Sigma Chi - University of Nebraska

ALPHA EPSILON WINS PETERSON! O ur undergraduate Chapter continues to demonstrate its commitment to excellence. For the first time since 2002, Alpha Epsilon was awarded the prestigious Peterson Significant Chapter Award for the 2014-15 school year. Notice the "Significant Chapter" assignation! The Peterson Significant Chapter Award, sponsored annually by the Sigma Chi Foundation, is the highest honor that the Fraternity bestows upon an undergraduate Chapter. Named for 38th Grand Consul J. Dwight Peterson, Indiana 1919, the award recognizes excellent performance by chapters in all major areas of operation and programming. For many years, the Peterson plaque has been a symbol of dedication, idealism, and achievement. Award criteria are assigned on an objective scale and encompass the entire gamut of chapter activities, from financial stability and recruitment, to chapter and member reputation, to ritual and initiation performance. Because chapter operations vary among campuses and chapters, each chapter measures itself against these absolute Sigma Chi standards, rather than against each other. The path to Alpha Epsilon receiving this award started several years ago when a number of undergraduate Sigs, led by then Consul Alex Moore '15, did an assessment about what it would take to win the Peterson. Alex and his leadership team strategically laid out the groundwork for accomplishing this goal, making a commitment to focus on those key areas of performance that the award suggests are important to the current health and future of an undergraduate chapter. The award was presented at the International Balfour Leadership Training Workshop held this year at Bowling Green State University in Lafayette, Indiana, in late July. According to AE Consul Andrew Chase '17, "This was such an amazing honor, something the whole Chapter worked very hard to achieve. It was particularly gratifying that so many of our men were there to celebrate the presentation." Besides Consul Chase, attendees from Alpha Epsilon were Walker Patten '15, Trevor Jorgensen '16, Ky Veney '17, Ben Smith '18, Calen Griffin '18, Michael Kleine '17, Jake Kawamoto '17, and Reagan Bergen '17—all of whom serve, or have served, in some leadership position within Alpha Epsilon. The Peterson Significant Chapter Plaque was presented by the AE Balfour attendees to the entire undergraduate Chapter at the beginning of the fall term and now hangs proudly in the main reception room of the house. Congratulations to our undergraduate brothers at Alpha Epsilon. You bring great honor to our name, men! Now, for an encore in 2015-16, brothers! Spring 2014 Fall 2015 INSIDE: Alumni Higher Calling 2 • Greater Nebraska Area Alumni Chapter Update 3 • "Bits and Pieces" 5 THE HUSKER SIG Alpha Epsilon Chapter of Sigma Chi at the University of Nebraska AE brothers proudly accept the Fraternity's Peterson Award for 2014-15 at the BLTW at Bowling Green State University. T he Balfour Leadership Training Workshop (BLTW) offered a rich opportunity to do some serious thinking about the future of our Chapter. The nine AE brothers who attended were charged with the challenge of developing a strategic plan which addresses all the important aspects of the current strengths, weaknesses, and objectives for the Chapter going forward. This sort of intentional planning is essential to the Chapter maintaining its momentum and a clear view toward what our undergraduate Chapter needs to do to meet, if not exceed, our objectives. Alpha Epsilon has been particularly fortunate to have Santa Fe, New Mexico, business executive Jim Hargrove, Beta Xi '85 as an advisor steeped in this process. Consul Andrew Chase '17 commented that, "Jim's commitment, insights, and coaxing out our thinking has been so important to us. He's helped us see the opportunities before us more clearly and has helped us tremendously in sorting through our priorities to help Alpha Epsilon reach Looking Forward: AE Plans for a Bright Future AE Brothers Ky Veney '17, Jake Kawamoto '17, and Trevor Jorgensen '16 listen intently to Balfour Leadership trainer Jim Hargrove, Beta Xi '85. (Continued on page 2)

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