May 16, 2025
Phi Delta Theta honors all active duty, reserve, honorably discharged, and veteran United States and Canadian armed forces members on Armed Forces Day and Canadian Forces Day. In conjunction with these observances, the Phi Delta Theta Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of the Valor Scholarship which will be made possible in perpetuity through the financial support of Henry Heren, Lt Col, USSF [Ret], UNLV ’99 and his wife Karla Heren, Lt Col, USAF [Ret]; additional immediate impact dollars are available thanks to Donald F. Schenk Brig. Gen., USA, Ret., McDaniel ’71 while the corpus of the fund grows in the endowment.
The Valor Scholarship supports undergraduate or graduate members of Phi Delta Theta who have served, are currently serving, or are committed to serving in any branch or component of the U.S. or Canadian Armed Forces. The scholarship honors the diverse and honorable paths of service taken by members of the Phi Delt Nation. The inaugural scholarship was awarded in 2024 to Brother Mateo Portelli of Nevada Beta. The 2025 recipient will be announced in the coming weeks. Applicants can apply for the 2026 award by completing the undergraduate scholarship application in myPhiDelt.
Armed Forces Day—observed in the United States on the third Saturday of May and in Canada on the first Sunday of June—is perhaps the least known of the three annual days honoring those who serve. Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is observed in the United States on the last Monday of May to recognize those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Veterans Day (Remembrance Day in Canada), observed on November 11, honors all who have served. This lesser-known holiday honors those serving in both nations on different dates. In the United States, it was established in 1949 by the Secretary of Defense and first observed in 1950 following a proclamation by President Harry Truman. In Canada, it was formally recognized in 2002 when Prime Minister Jean Chrétien declared that the first Sunday of June would be Canadian Forces Day.
Brothers Heren and Schenk are members of the Military Phis group which supports Phi Delts who serve or have served in the military. Established in 2018, the group offers direct email communication, private Facebook and LinkedIn groups, and one-on-one mentoring. It provides a robust network for Brothers navigating military service and post-service life, aligning directly with the Fraternity’s Phi Delt 2030 strategic initiative for Member Development and Engagement. If you want to learn more about Military Phis, email militaryphis@gmail.com or complete this registration form.
On this Armed Forces Day and Canadian Forces Day, we offer a moment to pause, reflect, and say “Thank You” to those serving our countries with honor, and support military-affiliated undergraduates through the new Valor Scholarship, administered by the Phi Delta Theta Foundation.
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