University of florida, sigma Phi ePsiloninformation www.flalPha.org

SigEpGator HeartA 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 Chapter2. Regain the Florida Alpha charter3. Complete our capital campaign4. 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 Corporationbryson.ridgway@gmail.com

for alUmni and friends of the florida alPha ChaPter no. 35 • sPring 2018

Page 2 SigEp Gator Heart

The decision to revoke a charter and close a chapter is a very serious and painful process.

The process to regain a chapter’s charter is very long and rigorous. First the chapter alumni must obtain the SigEp Board of Directors’ approval to recolonize (the colony is called a Sigma Epsilon Chapter). Then, after proven performance, the Sigma Epsilon Chapter must petition the SigEp Board of Directors to obtain a new charter.

TIMELINEDEC. 2012_____________________________ After repeated instances of misconduct, Florida Alpha AVC, SigEp HQ, and UF administration decided to revoke charter and close the Chapter for at least two years.MAY 2014_____________________________ Florida Alpha AVC and SigEp HQ meet in Winter Park and agree to start recolonization on campus 8/2015 or 1/2016. Bryson Ridgway ’05 and Steve Shewbrooks ’66 appointed to co-chair committee to prepare and manage.NOV. 2014_____________________________ Recolonization proposal submitted to SigEp HQ.DEC. 2014____________________________ SigEp Board approves recolonization starting 1/2016 and commits HQ staffing.JAN. 2016_____________________________ Austin Chapman, Lawrence Tech ’14, and Patrick Gallagher, San Diego State ’14, move to Gainesville and start recruiting.OCT. 2017_____________________________ Chartering petition submitted to SigEp HQ.JAN. 27, 2018___________________________ Chapter receives charter at banquet.

The petition for a charter must demonstrate that a list of 17 criteria have been met and this includes such things as:a) Achieve a competitive manpower level as established with the chapter by the National Board of Directors, or its designee.b) Implement the Balanced Man Scholarship annually.c) Complete a minimum of two successful recruitment periods as a Sigma Epsilon Chapter.d) Implement the Balanced Man Program in its entirety.e) Send at least six representatives to the annual Carlson Leadership Academy, and at least two representatives to the biennial Grand Chapter Conclave.f) Train 90 percent of chapter members through an approved alcohol education program.g) Operate for a minimum of 1.5 years.

Chapter President Aaron Blau ’19 and his executive board prepared an extensive and very

At Long Last, Florida Alpha Receives Its Charter

Chris Marhefka ’08, Graham Boone ’20, Aaron Blau ’19, and Bryson Ridgway ’05 moments after Florida Alpha’s new charter was presented to the Chapter.

A closer look at Florida Alpha’s charter presented in January.

well-written chartering petition and submitted it to the National Board of Directors on October 15, 2017. The National Board approved the petition on December 21, and the chartering banquet took place in Gainesville on January 27, 2018. At the banquet, AVC President Bryson Ridgway gave the keynote address and National Board of Directors Grand Secretary Billy Maddalon, North Carolina State ’90 conducted the Charter Installation.

Bryson Ridgway ’05, Zac Gillman, Austin Peay State ’15, Joan Shewbrooks, Grand Secretary Billy

Maddalon, North Carolina State ’90, Patrick Gallagher, San Diego State ’14, Austin Chapman, Lawrence Tech ’14, Patrick

Goodrich ’17, and Bob Durham, Morehead State ’69, at Florida Alpha’s chartering banquet.

Florida Alpha members display the SigEp flag at the chartering banquet.

Page 3Sigma Phi Epsilon

Brothers and guests were inspired by the wise remarks of alumni brothers Steve

Shewbrooks ’66, AVC President Bryson Ridg-way ’05, and Chapter Counselor Bob Durham, Morehead State ’69 at our chartering banquet. We preceded the banquet with a day of reflection on our greatest memories from our experiences in SigEp, and followed this time of reflection with an all-Chapter, hotly contested game of flag football.

On January 13, Florida Alpha hosted the sec-ond annual Sigma BBQ. The barbecue is a joint effort by Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sigma Chi, and Sig-ma Alpha Epsilon to raise money for the Family Promise of Gainesville. Our efforts were greatly assisted with the help of Greek house chefs who donated the food and labor for the event.

Awards and AccoladesSixteen brothers attended the Carlson Leadership

The Florida Alpha chartering banquet on January 27 was a great success. Thanks to

all involved for making this historic event one to remember long into the future. The brothers of Florida Alpha and the National Headquarters staff working together with the encouragement and support of the Florida Alpha AVC and Edu-cational Foundation made it all happen.

The Chapter’s new Executive Board took charge in January and its well-thought-out plans and energy and enthusiasm will keep Florida Alpha at the forefront of leadership on the UF campus.

Major issues facing us today are recruitment and filling the house to capacity. There remain some

nagging remodeling issues to resolve, but our man Brett Ogilvie ’86 will get them fixed.

Florida Alpha was well represented at the Carl-son Leadership Academy in Atlanta in February. Sixteen undergraduate brothers and four alumni volunteers attended, and the Chapter once again received accolades for its outstanding achieve-ments on campus. Carlson builds a fire of en-thusiasm under all who attend that will lead to exciting achievement this summer and next fall.

Fraternally,Bob Durham, Morehead State ’69Chapter Counselor

Dance Marathon Warrior Run with Miracle Child Camden. Pictured top row from left: Hugh Chin ’19, Spencer Kahn ’21, Jacob Cook ’21, Carlos

Piedrahita ’19, and Connor Wax ’20. Bottom row: Allan Bonet ’21, Steven Summers ’20,

Aaron Gordon ’20, and Oliver Hoffman ’20.

Riley Knutson ’21, Ryan Loveland ’20, and Spen-cer Kahn ’21 at Alpha Omicron Pi’s service event,

Keeping Alachua County Beautiful.

Steven Summers ’20, Connor Wax ’20, Reed Espy ’20, Graham Boone ’20, and Colt Ridgeway ’20

at the Delta Zeta Clay Classic.

A Momentous Occasion in Florida Alpha’s History

Academy in Atlanta in February and brought home many awards. The Chapter received Chap-ter Home of the Year, the Frank J. Ruck Lead-ership Award, and the AVC Operational Excel-lence Award.

Past President Patrick Goodrich ’19 won the Zollinger Outstanding Senior Award and alum-nus Steve Shewbrooks was awarded the Exem-plary Service Award, one of the highest honors for SigEp. Additionally, our very own Aaron Blau ’19 helped lead the presidents’ track.

Community ServiceThis semester we were proud to complete a day of service with the sisters of Alpha Omicron Pi in association with Keeping Alachua County Beau-tiful. Together we spent three hours cleaning up Sweetwater Park in downtown Gainesville, with a goal of making the nature trails in the area more accessible to the public.

Academic Achievements With a cumulative GPA of 3.502, we continue to surpass all other fraternities on campus. Our VP for the Chapter’s Jim Lang Residential Learning Center, Jacob Parker ’20, has been hard at work installing new faculty mentors, planning for ad-ditions to our classrooms, and bringing in great guest speakers.

As we continue into 2018, our sights are set on a second consecutive IFC Chapter of the Year Award, as well as a Buchannan Cup at the 2019 Conclave.

Fraternally,Graham Boone ’20Chapter Presidentgbb316@ufl.edu

Camaraderie Among SigEp Alumni Makes Florida Alpha a Powerful Force President

Graham Boone ’20Tallahassee, Fla. (850) 597-0446gbb316@ufl.edu

VP of Programming Steven Summers ’20

Toledo, Ohio

VP of Finance Jonathan Katz ’19

Boca Raton, Fla.

VP of Recruitment Reed Espy ’20 Sarasota, Fla.

(941) 224-1236reedespy@ufl.edu

VP ofCommunication

Connor Wax ’20 Peachtree City, Ga.

VP of Member Development

Ryan Decker ’19Mountain Lakes, N.J.

VP of Residential Learning Community

Jacob Parker ’20 Rockledge, Fla.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Sigma Phi EPSilon FratErnityflorida alPha ChaPterP.o. Box 12182gainesville, fl 32604-0182

Address Service Requested

SigEpGator Heart

Steve Shewbrooks ’66 is not just our

man for all seasons; he is our man for just about everything. If you need a job done, and done thoroughly, call Steve.

In February Steve was among a very few in the SigEp nation to be hon-ored at the Carlson Leadership Academy in At-lanta with the Exemplary Service Award. Any new digital or hard-copy dictionary produced should have Steve’s picture next to the definition of “exemplary service.”

SigEp and Florida Alpha would not make a dif-ference in the lives of so many young men with-out dedicated volunteer leaders like Steve.

Steve served as chairman of our recoloniza-tion committee that laid the groundwork for the Chapter’s return to campus. He was super active in the capital campaign. He also led the mentor recruitment effort and serves as a mentor him-

self. Steve’s invaluable contact with UF officials helped the AVC and our then fledgling colony maneuver through sometimes turbulent waters. He was part of the team that oversaw construc-tion of our new substance-free home.

Steve’s attention to detail keeps everyone alert and on their toes, lest they experience Steve’s polite and courteous yet piercing direct observa-tions or questions. No problem or challenge we faced over the past number of years was resolved without Steve’s involvement, wise counsel, and attention.

All of that and he still helps lead as an officer of both the AVC and the Florida Alpha Educational Foundation.

To paraphrase SigEp headquarters’ accolade in announcing his Exemplary Service Award: “Steve Shewbrooks is so effective because he gives his all to every project and is a firm be-liever that leadership is defined by a person’s ac-tions, not his title.”

Al Alsobrook ’60, Editor

Our Man for All Seasons—Brother Steve Shewbrooks ’66

A Great Idea—The Florida Alpha

Parents Club

The parents of Connor Wax ’20, the Chapter’s VP of communications, are

enthusiastic participants in the newly established Florida Alpha Parents Club. Kristen and Skip Wax live in Peachtree City, Georgia, but they and other parents are spreading the word about Florida Alpha’s unique and admirable position in the fraternity world.

“The Parents Club has allowed us to connect and befriend other SigEp parents. We feel like we are part of the Florida Alpha community now and appreciate all the updates we get from the Executive Board. Having parents involved is a unique aspect to SigEp, and by being involved we can see the progress the undergraduates are making professionally, personally, and as a Chapter.” – Kristen and Skip Wax

Welcome, New Members

Shane BaglioneTampa, Fla.

Allan BonetMiami, Fla.

Ronald CarabbiaSarasota, Fla.

Jacob CookPortland, Ore.

Leonardo CostasBolivia

Cooper CovielloBurtonsville, Md.

Luis FernandezHavana, Cuba

Scott GannJacksonville, Fla.

Hayden GrimSarasota, Fla.

Adam HaubenstockTampa, Fla.

Kyle HowarthTampa, Fla.

David JonesLady Lake, Fla.

Spencer KahnOrlando, Fla.

Riley KnutsonSarasota, Fla.

Brian LitzOcala, Fla.

Stephen MoorePanama City, Fla.

Spencer NguyenJacksonville, Fla.

Jacob ParkerCocoa Beach, Fla.

Rafael RoblesMiami, Fla.

Gabriel RodriguezOrlando, Fla.

Giancarlo TassiCoral Gables, Fla.

Brian TrupoLewes, Del.

Cameron ShannonGainesville, Fla.

Andrew StorerWinter Park, Fla. www.flalpha.org SigEpFLAlpha@gmail.com SigEp at the University

of Florida

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Editor: Al Alsobrook ’60, thebestprguy@gmail.com

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