Steve Thayer
Kappa Kappa ’88
Throughout Steve Thayer’s life, he has truly brought a new luster to the White Cross of Sigma Chi. Steve Thayer was awarded for his hard work and dedication to the Kappa Kappa Chapter in 2013, when he was invited into the Order of Constantine. Steve was given this award because of the service he’s given to Sigma Chi since graduation. Post-graduation, he led a chapter renovation in 1991 and later went on to become the Kappa Kappa House Corporation president, the VP of Chicago area alumni, and a private foundation trustee. He has also started his own business, Handler Thayer LLP, using Sigma Chi as one of his largest attributes.
The connections he gained from our fraternity helped his firm grow to what it is today, most recently being awarded the Most Effective Private Client Legal Team in North America award by the Family Wealth Report. Other awards that Steve Thayer has been granted include the Chicago Illini of the year in 2018, awarded by the University of Illinois Alumni Association and Chicago Illini Club, Real Estate Lawyer of the Year, awarded by Acquisition Finance Magazine, and Leading Lawyer of Illinois from 2010 to 2017. Steve was also selected in Illinois Super Lawyer magazine in 2007. The Kappa Kappa Chapter is proud to say that Steve Thayer and our chapter have a reciprocal bond that has helped both parties grow and succeed throughout the years.
Scott Altman
Kappa Kappa ’81
Scott Altman graduated from the University of Illinois in 1981 and went on to do incredible things. Brother Altman has had a very decorated career, not only as an astronaut for NASA but also as a Sigma Chi. He was the keynote speaker in 2017 at Balfour Leadership Training Workshop, which was held at Bowling Green State University. He is also a Significant Sig. Early after college, he joined the United States Navy, which eventually led to him being deployed twice in the western Pacific and Indian oceans while flying an F-14A Tomcat. He was awarded an Air Medal for his role in southern Iraq. After his career in the Navy, he was selected to be a NASA astronaut. He piloted the STS-90 and STS-106 and was the mission commander on the STS-109 and STS-125. He has logged over 40 days in space and even did many stunts in the movie Top Gun. We salute you, brother Altman!