The Magazine of Sigma Chi Spring 2024

Four families share their Sigma Chi stories

“BEFORE ME IN VIVID FOCUS WERE THE POEMS, PRAYERS, PROMISES AND POSSIBILITIES EMBODIED IN MY SON, BRODY. ALL THAT I WAS MELTED INTO HIS FUTURE.”

Greetings, brothers!

I’m often asked to name my favorite thing about being Grand Consul. It’s a difficult question to answer. I guess I don’t know yet. Every week brings new and exciting opportunities to meet with brothers at our undergraduate chapters, in alumni circles around the country, and working together with the Executive Committee forging solutions to strengthen our Fraternity. There’s been so much to take in, but at the same time, there’s so much yet to be written. It’s tough to boil it all down.

But it’s a different story entirely when I’m asked about my favorite Sigma Chi experience. In less than a heartbeat, I’m transported back.

Las Cruces, New Mexico. November 2010. In one magical hour, 18 years of hope and joy, struggle and sacrifice, love and pride coalesced together as my son Brody transformed into my brother.

It was a fairly simple act. I took my badge off my chest and put it on his. And yet it moved me profoundly to the core of my being. I simply can’t put into words how much it meant to me. Those who know me know that I am never, ever at a loss for words. To quote my decades-long friend [and ARIZONA 1980 Order of Constantine Sig] Bill Scott’s reaction that morning: “Who are you, and what have you done with Bob Wilson?”

Intentionally or not, Bill’s words hit on a significant thought. You see, the idea of a Sigma Chi legacy is all wrapped up in identity. Who are you? What have you done? What does the future hold?

That morning in New Mexico, the features of my character and the winding road of my Sigma Chi journey through the years faded into the background entirely. Before me in vivid focus were the poems, prayers, promises and possibilities embodied in my son, Brody. All that I was melted into his future. Without a doubt, that was my favorite Sigma Chi experience and a moment I will always treasure.

I also have seen other brothers in these legacy moments, and I have smiled, laughed and even cried in empathy with their sense of pride that who they are, and what they’ve done, will carry forward into a brighter future through the legacy that is their son, nephew or grandson.

Correction:Inourprevious issue,wemisspelledthelast name of Order of Constantine SigWayneConnelley, NORTHERN ARIZONA 1975, and the first name of Alan Roller, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1985.Weregrettheerrors.

SPRING 2024 / VOL. 143, #2

The Magazine of Sigma Chi, the official exoteric quarterly publication of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, has been published continuously since 1881. Its mission is to reflect through content the Sigma Chi experience; to instill and sustain pride in the International Fraternity; to educate and entertain its undergraduate members, alumni, parents and others interested in the Fraternity; to maintain a historical record of the activities of the Fraternity and its undergraduate and alumni chapters; and to present current issues affecting the Greek-letter system, the Fraternity and its members.

EDITORIAL TEAM CONTRIBUTERS

Ashley Szatala David Jones

Nathanael Hawthorne

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© 2024 Sigma Chi Fraternity | The Magazine of Sigma Chi (USPS325500) is issued quarterly by Sigma Chi Fraternity International Headquarters 1714 Hinman Ave., Evanston, IL 60201

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I wish for every brother to share in this experience, and though we may not always realize it, every brother can indeed share in the crafting of our Sigma Chi legacy. Whether it’s recruiting and mentoring that unassuming, overlooked man on your campus you just know has something more to offer the world, or building a bridge to the professor, coach or parent advisor who you see living out our values through our non-student initiate process, each of us has an opportunity to make a mark on our identity and the future of our brotherhood.

Who are we? What have we done? What does the future hold? In large part, the answer is up to you.

Guard well, and in hoc,

Bob Wilson

FORT HAYS 1981

73rd Grand Consul

HOW TO RECEIVE THE MAGAZINE | Undergraduates: Undergraduate members receive a digital copy of The Magazine through payment of semiannual dues through their chapter. Individual copies are emailed to each undergraduate, and five copies are sent via postal mail to the chapter editor or the chapter house. Recent graduates: The Sigma Chi Foundation gives each recent graduate a one-year complimentary membership in the Life Loyal Sig annual fund program, which includes four digital issues of The Magazine of SigmaChi. At the end of the year, recent graduates may continue to receive TheMagazine through the alumni options. Alumni: Alumni receive The Magazine by contributing to the Life Loyal Sig annual fund program. Persons contributing $1-99 annually receive a digital version of The Magazine via email, and those contributing $100+ annually receive one paper copy each quarter. For either of these, phone subscription sales at (847) 869-3655 or visit sigmachi.org/lifeloyal. A single copy of the current issue is $8.75 and can be purchased by contacting subscription sales. Past issues are $10.25 each.

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HOW TO GET PUBLISHED | Undergraduates: Each chapter editor is a correspondent for The Magazine of Sigma Chi. View deadlines and submission requirements at sigmachi.org. Chapter updates and photos must be submitted via sigmachi.org/submitcampuschronicle. Please upload the original photo file from the camera. Alumni: Alumni are encouraged to submit news and stories. Tell us about your alumni chapter events, and please include photographs — alumni chapters should email us at alumni.almanac@sigmachi.org or upload updates at chaptersystem.sigmachi.org. If you have news about an individual alumnus, email editor@sigmachi.org or send information and photos to the address above.

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GENERAL DEADLINES FOR SUBMISSIONS

Spring issue: Dec. 1 Fall issue: May 1 Summer issue: March 15 Winter issue: Sept. 1

“GREAT

FRIENDSHIPS

CAN’T BEGIN WITH THE

GREAT

INJUSTICE OF DEPRIVING SOMEONE OF THEIR DIGNITY AND BETRAYING OUR STANDARDS, VALUES, VIRTUES AND IDEALS.”

HAZING DOES NOT LEAD TO GENUINE FRIENDSHIPS

I

n my youth, there was nothing more exciting than professional wrestling. I grew up in the era of the titans who brought the World Wrestling Federation [later renamed World Wrestling Entertainment] to global prominence: Hulk Hogan, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Andre the Giant and Randy “Macho Man” Savage. There were vigorous debates among my friends if wrestling was fake. I was decidedly in the camp that it was real. In November of 1986 there occurred an Intercontinental Championship match between Macho Man and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat. Nothing could have prepared me for the way the match ended. Macho Man leaped from the turnbuckle to land on a semi-conscious Steamboat while slamming the bell into his throat. I was horrified and convinced Steamboat was dying.

My friend's dad, Hugh, who was very much like an uncle to me, became aware of my concerns for Steamboat. “Jimmy, it’s all fake,” he said. “These wrestlers are great athletes, but this is all staged. Steamboat is just fine.” I believed him. And with that, I never concerned myself with the physical or emotional well-being of another professional wrestler.

The younger me was wrong about professional wrestling and also wrong in believing hazing made for a better Sigma Chi brotherhood. Members who are hazed, like I was, can come into the organization believing that the way to get others to love Sigma Chi is to treat new members the way we were treated.

However, as I learned early as an undergraduate, this isn’t true. The numbers and post-initiation behaviors just don’t support the belief that hazing creates a stronger fraternity. I have many Sigma Chi brothers, several from my own chapter, who had little

involvement once they were initiated. When we talk about why, it almost always comes back to the way they were treated as a pledge. They couldn’t reconcile the promises of brotherhood and lofty values with the ordeals they were made to endure.

We publicly state the purpose of our organization is to “cultivate and maintain the high ideals of friendship, justice and learning.” Great friendships can’t begin with the great injustice of depriving someone of their dignity and betraying our standards, values, virtues and ideals.

When pledging Sigma Chi, we each acknowledge “the existence of an ever-living God, the Creator and Preserver of all things.” This means He created you and you have inherent value, worth and dignity. It also means He created every guest and every pledge who walks through our doors. They, too, have that inherent value, worth and dignity.

I like to think every interaction we have with members of Sigma Chi [both pledges and initiates] is one in which we’re either adding or removing a brick to a metaphorical chapel of fellowship. I suppose, like Macho Man, you could use that brick to harm, but I think we would be more gratified with the friendships that would emerge and sustain us if we put those bricks to the purpose for which they were intended.

Sincerely,

Jim Holcomb, CAL. STATE-SACRAMENTO 1994 Order of Constantine Sig and Grand Tribune

@SIGMACHI

Congratulations to Significant Sig Kliff Kingsbury, TEXAS TECH 2002, for being named the new offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders!

SIGMA CHI FRATERNITY

Outstanding work to the Iota Lambda Chapter of Sigma Chi at the University of Louisville in making a true difference in their local community by creating and handing out 500 Valentine's Day cards to the children and their families at the Kentucky Kids Center for Pediatric Therapies.

sigmachi

Today, on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, we honor all men, women and Sigma Chi brothers who work in law enforcement. If you are a brother who is a first responder, please visit sigmachi.org/pins to receive a Sigma Chi First Responder Recognition Pin.

A SUPPORTIVE SERVICE DAY

Nearly 20 North Florida alumni organized a service day to build a ramp for and clean up the property of David Fleet, NORTH FLORIDA 2002, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2018

North Florida alumni have been convening monthly since December 2022 at various restaurants in the Jacksonville area to catch up. The gatherings are called a Fleet Meet in honor of David Fleet, NORTH FLORIDA 2002,* who was diagnosed in June 2018 with ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. As the disease progressed, Fleet eventually was unable to come out for dinner, but brothers still stop by his house regularly to visit.

They noticed during a recent visit an overgrown yard, and after a comment from Fleet’s mother and caretaker, Laura, about the work that needed to be done, they suggested amongst themselves that they have a service day for Fleet.

“Dave means a lot to us,” says Ben Carrino, NORTH FLORIDA 2000, who helped organize the service day. “It was an opportunity to give back to Dave and his mom and show our support for what he’s going through.”

Nearly 20 North Florida alumni, many of whom hadn’t seen each other in years, arrived at Fleet’s house on May 6, 2023, to help clean up his property and build a ramp for Fleet to use with his electric scooter. For the alumni’s efforts assisting Fleet, they have been named this quarter’s Mark V. Anderson Characterin-ActionTM Leadership Award recipients.

The men spent the day weeding, trimming trees, cleaning up flower beds, cutting overgrown shrubs, cleaning gutters and removing a swing set Fleet’s

“My brothers are my best friends. They’re like a second family. They check in on me, ask about my family and offer help whenever I need it. They’re absolutely amazing.” - David Fleet, NORTH FLORIDA 2002

daughter had outgrown. In addition, although Fleet had a ramp for his electric scooter, it was built in such a way that the car in the garage had to be moved to allow the scooter to get in and out. One of the North Florida brothers is a contractor and helped build Fleet an L-shaped ramp to allow the car to stay in the garage.

“I was not expecting that many people to show up. The support was overwhelming,” Fleet says. “I hadn’t seen some of the guys in 10 years. It’s been months since they’ve been here, and I still get a heartwarming feeling when I look outside and think about what they did. I’m so grateful for everything they did.”

Steve Papas, NORTH FLORIDA 2000, who also helped organize and participate in the service day, credits the strong brotherhood of the chapter alumni for the turnout and support of Fleet.

“We have a great alumni group, and we help each other out. Our approach is to leave things better than we found it, whether that’s picking up a brother when he’s down or being a good representative of character to others,” he says. “We’ve been staying in touch with David and his mom through all of this and just want to give them love and support.”

The men also have been supporting Fleet in other ways. About 50 brothers attended the ALS Association’s Walk to Defeat ALS in March 2023 and are putting out feelers for a vehicle to accommodate the electric scooter, Fleet says.

“My brothers are my best friends. They’re like a second family,” he says. “They check in on me, ask about my family and offer help whenever I need it. They’re absolutely amazing.”

*DavidFleet, NORTH FLORIDA 2002,enteredtheChapterEternalonNov.20,2023.

Character -In-action™

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE AND THE LIVES OF OTHERS

A person with good character shows trustworthiness, respect and fairness to others, as well as responsibility and citizenship. Those members who go out of their way to help others and those who overcome obstacles and lead with integrity are good candidates for the Mark V. Anderson Character-in-Action™ Leadership Award.

Sigma Chi introduced the award to recognize the selfless acts of brothers. A formal recognition by the Fraternity allows non-members to appreciate the scope of the organization. For information about the award, see sigmachi.org/character

CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENTS

Sigma Chi inspires its members to lead by example, bringing Fraternity values to life. In doing so, Sigs excel in their professional pursuits. The following are brothers recognized for their achievements.

Jim Shields, IOWA 1963, was named the inaugural Don Eslick Estero Person of the Year on Feb. 8, 2024, in Estero, Florida. For nearly 20 years Shields has worked to improve the quality of life and education in Estero. He created the 2-5-8 Graduate Junior Achievement program that has impacted over 2,800 students, and the Breaking Par Program he started in 2013 has raised $561,000 for educational programs. He also has served on the Engage Estero Board of Directors and worked with Eslick on numerous community projects, and he has served on the Florida Gulf Coast University Daveler and Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship advisory board.

Van English, TROY 1982, celebrated his one-year anniversary as executive director of the Houston Show Choir in Houston after being appointed in 2023. The choir was founded in 1932 by the City of Houston and has been operating continually ever since. Named by the Houston Press as “Best Choir in Houston” for 2023, this group of 80-plus volunteer, auditioned singer-dancers performs two major concerts each year, interspersed with several public and private events. A member of the choir himself, English played lead roles in several Troy University musical theater productions during his time there and has continued to perform throughout his postgraduate years.

Ontario Grand Praetor and 84th Grand Chapter Planning Committee Chairman George Raptis, WILFRID LAURIER 1997 , was awarded Royal Bank of Canada’s Global Citizen Award during the bank’s Royal Performance Gala on Sept. 29, 2023. Launched in 2016, the award recognizes top-performing employees who demonstrate passion, leadership and unwavering commitment in driving positive change in their community through volunteering and/or leading initiatives in the areas of diversity, inclusion and climate. Raptis was honored for his Fraternity volunteerism and for co-founding the East Toronto 100 Guys Who Care, an initiative that engages people to support small nonprofit organizations. He is director of acquisition integration, risk strategy and optimization at RBC, which is Canada’s biggest bank and one of the largest in the world.

Order of Constantine Sig and Grand Praetor Joe Beers, ARIZONA 1983 , was one of three people named to the University of Arizona Order of Omega Greek Hall of Fame class of 2024. Beers is the founder and owner of Integrity Outsource, LLC, a professional employer organization established in 2011. He also serves on several boards and executive councils in Arizona and helped pass the only two professional employer organization bills in the state’s history.

Significant Sig Gerald “G” Guerrieri, TULSA 1985 , was inducted April 27 into the University of Tulsa’s class of 2024 Athletic Hall of Fame. Guerrieri is a former soccer goalkeeper who played on the men’s soccer team from 1981 to 1984. During that time, Guerrieri posted 21 career shutouts and finished his career as the school’s record-holder for most saves in a game with 17 and single-season shutouts with nine. He ended with 283 saves and a 1.09 goals against average. Today, Guerrieri enters his 32nd season as the head women’s soccer coach at Texas A&M. He has won more than 500 games while leading his teams to 10 league titles, eight tournament titles, 16 NCAA Sweet Sixteens and seven Elite Eight appearances.

Mike Mangeot, EASTERN KENTUCKY 1988 , was appointed in January 2024 to Brand USA’s board of directors. Brand USA is the nation’s destination marketing organization, and Mangeot currently serves as commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Tourism. This is his second tenure as commissioner after previously leading the state to record levels of visitation and economic impact. Prior, he was president and CEO of the Kentucky Association for Economic Development and executive director of the Bardstown Nelson County Tourism Commission, where his marketing efforts were recognized with a Destiny Award by the US Travel Association. Mangeot is chair for Travel South USA, vice chair of the National Council of State Travel Directors and is a member of the US Travel Association Southeast Tourism Society and Kentucky Travel Industry Association board of directors.

Alex Rachmiel, CALIFORNIA-SAN DIEGO 2011 , was named one of Modern Healthcare’s 40 under 40. Rachmiel is vice president and chief of staff to the CEO at Optum Health, part of UnitedHealth Group and a Fortune 5 company.

Walt Siefert, PENN STATE 1964 , (not pictured) was recently selected for inclusion in the biographical publication MarquisWho’sWhoinAmerica. He is a licensed associate broker with Compass Realty and has a clientele across five boroughs of New York City, Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island and even internationally. Siefert, a U.S. Air Force veteran who served during the Vietnam War, originally started his career in banking and software consulting, specifically focusing on Wall Street and London within the financial services sector. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors, the New York Association of Realtors and the Long Island Board of Realtors.

Significant Sig and retired Florida State Sen. Victor Crist, SOUTH FLORIDA 1984 , was named one of the 2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Parade Foundation’s Community Heroes on Jan. 5, 2024, during the foundation’s 34th annual gala in Tampa, Florida. The award honors those who best exemplify the spirit and legacy of Dr. King.

BY ASHLEY SZATALA //////////

with a Mission

UCLA brothers use their March Madness bracket tournament to help fund the college savings accounts of children whose fathers have entered the Chapter Eternal after the chapter lost a beloved member in 2015

Kevin McClure, CALIFORNIA-LOS ANGELES 1993, was relieved to be celebrating his 46th birthday in July 2015. Cancer runs in his family, and he had told his wife, Yvonne, he doubted he would live past 45. He was so sure of a premature death that when the McClures adopted their son, Kendrick, Kevin made sure to purchase life insurance.

In January, just six months before his 46th birthday, McClure was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, or bile duct cancer, which carries a five-year survival rate of 17% if caught early and a 2% survival rate if it spreads to a distant part of the body, according to Cancer.net. Although cancer was something McClure had mentally been preparing for, his diagnosis still came as a surprise to his family and friends.

“He did the Tough Mudder [endurance obstacle course race]. He worked out every day. He did yoga every day. We ate very healthy,” Yvonne McClure recalls. “We were going to fight it and fight it strong.”

Nate Ballard, CALIFORNIA-LOS ANGELES 1992, lived near the McClures, so he saw Kevin often. He remembers his friend since college looking “healthy and fitseeming" just a couple weeks before McClure found out he had cancer, so Ballard was shocked at the news but immediately offered his support. “Kevin was beloved by so many different communities of people,” Ballard says. “Everyone, including our group of Sigma Chis, rallied around him.”

The men initially sent out emailed updates on McClure to a group of 25 to 30 chapter brothers. Because McClure was a basketball fan and watching the NCAA men’s basketball tournament games during his chemotherapy, they held a March Madness bracket tournament over email with donations secretly collected to benefit McClure. As the tournament progressed, the participation count grew.

The brackets initially served as a way to help McClure’s family with medical and other expenses and connect brothers with him one final time. Today, the brackets act as a means to bring brothers together each year and continue McClure’s legacy of kindness and generosity by funding the college savings accounts of children of deceased chapter brothers.

BRACKET BEGINNINGS

That first year of the brackets, the basketball pool was free, but everyone was encouraged to donate via a website to assist McClure and his family. The prize for winning the bracket pool was the opportunity to tell McClure about their fundraiser and how much money was raised.

David Angulo, CALIFORNIA-LOS ANGELES 1993, organizes the bracket emails going out each year. He says many of the donations in 2015 came in at $459, a nod to the address of the California-Los Angeles chapter house at 459 Gayley Ave. Within 24 hours, the email list had grown to 70 brothers, and donations exceeded $20,000.

“We all got home from work, and then our job at night was to rally everybody, add more people and get this [donation total] to where we wanted it to be,” Angulo says. “It was so fun because I would be sitting at home at night checking all the emails and accounts, then I’d send something out, and I’d get all of these responses back. Every day we would add another 15 to 20 guys, and every day the money would grow.”

By the end of the March Madness tournament in early April, there were more than 200 men in the email group, and donations reached $112,000. Several brothers, including the eventual bracket winners, went to McClure’s house to

watch the championship game between the Duke Blue Devils and the Wisconsin Badgers. Duke won 68-63. With that victory, Scott Bartell, CALIFORNIA-LOS ANGELES 1993, won the bracket pool, and Ballard came in second place. Both men readied themselves and told McClure to remain seated on the couch. Someone began recording video, and then they began to tell an unaware McClure the deeper purpose of the basketball brackets.

They shared how they had worked with McClure’s employer, the YMCA of San Francisco, to use the donations to extend his salary as the organization’s vice president of development to ensure he continued receiving his health benefits. Bartell then turned a laptop around to show McClure the $112,000 raised. Upon seeing that number, McClure broke down in tears and hugged every brother in the room. The men kept donations open for another week after that, and another $5,000 was raised. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. It was a beautiful scene,” Ballard says.

In September 2015 the UCLA football team was playing University of NevadaLas Vegas in Las Vegas. McClure said he wanted to see the game with his chapter brothers. About 85 brothers met McClure in Vegas to watch the game. That first day they went golfing, ate steak for dinner and stayed up until the early hours of the next day just catching up with each other. They rented cabanas at the pool and took two charter buses to the football game. UCLA won.

“[The trip] wore him out a little bit, but he loved every minute of it. And so did we,” Angulo says.

Adds Ballard: “The Vegas farewell ended up being the farewell. It was close to 100 people, and that’s sort of unheard of to get that many alums together in one place. It was such a wonderful way to celebrate Kevin. Most people don't get a chance to say nice things about you until they're at a memorial service. At that final weekend in Las Vegas, everyone had a chance to tell Kevin how much he meant to them.”

After the trip,

McClure sent an email to everyone telling them how their friendship and brotherhood has impacted him for the better.

“One of the things I've rediscovered recently is friendships and close bonds help us better cope with life's challenges. Our emotional bandwidths are smaller than we think, but my connection to all of you has provided the additional bandwidth for me to have a better quality of life while fighting my [cancer battle],” he wrote in the email. “This past weekend helped me to clearly see and find comfort in knowing that we all truly care for each other. The sign of the [White] Cross emboldens us as brothers to stay connected and help each other out when our life journey takes an unexpected turn. You all have exemplified that and stand ready to help others who are linked to our sacred bond.”

McClure entered the Chapter Eternal on Oct. 25, 2015. His funeral was standing room only because more than 500 people came, including his UCLA chapter brothers, Yvonne McClure recalls. “It was one of the most devastating things I’ve ever had to go through, but having the support of the guys and our family was incredible,” she says.

‘THE ONE LAST CONTRIBUTION THAT KEVIN MADE’

Come next March, the brackets took on a new meaning. “I said, ‘Guys, we’re not done. Kendrick’s got to go to college,’” Angulo says, adding that Kendrick was 8 at the time of McClure’s passing. “Kevin had opened a 529 [college savings plan], so I said, ‘Let’s raise money to send Kendrick to college. Everybody was on board.’”

That first year, the men raised about $15,000 for Kendrick, now 16. Over the years, they have found out about other chapter brothers who have died and left wives and children behind. Today the men raise money for three brothers’ families — McClure, Mike Samuelson, 1990, and Nick Isom, 1999 — and a total of four children. Their email list for the bracket now contains 300 people, and the men annually raise between $20,000 and $30,000 that is then split between the children.

“Every year they continue to do this gift out of the generosity of their own hearts. They’re a blessing,” Yvonne McClure says. “My son knows he has these amazing guys that are providing for his future, and he feels [their generosity].”

Angulo adds that the UCLA men haven’t experienced donor fatigue after almost a decade of raising money through the March Madness brackets. “It’s the complete opposite with this group. As March approaches, I get emails asking, ‘When are you going to send it out?’” he says. “Once the emails start going in the group and the tournament starts, people start talking smack and it’s just a big old group of guys having fun.”

In addition to connecting over email, the men also have been connecting in person with each other more.

“All of the pledge classes around Kevin have been spending more time together, and that's sort of like the one last contribution that Kevin made to our Fraternity. He was the best of us. It's sad that he left us too soon. But he also inspired us,” Ballard says. “He did everything he could for kids and families. We promised him that we would take care of his son and his family. And that's what we try to do for him and others.”

ALUMNI CHAPTER NEWS

Members of the California Capitol Region alumni chapter stand with the toys they collected for Toys for Tots on Dec. 6, 2023. The chapter collected donations for children in the Folsom, California, area.

The Houston alumni chapter members and significant others are pictured Dec. 2, 2023, at the home of Terry Stubbs, HOUSTON 1989, for the chapter’s annual holiday party.

Chicago North Shore alumni chapter members are pictured in October 2023. They traveled to Wisconsin and joined the Milwaukee alumni chapter for its annual holiday party at the historic Wisconsin Club.

Richard Clermont, MCGILL 1993, Fazal Sadikali, WILFRID LAURIER 1999, Lindsay Robles, WESTERN 2002, and Ryan Barnes, WESTERN 2004, are pictured participating in the Sigma Chi Open at Grand Chapter in Toronto.

ALUMNI CHAPTER ANNIVERSARIES

APRIL

4/13/1904 Louisville, Kentucky, alumni chapter, 120 years 4/17/2004 New Haven, Connecticut, alumni chapter, 20 years

MAY 5/18/1949 Fresno, California, alumni chapter, 75 years

JUNE 6/15/1889 Washington, D.C., alumni chapter, 135 years

*Anniversaries are listed every five years.

Members of the

undergraduates from the

The Hilton Head,

chapter members are shown participating in the December 2023 Wreaths Across America ceremony at the

Cemetery, which has 14,000 military gravesites. The chapter supported the event financially and helped set wreaths at the graves.

Pictured, from left, are Significant Sig Dr. O. A Cleveland, MISSISSIPPI STATE 1967; Senior Regional Chapter Coordinator and Order of Constantine Sig Don McKinney, TULSA 1984; Significant Sig Dr. Roy Ruby, MISSISSIPPI STATE 1961; and Grand Praetor and Order of Constantine Sig Tony Thompson, MISSISSIPPI STATE 1992, during the fall meeting of the Starkville, Mississippi, alumni chapter. Tulsa, Oklahoma-based McKinney was a guest at the meeting.

Ron Winger, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 1952, receives his diamond anniversary certificate at age 97 for 75 years of Sigma Chi membership during a Monterey, California, alumni event on Jan. 18, 2024.

The Sarasota, Florida, alumni chapter is recognized at a luncheon put on by Habitat for Humanity of Sarasota for its volunteer efforts. Pictured, from left, are Renee Snyder, executive director for Habitat for Humanity Sarasota; Marc Soss, TULANE 1988; alumni chapter president Jim Springer, FLORIDA 1992; Jerry Grens, BRADLEY 1968; and Significant Sig Bill Morrow, IDAHO 1967.

Georgia Southern pledge brothers, from left, Steve Pennington, 1979, Al Lawson, 1979, Perry Duggar, 1979, Dan Speight, 1979, and Order of Constantine Sig Rob Petry, 1979, celebrate during the chapter’s 50th anniversary at the university this past September.

BATON ROUGE ALUMNI

At the funeral for 51st Grand Consul Dr. George Jones, LOUISIANA STATE 1942, 65th Grand Consul Bob Jones, RENSSELAER 1973, led the White Rose Ceremony and 57th Grand Consul Joel Cunningham, TENNESSEE-CHATTANOOGA 1965, gave the eulogy. Over 60 alumni and undergraduate brothers attended the service. The alumni chapter hosted numerous events, including the annual Christmas party and “Brotherhood and Bar-B-Q Feast.” - Order of Constantine Sig Jim Bollinger, LOUISIANA STATE 1967

BOISE ALUMNI

The Boise, Idaho, alumni chapter hosts regular events at the River Club. Over the past year we have heard from Mark Bannister, FORT HAYS 1985, dean of the College of Business and Economics at Boise State University, and recognized brothers for milestones such as Semi-Century and Significant Sig recognition. Every December we have an annual Christmas celebration. - Chris Wuthrich, IDAHO 1989

CALGARY ALUMNI

Our chapter continues to support the associate chapter at Mount Royal University to achieve their goal of becoming an established chapter. Each semester we hold a “Meet the Alumni Smoker” event, along with blood drives with the undergrads and monthly social events at different pubs. - Francis Henne, WINDSOR 1997

CALIFORNIA CAPITOL REGION ALUMNI

We have quarterly dinners and golf outings twice a year. Next year at these dinners we will have a brother highlight a charity that means the most to him and in return, the chapter will donate to that charity. - Ryan McCormick, BALL STATE 1988

CHARLOTTE ALUMNI

The spring version of “Day at the Lake” in 2023 was successful and is planned for May 2024 at Lake Norman. Monthly socials are scheduled for the third Monday evening of every month. Email meberoth@gmail.com to receive notifications about events in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area. - Mike Beroth, AUSTIN PEAY 1985

CHICAGO NORTH SHORE ALUMNI

We have a superior record of gathering for lunch the past 38 years in Deerfield, Illinois. Our statistician tallies over 320 brothers have joined with an average between 18 and 30 brothers regularly attending. Sigs of all ages and chapters are welcome. We will always find you a seat if your schedule opens up on the first Thursday of the month. - Order of Constantine Sig Bill Bringham, ALBION 1975

CLEVELAND ALUMNI

Since we moved monthly gatherings to Slyman’s Tavern in Independence, Ohio, the active attendance has doubled. We have enjoyed joint activities with the undergraduates, including recruitment nights, a field trip to Johnson’s Island Prison and provided a career preparation and development workshop with 50 brothers participating. Significant Sig Rick Warther, KENT STATE 1977, founder of Vanguard ID Systems, was the keynote speaker. - Order of Constantine Sig and Significant Sig Rich Hronek, KENT STATE 1969

DALLAS ALUMNI

The Dallas alumni chapter of 320 brothers meet monthly. We have hosted networking lunches and quarterly social hours. Brothers from the Houston alumni chapter joined us for an Astros vs. Rangers baseball game. - Order of Constantine Sig Jim Bloom, SAN DIEGO STATE 1982

DETROIT ALUMNI

The chapter held its annual Christmas banquet Dec. 1 at the Red Run Golf Club in Royal Oak, Michigan. The highlight was Grand Praetor Sam McClure, KETTERING 2011, presenting the 2023 Seven Lights Alumni Awards to Rick Vanden Heuvel, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 1980, and Jim Vruggink, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 1970 - Gary DuBois, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 1968

FORT MYERS/LEE COUNTY ALUMNI

The monies donated by Sig alumni are helping fund the expansion of the John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Iowa. The Southwest Florida Sigma Chi alumni goal is to raise $250,000, which will earn Sigma Chi, in perpetuity, naming rights to the main entry to the museum and will include a large display of artifacts. - Order of Constantine Sig Donald Astley, MIAMI (FLORIDA) 1976

FORT WORTH ALUMNI

The Fort Worth, Texas, alumni chapter elected officers for 2024: President Stephen Hill, STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 1988; Vice President Joe Scanlan, 2018; Treasurer and Secretary Brock Ostrander, EASTERN NEW MEXICO 2003; and Chapter Editor Doug Zent, NORTH TEXAS 1992. Please join us at 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Cowtown Brewery in Fort Worth. Follow us at Facebook.com/ FortWorthSigmaChiAlumni. - Doug Zent, NORTH TEXAS 1992

FRESNO ALUMNI

Carol O'Neil, was the first sweetheart of the California State University-Fresno chapter in 1952. She died on Oct. 10, 2023. Carol went on a blind date with Order of Constantine Sig Oran McNeil, CAL. STATE-FRESNO 1953, and they were married for 65 years. Oran entered the Chapter Eternal on April 7, 2019. - Significant Sig Brad Fischer, CAL. STATE-FRESNO 1981

GEORGIA AREA ALUMNI

As an alumni chapter we were able to assist the active chapter at Georgia Southwestern in many ways. We paid for the active chapter to send a delegate to Grand Chapter and for the executive board to attend Krach Transformational Leaders Workshop this summer. At our most recent alumni chapter meeting we held elections for the coming year. - Tracy Law, GEORGIA SOUTHWESTERN 1989

GREATER NEBRASKA AREA ALUMNI

On Oct. 27, 2023, about 100 alumni brothers and spouses gathered at Lincoln Country Club to recognize the achievement of Significant Sig Scott Moore, NEBRASKA 1982. The reception also served as an alumni reunion for Sigs that graduated in the late 1970s and 1980s. The evening was a reminder of the strong bond of brotherhood and the lifelong friendships created in school. - Order of Constantine Sig Curt Denker, NEBRASKA 1977

HILTON HEAD ALUMNI

Since gaining alumni chapter status in 2021, the roster has grown to almost 100 brothers from all over the country. Our latest group event was the Wreaths Across America ceremony at the Beaufort, South Carolina, National Cemetery. We traveled to Beaufort from Hilton Head as a group and met afterward for lunch. - Larry Pileggi, GEORGIA SOUTHWESTERN 1975

INDIANAPOLIS ALUMNI

The Indianapolis alumni chapter doubled its membership in 2023. We increased communication, and new leadership has initiated new programming, including quarterly Ritual meetings. - Joseph Hayes, MARQUETTE 1999

LONDON ALUMNI

We hosted a summer party with alumni from London and across the United Kingdom, followed by an Oktoberfest event. We ended the year with a Ritual meeting and Christmas dinner. We have an active group of around 20 brothers who attend our events and maintain correspondence with around 50 brothers over email and WhatsApp. - Anthony McGuire, OHIO WESLEYAN 2013

MID CITIES ALUMNI

We have been hosting World Series champion Texas Ranger events, local socials and networking meetings. We have partnered with the Headquarters expansion committee to put together a team to help facilitate the return of Theta Kappa chapter at the University of Texas at Arlington. We look forward to celebrating our 40th anniversary in early 2024. - Steven Smillie, TEXAS-ARLINGTON 1992

MILWAUKEE ALUMNI

The Milwaukee alumni chapter hosted its annual holiday luncheon in November at the Wisconsin Club in Milwaukee with 67 alumni members from the Milwaukee and Chicagoland areas in attendance. - Reece Piotter, WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE 2020

NARRAGANSETT BAY ALUMNI

The Rhode Scholars had their annual holiday luncheon at Arturo Joe’s in Narragansett, Rhode Island, to enjoy the fellowship of the season. In attendance was University of Rhode Island President Marc Parlange, the dean of Arts and Science, and many Sigs. The Rhode Scholars are part of the Narragansett Bay Alumni chapter who engage in road cycling and have been meeting consistently for many years. - Matt Sullivan, RHODE ISLAND 2016

NASHVILLE ALUMNI

Our chapter continues to grow by meeting regularly and also by incorporating new leaders into our officer ranks. Our new officers, beginning January 2024, will be President Chris Schildknecht, OHIO STATE 2010; Vice President Jon Webber, CALIFORNIA-DAVIS 2008; Secretary Alan Proctor, FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 2012; and Treasurer Jack Welch, TENNESSEE TECH 1982. - Significant Sig Daniel Ryan, MURRAY STATE 1981

OTTAWA ALUMNI

Attending Grand Chapter in Toronto this past summer as a strong delegation was certainly a highlight of this past year, as well as a golf tournament that has grown steadily over the years. We have recently introduced an annual winter trek and bonfire as a joint event that was well received and included brothers from multiple alumni chapters. - Ryan Clermont, WESTERN 2001

SARASOTA ALUMNI

The Sarasota, Florida, alumni chapter was recognized for support of the Habitat for Humanity of Sarasota at a volunteer recognition luncheon Nov. 29, 2023. The alumni chapter, along with the South Florida chapter, participated in a house build day Oct. 7, 2023. - Significant Sig Bill Morrow, IDAHO 1967

SAN ANTONIO ALUMNI

Sixty-third Grand Consul Lee Beauchamp, TEXAS A&M-COLLEGE STATION 1975, provided a Fraternity update at our inaugural Brotherhood Holiday Gathering that was held in November with over 50 brothers and their sweethearts in attendance. Thank you, Order of Constantine Sig and Significant Sig Joe Martin, HOUSTON 1976, and San Antonio Alumni President Gary Juhl, ILLINOIS 1970, for your generosity and assistance with the event. - Eric Arnold, HOUSTON 2010

STARKVILLE ALUMNI

Our chapter has developed a stronger relationship with the undergraduate chapter at Mississippi State, where most of our alumni membership attended. We assisted and were well represented during the initiation this fall. The undergraduates created permanent officers for alumni relations, and we look forward to working more closely with these young brothers. - William Daniel, MISSISSIPPI STATE 1970

STATESBORO ALUMNI

The alumni chapter celebrated Georgia Southern’s 50th anniversary in September. We had over 200 alumni attend the weekend activities to reflect and enjoy the brotherhood established during their days at Georgia Southern. A highlight of the weekend was Grand Pro Consul and Order of Constantine Sig Ryan Temby, RUTGERS 1990, awarding Destry Rogers, GEORGIA SOUTHERN 1986, the Significant Sig Award. - Steve Pennington, GEORGIA SOUTHERN 1979

VANCOUVER ALUMNI

The alumni chapter continues to host our monthly dinners to promote brotherhood between alumni and active members. We also had the return of the alumni and undergraduate Christmas party. This event brought together alumni and their families to spend time with the active chapter. There was even a special appearance by Santa with presents for the children. - Elliott Flockhart, BRITISH COLUMBIA-SIMON FRASER 2015

A LEGACY OF BROTHERHOOD

1923 badge belonging to Henry Greenawalt Sr., PENNSYLVANIA 1923

It was presented to his greatgrandson, Julian Greenawalt, PENNSYLVANIA 2025 was initiated into Sigma Chi.

The notion of a legacy family holds a special place of honor in the Fraternity. This cherished term refers to those extraordinary families where the bond of brotherhood extends beyond a single generation, weaving a tapestry of shared experiences and values that endure over time.

We chatted with members of four Sigma Chi legacy families about their unique journeys and discovered the roots of their familial devotion to the Fraternity. Through these stories, we hope to illuminate the power of brotherhood, the deep bonds of fraternity and the profound influence Sigma Chi continues to have across generations.

LEARNED LEADERSHIP: THE HANSELLS

The Hansell legacy began with Stafford Hansell, WHITMAN 1936. The first in his family to attend college, Stafford was later joined in the Fraternity by his younger brother William Harding Hansell, WASHINGTON STATE 1943, and first cousin Blaine “Bud” Hansell, WASHINGTON STATE 1942. William’s sons Bill, OREGON 1967, Tyler, WASHINGTON STATE 1969, and Woodson, WASHINGTON STATE 1971, all followed in their footsteps.

“My uncle Stafford pledged at University of Montana and eventually transferred to Whitman. The Fraternity was so meaningful that it was important to seek out a place for himself in the chapter at his new school. And of course, I learned plenty about Sigma Chi from my dad. He used to always call my mother the ‘Sweetheart of Sigma Chi,’” Bill explains.

The next generation of Hansell brothers are Tyler’s sons: Tyler, WASHINGTON STATE 2002, Kenzie, WASHINGTON STATE 2003, and Lucas, WASHINGTON STATE 2009. Bill credits his nephews, specifically Kenzie, with helping save the Beta Upsilon chapter from closing altogether in the mid-2000s after a tumultuous time. Beta Upsilon’s chapter house had been in disrepair for years and was boarded up

in 2002. Chapter membership drastically declined. A meeting was called, and the majority of the remaining members voted to turn in the chapter’s charter. But Consul Nickolas Birklid, WASHINGTON STATE 2004, and Pro Consul Kenzie Hansell defied the vote and opted to lead the chapter into a new era by working to grow membership. Eventually, the chapter became a success again and even found itself in a new $5.5 million chapter house.

After serving more than 40 years in elected office in Oregon, Bill attributes Sigma Chi with helping him become a strong leader.

“The university can be a big, scary place sometimes. One of the most important things for me was developing close friendships based on shared experiences. Those were so valuable to me. That daily interaction and developing skills to live in a community translates to living and leading in a society,” he says. “Take every advantage of your membership in the Fraternity while you have the chance. Develop friendships and relationships and maintain them. As you move through life, Sigma Chi can be a real stepping stone. Most of us are going to be involved with something that requires strong relationships, and your time in the Fraternity will teach you how to build them.”

WARDENS OF TRADITION: THE PETRYS

Sigma Chi has always been a strong presence for Order of Constantine Sig Rob Petry, GEORGIA SOUTHERN 1981. His introduction to the Fraternity came early by way of his great uncle and 52nd Grand Consul Gardner Allen, EMORY 1928, his father, Order of Constantine Sig William Petry, FLORIDA STATE 1953, uncle and Significant Sig Richard Petry, FLORIDA 1953, and his brother, William Petry Jr., GEORGIA SOUTHERN 1976

Members of Rob’s family have been dedicated to the upkeep of the Constantine Memorial in Hampton, Georgia. They helped organize the memorial’s 150th anniversary celebration in 2014.

“My dad and uncle were very involved with the Constantine Memorial update. They did renovations and helped turn it into a true park. Dad was its warden for many years, then I was appointed warden,” he says.

Rob hopes to turn over his wardenship to his nephew, Dustin Petry, GEORGIA 2004, when he’s no longer able to take care of the monument.

“Sigma Chi is a lifelong commitment. It’s not four years and done. My hope is that we stay a Fraternity and not become a social club or just an educational entity; I don’t want to see our traditions go by the wayside,” Rob says. “That’s why you have to keep passing this stuff down and why being a legacy is so important.”

NO EQUIVOCATING: THE GREENAWALTS

Order of Constantine Sig Jon Greenawalt Sr., PENNSYLVANIA 1961, has always cherished his deep sense of integrity. His father, Henry Greenawalt Sr., PENNSYLVANIA 1923, instilled this in him at an early age.

“My father was in both World Wars. He had an uncanny way of knowing when I lied to him. Integrity became a core part of my value system when I was young, and that might be the greatest gift he ever gave me,” he says.

Jon’s older brother, Significant Sig Henry Samuel Jr., PENNSYLVANIA 1951, preceded him by 10 years as an undergrad member of the Fraternity.

“If my older brother or my father had every pressured me or tried to influence me in any way, I might not have joined Sigma Chi. Instead, they let me figure it out for myself.”

But Jon did have some heavy-handed influence in the form of a good-natured dustup with Sigma Chi legend, Order of Constantine Sig and Significant Sig John Huntsman Sr., PENNSYLVANIA 1959, who ended up being Jon's big brother in the Fraternity.

“On bid night, I was equivocating. I wanted to make sure that this was where I really wanted to be. Huntsman invited me and a few others out to a local bar. After a few beers I got up to use the restroom and out of nowhere, there was Huntsman,” Jon

recalls. “He grabbed me by the lapels, pushed me against the wall, and said, ‘Damn it, Greenawalt. You know you want to be a Sigma Chi, so quit screwing around.’ And that was that. His leadership and contribution to my life are immeasurable.”

As Magister for two years, Jon worked diligently to remove hazing from the chapter. He kept integrity at his center throughout his alumni work with the Fraternity, which ranged from designing and implementing the Membership Development Program (a first-of-its kind, Fraternity-wide leadership program) to advocating for the rights of gay brothers in the 1970s and beyond.

When Jon's son, Jon Greenawalt Jr., PENNSYLVANIA 1991, entered college, he had to make up his own mind about which fraternity to join. Like his father, uncle and grandfather before him, Jon Jr. chose Sigma Chi.

“It’s an affirmation of the values that I possess and that he has learned through me. It's an acknowledgement of the kind of relationship we have,” Jon Sr. says. The legacy continues with Jon’s grandson, Julian Greenawalt, PENNSYLVANIA 2025.

“That was huge for me. I put the pin on my son during his initiation. And my son and I put the pin on my grandson during his initiation,” Jon Sr. says. “What a thing to have four generations of men in one chapter of Sigma Chi.”

A FAMILY BRAND: THE EAGLETONS

Many kids grow up thinking their dad is the baddest guy on the planet, but for Bill Eagleton IV, WESTMINSTER 1978, Significant Sig Jim Eagleton, OKLAHOMA STATE 1979, John Eagleton, WESTMINSTER 1982, and Paul Eagleton, OKLAHOMA 1986, it was true. Their father, Significant Sig James Eagleton Sr., OKLAHOMA 1948, was Consul at the Beta Kappa chapter. He was an athlete who qualified for the Olympics in wrestling, a World War II Marine who island-hopped in the Pacific, and eventually became president of the Oklahoma Bar Association. James came to college as a veteran in his early 20s. Can you imagine a 19-year-old sophomore lecturing a 22-year-old hardened war veteran about why he should know The Jordan Standard better?

“My grandfather (James Eagleton, OKLAHOMA 1924) and my father were two of the most highly moral people I’ve ever known. They taught us that there is no right or wrong, there is only right,” Paul says. “If you take the way they lived their lives and you compare it to The Jordan Standard and everything that is taught in Sigma Chi, that’s my dad and my granddad to a T. I wished I lived my life like they did, but I’m still trying, and I’m still working at it.”

The Sigma Chi roots for the Eagleton family run all the way to William Eagleton Jr., OKLAHOMA 1914. He was in the first pledge class of the Beta Kappa chapter. The legacy continues with Alex Eagleton, OKLAHOMA 2023, who was among the most recent initiates in the chapter.

In between those pledge classes is more than 100 years of Sigma Chi brothers with titles and accolades like Consul, Significant Sig and Order of Constantine Sig for good measure.

“The four years you spend in the Sigma Chi house and those morals and ethics you learn there, that’s what turns a boy into a man. That’s the path, those are the principles, that’s the technique that we’ve used in our family for more than a hundred years,” Bill explains.

For John, there’s never been any competition between the Sigma Chis in his family. They support each other, and with the guidance of The Jordan Standard, the Sigma Chi Creed and the legacy of the men that came before them, they’ve focused on building what he calls a good family brand.

“Family for us is like a microcosm of the Fraternity. We all have different temperaments, talents and convictions. We support each other. We have always helped each other be our best selves.”

Do you know somebody who embodies TheJordan Standardand would make a great Sigma Chi? Visit members.sigmachi.org/RecruitmentRecommendation to submit a potential new member recommendation.

FRATERNITY LOOKS TO EXPAND NON-STUDENT INITIATE PROGRAM

MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE HOPES

CHANGES TO PROGRAM AND INCREASED PUBLICITY

BOOST ANNUAL NSI NUMBERS

BY ASHLEY SZATALA

Order of Constantine Sig Clyde Dornier, OKLAHOMA STATE 1985, has a running mental list of men who would make great non-student initiates [NSI] in Sigma Chi. Some he’s not approached yet, others he has. But all fit The Jordan Standard, and all have various reasons for being a potential NSI today, whether their school didn’t have a Sigma Chi chapter, they didn’t get a bid as an undergraduate or whether they didn’t attend or finish college.

“There are countless men out there who live our values and who will make fantastic contributions to our organization if we give them the chance,” says Dornier, who is Sigma Chi’s Northern Region chapter support coordinator and member of the Fraternity’s Membership Engagement Committee. “We should be going out and finding as many qualified people as we possibly can who meet TheJordanStandard, who want to live our values and who want our messaging, and then we need to help all of them get through the door.”

Currently, about 10 people go through the Fraternity’s NSI program each year. Sigma Chi plans to grow and enhance the program in order to attract more worthy men, introduce modified undergraduate programming that makes the experience more meaningful, and bolster its alumni volunteer ranks once NSIs have been initiated.

PROGRAM STARTED WITH SPECIAL INITIATE

Sixty-third Grand Consul Lee Beauchamp, TEXAS A&M-COLLEGE STATION 1975, is credited with founding the Fraternity’s NSI program.

Prior to 2004, if a non-student wanted to be initiated into Sigma Chi, governing laws only allowed him to join during the installation of a new chapter. There was no “non-student initiate” term at the time, and “inevitably through the years two or three people would kind of sneak in the back door of the installation of a new chapter and sadly be charter members in something they had no part of,” Beauchamp recalls. “I said, ‘Guys, that’s not right. If we’re going to truly do something like this, we ought to look at changing the governing laws and find a way to make this real.’” There was pushback from others within the organization who feared that Sigma Chi would be negatively impacted by such initiates, but the governing laws were successfully changed by the Grand Council in 2004 and officially adopted at the 2005 Grand Chapter in Cincinnati. The first non-student initiate in spring 2005 was a man who had a close relationship with Beauchamp for nearly 20 years.

Beauchamp met Jonathan Clements, HOUSTON 2005, when Clements was 6 and Beauchamp was president of the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s executive committee for the Texas Gulf Coast region and putting on a golf tournament to benefit the association. Clements had muscular dystrophy and had just been named Goodwill Ambassador of Houston. When the pair met, Beauchamp was told by others that Clements couldn’t attend the association’s popular youth summer camps due to Clements being in a wheelchair, needing breathing assistance at night and his parents being nervous about the teen camp counselors meeting Clements’ needs.

“I said, ‘He's going with me to camp next year.’ They said, ‘Good luck with that because it's not gonna happen.’ And they were right. The next year it didn't happen because I did not know the family yet,” Beauchamp says. “It took me a while to earn their love and respect and, after two years, Jonathan was able to start going to camp

and I was his camp counselor. And yes, I was the oldest camp counselor around.” The pair attended summer camps together for several years until Clements needed to go onto a ventilator. Then, Beauchamp came up with the idea of “Camp My Own” during the same week as the regular summer camp so that Clements could still participate. Each day had a theme, and the two would do various activities together. At the end of the week, Beauchamp had a big gift for Clements, and each day Clements would get a clue as to what the gift was. One year it was tickets to see the 2003 American Idol concert in Houston. Another year it was to be initiated as a brother in Sigma Chi.

In 2004 Beauchamp gave Clements clues like “seven,” “1855” and “Oxford, Ohio.” Friday morning that week, Clements told Beauchamp he wanted to guess what the clues meant.

“He’s crying, he goes, ‘All of this seems to add up to what I know from you is [Sigma Chi],” Beauchamp says. “‘What does that have to do with me? I can’t even go to college.’ I told him he was going to be my brother next year.”

Clements was installed at age 17 into the University of Houston chapter by an all-star cast of Sigma Chis, including 64th Grand Consul Keith Krach, PURDUE 1979, and Order of Constantine Sig Mark Anderson, ILLINOIS 1977, while they were all in Houston for Beauchamp’s last Executive Committee meeting. Clements loved being a member of the chapter, Beauchamp recalls, and he would drive Clements to chapter meetings and to attend the investitures of the new pledge class each semester.

Clements entered the Chapter Eternal in 2015 at age 27. His joy at being initiated, and his love for and participation in Sigma Chi activities afterward, is emblematic of the hundreds of other non-student initiates since Clements’ initiation kickstarted the program.

“There are so many great stories [about why members go through the NonStudent Initiate Program],” Beauchamp says, adding that reasons include a father joining after his sons have joined, initiating people who were denied membership due to the Fraternity’s White Clause, military service that interrupted collegiate education, and men needing to drop out of college due to unforeseen familial circumstances.

“I’ve lost count [of all the reasons men join later]. But each one of them is a truly beautiful story. It's so great to be able to share [Sigma Chi] with people who, for whatever reason, missed the opportunity to join. And it is the way it should be, fully transparent and that these brothers come in through the front door, not the back door.”

ALIGNING WITH – BUT NOT REPLICATING –THE PLEDGESHIP EXPERIENCE

NSIs going through the program today have a mentor who discusses the Fraternity, and although they are invited to participate in as many educational activities they’d like to, such as Ritual Bridge Week, Ritual for Life [R4L] and Preparation for Brotherhood [P4B], the only requirement is that they show up for the last part of the Rituals of Initiation and get initiated by an undergraduate chapter.

“He doesn't necessarily get the indoctrination that we want to give our undergraduates. So, we've proposed better aligning the NSI program with pledgeship and the pledgeship experience,” Dornier says. “So P4B, R4L, a mentor/coach, similar to a Magister in an undergraduate chapter, to help that brother with the journey.” The Membership Engagement Committee also has proposed aligning NSI membership dues with those an undergraduate pays. But, Dornier and others caution that the program is not intended to be identical to the undergraduate experience.

“We want to be respectful and mindful that we are not taking away from what it takes to be a member at the undergraduate level,” says Leo Fackler, FURMAN 2003, senior director of the Fraternity’s member engagement. “I think undergrad chapters at times are protective of what it means to be initiated in Sigma Chi, and that's a good thing. But we ask that they trust their alumni advisors and mentors if they identify someone who meets our requirements and will be an asset to our Fraternity.”

ADULT INITIATES OFTEN DEDICATED, ENGAGED

Dornier adds that it’s important to remember that Sigma Chi is about men of different temperaments, talents and convictions. Although the NSI experience will be different from the undergraduate experience, he says that’s not a bad thing.

“The future of the Fraternity is going to be one where we have multiple paths to the same values, and those paths are complimentary. They're not exclusive to one and not better than the other,” he says. “The NSIs that you meet are by and large super dedicated because they were introduced to the values as an alum with a little bit more maturity. [And,] they already live our values.”

That dedication as an adult often translates to more engagement with the Fraternity after their initiation. Data frequently shows that an undergraduate member’s Sigma Chi engagement drops after graduation. And, the need for alumni volunteers is greater than the supply.

“I think this is one way to increase engagement,” Dornier says. “If we initiate 100 guys a year, we’ve got 2,000 more engaged volunteers in 20 years. But in 20 years, we’re still going to need another 3,000 to 4,000 volunteers, so we’ve only solved part of the [engagement] problem.”

The committee members’ terms ended in with the Grand Chapter event in June 2023, so further marketing plans are on hold as of this writing, but the goal is to get the word out about the program through fliers at large events like Grand Chapter, speaking to groups such as province conferences and alumni chapters, and putting out an informational video via the Fraternity’s Learning Consortium and hosting virtual town halls.

Both Fackler and Dornier hope to initiate 100 NSIs in 2024 — if not more. Current governing bylaws only allow undergraduate chapters to initiate new members, but if the program grows exponentially, the committee has discussed conducting regional initiations where an undergraduate chapter in a hub city, such as Salt Lake City, would initiate multiple NSIs within their region.

But, they both stressed that expanding the NSI program is more about men of value and character and not numbers.

“This isn’t a growth plan just for the sake of growth because then that wouldn’t be meaningful,” Fackler says. “This is an opportunity we have to share the beauty of Sigma Chi with more men who meet our standards, exemplify our values, who will add value and prestige [to the organization], and help us impact the world.

“That's what we're looking for.”

To sponsor someone as a non-student initiate, first view the non-student initiate paperwork available on sigmachi.org under the heading “Members,” then “Alumni” and finally “Alumni Resources.”

Afterward, contact your local chapter advisor, Grand Praetor or Leo Fackler, FURMAN 2003, senior director of the Fraternity’s member engagement, to start the process. Potential non-student initiates must have endorsement from a local chapter to move forward in the program.

BY ASHLEY SZATALA

MANY ROUTES, ONE DESTINATION

THE PATHWAYS TO BECOMING A SIGMA CHI VARY FOR THESE

MEN, BUT ALL HAVE BEEN INITIATED LONG AFTER THEIR UNDERGRADUATE YEARS

Every year several men are initiated into Sigma Chi through the Non-Student Initiate Program, which was founded by 63rd Grand Consul Lee Beauchamp, TEXAS A&M –COLLEGE STATION 1975, in 2005 as a way to properly initiate men who meet The Jordan Standard but were not introduced to Sigma Chi in the traditional way. Each has had a unique way of finding the Fraternity, and each has a reason for joining. Below, three men share their journey to becoming a Sigma Chi.

FINALLY INITIATING A FOUNDING MEMBER: DAVE PATTERSON

Dave Patterson, WESTERN CAROLINA 1989, took a gap year in college, and when he returned in 1986, the petitioning local fraternity, Sigma Chi Alpha, had just formed that fall. He pledged in spring 1988, and the men of the group were known around campus as the Alphas. Patterson graduated and joined the Air Force, and those first couple post-college years he estimates he had four different phone numbers and addresses, making it difficult for friends to keep in touch with him.

Sigma Chi Alpha was installed Nov. 16, 1991. While undergraduates and founding alumni members were initiated as part of the Kappa Gamma chapter of Sigma Chi, Patterson was stationed in England and flying search and rescue missions over northern Iraq.

In around 2004, a member of his pledge class found the phone number of Patterson’s parents in the newspaper and contacted them as a way to try and reach Patterson. The Alphas were holding a reunion for those founding members, and they wanted Patterson to attend. Fifteen years after graduating, it was his first opportunity to reconnect with everyone.

“Because it was probably a blur in everybody's memory as far as when they received the charter, nobody could remember that I wasn't there. It hurt that I wasn't there,” Patterson says. “I had asked a couple of times, ‘Hey, I was never initiated. Is there some way that I could get initiated?’ I probably just didn't talk to the right guys. I thought maybe it just wasn’t meant to be.”

In fall 2022, Randy White, WESTERN CAROLINA 1989, called Patterson with the news he’d been waiting decades to hear. While going through paperwork, White realized Patterson had never been initiated and that he could be initiated in three weeks with the current pledge class.

Patterson was both floored and relieved, he recalls. He shuffled around his schedule, booked a flight from Florida to North Carolina, made sure he packed his suit and began the mental shift back to college and Fraternity life.

“It was a bit awkward walking in. I was about 40 years older than the pledges and probably older than the alumni that came. But as we’re all going through this together, it got a lot better,” Patterson says, adding that another NSI was participating in initiation with him.

On Oct. 29, 2022, Patterson was officially initiated as a member of Sigma Chi. “It was well worth the effort to complete the journey,” he says. “I even [recently] texted Randy and told him I’m still thinking about what he did for me. I can’t express the amount of gratitude I have that he did that for me.”

REFLECTING A FATHER’S VALUES: JIM VERLENGIA

Andy Verlengia, DRAKE 2002, pledged Sigma Chi in fall 1998 and while going through the pledgeship process, and later experiencing the Fraternity as a member, he kept saying to himself and his family: “This is Dad.” The values of Sigma Chi aligned with his parents’ values of servant leadership, being a courageous leader and holding yourself to a higher standard, among others. He remembers it being reaffirming to join a group of men who believed in the same things.

“I just kept thinking, ‘If we’re loving this, then he would really love this,’” Verlengia says. Verlengia’s brother Chris, DRAKE 2006, pledged in 2002 after Andy had graduated and started working at Headquarters as director of conference services. “My brother going through the brotherhood process agreed that this is Dad. We would talk about [Sigma Chi] as a family, and he would constantly say to us, ‘I wish I had that experience. I think I would have loved it.’”

Jim Verlengia, DRAKE 2005, attended the University of Northern Colorado as an undergrad and served as a resident advisor in the dorms. He recalls being close to some men who joined Sigma Chi [the chapter was suspended in 2018] and knew that if he were to join a fraternity, he would join Sigma Chi. He remained dedicated to his RA duties and wouldn’t be introduced to Sigma Chi again until his sons joined.

“The more young men I met that were part of the Fraternity when Andy was an undergraduate, the more I knew that it was the correct fraternity for Andy and his brother who followed, and it made me miss more the opportunity I bypassed as an

undergraduate,” Jim Verlengia says. “I said to the boys many times, ‘If I would've had the time, if I would've pledged, I definitely would've pledged to be a Sigma Chi, and what I'm experiencing through all of you is making me feel that even more strongly.’”

Sixty-third Grand Consul Lee Beauchamp, TEXAS A&M-COLLEGE STATION 1975, was Grand Consul at the time and working on changing the Governing Laws to allow adoption of the current NSI program, and Andy Verlengia approached him about initiating his father into Sigma Chi. He remembers Beauchamp saying it would be possible if Jim Verlengia was willing to go through the pledgeship process and if the Drake undergraduate chapter was willing to do it. Both said yes.

“I said, ‘I don’t want anything less than what you guys go through because I’m older or anything else. They agreed I would go through the same things,” Jim Verlengia says. “I really cherish that because I wanted the full experience. I didn’t want my age or life experience to get in the way of that.”

Jim Verlengia began his pledgeship process in February 2005. Chris was his Magister, and Andy was his pledge dad. After being initiated, he was able to be a Cornerstone Province Trainer and help in other ways with the leadership development of young Sigma Chis. Even today the Verlengias sometimes step outside their father-son relationship and approach conversations from the perspective as brothers.

“We go back to the fundamental beliefs that we have reinforced through Sigma Chi and use that as a tool to have the conversations we need to have. And that is such a rewarding conversation,” Jim Verlengia says.

STARTING A LEGACY: BRUCE BEST

Bruce Best, OKLAHOMA 2023, joined the Marine Corps as a reservist in his youth because he was trying to go to college at the time and figure out what he wanted to do with his life. Then, the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks happened, and Best was activated. He spent a couple years on active duty, served back-to-back tours in Iraq, and then returned to the U.S. and became a Marine Corps reservist again.

Best attended a junior college for a bit but felt it wasn’t right for him. He went back to the Marine Corps full-time, did aircraft firefighting and taught boot camp as a drill instructor before seeing the opportunity to be an ROTC instructor at the University of Oklahoma, a dream school for him. He put in an application, was hired, signed up for some classes while at the school and started working.

One day while Best was working out in the gym, Mark Eagleton, OKLAHOMA 2023, approached him, and the two started talking about the Marine Corps. Then, Eagleton brought up that he was in a fraternity.

“I said, ‘This is crazy, and I’m a lot older than you all, but I always wanted to be in a fraternity, but I just never had the chance to go to school,’” Best recalls. Eagleton invited him to the Sigma Chi chapter house, and although Best doubted the men would let somebody his age in, he went. Best was immediately welcomed by the men, and he started hanging out more with the chapter at the house.

“One day I made a joke saying I was going to pledge. And they go, ‘You really should. We’d love to have you,’” Best says. The men called Headquarters to see how to do so, and Best pledged and was initiated in fall 2021. In many ways, his initiation was the meaning he was searching for in his life.

“I’m an enlisted Marine, and I work with nothing but officers. So, I didn’t have a peer group. Meeting these guys, I was just so blown away at just how responsible, disciplined, respectful, honorable and loyal they were. I felt like I was in a home just full of brothers, and it was amazing,” Best says. “I tell the guys they really saved me. They saved my mental health and my spiritual health.”

In turn, Best gives back to the chapter and acts as a mentor to the men. He’s grabbed his tools and helped work around the chapter house patching holes and other projects. He’s used military drafting and planning strategies to help the men have a better recruitment process and help them divide tasks amongst themselves when getting ready for social events. And he’s offered his backyard shed for storage during school breaks so nobody has to worry about where to store their items.

“I’ll say to them, ‘I’m older than you, so I've done a lot more. I want to give you the answers so you don't struggle like I have, and you can be a better, productive member of society and better, productive member for your family,’” Best says.

Best also appreciates the wider brotherhood of Sigma Chi. He often wears Sigma Chi apparel and enjoys meeting Sigma Chis from other schools who approach him. He also enjoys meeting with alumni, especially those who have been in the military, and he loves the professional network and resources Sigma Chis across the world provide each other because they have the common bond of being brothers.

“I love being a Sig and doing whatever I can to help the guys out. It’s just been an amazing experience,” Best says. “I would like to have that [legacy] lineage with my niece and nephews. I want my niece to join a sorority and my nephews to become Sigs. I want to start that for them.”

BY NATHANAEL HAWTHORNE, YOUNGSTOWN 2020 //////

DIVING INTO MENTAL HEALTH

In an effort to help increase the mental wellbeing of its members, Sigma Chi has implemented an annual Mental Health Action Day to promote mental health resources and help destigmatize mental health struggles in college-aged men

Sigma Chi prides itself as a leader amongst the Greek-letter world in multiple facets. One such facet is through its commitment to the mental and emotional health of its members and communities at large. Mental health struggles impact far too many individuals, including brothers, and, in terrible scenarios, those struggles end in devastating ways. Sigma Chi implemented the inaugural Mental Health Action Day, or MHAD, on Oct. 19, 2023, with the goal to distribute resources and challenge the stigma surrounding mental health and wellness.

“The Mental Health Action Day is about two things. I think it’s about calling attention to a profoundly serious matter on college campuses. All men, but particularly young men, are grappling with anxiety, depression, stress and those kinds of things that all lead to either positive or negative mental health outcomes, depending on how they’re used. The other side of it is the more that

we talk about it, the more we help break the stigma around it,” says Sigma Chi Executive Director Mike Church, ILLINOIS 2005. Under past Grand Consul Tim Sanderson, WESTERN 1985, and the Executive Committee during the previous biennium, 2021 to 2023 International Sweetheart Shelby Mecklenborg, along with others on the Health, Safety and Wellness Committee, were placed on a subcommittee to determine how to increase the wellbeing of all Sigma Chi members. Brice Wyderski, BALL STATE 2021, Max Troyke, HILLSDALE 2021, and Mecklenborg worked together with Adrian Avila, NEW MEXICO 2013, to bring the MHAD to undergraduate chapters.

FRATERNITY MEMBERS, CHAPTERS PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN UNIQUE WAYS

THOMAS HAYES MAYO LAB CARRIES NAMESAKE’S LEGACY THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Twenty-one-year-old Thomas Hayes Mayo, MISSISSIPPI 2023, died April 14, 2022, from fentanyl poisoning. His death is an example of what good may come from tragedy. Within the Ole Miss community, the Thomas Hayes Mayo Lab — part of the university’s William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing that operates within the Jackie and Faser Triplett Research Center — engages students and their families on topics of mental health. According to the lab’s website, it equips parents, educators and students to start conversations that transform and save lives. The lab utilizes peer-to-peer education called “The Happiness Team” to hold these conversations with students. In early 2023, the lab also began recording The Mayo Lab Podcast to extend the lab’s reach across the country.

MENTAL HEALTH ROUNDTABLES PROMOTE SUPPORT

The Ball State chapter in Muncie, Indiana, takes the innovative approach of mental health roundtables to support brothers who may be encountering mental health challenges. In these small group settings, each brother takes a turn describing what is going on in his life, either good or bad, and then each brother takes a moment to offer advice and support. The chapter has done the mental health roundtables for over four years and plans to do them for years to come.

HUNTSMAN

MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE FOUNDED AS A WAY TO ADDRESS CRISIS

The Huntsman family donated $150 million in November 2019 to create the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, or HMHI, with the mission to transform mental health care through community, research, clinical and education initiatives. According to the Huntsman Mental Health Foundation online, the institute’s founding began as a way for the Huntsman family to address the mental health crisis in the United States. Today, the HMHI provides comprehensive mental health services and psychiatric care, and its researchers are pioneering science’s understanding of complex brain functions.

“We were brainstorming ways we could make an impact,” says Mecklenborg. “There was a certain part of the Wellness Committee that was geared toward mental health. We ultimately decided on a day geared toward community engagement and raising awareness.”

The subcommittee spent nearly two years coming up with ways to make the MHAD as experiential as possible and give the undergraduate Sigs an opportunity to be hands-on. One of the ways they achieved that was through focus groups and trial and error.

Grand Praetor Asher Kalef, CAL. STATE-SAN BERNARDINO 2011, was the Executive Committee sponsor for the subcommittee and said the day started as a way to get information to the chapter houses and to the young members of Sigma Chi who may be going through mental health issues or depression.

“It was really comprehensive,” says Kalef. “We’ve clouded some of these topics because it’s uncomfortable or not cool to talk about. We teach a lot of vulnerability and openness in Sigma Chi, and we felt [MHAD] was a good place to start to let our brothers, our members and our communities in general know that it’s OK to not be OK. That’s something you should share and be able to rely on your Fraternity brothers.”

As part of the MHAD, a planning and resource guide was sent out to the undergraduate chapters, as well as press releases and a letter from 73rd Grand Consul Bob Wilson, FORT HAYS 1981, and Health, Safety and Wellness Committee Chairperson, Grand Trustee and Order of Constantine Sig Nathan Neal, GEORGE WASHINGTON 1983, outlining that Sigma Chi would be presenting the inaugural event. There was also a Mental Health Action Day speaker series in which Nick Mancini, DAYTON 2007, and others spoke about their relationship to mental health. The speaker series, hosted by the Fraternity, was critical for the success of the day, Mecklenborg believes.

“We didn’t want this to be preachy. We wanted it to be immersive and let people see the impact of what we’re doing in their lives and in the lives of people Sigma Chi’s members care about,” says Mecklenborg. “We got a lot of positive feedback about the speaker series because it was driven by questions from the undergrads, alumni and anyone tuning in. It was shaped the way they wanted it to be.”

From the Fraternity’s standpoint, it was clear that increasing the mental health of the undergraduate brothers proved to be a crucial point. On college campuses, the stigma around mental health is that men, specifically college-aged men, don’t necessarily suffer from mental health issues, or they suffer in silence often resulting in tragedy. In what Church calls an epidemic, men are more likely to commit suicide than women, according to various studies. The creation of the MHAD was a step in the right direction, he says.

“We as an organization can do a better job of helping to break the stigma around mental health,” says Church. “I think the MHAD is a good opportunity for the Fraternity to engage with our undergraduates. The inaugural Mental Health Action Day

was seen as a success, and Sigma Chi is going to make greater efforts in the future to double-down on it and make sure all our chapters and members are participating in the day.”

From a Grand Praetor’s perspective, Kalef also believes the event was successful.

“A couple people have said to me directly they were glad the Fraternity was doing something about mental health. It shows Sigma Chi cares about its members health, safety and wellness, and we’re comfortable talking about things that people might not be comfortable talking about,” says Kalef. “If we encouraged even one or two of our members across the United States and Canada to say something or ask for help, then it was a success. Hopefully we

can push the dial and get more of our members to come forward and be willing to talk about whatever they’re going through.”

For Mecklenborg, the day means a little more. In the years to come, she hopes to see the Mental Health Action Day synonymous with the name Sigma Chi. Her wish is for the day to be as big as the Fraternity’s Derby Days philanthropic event and have the conversation go from, “Are we going to participate this year?” to “When is it, and what are we going to do for it?”

“We ultimately want it to be taken over by the undergraduates and have them run it in a way that makes sense for them, but still hold on to that same messaging and action, as it did in the beginning,” says Mecklenborg.

ONLINE THERAPY WITH BETTERHELP

The Sigma Chi Reach Out app, available for free download, connects members of all communities who are in need to both in-house and community resources, such as helplines, counseling services, emergency responders, rape crisis centers, legal aid services and medical care providers.

Sigma Chi has partnered with Betterhelp, an online therapy service, to support the health and wellbeing of members and their loved ones. When Sigma Chi members and friends sign up for Betterhelp through the Fraternity, they can get matched with a licensed therapist, receive their first month of therapy free and then receive 15% off services thereafter.

Welcome back, Eastern Illinois University

CHAPTER NAME: Eta Mu

INSTALLATION DATE: Dec. 2, 2023

SIGS INITIATED AT INSTALLATION: 27

For over 15 years, Eastern Illinois hasn’t had a new fraternity on its campus. For current Eta Mu Consul Luke Denny, EASTERN ILLINOIS 2025, traversing the difficulties of COVID-19 and other challenges helped lay the foundation for the chapter down the road. Recently, the chapter has excelled in numerous ways, capped off with a Dec. 2 initiation. For Denny, working on a strong foundation to build on is paramount, and he believes his chapter has done a tremendous job at setting the chapter up for success.

How did this all start? We were rechartering, and they started during COVID-19. Alumni started going around, setting up tables and talking with people on campus. They ended up finding six men that started the whole associate chapter process. I joined two semesters after. They laid a lot of the groundwork in terms of setting up our bylaws and getting our name on campus. A lot of us went to other fraternities but we didn’t fit in with those, so we wanted a fraternity that people like us could join. We found that in Sigma Chi and expanded from there.

What was the process like for you and for the chapter? It was tough. We were doing what every other fraternity on campus was doing, but we had to do it bigger. Going above and beyond in philanthropy, putting an emphasis on scholarship to show that we were not only hanging, but going way above everyone else, and it showed. As of last year, we ranked first or second in anything across the board pertaining to Greek-letter life. We had an emphasis of outworking people and putting in the extra hours. One thing we learned was how to operate as a smaller chapter. We had to find that sweet spot and when we did, we realized we could hold events like the bigger schools do — just on a smaller scale.

What made you choose Sigma Chi? We didn’t find what we were looking for when we went elsewhere. There were certain aspects that were given a higher priority, but there was no well-rounded fraternity on campus that did everything. We wanted a way to grow with other people. Coming into a young, rechartering chapter meant we could mold it the way we wanted, and how we form it would set us up for success 50 years down the road.

What has this semester been like for you? This is my first semester as Consul, and it has been stressful — going through the semester, finishing up phase two in the summer, filing our formal petition and creating realistic expectations to be the best. The one thing this has taught me is that no matter the leadership position, you all have to move as a unit. Since our initiation, we’ve been pedal to the metal.

After you and your chapter brothers were initiated, what did you feel? My parents were at the initiation banquet, and I told them this is the proudest I’ve ever been in my life. I was proud that we were able to do it through a fair amount of adversity. Also, seeing the pride coming from the alumni hit me differently because you see how much it affects people. I say it a lot, but the sacrifices we make today in the young chapter’s life will only elevate where we are 20 years from now.

What has the alumni involvement been like from the start? There have been a number of Eastern Illinois alumni who helped us. Jeff Middleton, 1981, and the Pierce family — [chapter advisor] Cole, 2014, Blake, 2011, Derek, 2018, and Order of Constantine Sig Kevin, 1984 — for an entire year at the start showed up to all the chapter meetings to make sure things ran well and people knew what they were doing. That helped a ton. One other thing that helped us throughout our process was that our Magister was an already-initiated Sig from the semester before the chapter left campus. He was able to know the full picture and lead us, which was amazing.

Welcome, Sacred Heart University

CHAPTER NAME: Mu Lambda

INSTALLATION DATE: Dec. 16, 2023

SIGS INITIATED AT INSTALLATION: 53

A group of about 30 undergraduates on the campus of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, researched fraternities and decided on Sigma Chi after finding themselves aligned with the Fraternity’s values, virtues and partnerships, specifically the Huntsman Cancer Institute. After a well-received presentation by the Fraternity to administrators at Sacred Heart, the associate chapter process began. Roughly two years later, John Kirkwood, SACRED HEART 2024, and 52 others were initiated, and the chapter became official.

How did this all start? I initially transferred here during the spring semester of my freshman year. I met my group of friends and it ended up being about 30 kids, some of who had already tried rushing elsewhere, but it didn’t stick because they didn’t like the organizations or didn’t want to stick it out. We thought since there were 30 of us, we could start our own fraternity on campus. We looked at a few organizations and landed on Sigma Chi. We coordinated with Sigma Chi’s Director of Expansion Desmond Robinson, TARLETON STATE 2015, at Sigma Chi International Fraternity Headquarters and our Interfraternity Council director on campus.

Can you explain why you and your chapter brothers chose Sigma Chi? What started us looking into Sigma Chi was that some of us had friends from high school who are in Sigma Chi at their universities. Once we read more about the organization, as well as the collaboration between the Fraternity and the Huntsman Cancer Institute, it really stuck out to us. The values and virtues of the Fraternity, The Jordan Standard and the daily norms that Sigma Chi lives by is something a lot of us, and me personally, really resonated with.

What was the whole process like? It was a huge change for everybody, especially the original 18 of us. We’ve been active on campus for about two years, and the process has been super rewarding. Of course it was challenging at points, but it was all positive. The challenges were making sure everything we were doing, and the men we were recruiting, were aligned with the values Sigma Chi has. The biggest motivator for me as Consul was to make sure everyone was doing what they needed to. I know when you’re a senior, those in Greek-letter life start to fade out. I wanted to make sure not only that wouldn’t happen, but also that being installed would time up well with when the founding class was leaving. We tried to push a fast installation by making sure we had everything done and we went above and beyond where we could, as early as we could, to be installed so everyone could enjoy the fruits of their labor.

What was the semester like as a group? There was pressure in making sure we were on top of everything so there were no last-minute Peterson [Significant Chapter Award] points we were missing out on in order to be install-ready. We had to capitalize on making sure we were bringing in guys that we thought could uphold the values and continue the growth of the chapter.

How did you navigate without alumni support? We had some of the guys from the chapter at the University of New Haven helping us. Christian Castro, NEW HAVEN 2023, Cody Markey, NEW HAVEN 2022, and Kyle Shelton, NEW HAVEN 2024, are some that come to mind. They, along with a handful of other guys from that chapter, were there for anything we needed. Castro, specifically, was our Magister for all four semesters and was at every event. Apart from the other chapter, our chapter advisors Greg Valente, CONNECTICUT 1986, Michael Borsari, CONNECTICUT 1994, and our Grand Praetor and Order of Constantine Sig Keith Moody, CONNECTICUT 1989, were relied heavily upon whenever we needed anything.

CAMPUS CHRONICLES UPDATES

ALABAMA Iota Iota

The chapter had an extremely successful and record-breaking recruitment. The fall pledge class of 2023 had 63 of the finest young men the University of Alabama has to offer. The pledge class is the largest the chapter has recorded, and we look forward to what they will accomplish.

~Jacob Schurman, 2026

ALBION Alpha Pi

Over the past semester, the chapter has raised around $3,000 for the Community Table of Albion and for scholarships through our second annual golf outing. During the semester, our brothers held three offices on the Interfraternity Council executive board. We look to continue to grow our house and culture next semester.

~Christopher Marshall, 2025

ALMA Theta Nu

The brotherhood was successful in making significant strides in individual and chapter-wide academic habits.

~Maxim Kraniak, 2025

ARKANSAS Omega Omega

We initiated 48 new members to our chapter in the fall. Their initiation was well attended by undergraduates as well as many alumni. In addition to initiating these new members, we raised over $40,000 for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation through our annual “Wings and Kings” competition as well as a new “Call-a-thon”.

~Preston Barber, 2025

AUBURN Gamma Sigma

One of our biggest accomplishments during 2023 was our Derby Days philanthropic event where we raised almost $63,000 for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. An amazing week of contests and games, Derby Days was one for the books, and we would like to thank all who supported us this year.

~Cooper Cantrelle, 2025

BALL STATE Epsilon Omega

The chapter hosted our annual haunted house to raise money for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. This year, our chapter collaborated with the Alpha Chi Omega Fraternity at Ball State to promote stronger relationships across campus. This year's haunted house was a two-day event that raised $4,000 for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation.

~Evan Owens, 2025

BELOIT Alpha Zeta

The chapter has embodied Fraternity values this fall, emphasizing community, growth and philanthropy. A Rock River cleanup displayed our community commitment. Seven driven athletes joined our Beloit College Fraternity. Reconnecting with alumni this semester brought rich discussions about tradition and campus life, alongside our charity efforts through the Halloween haunted house.

~Emmet Morgan, 2025

BENTLEY Lambda Upsilon

Resilience characterized our chapter this semester. While our values and ideals were questioned and tested, the groundwork put down by the generations before us aided the cause of Sigma Chi. But that is not to say we didn’t acquire new wisdom, new strengths and renewed our vows to Sigma Chi and God through the White Cross.

~Daniel Zsebik, 2024

BOISE STATE Lambda Xi

This year has been a testament to our ability to face and overcome challenges. We take pride in initiating two pledge classes this year and are extremely proud to say that we raised $35,000 for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. With five Peterson Significant Chapter Awards under our belt, our goal is to add to that number, getting better every year.

~Tyler Afdahl, 2026

BOSTON Iota Upsilon

This past semester was a great success for the chapter. We recently initiated our pledge class and welcomed 17 new leaders of men into our order. Brotherhood continues to be a strong emphasis for our growing chapter. Our parents and alumni weekend was a big hit! We had strong attendance with over 70 parents and alumni in attendance.

~Shay Savalia, 2026

BRIDGEWATER STATE Theta Zeta

In the fall semester, the chapter made great progress, mainly around recruitment efforts. Our hardworking brothers helped take the chapter to greater heights, bringing in 13 new members. They were also given the Outstanding Commitment to New Member Development award from Bridgewater State University's Fraternity and Sorority Life Council.

~Caden Regan, 2025

BROCK Mu Zeta

The chapter continues to thrive with strong brotherhood bonds, initiating seven new brothers into our order. Recent events showcased our commitment to excellence, leadership and philanthropy. This engagement was highlighted at our five-year anniversary formal, where brothers, guests and community members came together to celebrate and honor the chapter's legacy.

~Leo Nip Villasuso, 2027

BRYANT Lambda Eta

The chapter had yet another successful semester. After running a flawless initiation, we successfully initiated 10 new members into our chapter. We are also welcoming our new executive committee led by Consul Dario DiBlasi, 2025, and Pro Consul Alexander Mirsky, 2024.

~Jack Hinckley, 2025

CALIFORNIA-IRVINE Eta Sigma

We kicked off the year with a remarkable fall quarter. Beginning with recruitment, we welcomed 26 new brothers. Our philanthropic efforts raised over $20,000 for Huntsman Cancer Foundation, as well as victories in six sorority philanthropies. We celebrated our achievements with a brotherhood retreat and formal trip in San Diego, with our 50th anniversary right around the corner.

~Avery Horton, 2026

CALIFORNIA-MERCED

Lambda Delta

This semester, the chapter emphasized community service, accumulating almost 200 hours as a chapter. We hosted multiple events, including a blood drive with the Red Cross, a highway cleanup for highway 59, and helped with multiple faculty-hosted career fairs. We look forward to hosting even more philanthropic events next semester and our Derby Days philanthropic event.

~Corbin Ward, 2025

CALIFORNIA-SANTA BARBARA

Zeta Kappa

Our most significant accomplishment this quarter was recruiting a large fall pledge class, which included many freshmen. This puts our chapter at our largest size, almost 100 members, in our chapter's history. Furthermore, our latest GPA report saw our chapter record the highest increase across all fraternities on campus.

~Will Pakter, 2025

CENTRAL FLORIDA Eta Pi

We are proud of the community service and philanthropic events our chapter participated in, from serving 9,000 meals at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida to participating in a UCF Trick-orTreating event for local children. We found many ways to give back.

~Jaxton Doher, 2024

CHICAGO Omicron Omicron

The chapter is proud to have initiated 11 new brothers in the fall of 2023. We are looking forward to a great spring season filled with a new class of brothers, academic achievement, Derby Days philanthropic event fundraising and a final sendoff for our strong senior class.

~William Benner, 2024

CINCINNATI Zeta Psi

Our chapter ended the year in a strong position. We initiated 32 brothers and are projected to raise over $20,000 for Huntsman Cancer Foundation. We also partnered with Pi Beta Phi Fraternity to raise money to buy Christmas gifts for the inner-city school children we mentor weekly.

~Evan Phelps, 2025

COLORADO-BOULDER Beta Mu

Over the past year, our brotherhood has grown exponentially, and the chapter has achieved many accomplishments this past term, most significantly becoming Ritual certified at our fall initiation. This initiation saw the welcoming of our largest class due to our most successful semester of recruitment.

~Deeks Woodward, 2026

CONNECTICUT Gamma Omega

In the fall semester, the chapter welcomed 13 new brothers, three of whom have already assumed roles on the executive committee. We are eagerly anticipating our impactful philanthropy efforts in the upcoming spring, particularly our involvement in HuskyTHON.

~Samuel Louden, 2024

CUMBERLAND Nu

The chapter's brothers involved themselves heavily in school activities this semester, bolstering Sigma Chi's name on campus with passionate participation in Homecoming, extracurriculars and

more. New brothers joined old brothers alike as they worked to show the campus what it truly means to be a Sigma Chi.

~Maddox Marlin, 2026

DALHOUSIE-ST. MARY'S Gamma Rho

Widely known around campus as “Pie-A-Chi”, the chapter hosted its most successful philanthropy event of the semester on Dec. 1, 2023. The chapter's brothers endured eggs, pies and paintballs for the entire day, ultimately raising $1,147 for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation.

~Ross Almeda, 2025

DEPAUW Xi

The chapter has had a great semester, having our first fall pledge

class in years and going into this semester having the highest average GPA of any Interfraternity Council fraternity for the third semester in a row. We look to bring in a strong new class in the spring and continue our academic excellence.

~Andy Wessman, 2024

A COLLEGE IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA Beta Lambda

After appealing last year's Peterson Significant Chapter Award results, we received the Peterson Award for just the second time in our chapter's history. This is a major milestone for our chapter. Brother Pete Lopez, 2026, also led the Duke Collegiate club swimming team to seventh at regionals.

~Braxton LaNois, 2026

EASTERN ILLINOIS Eta Mu

The fall semester of 2023 was the end of the Sigma Chi Psi associate chapter and the rechartering of the chapter. We are proud to become, once again, a fully chartered chapter of Sigma Chi.

~Kyle Anderson, 2023

EMBRY-RIDDLE (DAYTONA BEACH) Eta Iota

The chapter had an excellent fall semester. We won the university's intramural flag football league as well as a fraternity and sorority kickball tournament. We had brothers participate in Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority's Halloween fashion show with the rest of the fraternities and sororities. We look forward to what the spring will bring us.

~Tyler Lautieri, 2027

EMBRY-RIDDLE (PRESCOTT) Kappa Phi

The chapter successfully initiated 12 new members. We had some special guests, 73rd Grand Consul Bob Wilson, FORT HAYS 1981, and Grand Historian Michael Codina, CALIFORNIA-SAN DIEGO 1993, in attendance.

~Kyle Appelhans, 2025

FLORIDA Gamma Theta

This fall, the chapter had a very successful semester both in the classroom and throughout campus. Academically, we remain one of the top fraternities on campus, with the fourth highest GPA out of 25 chapters. Additionally, we have members holding leadership positions in many student organizations, including student government, Cicerones, Blue Key, engineering clubs and Dance Marathon.

~Conor Lynch, 2025

FLORIDA ATLANTIC Lambda Tau

We initiated our 400th brother from the fall pledge class in a standout semester, securing the highest fraternity volunteer ranking, and donating $20,000 to Huntsman Cancer Foundation, totaling our contribution to an impressive $191,784. Grand Pro Consul Ryan Temby, RUTGERS 1990, and International Sweetheart Jordan Garrett attended our 10th anniversary celebration.

~Ethan Lewin, 2025

FLORIDA GULF COAST

Lambda Zeta

The chapter organized a highly successful clothing drive this semester, which demonstrated strong community spirit. Our brothers rallied to collect a significant amount of clothing, greatly surpassing previous efforts. The drive not only fostered a sense of unity within the Fraternity,

but also made a substantial impact in supporting local charities and individuals in need.

~Charlie Bokos, 2025

GEORGE MASON Iota Xi

For our chapter, the most significant accomplishment is the quality of the newly initiated pledge class. We were able to recruit 10 new brothers, nearly doubling the size of the chapter. Since being initiated, their impact has been immense. Our on-campus presence has grown exponentially, and we are returning Sigma Chi to its proper role as leaders on campus.

~Cole Messina, 2025

GEORGE WASHINGTON Epsilon

We are pleased to welcome five new brothers from the fall pledge class. We have begun our philanthropic endeavors for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, with hopes of exceeding our previous fundraising total of over $11,000 from the 2022-2023 academic year. Looking to the spring, we are thrilled to meet the newest brothers-to-be.

~Adam Lewandowski, 2026

GEORGETOWN Mu Theta

This semester, the chapter initiated seven new brothers who, in a short amount of time, have already demonstrated their commitment to the values of Sigma Chi. Also, we were happy to serve our community this semester by continuing our semesterly cleanup of trash at Rock Creek Park on Oct. 7.

~Charlie Granitto, 2024

GEORGIA Delta

The chapter hosted our third annual “The Fight Against Suicide,” a philanthropic boxing event sanctioned by the Georgia Athletic Commission where fighters trained for eight weeks with professional coaches. Proceeds totaled over $70,000 for the Samuel L. Asbury

Foundation to support mental health causes in honor of a Georgia Sig [class of 2020] tragically taken by suicide.

~Britton Landrum, 2024

GEORGIA SOUTHERN Eta Zeta

Among the many exciting moments, we gratefully recognize one especially significant highlight: our 50-year anniversary. Despite passing this milestone in 2020, COVID-19 concerns postponed our Homecoming event until this past September. We thank our brothers and alumni for making this event possible.

~Rich Pazderski, 2026

GEORGIA SOUTHWESTERN

Eta Theta

During the fall of 2023, we initiated six new brothers into our fantastic brotherhood. Our brothers have also completed a terrific amount of community service hours as well. We are very pleased to see what the spring semester will bring.

~Jackson Kiff, 2025

HILLSDALE Alpha Kappa

The chapter had a successful 2023 academic term. This fall during our Derby Days philanthropic event, philanthropy chair Jack Foley, 2026, led our chapter to almost double the amount of money raised in the past two years. We've seen increases in our chapter GPA, as well as community service hours this year, and we plan to improve even more in 2024.

~Alexander Deimel, 2024

IDAHO Gamma Eta

Our chapter's biggest accomplishment was going through the one-year anniversary of the passing of our beloved brother Ethan Chapin, 2022. Our house came together as a whole and had each other's backs when all of the eyes were on us once again. Having news crews and documentary crews around the house is no easy task, especially for young men.

~Nick Hernandez, 2026

Seventy-third Grand Consul Bob Wilson, FORT HAYS 1981, center, and Grand Historian and Order of Constantine Sig Dr. Michael Codina, CALIFORNIA-SAN DIEGO 1993, are pictured alongside the Embry-Riddle (Prescott) newly initiated members, as well as Magister Michael Zabriskie, 2024, after initiation on Nov. 4, 2023.

ILLINOIS STATE Theta Rho

Our most significant accomplishment during the fall academic term was welcoming 11 brothers to our chapter. We also had the pleasure of welcoming back the Eta Mu chapter at Eastern Illinois. Brothers of the chapter lent a hand in their initiation to install their chapter back on campus.

~Will Hamilton, 2023

INDIANA (PENNSYLVANIA)

Eta Omicron

On Nov. 3, 2023, the chapter celebrated its 50th anniversary. Thanks to the efforts of our undergraduate brothers, the support of all the generations of alumni and our housing corporation, the celebration began with the initiation of our 100th pledge class and culminated with a banquet commemorating the efforts and accomplishments of our brothers over the last five decades.

~ Eric Zaharko, 2020 (Chapter Advisor)

JACKSONVILLE Iota Gamma

For the 2022-2023 academic year, our chapter has reached remarkable milestones, including breaking our own philanthropy and social event records. Through our Derby Days philanthropic event, we raised $22,600. We uphold a positive image in Greek-letter life. Exemplifying Sigma Chi values, we successfully initiated 20 new members this fall semester.

~Matthew Ruff, 2024

KENT STATE Zeta Lambda

The 2023 fall semester was fantastic for us. We won philanthropies for Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity, Sigma Delta Tau Fraternity and Delta Tau Delta. Furthermore, three brothers have become sweethearts for our school’s Alpha Phi International Fraternity, Alpha Xi Delta and Delta Gamma women’s fraternity chapters. We also initiated 17 brothers who are eager to get involved as soon as possible.

~Alex Deryck, 2025

KETTERING Zeta Theta A

We are continuing our history of winning a Peterson Significant Chapter Award as well as recruiting a well-rounded pledge class, even with shrinking freshmen class sizes.

~Ehren Mroczek, 2025

LOUISVILLE Iota Lambda

Our chapter’s most significant accomplishment is the acceptance of our 25th consecutive Peterson Significant Chapter Award in early August. Additionally, the chapter initiated the 24 members of the fall pledge class into its ranks Oct. 7 thanks to the hard work of Magister Miles Parker, 2025, and assistant Magisters Clay Howard, 2026, Jack Geruc, 2026, Vincent Campana, 2025

Jim Walls, 2025, Ian Leatherman, 2024, and Chris Jackel, 2024

~Matthew Merlo, 2027

MAINE Rho Rho

The chapter has been hard at work this quarter going all-in on raising money for the reclamation of our house. Though this has been quite the undertaking, we haven’t let it slow us down in terms of recruitment, as we’ve spent a majority of our time planning an amazing upcoming recruitment quarter.

~Noah Carroll, 2025

MARYLAND Gamma Chi

Our last semester was successful, and our brotherhood is strong and engaged. Our Derby Days philanthropic event raised a record $60,000. We elected a quality group of leaders, led by Consul Ben Konop, 2026, and Pro Consul James Ziegler, 2025. Please follow our Alumni Facebook page, Sigma Chi - Gamma Chi University of Maryland, for updates on our undergraduate chapter and alumni.

~James Ziegler, 2025

MASSACHUSETTS-AMHERST

Mu Epsilon

In the fall 2023 semester, we are proud to announce that we raised over $3,000 for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. Our philanthropy chair Nick Kluza, 2025, accomplished this through a Hairless for Huntsman fundraiser with 13 brothers buzzing their heads to raise awareness for this cause.

~Noah Madden, 2025

MEMPHIS Epsilon Kappa

We were honored to be named Chapter of the Year by the University of Memphis Interfraternity Council this past year. The chapter has now raised over $82,000 in the last two years for our philanthropy. Additionally, we are proud to announce our recent start of the Epsilon Kappa Parents Club. We are also thankful for a successful alumni Homecoming event.

~Seth Khokhar, 2025

MICHIGAN Theta Theta

Our chapter triumphed over the Alpha Gamma chapter at Ohio State University in the Clash for Cancer fundraiser. Despite being significantly behind, a successful Call-A-Thon on Nov. 14 helped us raise $16,340, ultimately securing a combined total of $23,810 for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation.

~Ethan Marcus, 2026

MINNESOTA Alpha Sigma

This fall, our chapter proudly initiated 27 new members as a testament to our growing community and enduring legacy. Additionally, three of our brothers completed their dedicated terms on the Interfraternity Council, showcasing our commitment to leadership and campus involvement. Amidst these achievements, we've also maintained our tradition of academic excellence, further solidifying our reputation for holistic success.

~Arthur Graham, 2024

MINNESOTA STATE-MANKATO Kappa Tau

Our chapter's most significant accomplishment this term was hosting an event for alumni and brothers for our 20th anniversary on campus. This was the biggest event our chapter has ever hosted, and every brother had a hand in ensuring that this event would be a memory for alumni to look back upon.

~Troy Souvannaseng, 2026

MISSOURI STATE Eta Kappa

The most significant accomplishment was improving our relations around campus. We have befriended multiple sororities and fraternities. As a chapter, we are also getting better known around campus. Our newly elected executive board is eager to help push our chapter in the right direction with the help of our active brothers.

~Kyle Wolf, 2026

MONTANA STATE Beta Rho

The chapter is proud to have raised $16,000 for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation during the fall 2023 semester. We hosted a car wash, parents weekend auction, restaurant fundraisers, organized a successful Derby Days philanthropic event and concert featuring an electronic dance music DJ. We are looking forward to another prosperous semester.

~Will Hyatt, 2025

MURRAY STATE Epsilon Tau

The chapter is proud to announce the initiation of 15 members this fall 2023 semester. The chapter also raised over $2,000 for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation through our third annual haunted house. We have two brothers who were voted into the Murray State Interfraternity Council: Tyler Dunn, 2025, as vice president and Zack Masek, 2026, as treasurer.

~Chase Gibbs, 2025

NEW MEXICO Beta Xi

This was a semester for the books. The chapter successfully initiated 22 highly motivated young men into our brotherhood. Additionally, a chapter record was set with $25,000 raised during our Derby Days philanthropic event, totaling $28,000 for Huntsman Cancer Foundation. New officers were also elected to lead the chapter. We cannot wait for what lies ahead next semester.

~Josiah Ward, 2023

NEW MEXICO STATE Zeta Phi

The chapter won the New Mexico State University Homecoming parade overall. We won first place in all categories, including door decoration, Homecoming float and dance.

~Damian Anaya, 2025

NORTH CAROLINA STATE Delta Epsilon

The chapter received the Standard of Excellence award for Outstanding

Membership Development. We also initiated 18 new brothers this past fall.

~Wyatt Pederson, 2025

NORTH CAROLINA-WILMINGTON Mu Kappa

Our chapter had a stellar semester. We initiated 14 new brothers, and our Consul earned the prestigious 2023 Interfraternity Council Man of the Year award. Additionally, we proudly secured our school’s Best Philanthropy Program award for our successful Derby Days philanthropic event. This semester was a testament to our commitment to brotherhood, leadership and philanthropy.

~Christopher Hartman, 2024

NORTH TEXAS Iota Phi

Together this past fall semester, the chapter collectively reached over 600 total service hours.

~Eli Rogers, 2025

NORTHERN ARIZONA Zeta Omicron

The peak of the semester for our chapter was initiating 10 outstanding young men as part of the fall pledge class. We have had a great semester filled with brotherhood and memories.

~Thomas Penley, 2024

OTTAWA Lambda Theta

This semester, the chapter saw great engagement with philanthropy and community involvement for both Huntsman Cancer Foundation and local causes. A notable success for the brothers was our Movember initiative, which consisted of a month-long campaign where all proceeds went to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. By the end of the campaign, we managed to raise over $3,000.

~Berco Bercovitch, 2025

PITTSBURG STATE Zeta Iota

The chapter had the opportunity to initiate 10 new members this fall. With the help of our new members, we were able to win our school’s Homecoming competition while also making various philanthropy donations, including paying off our local elementary school's student lunch debt, supporting a local cancer cause and helping a local child's family in need.

~Trevor Bohnenblust, 2025

PUGET SOUND Delta Phi

The chapter is excited to have gained 14 new brothers during our first ever fall recruitment. We also raised $5,941 during our Hairless for Huntsman philanthropy event, which was the most money raised out of any fraternity on our campus.

~Dylan Wilde, 2023

RADFORD Kappa Zeta

Our chapter was able to reestablish our presence in the community and

school. During the fall semester, we worked closely with our chapter advisor and other national advisors to try and become a more positive presence for our community and school. We did so by engaging in on-campus events, which showed our commitment to achieving this goal.

~Brandon Blair, 2026

RENSSELAER Delta Psi

The biggest accomplishments this past semester for our chapter were raising around $1,400 for Huntsman Cancer Foundation and totaling 283 hours of community service. Five new men joined our brotherhood following a very successful recruitment, and the chapter is eager to see what more we can do moving forward.

~Ryan Ing, 2025

RHODE ISLAND Delta Sigma

This semester, the chapter initiated 36 new brothers, the largest pledge class at the University of Rhode Island. Additionally, we were the

champions of the university’s philanthropy week with 17 other fraternities, raising over $27,000 with our partners, Sigma Delta Tau Fraternity.

~Paul Lulaj, 2025

RIPON Epsilon Lambda

We are proud to say we raised over $3,000 toward our philanthropic goal of $10,000. From several recruitment events, we are expecting to have a 10- to 15-man pledge class this spring. We have several brothers chairing different clubs across campus and captains for sports teams.

~Teagan Fregosi, 2026

ROANOKE Tau

The chapter is proud to have initiated 17 new brothers this fall. Brothers teamed up with the RC Fly Fishing Club for a cleanup on the Roanoke River. We are also excited for the spring semester’s lacrosse season.

~Zachary Blair, 2024

SACRED HEART Mu Lambda

Read in this issue how our installation went.

~Liam Walsh, 2025

SAN DIEGO STATE Delta Xi

Our chapter's most significant accomplishment this past term was initiating 34 new members, including William Lewis Lockwood Dee, 2027, the great-great-great grandson of Founder William Lewis Lockwood, MIAMI (OHIO) 1858. Initiating this special legacy reinforces our commitment to the values and vision upon which our Fraternity was founded over 150 years ago.

~Aidan Owen, 2026

SAN JOSE STATE Epsilon Theta

Over this past semester, the chapter raised over $8,000 for Delta Gamma Fraternity’s philanthropy and was awarded Anchor Champions. Proceeding that, the chapter had the honor of initiating eight new men into Sigma Chi. We are excited to see the impact they make as brothers.

~Nick Garibaldi, 2024

SOUTHERN ILLINOISCARBONDALE Lambda Omicron

Our most recent academic term brought a lot of accomplishments. These accomplishments include raising over $5,000 for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, initiating 15 new members into our chapter, accomplishing goals toward a Peterson Significant Chapter Award and we have also started a new development that involves a brand-new Sigma Chi house to be built on SIU’s campus.

~Jack Flanagan, 2026

SOUTHERN UTAH Kappa Iota

Raising over $15,000 in our first week of Derby Days philanthropic event this semester was easily our most significant accomplishment thanks to the leadership of our philanthropy

chairman Mitch Cordes, 2025. We plan on hitting $50,000 for the year and with another Derby Days week.

~Blake Ratcliff, 2024

ST. THOMAS Iota Tau

Our chapter has helped to forward the reputation of Sigma Chi on campus. We participated in multiple community events and helped host other groups on campus with their events. We also grew the brotherhood within the chapter by hosting brotherhood events consistently throughout the semester.

~Devin Steenberg, 2025

SYRACUSE Psi Psi

After a successful Derby Days philanthropic event in the spring 2023 that raised $76,000, we look to build upon that momentum in the fall semester. Fall 2023 was filled with accomplishments, learning and brotherhood. Our biggest accomplishment was our pledge class and initiation. The men displayed what it means to be a Sig.

~ Luke Rogers, 2025

TENNESSEE TECH Eta Delta

The chapter initiated 12 new members in the fall 2023 academic term. Additionally, we placed second overall in Tennessee Tech's Homecoming event, raising $10,000 for Children's Miracle Network. We also placed second in Alpha Delta Pi Sorority’s philanthropy.

~Landon Crabtree, 2025

TENNESSEE-KNOXVILLE

Beta Sigma

Our chapter has a lot to be proud of after this semester. We had a bid acceptance rate of 81.9 percent. We have already raised over $50,000 for Huntsman Cancer Foundation this year. Our biggest accomplishment our chapter was able to accomplish this semester was initiating 68 new members without a single one dropping during pledgeship.

~Graven Monsour, 2026

TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE

Zeta Eta

Being able to excel in academics, raise money during our philanthropy

events for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation and exceed expectations in community service hours were the highlights of our 2023 fall semester.

~Connor Rohman, 2026

TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO Mu Iota

As the fall semester comes to a close, our chapter celebrated a great academic year and pledge season. We welcomed our new chapter sweetheart from Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity, Fizza Panjwani, and worked hard to improve our GPA.

~Tristan Schoenfeldt, 2025

TROY Eta Phi

The chapter has claimed yet another Peterson Significant Chapter Blue Award, initiated 30 deserving new brothers, and scored two second place spots for Homecoming and intramural flag football. Our chapter and alumni hosted a White Rose Ceremony for Sean Peters, 1988, and it served as an excellent opportunity for our brothers, new and old, to share in those unbreakable bonds.

~Ethan Parker, 2024

TULANE Alpha Omicron

The chapter had a busy and exciting semester. We hosted alumni and parent events, competed hard in intramural sports and continuously challenged ourselves academically. We are very excited to ring in the new year with the return of our brothers abroad and the addition of some new men as we welcome a new pledge class.

~Spencer Dohr, 2024

UTAH Beta Epsilon

In a heartfelt tribute, we gathered at the house to celebrate the life of Justin Jensen, 1999. Active brothers, alumni, friends and family joined together to honor his legacy, reflecting on Justin's profound impact as a remarkable member of society. In remembering Justin, we are reminded of the enduring bonds that make our Fraternity a cherished community.

~Gavin Peterson, 2024

A COLLEGE IN LOGAN, UTAH Gamma Kappa

The chapter has been very productive this school year. We are proud to say we initiated 15 new brothers and look forward to continuing our recruitment in the coming months. We also kickstarted our philanthropic goals by raising $7,000 to date. We look forward to continuing our academic, philanthropic and community goals throughout the school year.

~Landon Smith, 2023

WASHINGTON (SEATTLE)

Upsilon Upsilon

While the Dawgs make history themselves, our historian and annotator have been taking the time to dig through the countless albums and records of our chapter. We plan to soon compile some of our older photos and post a trip down memory road from the founding of our chapter to the modern day and can’t wait to share.

~Cameron McCaw, 2025

WESTERN CONNECTICUT Iota Eta

Celebrating the 35th anniversary of our chapter, over 100 active brothers and alumni raised $1,400 for Huntsman Cancer Foundation. It was a night of socializing, and knowledge was passed down from alumni. We've had the pleasure of welcoming nine brothers into our order. They have stepped up and taken leadership roles, and because of them, we have been elevated.

~Andrew Lofink, 2026

WESTERN ILLINOIS Iota Omicron

In the fall 2023 semester the chapter achieved the second highest GPA among fraternities with a 3.22 out of 4. This semester we continued our academic excellence and put an emphasis on recruitment. We initiated our biggest pledge class since fall of 2021 with 11 new brothers.

~Callahan Steen, 2025

WILFRID LAURIER Iota Mu

The chapter is proud to initiate nine new members as part of its fall recruitment class, with the ceremonies attended by 72nd Grand Consul Tim Sanderson, WESTERN 1980, and Ritual Master and Order of Constantine Sig Chris Hicks, GEORGIA SOUTHWESTERN 1996. The chapter is celebrating its 35th anniversary in March 2024 and has been working hard to fundraise for internal and philanthropic goals through a successful Movember campaign.

~Roland Filler, 2024

WILLIAM & MARY Zeta Upsilon

With a chapter now totaling 52 active brothers, the chapter is in strong shape. Sixteen new brothers were initiated in the fall with alumni present, and we are focusing our efforts on forming stronger bonds with our alumni who span over five decades.

~Samuel Roth, 2024

WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE

Lambda Chi

The chapter takes pride in our community involvement. With a recent visit to our local Humane Society, our brothers worked with both the animals and caretakers. We also have been planning for our 10-year anniversary upcoming this spring semester. We are excited to continue our work of community building and philanthropic contributions.

~Brandon Munoz, 2025

YALE Theta Upsilon

This semester, we raised more than $2,500 for Ukraine as well as hosting our first ever Derby Days philanthropic event for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. Returning to our dedication to philanthropy has been good for the brothers. With better financial management, we were able to hold more events for meaningful organizations.

~Alex Shi, 2025

YOUNGSTOWN Eta Chi

It has been an exciting time for the chapter. We welcomed four new members to the chapter, and we won third place during our university's Homecoming parade float competition as we honored Jimmy Buffett with our theme. We also began volunteering as serving staff at Cleveland Browns football games, supporting both chapter finances and the Huntsman Cancer Foundation.

~Chris Bass, 2025

ASSOCIATE CHAPTERS:

ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM

Sigma Chi Rho

We are proud to announce that after seven long years and tremendous effort that we will finally be getting our charter. We appreciate all the support we have received along the way. Our initiation date is Feb. 16, 2024, and our banquet is Feb. 17, 2024.

~Jonathan Boyd, 2025

BELMONT Sigma Chi Upsilon

We hosted two pledge classes this semester, doubling our chapter in size. We hosted our first large-scale philanthropic event raising money for Huntsman Cancer Foundation, all

while becoming Belmont's first-ever Greek Basketball Association Champions. Through great work from all our brothers, our foundation has started to solidify, and we are looking forward to welcoming freshmen this spring.

~Hayden Orbaugh, 2026

IOWA STATE Sigma Chi Omicron

We are off to a great start as an associate chapter. With 13 dedicated members, two successful pledge classes and a passionate executive board, the future looks bright. Exciting achievements include the creation and approval of our declaration of intent, annual budget and bylaws, along with 18 hours of community service and two successful recruitment weeks.

~Michael Dunn, 2027

MICHIGAN STATE

Sigma Chi Epsilon

Proudly, we’ve been working hard to secure our charter for next year. Our focuses have been mainly on philanthropic events and community service. We also have been maintaining good recruitment and making sure we are setting ourselves up for long term success through the young men we make brothers.

~Lukas Horak, 2026

MISSOURI-COLUMBIA

Sigma Chi Delta

One of the highlights of our semester was participating in Mizzou’s Homecoming festivities for the first time. The University of Missouri is the birthplace of Homecoming, and being a part of that historic tradition was an honor. With our pairings, we placed third in the float contest and fifth in blood donations.

~Bobby Hummel III, 2025

MOUNT ROYAL Sigma Chi Mu

During the fall 2023 semester, the chapter was able to increase in numbers by 30 percent. Our increase in membership stems from further partnerships with clubs and organizations both on campus and throughout the city. This increase in membership is crucial for finally lifting us out of the associate chapter phase and into full-fledged brotherhood.

~Waylen Wasylenka, 2026

PITT Sigma Chi Beta

The most significant accomplishments during this term were our Movember event and our steps toward obtaining our charter. In November, our chapter grew our mustaches, ran miles and raised money for men's suicide prevention. Additionally, we took huge steps

CHAPTER ANNIVERSARIES

APRIL

4/5/2014 Lambda Chi, 10 years

4/8/1989 Iota Nu, 35 years

4/8/1994 Kappa Mu, 30 years

4/25/1959 Epsilon Tau, 65 years

4/27/2019 Mu Eta, 5 years

4/28/1934 Gamma Tau, 90 years

4/29/1989 Iota Xi, 35 years

MAY

5/10/2009 Lambda Epsilon, 15 years

5/14/1984 Theta Mu, 40 years

5/17/1959 Epsilon Sigma, 65 years

in obtaining our charter; we see ourselves filing our recharter petition by the end of February 2024!

~Shawn Gibbons, 2025

RUTGERS Sigma Chi Kappa

Our associate chapter held its first-ever Derby Days philanthropic event this semester, and it was incredibly successful. We were able to raise over $10,000 with the help of five participating sororities.

~Aatman Parida, 2025

WESTMINSTER Sigma Chi Tau

This semester, we had nine pledges complete Preparation for Brotherhood. This has significantly increased our chapter numbers, and we do not plan to stop bringing people in. We have also been doing very good academically this semester. With that, we will continue to increase our numbers and do even better academically.

~Joseph Martin, 2025

5/18/1969 Zeta Omega, 55 years

5/27/1979 Theta Beta, 45 years

5/28/1949 Delta Rho, 75 years

5/29/1889 Alpha Tau, 135 years

JUNE

6/1/1859 Xi, 165 years

6/4/1954 Epsilon Kappa, 70 years

6/8/1889 Alpha Upsilon, 135 years

6/10/1864 Epsilon, 160 years

6/18/1949 Delta Sigma, 75 years

Anniversaries are listed every five years.

BY NATHANAEL HAWTHORNE,

THE MEMBERSHIP AND CONTROVERSY OF GROVER CLEVELAND

Most Sigs know that former President Grover Cleveland, MICHIGAN 1893, is a Sigma Chi, but most don’t know the disruption this caused the Fraternity

Only one event in Sigma Chi history has warranted an emergency meeting of the Grand Chapter. The issue of whether to bestow honorary membership upon former President Grover Cleveland, MICHIGAN 1893, caused a significant amount of chaos such that the Grand Council at the time decided to call the special session.

Historical recollections of the 20th Grand Chapter in New York City unanimously depict a meeting where brothers’ tempers flared as they debated the topic well into the early hours of Jan. 25, 1893. According to The History of Sigma Chi: Volume 4 by ninth Grand Consul and 13th Grand Historian Joseph Cookman Nate, ILLINOIS WESLEYAN 1890, the debate was intense and essentially divided those in attendance.

THE ORIGINS

Ten years prior to Cleveland’s invitation to join, the governing body of Sigma Chi established honorary members would not be permitted, as per legislation passed at the 14th and 15th Grand Chapter meetings, respectively. Once passed, the matter of honorary memberships was deemed to have been settled.

Enter the Theta Theta chapter at the University of Michigan. The ordeal began a few days before Cleveland was set to attend a celebration on Feb. 22, 1892, at the University of Michigan when the Theta Theta chapter sent a letter to Cleveland asking if he would like to become an honorary Fraternity member. Some of the undergraduates responsible for Cleveland’s invitation included Ronoldo Cooper, 1893; Bernard Brough, 1893; Ross Beale, 1893; John James, 1893; Charles Roehrig, 1893; Eli Sutton, 1890; Ernest Marland, 1893; and George Nattinger, 1893

It would be nearly a month before Cleveland’s response reached the chapter, ultimately accepting the proposition. In a March 20 letter back to the chapter, Cleveland wrote “... I accept this action as an honor and shall always regard it as one of the most gratifying incidents connected with my recent visit to the University of Michigan.”

1882 At the 14th Grand Chapter, a resolution is passed limiting honorary memberships to individual chapters, provided the vote is unanimous by the chapter.

1884 At the 15th Grand Chapter, additional language is added that forbids honorary membership.

Following his acceptance letter, the brothers at Theta Theta asked thenpresident of the New York alumni chapter, Chauncey Ripley, BUCKNELL 1864, to verify the honorary membership through a Ritualistic ceremony. The undergraduates’ excitement was palpable. In fact, many wrote home and spoke to journalists about Cleveland’s membership.

With the proposition in the newspapers, many alumni from Chicago insisted the matter be tabled until the next Grand Chapter, scheduled for the summer 1893, where it could be discussed. In the meantime, Cleveland was elected to his second term as president of the United States on Nov. 8, 1892, and many of the alumni hailing from the East agreed the ruling at the 19th Grand Chapter prohibiting honorary membership was not the best decision. Most of these brothers felt that the Fraternity as a whole, rather than the Michigan chapter, should honor Cleveland with membership in Sigma Chi.

When the arguments came to a head and it was determined the issue would otherwise go unresolved, sixth Grand Consul Reginald Fendall, GEORGE WASHINGTON 1864, used his power to call for a special Grand Chapter to convene on Jan. 24, 1893.

THE MEETING

At the Hotel Bartholdi in New York at 7 p.m., Grand Chapter was held with a hodgepodge of attendees. Once some housekeeping issues were resolved, the argument over Cleveland being initiated was in full swing.

According to Volume 4, the language of the constitutional revisions of the 14th and 15th Grand Chapters stated: “No person shall be admitted as a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity except by a unanimous vote of all the members of the chapter to which he may be proposed… [and] No person shall be elected to honorary membership in this Fraternity.” At the special meeting, the additional

FEB. 22, 1892

Grover Cleveland goes to the University of Michigan, prompting the chapter to extend membership days prior.

MARCH 20, 1892

Grover Cleveland sends a letter to the chapter accepting the membership offer.

sells a recreation of Cleveland’s iconic badge, the uniqueness of the four larger diamonds set between the arms of its uniquely configured cross distinguishes it from other Sigma Chi badges. Pictured Right: This telegram says: “Cleveland will wear Sigma Chi Cross during delivery [of] inaugural address and at ball.”

phrase “unless he is elected to such membership by a three-fifths vote of the members of a Grand Chapter prior to the 21st Grand Chapter of this Fraternity.”

Theodore Gessler, BUCKNELL 1864; Alfred Taylor, BUCKNELL 1866; and Francis Scratchley, WASHINGTON & LEE 1877, were among the leaders of the movement to initiate Cleveland. Gessler was the one who asked for the constitution language to include “prior to the 21st Grand Chapter…” to essentially back-track the amendment so Cleveland would be allowed, while in the future other honorary memberships would not be permitted.

From Gessler’s motion, the debate “was a memorable one,” according to Volume 4. Those against Cleveland’s membership maintained that since there was already precedence and clear rules in place, the Michigan chapter should not have been allowed to extend a membership offer to Cleveland. Those in favor of Cleveland’s initiation wanted to see the president-elect wearing the badge when he took his oath of office two months later. Ultimately, the final roll call showed 29 votes in favor of the language change and 15 against, meaning Cleveland could be initiated.

It was determined that Fendall, Gessler and Taylor would be the committee to initiate Cleveland. Just over 24 hours had passed when the three initiated Cleveland in New York on Jan. 26, 1893. Fendall was unexpectedly called away, so Taylor and Gessler were the two to host the initiation at Cleveland’s law firm in New York. According to Volume 4, the initiation was brief but dignified.

THE RESULTS

At the end, the delegates from the East were successful in their bid, and Cleveland wore his Sigma Chi badge proudly during his inauguration on March 4, 1893.

Not everyone was on board with Cleveland’s membership, however. One fraternal organization believed the initiation would affect every Greek-letter organization because it would dilute the significance of those who were considered full members. Another organization maintained that all Greek-letter fraternities should be against the initiation. Once news spread of Cleveland’s initiation, major publications such as The New York Times reported on the event.

For the rest of his life, Cleveland proudly proclaimed himself a member of Sigma Chi and showed his appreciation. He always showed favor to the undergraduates and was known to send photographs and letters if requested. According to Volume 4, “he found occasion, not infrequently, to voice his personal interest in the Fraternity and his appreciation of what he always regarded as an honor conferred upon him.”

Fendall, on behalf of the Washington alumni, presented Cleveland a badge set with diamonds — the one he wore during his inauguration. That same badge is on display at the Chuck and Kim Watson Museum of Sigma Chi at International Fraternity Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois.

NOVEMBER 1892

Grover Cleveland is elected to his second term as president of the United States.

DEC. 14, 1892 An informal conference is called to organize the initiation of Grover Cleveland.

JAN. 24, 1893 The special 20th Grand Chapter is called specifically to discuss the matter in New York City.

JAN. 26, 1893

Grover Cleveland is initiated.

MARCH 4, 1893

Grover Cleveland is inaugurated wearing the Badge of Sigma Chi.

The White Rose Ceremony

In 1909, the service in memoriam was officially added to the Ritual. More than a century later, the beautiful White Rose Ceremony is publicly conducted as a final honor to the life of a Sigma Chi and to recognize the brother’s entrance into the Chapter Eternal.

The White Rose Ceremony may be conducted in two ways: as part of a memorial service and at a cemetery. In both, brothers who are present don white roses over their hearts. Then, each brother places his rose on the casket. After honor is called to the name of the deceased, the words spoken by the leader of the ceremony are short, yet poignant and true to the spirt of Sigma Chi:

“InasmuchasourdearlybelovedbrotherworeoverhisheartTheWhiteCrossofSigmaChi,whoseimmaculatewhitenesssymbolizedtousthepurityofhismotives, therefore, it is most appropriate that he now bear above his heart our emblem; and that we lay white roses upon his casket in token of the sweet memories we will always cherish of him we loved so well.”

The service in memoriam is one of four portions of the Ritual that can be conducted publicly. It provides a brief, but powerful glance at the meaningful words of Sigma Chi to those outside of our order, showing them the importance of the bonds of our brotherhood.

Denotes Life Loyal Sig

ORDER OF CONSTANTINE SIG AND SIGNIFICANT SIG JACK CHAPIN JR., WASHINGTON (ST. LOUIS) 1955, entered the Chapter Eternal Nov. 12, 2023. He was 89. Chapin was born Dec. 26, 1933, in St. Louis. Chapin served in the U.S. Army as a first lieutenant. Following his honorable discharge, he worked for AT&T and IBM before joining Coopers & Lybrand. With Sigma Chi, Chapin helped bring the Fraternity to Southeast Missouri, serving as chapter advisor. He also served as the St. Louis Alumni Chapter president, was a member of the Chicagoland alumni chapters and served the schools in the Chicagoland area as liaison to the chapter at Northwestern.

ORDER OF CONSTANTINE SIG MAC CHRISTIAN SR., VIRGINIA 1949, entered the Chapter Eternal Sept. 6, 2023. He was 99. Christian was born April 4, 1924, in Richmond, Virginia. Christian served in World War II in the Army’s engineering corps in the European Theater and the Middle East. Upon his graduation, Christian was a partner at the Cutchins, Wallinger, Christian and Wilkinson law firm. For Sigma Chi, he served as the Grand Praetor of Virginia, on the Executive Committee and as a Grand Trustee. During his time as Grand Praetor, Christian helped install the Epsilon Rho chapter at the University of Richmond.

ORDER OF CONSTANTINE SIG AND SIGNIFICANT SIG SHEL DETRICK, OKLAHOMA STATE 1958, entered the Chapter Eternal Oct. 12, 2023. He was 87. Detrick was born May 18, 1936, in Columbus, Indiana. Detrick spent 55 years in the real estate industry, during which he built, bought and sold real estate brokerage, mortgage and title companies. In 2014, his companies exceeded $1 billion in sales. Throughout his career, he hired, tutored, trained and developed more than two dozen Sigma Chis. In May 1989, Detrick was involved in founding Constantine Capital Inc., which assists Sigma Chi undergraduate chapters in securing loans for the purpose of purchasing, building and renovating chapter houses.

ORDER OF CONSTANTINE SIG BRECKENRIDGE GROVER, TENNESSEE-KNOXVILLE 1969, entered the Chapter Eternal Sept. 15, 2023. He was 76. Grover was born Jan. 10, 1947, in Knoxville, Tennessee. He served as a member of his home chapter’s house corporation and chapter advisor to the University of Denver. Grover also remained involved in the Knoxville and Denver alumni chapters. He served as a former Grand Trustee and past chairman of the Board of Grand Trustees.

ORDER OF CONSTANTINE SIG JOHN NEUNER, OKLAHOMA 1955, entered the Chapter Eternal Oct. 2, 2023. He was 90. Neuner was born March 20, 1933, in Kansas City, Missouri. He was a navigator in the U.S. Air Force, attaining the rank of captain, and became a certified public accountant following his service. He co-founded the investment firm Smart, Moreland and Neuner in 1979. He was active in the Kansas City alumni chapter for over 50 years, holding positions of president, vice president and treasurer, and in the 2000s led the effort to reinstate it as an official chapter after it had lost recognition.

ORDER OF CONSTANTINE SIG DON SOURS SR., VIRGINIA 1958, entered the Chapter Eternal Oct. 31, 2023. He was 86. Sours was born Jan. 5, 1937. For nearly 20 years, Sours served on the Virginia chapter’s house corporation. He successfully worked to improve relations between the university and Greek-letter organizations as Sigma Chi’s representative on the school’s Fraternity Alumni Council. He also financially supported the chapter through renovations to the chapter house.

SIGNIFICANT SIG WALDO BURNSIDE, MARYLAND 1949, entered the Chapter Eternal Nov. 5, 2023. He was 95. Burnside was born Nov. 5, 1928, in Washington, D.C. Following his graduation in 1949, Burnside climbed the corporate ladder at Woodward & Lothrop, a department store in Washington, D.C., ultimately becoming president of the company before his departure in 1980 to become vice chairman and chief operating officer for Carter Hawley Hale Stores. He retired as president in 1991 and remained in Los Angeles until 2018. Outside of his career, Burnside was involved in over a dozen civic and community activities.

SIGNIFICANT SIG DON CROCKETT, UTAH STATE

1960, entered the Chapter Eternal Sept. 26, 2023. He was 85. Crockett was born Jan. 16, 1938, in Logan, Utah. Before graduating from Harvard Law School in 1966, Crockett studied at the Free University of Berlin in West Germany. He was recruited by the CIA to take photos of military installations in the USSR. Once he graduated from Harvard, Crockett became assistant general counsel for litigation at the United States Renegotiation Board and later served as director, judicial litigation division, with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Economic Regulatory Administration and was responsible for litigation under the National Environmental Protection Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response and Liability Act, and the Nuclear Waste Policy Act.

SIGNIFICANT SIG DICK

GROAT, DUKE 1953, entered the Chapter Eternal April 27, 2023. He was 92. Groat was born Nov. 4, 1930, in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. At Duke, Groat was a standout on the baseball field and basketball court, playing both sports professionally although he would find greater success in Major League Baseball. From 1952 to 1967, Groat played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants, claiming World Series championships with the Pirates in 1960 and Cardinals in 1964. Groat was an eight-time all-star and claimed National League MVP in 1960.

SIGNIFICANT SIG BILLY LOUGHRIDGE, MD, OKLAHOMA 1957, entered the Chapter Eternal Sept. 28, 2023. He was 88. Loughridge was born April 19, 1935, in Ardmore, Oklahoma. He ultimately graduated from the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine in 1961 and interned at the University of Texas Medical Center in Galveston, followed by four years as a general surgical resident. Loughridge received a fellowship from the National Institute of Health to conduct cardiovascular research, which led him to Sweden where his works with liver disease and advancements in liver regeneration were unprecedented. After returning to the United States, he served as a senior resident in thoracic surgery in New York and practiced cardiovascular surgery in Tulsa for over 30 years.

SIGNIFICANT SIG CHARLIE MCNUTT JR., WASHINGTON & LEE 1953, entered the Chapter Eternal Oct. 25, 2023. He was 92. He was born Feb. 27, 1931, in Charleston, West Virginia. In 1956, McNutt was ordained as a deacon and priest and served parishes in Williamstown and Parkersburg in West Virginia until he was called to Florida, where he served in Tallahassee and Jacksonville. He was later called back to West Virginia in 1974 and was consecrated a bishop in 1980. Two years later, McNutt became the eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, where he served in that capacity until his retirement in 1998.

SIGNIFICANT SIG HARRY TEASLEY JR., GEORGIA TECH 1959, entered the Chapter Eternal Oct. 9, 2023. He was 86. Teasley was born March 3, 1937, in Hartwell, Georgia. In 1962, while serving as a first lieutenant with the Army Reserve, Teasley began working for Coca-Cola as a young engineer. Teasley pioneered the first life cycle assessment to be used in an industrial context. LCA was a framework that assessed environmental impacts of a product’s lifespan. Teasley ultimately became vice president of Coca-Cola, retiring in 1995.

SIGNIFICANT SIG JOE TUOHY, PENNSYLVANIA

1949, entered the Chapter Eternal Oct. 15, 2023. He was 97. Tuohy was born June 27, 1926, in Indianapolis. Before his collegiate career, Tuohy enlisted in the Navy in 1944 and served in WWII. During the conflict, Tuohy was sent to an officer’s training course at the University of Pennsylvania. He later earned a degree in finance and enjoyed his career in banking. Outside his career, Tuohy chaired the board of trustees at Saint Mary’s College and chaired the board of directors at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale.

Sigma Chi Fraternity CHAPTER ETERNAL

Alabama

1962 Edward Hiserodt III of Maumelle, AR; 12/23

Albion

1986 Douglas Roby III of Grosse Pointe Park, MI; 11/23

Arizona State

1964 Pat Poulson of Phoenix; 12/23

Arkansas

1951 Dwight Ramsay of Lafayette, LA; 9/23

1954 Jamie Howe of Dallas; 9/23

1961 Billy Carter of Hot Springs National Park, AR; 11/23

1962 Skip Coffman of Little Rock, AR; 11/23

1964 Robert Parham Jr. of Texarkana, TX; 11/23

1973 Randy Daniel of Harrison, AR; 11/23

Auburn

1953 Sam Romano of Vestavia, AL; 11/23

1957 Bill Kight of Monroe, LA; 9/23

1965 Steve Gillikin of Monroe, LA; 11/23

1980 Chap Reed Jr. of Acworth, GA; 11/23

Austin Peay

1972 Frank Egbert of Princeton, KY; 10/23

Ball State

1967 Jerry Caravana of Crown Point, IN; 12/23

Bowling Green

1959 Donald Hild of Piqua, OH; 11/23

1969 Al Blackburn of Southport, NC; 10/23

Bradley

1950 Gordy Linn of Peoria, IL; 10/23

1950 Paul Unruh of Edwards, IL; 12/23

1953 Tony Cichoke of Post Falls, ID; 11/23

British Columbia-Simon Fraser

1996 Timothy Belch of Vancouver, BC; 10/23

Bucknell

1956 Art Kinney Jr. of Lake Barrington, IL; 9/23

Butler

1955 Michael Kinney of Indianapolis; 12/23

Cal. State-Fresno

1976 Joseph Yocum of Fresno, CA; 12/23

Central Michigan

1969 Dennis Hanson of Cedar, MI; 10/23

1972 Norm Decourcy of Rochester Hills, MI; 12/23

Centre

1950 Charles Stoll Jr. of Boca Raton, FL; 9/23

Cincinnati

1940 Donald Shimler of Southport, CT; 9/23

1958 Thomas Nelson of Alexandria, VA; 10/23

2003 Bill Loomis of Atlanta; 12/23

Colorado State

1959 Jim Kercheval of Tucson, AZ; 12/23

Colorado-Boulder

1947 John VanCamp of Rolling Hills Estates, CA; 11/23

1953 Dudley Bolyard of Centennial, CO; 9/23

Columbia

1949 Hal White of Huntsville, AL; 11/23

Davidson

1954 Bob Garrison, MD, of Sandy Springs, GA; 9/23

1957 David Shaw of Newport News, VA; 11/23

DePauw

1950 John Morris of Indianapolis; 12/23

1968 John Payne, MD, of Hinsdale, IL; 11/23

2011 David Hanger of Whitestown, IN; 9/23

Dickinson

1968 Keith VanDuzer of Greensboro, GA; 11/23

Duke

1959 Karl Smiley, MD, of Coral Gables, FL; 11/23

Eastern Illinois

1994 Robert Brault of Palatine, IL; 9/23

Emory

1950 Furnie Johnston Jr. of Dothan, AL; 10/23

Florida

1965 Zollie Maynard Jr. of Tallahassee, FL; 12/23

1967 Gary Dirlam of Orlando, FL; 12/23

1968 Gary Martin of Live Oak, FL; 10/23

George Washington

1957 Paul Welch of Dallas; 9/23

Georgia

1958 Ezekiel Thomas Jr., DVM, of Sarasota, FL; 11/23

1961 Thomas Kingery Jr. of Statesboro, GA; 11/23

1963 John Bagwell of Greenville, SC; 11/23

Georgia Tech

1951 Michael Sermersheim of Louisville, KY; 11/23

1954 Ted Bledsoe of Huntsville, AL; 11/23

1964 Nicholas Papadea of Columbia, SC; 11/23

Gettysburg

1965 Fred Snook of Homosassa, FL; 10/23

Hampden-Sydney

1951 Robert Ramey Jr. of Danville, VA; 11/23

Hanover

1954 Robert Lauer of Noblesville, IN; 11/23

1960 Don Strom of Venice, FL; 10/23

Hobart

1950 Curtis Hooey of Painted Post, NY; 12/23

1963 David Burke of Boston; 11/23

Houston

1960 Nelson Fisher of Houston; 12/23

1989 Martin Bessinger of Cypress, TX; 12/23

Idaho

1947 John Wright of Bethesda, MD; 10/23

1948 Howard Reinhardt of Missoula, MT; 10/23

1952 Marvin Jagels of Bakersfield, CA; 10/23

1952 Brian Williams, DDS, of Sandy, UT; 6/22

1953 Harold Kalblinger of Garden Valley, ID; 10/23

1953 Douglas Thorp of Everett, WA; 10/23

1953 Harry Titus of San Antonio; 10/23

1953 Horace Nealey of Portland, OR; 10/23

1954 Paul Eke, DDS, of Lenore, ID; 10/23

1956 Kenneth Wright, MD, of Coarsegold, CA; 10/23

1960 Alvin Hastings of Scottsdale, AZ; 10/23

1962 Thomas Gwilliam of San Antonio; 12/23

1964 Dennis Wood of Chattanooga, TN; 12/23

1981 Norman Rambo of Nampa, ID; 10/23

Illinois

1956 Phil Chappel Jr. of Leesburg, FL; 11/23

1965 Jack Esmond of Magnolia, TX; 12/23

1982 Clifford Jones of Champaign, IL; 11/23

Indiana

1958 Donald Bonomo, DMD, of Frankfort, IL; 10/23

1968 Lee Brown of Punta Gorda, FL; 11/23

1969 Wade Nixon of Crawfordsville, IN; 11/23

Iowa

1959 Chuck Geisewite of San Antonio; 10/23

Kansas

1947 Owen Peck, MD, of Palm Springs, CA; 10/23

1948 Arthur Coate of Boulder, CO; 12/23

Kansas State

1955 David Evans Jr. of Lebo, KS; 12/23

1991 Fredrick Brundige of San Francisco; 11/23

Kent State

1966 Ken Granville of Streetsboro, OH; 10/23

Louisiana State

1982 Reid Bateman of Baton Rouge, LA; 12/23

1986 Mark Ott Jr. of Baton Rouge, LA; 10/23

2009 Hank Keller of Dallas; 12/23

Maryland

1968 William Randall Jr., MD, of Monkton, MD; 11/23

McGill

1955 Paul Hughes of Toronto, ON; 11/23

1961 Bob Miller of Collingwood, ON; 11/23

Memphis

1969 Lucian Algee Jr. of Nashville, TN; 12/23

1976 Carl Rainey III of Nashville, TN; 11/23

Miami (Ohio)

1953 John Damianos of Glenview, IL; 12/23

1961 Spencer Neth of Chagrin Falls, OH; 11/23

1963 Victor Cooper of Vero Beach, FL; 10/23

Michigan

1946 James MacKenzie, MD, of Princeton, NJ; 10/23

1957 Michael Basford of Petoskey, MI; 9/23

Michigan State

1959 Dan Follis of Grosse Pointe Farms, MI; 11/23

Minnesota

1950 Philip Larson of Bloomington, MN; 9/23

1971 Dick Putnam of Wayzata, MN; 9/23 V

Mississippi

1969 John Bottom of Lake Oswego, OR; 10/23

1994 Erik Kahlstorf of Athens, GA; 12/23

Mississippi State

1951 Finley Moffatt Jr. of Lexington, MS; 10/23

1956 Ernest Randall Jr. of Florence, MS; 10/23

1959 Thomas Schooley of Wayne, PA; 9/23

1961 John Boulware of Bogalusa, LA; 12/23

1975 Hugh Cooper Jr. of West Point, MS; 11/23

1975 Jim Read of Starkville, MS; 12/23

2005 Martin Richardson of Fulton, MS; 11/23

Missouri S&T

1987 Ronald Rolfes Jr. of Saint Louis; 10/23

1987 Curtis Rothman of Deerfield, IL; 10/23

Missouri-Columbia

1958 Larry Goetz, MD, of Des Moines, IA; 12/23

MIT

1965 Herb Mower of Charlton, MA; 11/23

Montana

1956 Keith Wuerthner of Farmington, CT; 10/23

1961 Jan Carter of Great Falls, MT; 12/23

Montana State

1960 Wilford Poppie of Maple Valley, WA; 11/23

1961 Steven Hamilton of Des Moines, WA; 11/23

1962 Bob Brown of Round Rock, TX; 12/23

1964 Robert Fisher of Helena, MT; 11/23

1970 William Terrill of Dillon, MT; 11/23

Murray State

1992 Brian Black of Louisville, KY; 11/23

2005 Mark Dobson of Mayfield, KY; 12/23

New Mexico

1957 Calvin Frey of Birmingham, AL; 12/23

1967 Arthur Beach of Albuquerque, NM; 11/23

1969 Jack Redman Jr. of San Diego; 10/23

New Mexico State

1969 Ralph Cortese of Fort Sumner, NM; 9/23

North Carolina State

1982 David Arey of Kernersville, NC; 11/23

North Carolina-Chapel Hill

1957 John Lopp Jr. of Lexington, NC; 12/23

North Dakota

1972 Bill Schmidt of Bismarck, ND; 11/23

North Dakota State

1955 Al Kosir of Santa Fe, NM; 9/23

1971 Thomas Wallner of Bismarck, ND; 12/23

North Florida

2002 David Fleet of Jacksonville, FL; 11/23

Northern Colorado

1966 Stephen Ritzenthaler of Cannon Falls, MN; 11/23

1968 Victor Garrett of Aspen, CO; 11/23

Ohio

1960 Robert Hynes of Blacklick, OH; 11/23

1962 Thomas Stretch of Greensburg, IN; 10/23

Ohio State

1954 Robert Riordan of Phoenix; 11/23

1956 Thomas Bogen of Columbus, OH; 10/23

1958 Bob Dilbone, DVM, of High Springs, FL; 11/23

1960 James Jeffery of Toledo, OH; 12/23

Ohio Wesleyan

1956 Allan Longo of Aurora, OH; 11/23

1959 Thomas Swan of Terre Haute, IN; 11/23

1961 Bob Zimmerman of Cincinnati; 11/23

Oklahoma

1964 Paul Benson of Tulsa, OK; 9/23

Oklahoma State

1962 Dan Ragan of Dallas; 12/23

1968 Robert LaBass of Tulsa, OK; 11/23

Oregon State

1965 Marvin Shelby of Woodburn, OR; 10/23

Penn State

1957 Robert Barette of Macungie, PA; 9/23

Pittsburg State

2012 Mike Gonzales of Lowell, AR; 11/23

Puget Sound

1955 William Adams of Des Moines, WA; 10/23

Purdue

1948 Rollin Berry of Richmond, IN; 10/23

1949 Harry Blythe III of Paso Robles, CA; 10/23

1949 Scott Haynes of Powell, OH; 9/23

1952 Jack Moore of Zirconia, NC; 11/23

1954 John Grozier of Bonita Springs, FL; 10/23

1958 George Morton of Lebanon, IN; 12/23

1960 Richard Clayton of New London, NH; 10/23

1972 Thomas Kramer of Jupiter, FL; 12/23

Rhode Island

1961 John Engstrom of Newark, DE; 12/23

1962 David Brook of Acton, MA; 10/23

Sam Houston

1958 William Childers of Hunt, TX; 12/23

1961 Kirby Nash of Houston; 11/23

1971 Victor Caballero Jr. of Carrollton, TX; 11/23

1972 Mike Porter of Temple, TX; 10/23

San Diego State

1952 Melvin Karaffa of San Diego; 11/23

1958 William Hoese of Escondido, CA; 12/23

1966 Mike Sermersheim of Benicia, CA; 12/23

South Alabama

1977 John Vautier of Mobile, AL; 12/23

South Carolina

1962 William Ellerbe Jr. of Columbia, SC; 11/23

1967 Charles Williams of Columbia, SC; 11/23

South Florida

2013 Blake Lang of Vero Beach, FL; 10/23

Southern California

1960 Steve Fryer of Newport Beach, CA; 11/23

St. Lawrence

1987 William Cowan of Plattsburgh, NY; 11/23

Stanford

1958 John Connolly of Saratoga, CA; 9/23

Tennessee-Knoxville

1957 Raymond Bell of Dumfries, VA; 11/23

1959 James Batte Jr. of Nashville, TN; 9/23

1975 Robert Talbott of Knoxville, TN; 12/23

1982 Allen Davis of Midway, GA; 12/23

Texas Christian

1966 George Beach III of New Braunfels, TX; 11/23

Texas Tech

1964 John Bunton of Georgetown, TX; 12/23

Texas-Austin

1970 Kenneth Lunsmann of Cypress, TX; 9/23

1974 Henry Bogart of Houston; 10/23

Toronto-Toronto Metropolitan

1962 Thomas Pugsley of Ann Arbor, MI; 9/23

1963 Dave McArthur of Toronto; 10/23

Troy

1985 Allen Fleming of Lilburn, GA; 10/23

Tulsa

1959 Joe Quarterman of Boerne, TX; 9/23

1971 Roger Gray of Tulsa, OK; 12/23

Union

1946 Bob Hempton of Vero Beach, FL; 10/23

1950 Wilbur Kelley Jr. of South Portland, ME; 11/23

Utah

1951 Lawry Hunsaker of Salt Lake City; 10/23

1968 Danis Christensen, MD, of Salt Lake City; 12/23

1972 Craig Buehler of Heber City, UT; 12/23

Utah State

1955 Stanley Hatch, JD, of Santa Barbara, CA; 11/23

Virginia Tech

1982 Bill Moesta of Calabash, NC; 11/23

Wabash

1979 Steven Pettinga of Indianapolis; 11/23

Washington (Seattle)

1957 Leigh Lacey of Kent, WA; 9/23

1959 Mike Brownell of Alexandria, VA; 10/23

Washington State

1951 Henry Carstensen Jr. of Almira, WA; 11/23

1960 Harm Schlomer Jr. of Spokane, WA; 12/23

1963 Richard Ankcorn of Spokane, WA; 12/23

1969 Orman Johnson of Othello, WA; 11/23

1986 Stephen Saunderson of Elfers, FL; 12/23

West Virginia

1951 Charles Haugh of Charlottesville, VA; 11/23

1965 Richard Johnson of Morgantown, WV; 10/23

Western Kentucky

1984 Phillip Crews of Franklin, TN; 12/23

1989 Jeff Neal of Louisville, KY; 11/23

Westminster

1967 Ralph Wells III of Overland Park, KS; 12/23

Willamette

1959 Robert Klindworth of Ellensburg, WA; 11/23

William & Mary

1999 Rob Sawyer of Arlington, VA; 12/23

Wisconsin-Madison

1951 Carl Wittenberg of Grafton, WI; 12/23

Wyoming

1966 Kenneth Stebner of Rawlins, WY; 12/23

The Sig List

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F.B. “Bev” Kelley, OHIO WESLEYAN 1928, gave the undergraduates at the university a surprise in 1939 when he used his influence as publicity director for Ringling Bros./Barnum and Bailey Circus to bring three elephants to the front lawn of the chapter house at 36 Griswold St., Delaware, OH.

Sigma Chis have been scoring big in Hollywood. American Fiction writer, director and producer Cord Jefferson, WILLIAM & MARY 2004, won a 2024 Oscar for best adapted screenplay. His first feature film also was nominated for best picture, best actor, best supporting actor and best original score. In addition, the independent entertainment company A24, co-founded in 2012 by David Fenkel, ROCHESTER 1997, is behind some of today’s most award-nominated and talked about movies and shows. These include the 2024 Oscar best international feature and best sound winner The Zone of Interest and Past Lives, which was nominated for best picture and best original screenplay.

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Have you always wanted to visit Sigma Chi International Fraternity Headquarters? Take our 3D virtual tour of the J. Dwight Peterson International Headquarters and the Chuck and Kim Watson Museum of Sigma Chi by scanning the QR code to the right.

Sigma Chi, in partnership with the London alumni chapter, is exploring the possibility of establishing an interest group in the United Kingdom, which would make the Fraternity one of the only intercontinental collegiate Greek-letter fraternities in the world. The Fraternity is looking for potential members at Imperial College, King’s College, London School of Economics and University College London.

Harry Coover Jr., HOBART 1941, was most famously known for his invention of Super Glue. In 1942 to lend a hand during World War II, Coover was researching materials to make plastic gun sights and ended up discarding a sticky material. Nine years later Coover’s team returned to the sticky material and discovered it had a unique adhesion property. In 1958, Super Glue was available for purchase. In his lifetime, Coover held 460 patents, was inducted into the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame and received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Barack Obama.

Things to know, notice and tell a brother

Undergraduate brothers from Gamma Chapter 1939

BY THE NUMBERS

Inaugural numbers from the pilot launch of SigConnect, the Fraternity’s undergraduate career mentorship program where students connect with an alumni mentor for professional insight, networking and more.

144 Undergraduates seeking mentorship

67.8%

239 of undergraduate participants are juniors

Alumni mentors

16.7%

Largest percentage of mentorship across all industries is in finance

71 Chapters participating, including 3 associate chapters

Mentees and mentors come from 34 states/ provinces

* As of August 2023 program start

A Unique Approach to Leadership

Sigma Chi Leadership Institute board member Matt Skoy, NORTH DAKOTA STATE 2007, shares the significance of the Fraternity’s leadership education and how it can positively impact the personal and professional lives of those who participate in it

Matt Skoy, NORTH DAKOTA STATE 2007, had already been in the workforce when he was approached to join Sigma Chi. What drew him in was Sigma Chi’s core values; what has kept him engaged as a Sigma Chi Leadership Institute [SCLI] board member and volunteer has been the Fraternity’s commitment to leadership development and education. He shares his outlook on today’s leadership needs, how being a post-undergraduate initiate gave him a greater appreciation for the Fraternity’s programming, and why the Transformational Leader program is necessary for students transitioning into careers.

YOU’RE A NON-STUDENT INITIATE. HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME INTRODUCED TO SIGMA CHI, AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO JOIN?

I was working in higher education when a gentleman approached me one day and essentially said, “Hey, I've been watching you.” I thought, “Whoa, what does that mean?” He said, “I'm part of an organization called Sigma Chi Fraternity. We don't do this a lot, but we would like you to go through initiation and become a Sigma Chi.” I thought, “Wow, why me? What did you see here?”

He began to share what Sigma Chi is all about, and he started sharing the core values. He said, “We see you living this out.” And that's what opened the door for me. I went through initiation with the undergraduate students, which was amazing, and became part of the Gamma Tau chapter at NDSU [North Dakota State University in 2010]. It was an incredible moment.

I think what was probably so great [about that moment] is that in our lives, we show up, we go to work, and we go home. And you know what? People notice. For that young man to come and approach me, as somebody who was a student and I a professional, and to share his truth with me, it was amazing.

You have been a Krach Transformational Leaders Workshop faculty member since 2021. Why is volunteering important to you, and how can a non-traditional initiate bring a unique perspective to the undergraduate and alumni brothers he’s volunteering and collaborating with?

As someone who went through initiation later in my life as a professional, it was an interesting process for me to join a fraternity well after graduation. And it was great because I had gained a tremendous amount of perspective during my life up to that point through working full time. Once I joined the Fraternity and became a member, what was amazing was just how thoughtful Sigma Chi is in developing young men. [Sigma Chi] is developing them beyond their time as an active member and developing them into amazing humans in the workforce. Having the perspective of

the workforce and then joining the Fraternity and seeing what was in place to develop brothers was unbelievable. It was this moment that I realized just how important and significant the Sigma Chi journey is for each and every individual who is a member and how transferable it is to our personal and professional lives.

That's what really creates the engagement [for me] as a board member, as someone who volunteers, as a faculty member doing all of this in the spirit of our brothers, whether they're active members or working full-time jobs. As we continue to build the next generation, it's amazing to be able to be that engaged in the lives of other people to help them be the best versions of themselves.

Professionally, you’re a leadership and talent development facilitator and previously worked in higher education for more than a decade. How would you describe the changing landscape in leadership education, and why does it matter today?

Employers are looking at not just hiring the best technical employee. They're also looking to hire the best nontechnical skill set employee, meaning: “Technically, I'm very sound at what I can do as an engineer. I know the mechanical engineering philosophies. But not only do I know that, but I also know how to have a crucial conversation. I also know how to show up authentically to work. I also know how to be a servant leader for the team that I lead.”

We are moving into an era more rapidly than ever before that when employers hire, it is really about the fullness of that individual from their technical and nontechnical skill sets that will set them apart. When an employer has to make a decision, “Do I hire the person who has a tremendous amount of leadership experience and they can technically do the job, or do I hire the technical person?” almost 100% of the time they're going to want the full package.

So that is what's so significant about this in terms of gaining those skill sets and transitioning from college to career. The industry of training and development is one that is booming, and organizations understand that developing leaders and developing people is so impactful. It impacts retention. People feel invested in it. The organization can invest in them as a human. Development opportunities are going to impact attraction. I see that when I travel across the country and when I facilitate development sessions with organizations from big organizations to small ones. The universal truth that always comes out is that investing in people and their development is critical.

What Sigma Chi is doing right now for brothers is amazing because it's setting up each brother to be successful as he makes the transition into the world of work. And the working environment is going to have high expectations that individuals are going to be able to lead in the office and lead in the field.

You’ve been with the Sigma Chi Leadership Institute board of directors, currently as treasurer, since 2019. What excites you about the program and how it equips participants and facilitators with the needed life and leadership skills?

It is an unbelievable opportunity for students to gain essential leadership skills. It prepares individuals to be able to effectively and thoughtfully lead in the workplace and meaningfully engage with other people. In the work that I do across industries,

across the country, I see gaps in leadership. Sometimes, I think to myself, “If that person would have gone through the Transformational Leader program at Sigma Chi, how would that be different for them today?”

What words of advice would you give someone who is hesitant about joining Sigma Chi either as a student or a non-traditional member or hesitant about getting involved as a volunteer?

The advice I would give for a volunteer is think about that person in your life that helped you see something different. Who maybe pushed you when you needed to be pushed. Maybe that person challenged you to think differently, and maybe at the time, it just didn't feel right. But now, as you take time to reflect on it, you're so thankful they took the time to invest in you. To challenge and support you in ways that maybe no one else had. Now, put yourself in the shoes of a volunteer with Sigma Chi. You have that opportunity to be that person for someone else, and that's powerful.

For a student or another non-traditional member, I'd share that if you're going to wait around for transformation to occur, you could be waiting a long time. However, if you're ready to create that transformation, if you're ready to have an unbelievably positive, unique experience and develop as a human, then don't wait any longer. Jump in and be part of the transformation that's happening at Sigma Chi.

GET TO KNOW MATT SKOY, NORTH DAKOTA STATE 2007

CURRENT ROLE: Director for leadership and talent development at Sagency, a leadership coaching and executive search firm

FORMER: Head of learning and development for Aldevron, an international biotechnology company, and more than a decade as an administrator at North Dakota State University

FURTHER EDUCATION: Master of Education from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. in institutional effectiveness from North Dakota State University

FRATERNITY VOLUNTEERISM: Treasurer for the Sigma Chi Leadership Institute board of directors and Krach Transformational Leaders Workshop faculty member

THE ENDURING IMPACT OF HORIZONS

The Horizons Huntsman Leadership Summit has helped brothers gain the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to become better leaders since 1999. Its tangible results remain with the participants and guides who have taken part in this life-changing experience even years after first going through the immersive leadership development experience.

Distinguished brothers, guests and friends gathered May 3-5, 2024, in Snowbird, Utah, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Horizons Huntsman Leadership Summit program. Below, members involved in the program as participants and as alumni volunteers share the impact Horizons has made on them and why, more than two decades later, it remains of value today.

Order of Constantine Sig Chris Lastrapes, TULSA 2003

2001 Horizons participant, 2002 Horizons intern, Horizons guide beginning 2009 and current session coordinator, and2009to2023HorizonsOperatingBoard[EnduringLeadershipCommittee]member

My Grand Praetor [and Order of Constantine Sig] Al Cuite, TULSA 1966, encouraged me to apply for this new leadership program Sigma Chi had developed. He saw me as a future leader and knew I would maximize the opportunity. When I first stepped on the plane, I thought I was going to have this cool all-expenses paid trip to Utah for a week. Turns out, it was one of the most impactful weeks of my life.

Horizons helped me refocus my life to push myself to new heights. With new tools in my arsenal, like SOCIAL STYLE ® and the importance of constructive feedback, I reset my personal goals not just for the rest of my time in college, but for the rest of my life, which still resonates with my career and family today. Sigma Chi taught me values, but Horizons showed me the importance of them in everything I do. And the mentor relationships and friendships [from Horizons] are some of the most valuable in my life. It's also helped push my involvement with Sigma Chi as a whole. I feel so honored to be the first Horizons graduate inducted into the Order of Constantine.

When I left Snowbird in July 2001, I knew I wanted to come back as soon as I could. I craved the environment fostered there. Every time I go back, I feel the caliber of the undergraduates who attend is elevated. I've had the opportunity to experience other leadership programs. But none of them have even come close to comparing to the impact at Horizons. Sigma Chi has given me a lot in my life, but no greater gift has been the Horizons journey.

Nick Lavely, CAL. STATE-SAN MARCOS 2020

2017 Horizons participant, 2018 Horizons intern and past Philanthropy Committee Chairman

During my time as an undergrad, Horizons was a highly sought-after program for up-and-coming leaders in our chapter, and as a result of this, I was strongly encouraged by alumni and my active brothers to apply for the program. I was always highly motivated to lead my chapter to new heights and had already participated in the Balfour Leadership Training Workshop, so applying for Horizons made sense to me. What I did not realize is Horizons is so much more than chapter leadership development and was truly about individual growth.

[I learned that] leadership does not have to come from the top, that leadership can be found in all aspects of an organization, and more importantly, it is crucial to be a leader who can cultivate community and inspire [others] toward a common goal. These key lessons have springboarded my career and have set me apart from others in my field. [In addition,] Horizons truly allows participants to have an in-depth analysis of their strengths and weaknesses. As a result, I have been able to identify and address areas that I am strong in but also areas I can improve in. It has brought me a strong sense of social and interpersonal awareness that I believe I would have been blind to if I had not participated in the program. If you want to be looked at as a leader in your community, Horizons will teach you the techniques and strategies to excel.

Andy Hughes, SPRING HILL 2002

2017-2021 Horizons Operating Board member and current Horizons Huntsman Leadership Summit guide

For the majority of my Sigma Chi experience, I’ve admired and looked up to the alumni volunteers of our great Fraternity. They have shaped my values, my general approach to life and become true friends. To have the opportunity to serve an organization that I love as one of those volunteers is a high honor, and to be surrounded by some of the kindest, most ambitious and dedicated men is a gift. [My reason for volunteering with Horizons is] I hoped to have the opportunity to help shape and improve the program to build on the fantastic legacy begun 25 years ago.

There’s no doubt that the Horizons program is one of the most powerful and impactful leadership development experiences in the undergraduate realm. Each year, the program is fine-tuned and improved. Horizons is [also] a high-impact example of experiential learning. That is the gold standard in undergraduate education today.

Horizons not only teaches you leadership knowledge, skills and principles, but the program also provides opportunities to “do” and to practice those skills in a supportive learning environment. It also provides an opportunity to reflect and “make sense” of the key concepts, which is essential to adult learning. Horizons employs coaching and mentoring, which is the most used leadership development tool in organizations today. And finally, the program expects participants to apply what they learned in their communities, which is how change can happen. All of these elements make it a unique, powerful and truly magnificent experience.

Order of Constantine Sig and Grand Quaestor Dan Shaver, TEXAS TECH 1993

Horizons guide since 1999 and former Horizons Operating Board member and Sigma Chi Leadership Institute Board member, among other Fraternity volunteer roles

I was asked to be a guide by one of my Sigma Chi mentors, [59th] Grand Consul Dick Hester, BALL STATE 1977. Becoming a guide for Horizons in 1999 set me and my career on a path of growth that I've never looked back from. [During that first session,] I was in complete awe at the natural progression of leadership development and transformation I witnessed within my team. I learned that when your heart and mind are open to growth, and when you put yourself in the right environment with comprehensive curriculum and compassionate guidance, you can dramatically elevate yourself beyond your current station in life.

Some of the top minds in leadership development have handcrafted an immersive experience solely designed to set participants up for long-term success. The fact that Sigma Chi makes this program available to qualified members at no out-of-pocket expense is one of the greatest gifts a member can receive. I believe success comes from putting yourself in a position to walk through doors of genuine opportunity when they present themselves. Horizons is one of those doors that opens up so many other opportunities in life for positive impact and advancement — far more impactful than any internship or other preparatory experience can offer.

FROM THE SIGMA CHI FOUNDATION

$7.1M gift to Sigma Chi began with a $100 check BY SIGNIFICANT SIG JEFF BURNSIDE, WASHINGTON STATE 1980 //////////

In 2007, Jim Dougherty, WASHINGTON (SEATTLE) 1960, mailed a $100 check to Sigma Chi Headquarters and said, politely, “Please don’t expect me to be making future contributions on an annual basis as I now have a more personal program going of my own.”

Dougherty’s “personal program” was his estate earmarking $2.75 million to Sigma Chi. When he entered the Chapter Eternal in 2019, that gift rose to $7.1 million. All for the Sigma Chi Upsilon Upsilon chapter at the University of Washington — believed to be the largest gift to any Sigma Chi endeavor ever recorded.

“Jim was never married, he had no children, and no siblings, but he had many brothers,” wrote the Seattle Times. “Sigma Chi Fraternity Upsilon Upsilon chapter at the University of Washington was his family.” After graduation, Dougherty joined the Navy before going into real estate in California, then in his hometown of Everett, north of Seattle, as a broker for 20 years with The Preview Group. He specialized in the purchase and sale of apartment buildings and built a sizable portfolio of his own properties, the Seattle Times reported.

“Jim [Dog] Dougherty was my big brother,” says David Dow, WASHINGTON (SEATTLE) 1963. “He introduced me to Sigma Chi fraternity life at Upsilon Upsilon. Our close friendship developed over the years by his having pizza parties for all Sigs of that era at a local tavern. ... Sigma Chi brotherhood meant the world to him, and we of that era became his family.”

DOW BECAME THE PRO BONO EXECUTOR OF HIS BIG BROTHER’S ESTATE AND CREATED THESE ENDOWED FUNDS:

• $3.1 MILLION to the chapter house preservation fund for maintenance and renovation.

• $1.7 MILLION for an Upsilon Upsilon James Dougherty Endowed Scholarship Fund at the Sigma Chi Foundation.

• $250,000 for an Upsilon Upsilon Bell Chapter Fund at the blue endowment level.

• $1.6 MILLION for a Sigma Chi James Dougherty Endowed Student Support Fund at the University of Washington.

• $250,000 to the Seattle Alumni Chapter for promoting alumni events for Sigs from all chapters [not endowed].

• REMAINING FUNDS were combined with the new Sigma Chi China Moore Endowed Scholarship Fund at the University of Washington.

“The benefit to the members of the Upsilon Upsilon chapter will be transformational,” says Order of Constantine Sig Doug Luetjen, WASHINGTON (SEATTLE) 1980. Luetjen, a lawyer and former Headquarters staffer, worked pro bono for more than four years on the plan. “Whether for scholarships for individual brothers, for leadership and development programs for the chapter members, and to ensure that the Upsilon Upsilon chapter house is both safe and affordable, while being an object of pride and admiration, Brother Jim’s bequest will ensure the brothers of Upsilon Upsilon will have the resources and inspiration to wear the White Cross of our Order as it is intended!”

Dow said attendance at pizza parties, salmon bakes and trips to watch the Huskies’ away games dwindled over the years, yet they meant more and more to Dougherty. His love for Sigma Chi never wavered. At one gathering, Dow says, “a couple of years before Jim's passing, he announced that he was leaving his entire estate to Upsilon Upsilon and spoke passionately about encouraging others to leave part of their estates as well.”

MAY HONORED AS INAUGURAL WALKER FIELDER

MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

The tragic loss of Walker Fielder, MISSISSIPPI 2024, a beloved undergraduate member of the Eta Chapter, was immeasurable to his family, friends, chapter brothers and loved ones.

Walker’s life and impact, however, would never be forgotten. Thanks to the generosity of Eta alumni, family and friends across North America, the Walker Fielder Memorial Scholarship fund reached full endowment status in spring 2023.

In fall 2023, Porter May, MISSISSIPPI 2024, was named the first recipient of the award, annually given to a qualifying member of the Eta Chapter who best exemplifies the character and values shown by the late Fielder.

“Walker’s impact on my life has driven me to work harder every day and to embody the same character that he displayed daily. I’d like to thank the Fielder family for allowing me and so many others to have had the privilege of knowing and loving Walker”

- Porter May, MISSISSIPPI 2024

“Walker’s impact on my life has driven me to work harder every day and to embody the same character that he displayed daily,” said May. “I’d like to thank the Fielder family for allowing me and so many others to have had the privilege of knowing and loving Walker. His work ethic, contagious personality and friendliness are but a few of his many shining traits that I hope to reflect in my own life.”

Goodroe, Johnson and Walsh Named Foundation Governors Emeritus

Last fall, the Sigma Chi Foundation Board of Governors honored the board retirement of three brothers who have devoted more than 36 combined years of service and a generous impact on the educational needs of undergraduate brothers across North America.

Order of Constantine Sig and Significant Sig Steve Goodroe, GEORGIA 1971, Order of Constantine Sig and Significant Sig Bob Johnson, MIAMI (OHIO) 1969, and Significant Sig Dr. Daniel Walsh, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1971, were each named Governor Emeritus for their contributions to Sigma Chi.

“We are proud to recognize the great impact Steve, Bob and Dr. Dan had on our Board of Governors for many years,” said Foundation chairman Jeff Muir, GEORGIA 1971 “Through their service and longtime generosity, they have made a difference in our mission and directly benefited brothers across North America. We express our deepest appreciation to these men, and their supportive sweethearts, for their lasting support.”

Goodroe, a longtime former officer at Procter and Gamble, joined the board in 2009 and served on seven Foundation committees, including as chairman of the Fraternity’s Joint Communications Advisory Group where he led the development of the “One Voice” initiative. He also served five terms on the Sigma Chi Leadership Institute (SCLI) Board of Directors.

Johnson, a renowned global aerospace leader, joined the board in 2012 and led as chairman from 2015 to 2018. He also served on seven Foundation committees, including as chairman of the Development Committee. Additionally, he was chairman of the SCLI Board of Directors for two years.

The lead donor of the Sigma Chi Medical Scholarship and co-founder and lead donor of the Sigma Chi Military Service Scholarship, Walsh also joined the board in 2012, chaired the Foundation’s Grants and Scholarships Committee and was a member of five others during his board tenure. He also served two terms on the Fraternity’s Significant Sig Award Committee.

Goodroe, Johnson and Walsh are all members of the Foundation’s William Lewis Lockwood and James Park Caldwell societies recognizing their lifetime and planned generosity to support Sigma Chi.

Donor Recognition

30 Years of Gifts to Support Sigma Chi

Did you know? Since 1970, only 110 of Sigma Chi’s more than 350,000 all-time members have made at least 20 years of contributions to the Sigma Chi Foundation.

Of those brothers, however, only 10 have made distinct donations in 30 or more years.

At the top of the all-time donor board are 50th Grand Consul Jack McDuff, ARIZONA 1951, and past Foundation Chairman John D. Peterson, INDIANA 1955, who have each made generous contributions for 38 years each since 1976!

The following is a list of those brothers who have reached the 30 donation year milestone to support Sigma Chi’s academic scholarships and transformational leadership education needs.

//// 38 YEARS ////

Jack McDuff, ARIZONA 1951

John D. Peterson, INDIANA 1955

//// 35 YEARS ////

Charles Thatcher, MICHIGAN 1943*

//// 32 YEARS ////

Richard Pepper, NORTHWESTERN 1953*

Joe Martin, HOUSTON 1976

//// 31 YEARS ////

James Morton, MICHIGAN STATE 1964

Leon Parma, SAN DIEGO STATE 1951

Frank Popoff, INDIANA 1957*

//// 30 YEARS ////

Hon. Stephen McNamee, CINCINNATI 1964

William Swaney, MICHIGAN 1960

* Denotes Chapter Eternal