History of Gamma Iota Sigma

Gamma Iota Sigma (GIS) was founded in 1965 through the efforts of Warren L. Weeks and the Griffith Insurance Foundation.   The first chapter was chartered in April 1966 at The Ohio State University. At Bowling Green State University, the Beta Chapter received its charter in 1967, and in 1969, the University of Cincinnati was chartered as the Gamma Chapter.  

Gamma Iota Sigma is an international professional fraternity with 95 Chapters Nationwide with 6,000+ members organized to promote, encourage, and sustain student interest in insurance, risk management, and actuarial science as professions. Gamma aims to encourage high moral and scholastic attainments and to facilitate the interaction and cooperation of educational institutions, industry, and professional organizations by fostering research, scholarship, and improved public relations. 

A Grand Chapter or Executive Committee of Gamma Iota Sigma was formed from the original fraternity planning committee, appointed by the Griffith Foundation. The first Grand Chapter President was Warren L. Weeks, then a Griffith Foundation trustee. It was his commitment to the concept of a national student organization that lead to the formation of Gamma Iota Sigma. 

The rationale behind establishing a national student organization, as envisioned by the founders were:

• A national fraternity has more prestige than a local society or club

• It would facilitate communication and participation with chapter members throughout the country 

• By combining with others, the impact of the fraternity's name as a visible entity would be enhanced

• By emphasizing scholarship and leadership qualities, ties between the college membership and industry leaders would be developed and

• There would be a synergy of academic creativity beyond the boundaries of any given university 

Symbols of Gamma Iota Sigma

Gamma Iota Sigma Emblem

The Emblem is a shield in the shape of an inverted triangle. Inside the narrow border are greek letters for Gamma Iota Sigma. Each of the three sides symbolizes three of the four fraternal ideals. 

Gamma Iota Sigma Coat of Arms

The Coat of Arms for Gamma Iota Sigma is in the shape of what is known as a fire mark. Fire marks were made of iron and placed on the exterior of the buildings on insured properties to identify the specific fire company that, in the event of a fire, would serve to extinguish it. The fire mark is decorated with the symbol of the four clasped right hands. Each hand is representative of one of the four ideals upon which the fraternity is based: friendship, knowledge, integrity, and fidelity. Beneath clasped hands are the Greek letters for Gamma Iota Sigma.