Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Florida

University of florida, sigma Phi ePsilon information www.flalPha.org SigEp Gator Heart A little less than four years ago, a group of leaders from Florida Alpha and SigEp headquarters met in Winter Park, Florida. This group of 20 met just off Park Avenue in Pugsley Hall in an oak-shaded 1920s building on Rollins College campus. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the future of Florida Alpha. Only a year before this meeting, we had lost our charter, postponed our capital campaign, and found ourselves without an undergraduate Chapter. Although our situation seemed dire, we believed the future to be bright and we were upbeat. The future of every organization is a product of the men who lead it, and when I looked around the room that day, I saw men of character and proven leadership qualities who were capable of moving mountains to achieve their objectives. And move mountains they did! We left Pugsley Hall with four major objectives: 1. Restart our Chapter 2. Regain the Florida Alpha charter 3. Complete our capital campaign 4. Rebuild our beloved SigEp house I am proud to announce we have now completed all four of those objectives. The road wasn't easy, but the talents of many alumni made it possible. A number of alumni distinguished themselves by displaying unique leadership, perseverance, and commitment. Their support has not gone unrecognized as our National Headquarters has recognized several of them on a national scale. • Steve Shewbrooks '66 was awarded the prestigious Exemplary Service Award in Atlanta this February. • Bert Harris '77 was awarded the fraternity's greatest honor, the Order of the Golden Heart, last summer in Orlando. • Brett Ogilvie '86 single-handedly managed the $4 million renovation of our Fraternity House. Under an accelerated timeline (nine months) and under high stakes (a one-month delay would have cost more than $50,000), Brett delivered the house on time. His integrity, calm demeanor, and talent at problem solving made this possible. Florida Alpha Defies the Odds and Builds a Bright Future at UF • Bob Durham, Morehead State '69, Chapter counselor, has been a leader of incalculable value. At Florida Alpha, Bob leads our mentorship committee, advises the Chapter on their pursuit of excellence, and manages our local staff at the SigEp house. The product of his efforts is evident in the success of the Chapter, which has now been the most awarded Chapter at the Carlson Leadership Academy two years in a row, was named Chapter of the Year at UF, and maintains the highest GPA on campus. Men like Brett, Bob, Steve, and Bert have made it possible to get where we are today. But we aren't stopping here. Our goal isn't simply to exist; our goal is the pursuit of excellence, and that compels us to be better. Fraternities are under unprecedented pressure today. The world has changed and instead of reacting to that change, Florida Alpha is proactively pushing ahead. We are different, not for the sake of being different. We are different because we are leaders pushing the bounds of what college organizations are expected to do. Our mission hasn't changed: we exist to Build Better Men—Balanced Men—and given the talent of both our Chapter and our alumni, we believe that we are building better leaders that will shape our future for decades to come. In the coming months, our leadership team will regroup and set new goals for the future. I know I speak for our current leadership team when I say that my time volunteering for SigEp has been a life-changing experience, and I hope to see more of you get involved, not only for the Chapter's sake, but for yours as well. Four years ago, on that oak-shaded campus at Rollins College, 20 men met to discuss the future of SigEp and Florida Alpha. The dreams of those men, however difficult they seemed, have been realized. It is time once again to set our course for the future—to be the best of the best! We invite you to joins us on this exciting journey. I am extremely proud to be a Florida Alpha brother today. We are working to be even prouder tomorrow. HFF, Bryson Ridgway '05 President, Alumni and Volunteer Corporation bryson.ridgway@gmail.com for alUmni and friends of the florida alPha ChaPter no. 35 • sPring 2018

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