James McClean Receives the 2026 William J. Worthen Award
The William Worthen Award, established in 2017, honors the memory of William Worthen (EH 879) by recognizing those who exemplify his enduring commitment to leadership, service, and dedication to Epsilon Eta.
As an undergraduate, Worthen served as High Delta (Recruitment Chair) and High Alpha (President), earning the Grand High Alpha Award for his leadership. He was instrumental in the design and development of the chapter’s current house, leaving a lasting physical and organizational legacy. Beyond the chapter, Worthen distinguished himself through his involvement on campus as both a Resident Assistant and orientation leader, embodying the character and initiative for which he is remembered.
Through this award, we recognize individuals who reflect the same drive, leadership, and commitment that defined Worthen’s time at Epsilon Eta. This year marks the 10th presentation of this distinction.
The award was presented on April 5th by Joe Salo (EH 771).
This year’s recipient is James McClean (EH 1525), who, as described by Salo, “has been, without a doubt, one of the most active members of the chapter” and has made a meaningful impact since joining the chapter in Spring 2023.
James with the William J. Worthen plaque.
James first stepped into leadership as High Theta (Vice President External) in Spring 2024, where he helped lead the chapter’s philanthropic efforts, including food drives and other events supporting the local community. He approached this role with care and responsibility, helping strengthen the chapter’s presence beyond campus.
James then raised his hand to serve as High Delta (Recruitment Chair) for the Fall 2024 recruitment cycle during a challenging time for the Greek Rush. After a semester that brought in only three new members, set out rethink how recruitment should work. He introduced what he called the “Brother On” approach, where brothers seek to build real connections with potential new members. While simple, this idea made a big difference. It helped shift recruitment to be more personal and intentional, and is still used today as a key part of the process. Because of this change and his leadership, the chapter saw strong results, recruiting eight new members in Fall 2024, many of whom are now active leaders.
Even during time away from a full semester schedule, James stayed engaged. In Summer 2024, while taking classes as part of the Arch program, he served as House Manager, ensuring the house remained in good condition while a smaller group of brothers lived there.
James has made the most of his time as a brother and the leadership opportunities available to him, serving as High Theta, High Delta, and now High Kappa (Fraternity Educator) for Spring 2026. He is highly involved and genuinely cares about the success and well-being of the chapter.
What stands out most about James is how he leads. He is calm, thoughtful, and steady. When tough decisions need to be made, brothers often say, “We should ask James,” because they know they will get a fair and well-thought-out answer.
James has made a lasting impact on the chapter through his leadership, his ideas, and the way he supports others. He is very deserving of the William J. Worthen Leadership Award.
