We are proud to announce that Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), of Relay For Life of James Madison University (Virginia), has been named the 2025 Nationwide Campus Team of the Year as part of the Pat Flynn Spirit of Relay Awards. This honor recognizes a campus team that exemplifies the Spirit of Relay through outstanding fundraising growth, deep mission integration, and student-led leadership.
In 2025, SAE achieved their strongest fundraising year yet, raising $35,284—an increase of more than $7,000 over the previous year—while engaging an impressive 106 registered members in Relay For Life. SAE has continued to grow their impact and serve as a cornerstone of the JMU Relay community.
SAE is known for its creative, high-energy fundraising approach, including restaurant fundraisers, a campus 5K, and their inaugural Paddy Murphy Week, featuring events like “Pie Alpha,” a car wash, and a volleyball tournament with sororities that drew more than 80 participants. The team also partners with local businesses, uses peer-to-peer promotion, and integrates mission storytelling through personal cancer experiences shared by members.
Beyond fundraising, SAE actively works to expand Relay’s reach across campus. The team encourages other Greek organizations to form teams, collaborates with student leaders, and has members serving on the Relay executive board—helping shape the overall campus event experience. Their leadership, collaboration, and heart for the mission make them a powerful example of what student-driven Relay can achieve.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon demonstrates that when students lead with passion, creativity, and purpose, they can build something bigger than themselves—and leave a lasting impact in the fight to end cancer as we know it.
To view all 2025 Pat Flynn Spirit of Relay Award winners, visit RelayForLife.org/2025awards.