cares, and continues to volunteer in New York through organizations supporting community development and small-business entrepreneurs.
Through his academic achievement, professional excellence, leadership, and dedication to serving others, Scott Grant exemplifies the values of scholarship, integrity, and community impact that this award seeks to recognize.
Learn more about this scholarship here.
Brothers Remembered, Brothers Honored: 2025 Award Recipient
John “Jack” Garside
John “Jack” Garside, a native of Raleigh, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in physics. As an undergraduate, Jack worked in the Branca Lab at UNC’s Biomedical Research Imaging Center, where he conducted advanced studies in nuclear medicine and imaging techniques. Jack’s work culminated in multiple published papers and extended into a full-time research role during his gap year before medical school, managing projects funded by the Department of Defense.
Jack’s time at UNC was marked by rich extracurricular involvement and leadership. He pledged Alpha Sigma in 2017, later holding several key positions, including social chair, rush chair, and initiation chair. Jack also volunteered extensively with the Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC), a student-run clinic providing free care to underserved populations, where he served in multiple roles, including Spanish interpreter and operations volunteer. He raised money for the UNC chapter of Timmy Global Health, which funded a medical brigade to serve the community in Tena, Ecuador. Finally, he worked as a photographer for The Daily Tar Heel.
Jack is currently a third-year medical student at the Georgetown University School of Medicine, with an interest in orthopedic surgery. Building on his strong undergraduate experiences, Jack continues to serve his academic and local communities in Washington, DC, leading a medical student mentorship program, tutoring peers, and volunteering with outreach efforts to support the local homeless population.