Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Texas

FALL 2017 Inside Like Father, Like Son ~ p. 2 Chapter Report ~ p. 3 Alumnus Spotlight ~ p. 4 ΣΦΕ T E X A S A L P H A s U N I V E R S I T Y O F T E X A S S I G M A P H I E P S I L O N A E CCOLAD Texas Alpha Remains Top SigEp Chapter T he start of the fall semester is upon us in all of its glory. e house is busy with 50 shiny new faces alongside a whopping 50 seniors, our largest senior class probably ever. Upperclassman retention is a perineal test of the health of any chapter. As one of the largest SigEp chapters in the nation, we excel with retaining our men better than any other chapter. at speaks volumes to the brotherhood, friendship and expe- riences our men have during their time at the Forty Acres. Collegiate Brothers Thrive Academically Officially, UT had us with 186 members last spring. e cumulative GPA was 3.353—that's a lot of smart young men. We have found that they demand excellence from themselves in academics. e men had great summers with internships, trips abroad, and jobs at home. Re- cruitment finished with young men joining Texas Alpha from all the major schools in Texas, as well as Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and D.C. A typically fine class with a good number of legacies—keep send- ing us your sons! Texas Alpha Benefits from Alumni Support is summer, nine actives and five alumni went to Orlando, Fla., for the National Chapter's Conclave. Once again, Texas Alpha brought home a Buchanan Cup in recognition of being one of the best chapters in the nation. Part of going to Conclave and the regional Carlson Academy is to expose the active members to leadership training, as well as getting to know SigEps from other chapters. Your donations and membership to the Skull & Crossbones Society make these trips possible. e chap- ter has no debt and no need for a capital campaign but does need your support to continue these leadership opportunities. Any assistance is greatly appreciated. I've seen firsthand the benefits that brothers get from these trips. It's worth the investment. A Message to Texas Alpha Parents is fall, we are going to stress to active brothers the need to respect the chapter house not only as a place for fellowship but also as their home away from home. ey'll be hearing it from the officers and the local alumni board. Any encouragement you can give on your end will be greatly appreciated. We were able to replace the sound system in the pavilion and clean all the air ducts. We are looking for ways to improve the experience at 2500 Pearl, so suggestions are welcome. Finally, come stop by and visit when you're in town, whether you're an alumnus or a parent. We are proud of what Texas Alpha stands for and the men it produces. You will be, too! HFF, Lynn Butler '88 AVC President Texas Alpha Celebrates 87 Years at Founders' Day I n an entertaining weekend of reunion and recognition, Texas Alpha celebrated 87 years of continuous operation with the Founders' Day reunion celebration at the Hotel Granduca in Austin on April 22. Many alumni reached Austin on Friday evening for informal gatherings, a golf outing at the Austin Country Club hosted by Doug Jones '05, and the main event at the hotel on Saturday night. e event was well attended by alumni and undergraduates alike, and we were honored to host a slew of great visitors from the National Board and Headquarter staff including Grand President Rick Bennett III, CEO Brian Warren, and Director of Advancement Matt Parrish. Master of Ceremonies Carlos De Ayala '83 welcomed everyone to the event, recognizing distinguished alumni in attendance, volunteers, and un- dergraduate officers. Next on the agenda was the annual awarding of our Texas Alpha Education Foundation scholarships: e John Tyler Balanced Man Scholarship to Blake Leuder '17 and the Buin-Felker Brotherhood Award to Mark Teffeteller '18. Chapter President Andrew Boyd '18 presented the group with an update on the chapter, including recruitment successes, academic performance, participation in campus organizations, and the chapter's philanthropic ac- tivities. Andrew was followed by Alumni and Volunteer Corporation Pres- ident Lynn Butler '88 with an alumni update and preview of the Grand Chapter Conclave in Orlando, Fla. (Continued on page 4) Carols De Ayala '83 and new Texas Alpha Hall of Fame member Bruce Anderson '71 celebrate Founders' Day.

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