Written in 1911 by two undergraduates at Albion College in Michigan, "The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" has become the most popular college fraternity song in history. The site of the writing of the song was Dickie Hall on the campus of Albion. Byron D. Stokes wrote the words one June day while in class. He took the words to his Sigma Chi Brother F. Dudleigh "Dud" Vernor, who was practicing the organ in the campus chapel; Vernor completed the music that day. It was written for the 25th Anniversary Reunion in June 1911 of Alpha Pi Chapter. It was first sung by Harry H. Clifford (Alpha Pi '11), who designed the drawing on the original sheet music, published by Richard Vernor (Alpha Pi '13), brother of Dud Vernor.

Many people asked Stokes "Who is the girl who was the inspiration?" He answered it was no one in particular. "The `Sweetheart' is the symbol for the spiritual ingredient in brotherhood. It was the Sigma Chi Fraternity itself that inspired the song. I wrote the words not long after my initiation, and the magic of our Ritual with its poetic overtones and undertones was, I suppose, the source of my inspiration."

Stokes later served Sigma Chi during the years 1916-1920 as Executive Secretary, Grand Editor, and Grand Historian, and retired in Pasadena, California. Vernor was organist for the Metropolitan Methodist Church in Detroit for over 50 years. Ironically, although the two collaborated on this classic song while undergraduates, they never saw each other after college: "Our paths simply have never crossed," Vernor said in 1955. However, the two collaborated on at least two other Sigma Chi songs: "The Fellowship Song" and "I'm Glad I'm a Sigma Chi"; the latter was dedicated to Sigma Chi Brothers who fought in World War I. (Both songs are included with other Sigma Chi songs at this site.) Both died in 1974, Vernor at the age of 81 and Stokes at the age of 87.

The first International Sweetheart of Sigma Chi was chosen in 1948 at the 47th Grand Chapter in Seattle. (This was also the Grand Chapter when the first Order of Constantine medals were awarded.) Three judges--John Wayne; Milton Caniff, the noted cartoonist of Steve Canyon and other comics; and Steve Hannagan, the #1 press agent of the 1940's--selected Barbara Tanner, Kappa Alpha Theta, from Detroit from among six finalists; there were over 80 chapters which had nominated their chapter Sweethearts. The press covered the event widely and later Barbara was featured on the cover of "The Ladies Home Journal."  

Since then, an International Sweetheart has been chosen once every two years at Grand Chapter. Each young lady has represented the ideals of the White Cross and lived Sigma Chi's core values of friendship, justice and learning while making her own personal contributions to the Fraternity. Long after the official term is over, the International Sweetheart maintains a special place in the Fraternity

At the 2009 Grand Chapter in Charleston, SC, undergraduate delegates voted Alexa Stabler the 2009-2011 International Sweetheart. 

Alexa is a double major in political science and telecommunications/film, as well as a member of the Phi Mu Fraternity. She helped the Alabama chapter raise $32,000 during its recent Derby Days event and co-organized the first Sigma Chi/Phi Mu Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Tuscaloosa cookout. As the Fraternity's International Sweetheart for the next two years, she says she’d like to organize an annual gathering of chapter sweethearts from around the United States and Canada as a way to share ideas to better their respective Sigma Chi chapters. 

Recent Past International Sweethearts include:

• 2007-2009 Rachel Berkey
• 2005-2007 Amy Jackson
• 2003-2005 Carrie Davis
• 2001-2003 Kim and Mary Kay Howard
• 1999-2001 Wendy Papson
• 1997-1999 Metta Grokenberger
• 1995-1997 Karina Wollesen