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Iota Epsilon brothers assisting a contestant during Delta Queen

ORANGE, Calif. – For Chapman University’s Iota Epsilon chapter of Delta Tau Delta, philanthropy has become much more than an annual commitment. Instead, it has become a defining part of the chapter’s identity, a tradition shared by generations of brothers, and an opportunity to make a lasting difference beyond the confines of the Fraternity.

It all began in 2008. That was the year that Iota Epsilon launched their annual Delta Queen, a pageant style competition which has since grown into a premiere philanthropic event at Chapman University. To date, the chapter has raised more than $2 million for Breakthrough T1D, demonstrating what can happen when a fraternity chapter fully commits itself to something greater than brotherhood, socials, and other traditional aspects of fraternity life.

Behind every dollar raised, however, some of those stories are especially personal. The chapter’s commitment to Breakthrough T1D has become even more meaningful through the personal connections its members and campus community have with Type 1 diabetes.

For brother Luke Weaver (Chapman, 2029), that connection began long before he joined Delta Tau Delta. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at a young age, Weaver has developed a personal appreciation for the importance of research, education, and advocacy.

When he first came to recruitment, Weaver already knew about Iota Epsilon and its commitment to Breakthrough T1D. The chapter’s philanthropic efforts helped introduce him to a brotherhood that shared a cause directly connection to his life, a connection that made his decision to join Delt an easy one.

That connection extends beyond the chapter as well. During Delta Queen 2026, one of the event’s contestants representing Pi Beta Phi Sorority, shared her own experience of being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes during her freshman year of college. Through Breakthrough T1D, she found educational resources and support that helped her navigate her diagnosis while becoming an advocate for greater awareness. Her participation provided another reminder of why the event and Iota Epsilon’s efforts matter. Delta Queen is not simply an opportunity to raise money but also brings together individuals whose lives have been touched by the very cause they are supporting.

A BROTHERHOOD BEHIND THE MISSION

Delta Queen’s success can be measured by how Iota Epsilon involves its entire membership. Every brother is assigned to a team supporting one of the participating Panhellenic contestants. Each team has a designated coach who helps coordinate fundraising, performances, and other responsibilities leading up to the event. 

The chapter even incorporates a professional-style draft, allowing coaches to select brothers who will make up their respective teams. The approach combines friendly competition while ensuring that members have meaningful roles in the process.

For a chapter that has grown from 35 members in 2023 to 105 members in 2026, creating opportunities for brotherhood is especially important. The team structure brings together members who may not otherwise spend as much time together, giving them opportunities to form lasting bonds throughout several months of work.

The chapter has also found new ways to expand the event’s reach. In 2025, Iota Epsilon introduced its inaugural Deltaïa, a concert-style event featuring major DJ headliners. For the spring 2026 edition, Chapman welcomed Devault to campus. By offering bundled tickets to Deltaïa and Delta Queen, the brothers created another opportunity to engage students who might not otherwise attend the philanthropy event.

These experiences have allowed brothers to better understand the true impact of their efforts while giving them an opportunity to see how their chapter culture has advanced in part from their massive philanthropic successes. In recent years, Iota Epsilon has tripled its membership while maintaining the top Interfraternity Council GPA for three consecutive years and earning Greek Life Chapter of the Year honors twice in a row. Whether in the classroom, within the chapter, or throughout the community, Chapman Delts strive to approach every opportunity with the same level of dedication.

CONTINUING THE LEGACY

Despite raising more than $2 million and years of successful Delta Queen events, Iota Epsilon doesn’t have an intention of stopping yet.

For the 2027 edition of Delta Queen, the chapter has established a fundraising goal of $75,000. Building on its relationship with Chapman University, Breakthrough T1D, and its broader network of supporters, the brothers hope to continue expanding the event’s reach, increasing awareness, and creating more opportunities to give back.

Their advice to other Delt chapters: philanthropy should never feel like an annual obligation or simply another box to check. Instead, it should be exciting to your membership and something that brings people together and unites them under a common cause of making a meaningful difference.

“Almost everyone at some point in their lifetime has met someone with Type 1,” continued Noah Varman, vice president of communications for Iota Epsilon (Chapman, 2027), “and being able to contribute towards research and an eventual cure for something that affects so many people is an incredibly special feeling that every Delt chapter should be proud to be a part of.”

More than a decade and a half after its first Delta Queen, the chapter continues to demonstrate that the greatest measure of a brotherhood is not simply what brothers accomplish together, but what they do with the opportunities they are given. For the brothers at Chapman, that means continuing to turn brotherhood into something bigger than themselves.

Iota Epsilon brothers and contestants performing during the 2025 Delta Queen pageant