Sigma Phi Epsilon - Kansas State University

Sigma Phi EPSilon PAGE 2 Changing the Future On the generational front, young people were experiencing levels of loneliness like never before. They found themselves in a very competitive environment without the life skills needed to realize their full potential and find success. Young men were also struggling with basic resilience skills to keep them going, even when life didn't go their way, creating an epidemic of mental health struggles like never before. Simply put, young men are struggling to find meaning and purpose, and now more than ever they need SigEp in their lives. They need all of us to live our Lifetime Responsibility of Brotherhood, to share our talents as mentors, to share our treasure as donors, and to share our time as volunteers. For me, that meant reengaging with SigEp on a national level, first as a Chapter Counselor for my local Kentucky Chapter, then facilitating leadership programs, mentoring undergraduates, establishing endowments for Chapters, and being elected to the Sigma Phi Epsilon National Board of Directors. The time with these talented and caring young men exposed me to Chapters that were nothing short of amazing. The young men I met were leaders who were compassionate, engaged on their campuses and communities, intelligent, and had committed themselves to being their absolute best. Today, these Chapters rank in the top of all SigEp Chapters in the nation and have positioned themselves as top student organizations on their campuses. Because of this, I found it no longer virtuous to let my past disappointment in Kansas Beta be an excuse to not step up. I found it to not be diligent to blame others when I wasn't doing my part to help the young men at Kansas State find their way back to greatness. I realized that I could no longer use the excuses of the past to sidestep our principle of brotherly love. Where We Are Today I received a call from brother Dirk Daveline '87 for a donation to our current capital campaign. I thought to myself, "Here we go again." But this time, I took the call, and I haven't looked back. I told Dirk I would help with the campaign, but first I wanted to help change the culture that had become so toxic to our brothers. I entered the first meeting with very low expectations. The very young leaders, however, mostly freshman and sophomores, were engaged and wanted to make the hard changes that we would need to make to ensure a successful member experience. They loved SigEp and were willing to make the sacrifices needed to return the Chapter to greatness. Even though they didn't know exactly what it would take to make it happen, they took risks, asked for alumni support, and found the courage to make unpopular decisions. They had a level of self-confidence, a commitment to each other, and the courage to take the first step. That first step, that decision to be different, has produced initial results that are impressive and have formed a very strong foundation for growth. Headquarters dissolved the alumni advisory board, and our charter has been returned to the undergraduates. They've applied for and been accredited as a SigEp Learning Community. This symbolizes our partnership with the university and commitment to high academic standards. Only 25% of all SigEp Chapters are accredited, and very few in their first attempt! They established and executed a legitimate Balanced Man Program that will provide leadership and life development for our members for years to come. They recruited a more diverse and higher-quality group of young men as new members. We continue our efforts through 365 year-round recruitments throughout the fall, and I am confident we will hit our goal over the next few months. AVC completed its first strategic plan in August, working diligently on getting the business of the Fraternity in order and ensuring that SigEp at Kansas State lives on into perpetuity. They also implemented an executive mentor program. This group works hand in hand with the undergraduate officers to ensure they goals are achieved. This group of highly talented and committed volunteers will be expanded in 2022. Living Out Our Lifetime Responsibility of Brotherhood (Continued from page 1) (Continue on page 4 to see where we are going and how you can help.)

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