august 2009 newsletter

Volume 3, Issue 2

Inside this issue:

SigEp Spotlight Matt Hover

1

1st Annual Stalagna Open

2

Donations 2

Undergraduate Spot-light

3

Reconnecting with Alumni

3

Undergraduate Bu-chanan Cup Update

4

STAY CONNECTED 5

Reflecting on SigEp Experiences Brother Matt Hover reflects on his time as an undergraduate and how the SigEp cardinal principals remain an integral part of his life today. It’s sometimes difficult to pinpoint how virtue, diligence, and brotherly love plays into my everyday life as an adult. When I arrived at UNK in the late summer of 1996, I don’t think I had a clue in the world as to the meaning of any of those three cardinal principles. Yet now, after my time spent at Nebraska Gamma, and through life experiences afterwards, I think that those three principles factor in to every decision I make.

I’ve mentioned to several people over the years that if not for Sigma Phi Epsilon, I proba-bly would not have stayed at UNK. I considered transferring to a larger school, and I also had the opportunity to study abroad in Germany for a year, and I briefly considered it. However, in both instances, it was the brotherly love that I developed quickly in Sig Ep, and the desire to bring the house back to its previous glory, only better, that caused me to stay. Those of us that stuck with the house after the ’96-’97 school year were able to learn diligence through first-hand experience as we essentially rebuilt the house from the ground up. I take great pride in the fact that the six members of my pledge class that continued on, and the nine other members that stuck it out were able to resurrect a once proud fraternity that many had written off. And today some of the other houses that had us in manpower and every other facet of fraternity life at that time are either no longer factors, or no longer members of Greek life at UNK.

I think the experiences and lessons learned from Sig Ep have served me well. I ran for president of the chapter three times. And I lost three times. While I was very disappointed at the time, now I think it was a blessing in disguise, as the “consolation prize” of being elected VP of Pro-gramming for two of those years has helped me in my organizational and planning skills even now. Not to mention the fact that the philanthropic endeavors we undertook as a house under my tenure set a precedent that the members of the house follow even today. ( I planned some bad ass func-tions as well….some of which are still talked about today. Anyone remember Goldfish at Sup’s?) So while I was upset at losing, I stayed diligent in my duties to the house. In a sense I feel that is a kind of virtue. We all had a role to play, we were all pieces to a puzzle. Many people associate virtue with religion, but in addition to that I also include sticking to your guns in difficult situations. I myself have had some rough periods in life, but the experiences learned from tough situations in the house gave me a good base of experience to use in getting through life’s little setbacks.

When I think about it now, those cardinal principles that were ingrained in us then are now just everyday matter of course. In a way, we learned how to run a business and how to multi-task in our late teens and early twenties (although some made it to their mid-twenties), and that gave us a leg up when we entered the real world of careers, bills, families and other “grown-up” respon-sibilities.

I made my very best friends in my years at Nebraska Gamma, and I treasure memories and experiences from that time in my life nearly every time I see those friends. I can only hope that the members today, and future members, have a similar experience to mine. Matthew E. Hover HFF NE Gamma ‘00 [email protected]

Web Links:

NE-Gamma Alumni Website

National SigEp Web-site

NE-Gamma Under-graduate Website

SigEp Educational Foundation

https://www20.theginsystem.com/index.php?page_name=start&s=www&a=unksigep&d=www_unksigep&es=email&assoc_name=Sigma%20Phi%20Epsilon

http://www.sigepfoundation.org/

http://members.cox.net/unksigepalumni/

http://www.sigep.com/

Volume 3, Issue 2

1st Annual Stalagna Open A HUGE Success On Saturday, August 16th, over fifty Nebraska Gamma Alumni of Sigma Phi Epsilon con-verged on Eagle Hills Golf Course in Omaha and participated in the first summer golf out-ing known hereafter as the Stalagna Open. Although the day started out rainy, it cleared up quickly and everyone had a great time. The golf tournament was the first event put on by the newly established alumni board, and based on the turnout, it will definitely be something that will be continued in the future. As part of the tournament fee, hamburg-ers, bratwurst, and beer were provided afterwords and the SigEp Alumni were able to reconnect and share in the glory days of their time as undergraduates of Sigma Phi Epsi-lon. The Alumni Board would like to thank all of those who participated in the golf tourna-ment and a special thanks goes out to Dave Casteel and Justin Horn for setting up the tournament. With the money raised from the golf tournament, the Alumni Board will be planning future events as well as establishing a Balanced Man Scholarship for under-graduate members.

Donations Now Being Accepted Online Via PayPal New on the alumni website is a way for you to make a donation to the Nebraska Gamma Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon. All moneys donated will go to the Alumni Board and will enable them to establish a Balanced Man Scholarship as well as operating expenses. In donation would be very beneficial. If you have any questions regarding donations, please refer them to [email protected].

Web Links:









Volume 3, Issue 2 Web Links:





Undergraduate Spotlight: Dusty Birge Sophomore Benkelman Nebraska Age: 20 I came to the University of Nebraska at Kearney from Benkelman which falls off the map in southwest Nebraska. I have been majoring in Industrial Distribution as a freshman and joined the Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter my second semester at UNK. I represent the Indus-trial Distribution Executive Council and Leadership Team, while also serving as Secretary/Treasurer for IFC, and Sig Ep Freshman President. As part of Sig Ep, MGCA and EDGE are awesome professional events in which I have attended thus far, and have helped me de-velop into the Balanced Man. Sig Ep has expanded my personality and helped me achieve higher grades.

I will be graduating in December 2011 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Industrial Distribution. With these higher grades and personable traits, attaining a position as a branch manager/marketing specialist for a hunting/outfitting company is my dream job. Sigma Phi Epsilon has increased my effort in leadership and professionalism that will greatly benefit my future, my goals, and life ahead.

Reconnecting with Alumni Do you know any alumni who are not in the communication loop? If so, we are trying to get in touch with as many brothers from the past as we can. If you know of any, please direct them to the Alumni Website at http://members.cox.net/unksigepalumni and tell them to register using the Alumni Registration link.





Volume 3, Issue 2

Undergrads win ANOTHER Buchanan Cup Chapter joins an elite group of undergraduate chapters who have won consecutive Buchanan Cups. The Buchanan Cup was established in 1961 as the Chapter Leadership Cup to recognize outstanding Sigma Phi Epsilon chapters. In 1967, the award was renamed for Edwin Bu-chanan, Ohio Gamma Chapter (Ohio State University), 1911. “Buck” served as Grand President from 1953 to 1955 and as Grand Treasurer from 1932 to 1967. On the occasion of his retirement, he was honored by having this most prestigious of chapter awards carry his name. The cup is awarded to those chapters deemed truly exceptional in all areas of operations over a two-year period.

In 1961, the Buchanan Cup was awarded to five chapters: Massachusetts Gamma (Boston University), Massachusetts Delta (MIT), Ohio Theta (University of Cincinnati), Oregon Al-pha (Oregon State University) and Virginia Delta (The College of William and Mary).

In 2003, the Gold Buchanan Cup was established to honor chapters winning five consecu-tive Buchanan Cups. Winners of the Gold Buchanan Cup have achieved a decade of con-tinued excellence. Three Gold Buchanan Cups were awarded in 2003, three in 2005 and five in 2007.

Each chapter wishing to be considered for a Buchanan Cup must submit an extensive ap-plication demonstrating its efforts to fulfill the Strategic Plan of Sigma Phi Epsilon. The chapter must also meet specific criteria in the areas of academics, programming, chapter environment, volunteer support, and financial operations.

The criteria for winning a Buchanan Cup are demanding, and those chapters that win the cup have distinguished themselves as the most outstanding representatives of SigEp.

The Buchanan Cup will be awarded again in 2011 at the 52nd Grand Chapter Conclave in Phoenix, Arizona.

Over the next two years, SigEp chapters all over the country will set their sights on win-ning the cup in 2011 and will measure their progress in all areas of chapter operations.

View all past winners online at www.sigep.org/documents/Buchanan_Cup_Historical.pdf.

Web Links:









Web Links:





Volume 3, Issue 2

Stay connected to your Fraternity and brothers online as ongoing communication between undergraduates and alumni has never been easier.

Flickr www.flickr.com/groups/sigmaphiepsilon Looking for a place to post and see photos of SigEps everywhere? The Si-

gEp Flickr page is what you are looking for. Upload and share your Conclave pho-tos!

Twitter www.twitter.com/officialsigep Conclave Twitter Hashtag: #sigeporlando09

Follow SigEp on Twitter to find out what your Fraternity is doing in short, man-ageable bits. Follow us @officialsigep, where you will get the latest on news, events, and website enhancements.

Facebook www.facebook.com/sigmaphiepsilon The SigEp Facebook page provides our brothers an opportunity to connect

on the social networking website. Over 3,000 brothers have found their way to the SigEp page on Facebook to have discussions, post pictures, and meet or re-connect with brothers from around the country.

YouTube www.youtube.com/sigepfraternity Click to the SigEp Channel on YouTube to view, post, and share SigEp vid-

eos.

LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/e/gis/36627 Connect with over 4,000 brothers though the SigEp LinkedIn group. Ex-

change information, ideas and opportunities and make connections with other SigEp alumni using the professional networking website.





august 2009 newsletter

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