Brothers with a penchant for architecture will certainly feel a sense of nostalgia for this vintage postcard.Brothers with a penchant for architecture will certainly feel a sense of nostalgia for this vintage postcard.
The front displays a photo of the building that previously stood at 518 W. Franklin Street in Richmond, Virginia. The building was initially erected as a private home and later served as the Fraternity’s Headquarters from 1927 to 1946.
On the back is a message from one of the Fraternity’s founders, William L. Phillips, Richmond 1903, affectionately known as “Uncle Billy.” The cards were used to assure brothers who provided Headquarters with a change of address that their contact information had been updated and they would continue to receive the Journal and other Fraternity communications.
The cards were used sometime between 1927, when the Fraternity first began using the property, and 1942, when Uncle Billy concluded his service as Grand Secretary.
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As I reflect on the past two years since my election as SigEp’s Grand President, I’m filled with pride and purpose — not just for how far we’ve come, but for where we’re going. Today, SigEp’s goal is clearer than ever: to be the largest and best fraternity on every campus where we plant our flag. Not for the sake of numbers or recognition, but because the world needs more of what SigEp has always offered young men.
Our nation needs more character. More resilience. More deep friendships. In short, what today’s young men need is exactly what SigEp offers: Virtue, Diligence and Brotherly Love.
More of those young men are seeking us out. Since announcing our aspiration to reclaim our title as the largest and best fraternity, undergraduate membership has climbed to its highest level since the pandemic. Chapters are growing, and the data shows it. Momentum is building.
But our success isn’t just in the numbers — it’s in the life-changing impact of the chapter experience.
Over the past few years, a team of dedicated volunteers has reimagined the Balanced Man Program — the heart of the SigEp experience and our way to reach every brother, every day. Our BMP was transformational when introduced to Generation X in the 1990s. The new BMP is built for today’s student. It helps brothers know themselves, seek balance, build authentic relationships and pursue excellence. It is relevant. It is rooted in our Ritual. And it is making a
measurable difference.
Chapters piloting the new program are growing at nearly four times the rate of others. Resignations are down. Engagement is up. And young men are discovering in SigEp what too many of their peers are missing — a place to belong, to lead and to become their best.
At every chapter I visited, I saw firsthand the appetite for connection and guidance. If it’s been a while since you’ve reconnected with SigEp, now is a great time. Our undergraduates need your wisdom, your encouragement — and to know that our brotherhood doesn’t end at graduation.
SigEp is rising — and it’s happening because of brothers like you. Men who believe, as I do, that this Fraternity still changes lives. I believe that when we show up as mentors, role models and brothers, we give young men exactly what they need.
I believe that in a world full of noise, confusion and disconnection, Sigma Phi Epsilon is the best place for a young man to find purpose, build character, and establish and nurture lifelong friendships. I conclude my term as Grand President confident that SigEp can and will equip young men with the tools necessary to build fulfilling and productive lives.
Thank you for continuing to support every worthy endeavor of Sigma Phi Epsilon.
Brad Nahrstadt, Monmouth ’89
Grand President
Legacies are built — sometimes with fanfare, but more often in the quiet, everyday moments that define meaningful relationships. Brother Kent B. Hickman, Colorado ’61, was the kind of man who put his brotherly love into action by investing in the young men around him.
For decades, he diligently built mentor relationships at Colorado Alpha and with chapters in his hometown of Washington, D.C., while always shying away from the spotlight. Even when SigEp sought to recognize the legacy he was clearly building through his significant financial investment, Hickman pushed the attention to SigEp’s future leaders.
Brother Hickman was set on ensuring SigEp would continue to invest in developing new chapter leaders long after he could personally mentor young men.
In 2018, Hickman formalized his commitment to the kind of support he’d long been providing for chapter leaders by joining the SigEp Legacy Society.
His estate plans generously included funding for two endowments designed to continue support for young men aspiring to lead their chapters:
Colorado Alpha Kent Hickman Scholarship Endowment, with a designation of $50,000 from his estate to support Colorado Alpha brothers attending national leadership programs like Grand Chapter Conclave and Carlson Leadership Academy.
Kent B. Hickman Rising Leaders Endowment, with a designation of $600,000 for an endowment that helps future leaders at Colorado Alpha, D.C. chapters and other chapters across the country attend Carlson before running for executive board positions.
After his passing in 2023, SigEp learned that Hickman’s generosity went even further. True to the selflessness that defined his life, Hickman’s estate included funding not only for his planned endowments, but also a percentage of the remainder of his estate, ultimately bringing his total bequest to nearly $1,200,000.
Hickman’s total bequest is among the largest posthumous estate gifts the Fraternity has received. Through Hickman’s thoughtful planning and foresight, he will continue to transform lives for generations to come.
His benevolence speaks to the charitable nature of Brother Hickman, who dedicated his life to serving humanity. His professional work through the United States Agency for International Development and his volunteerism through SigEp will continue to make a difference for years to come. He believed in the power of investing in young leaders as a way to give back for both the practical and intangible benefits SigEp gave him.
In 2014, Hickman emphasized SigEp’s impact on his life: “Throughout my career, I have constantly related my success and advancement to the skills I obtained and experiences I encountered while serving my Fraternity.”
His legacy lives on in the men whose lives he changed and the chapters they continue to lead and serve. He believed that early investment in undergraduate brothers would yield strong chapters with an engaged alumni base who will continue investing in generations of young men to come. His belief has been proven true.
Several brothers shared how they have been impacted by Kent Hickman’s mentorship and generosity:
“As an undergraduate, Brother Hickman’s support to attend Carlson acted as a charge for me to take it upon myself to do something more than just participate. I serve SigEp as a volunteer to pay forward the generosity Brother Hickman once showed me.” — Dan Alt, American ’12
“I want to sincerely thank Mr. Hickman for the opportunity to attend the 2019 Carlson Leadership Academy. I’ve had the chance to work a lot with my executive board and understand the inner workings of our Fraternity’s leadership. Fostering leadership development is so key to improving our national presence, and I hope that one day, as an alumnus and successful leader, I can be as valuable to my Fraternity as he has been.” — Brandon Hansen, Washington State ’22
“Because of his generous commitment, the Hickman Rising Leaders Endowment — a title he resisted because it was never about ‘him’ — will ensure that generations of SigEp’s future leaders will get critical training through our leadership events.
"His vision will live on forever. Slight in stature, but a giant of a man, he will always be my SigEp hero.” — Chris Bittman, Colorado ’85 (Past Grand President)
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The front displays a photo of the building that previously stood at 518 W. Franklin Street in Richmond, Virginia. The building was initially erected as a private home and later served as the Fraternity’s Headquarters from 1927 to 1946.
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