Rod SmartThe Fraternity is saddened by the passing of lifelong SigEp volunteer Rod Smart, Sacramento State ’77. While an undergraduate, he emerged as a chapter leader, serving as California Theta’s recruitment chair, vice president and president. Immediately after graduation, he hit the road as a regional director. His gift for connecting with others and developing leaders was evident as he assisted in launching 12 new chapters during his time on SigEp’s traveling staff.
A witty and warm spirit who always brought people together, Brother Smart will be remembered as one of the architects of the Freeark Society, a network that connects former SigEp staff members.
He continued using his gifts in service to the Fraternity during his long tenure as a district governor. He spent nearly 20 years in the role, recruiting and guiding countless volunteers in Southern California and Arizona. In addition to working with volunteers in his district, Smart was involved in the Fraternity’s national alumni engagement efforts as a member of the alumni task force and the alumni programming committee.
Smart also enthusiastically supported the Fraternity as a longtime member of the Board of Governors, SigEp’s lead donor group for the Annual Fund. In 2021, he was appointed to the SigEp National Advancement Council, a committee that supports fundraising for the Fraternity’s leadership programs.
Smart’s decades of selfless service were recognized in 2013 with the Fraternity’s highest honor, the Order of the Golden Heart.
Some of the brothers who knew Smart best reflected on his impact as a brother and a friend:
“Rod and I served on the SigEp staff in 1977 and remained very close our whole lives. We had many frequent and long calls filled with laughter and stories. Everyone loved Rod, everyone. Sigma Phi Epsilon was a part of his DNA, and he was a loyal and devoted brother his entire life. Rod had many talents and shared his love generously with his brothers and friends. He is irreplaceable in my life, and I will miss him for the rest of my life.” — Doug Nabhan, Purdue ’77
“Rod loved the brotherhood dearly, and it was a lifelong joy for him. Rod was a special guy who always had a smile on his face and a hug for his brothers. A great loss.” — Norm Nabhan, Purdue ’71
“Rod ensured fraternal glee and support. Quick wit, wonderful jokes; real compassion for brothers. He clearly understood, too, that fraternity requires resources of time and money. He served as a catalyst for both. Thanks, Rod.” — Ken Maddox, Oregon State ’75
“I served with Brother Smart as a regional director in 1977-78, and we maintained a very good friendship ever since. Rod would come across a funny thought, a new joke or hear a bit of news, and then he would just call. We would talk and laugh, trade barbs and occasionally have some very serious conversations. I always remember Rod showing up at SigEp events with a bunch of campaign-style buttons to hand out. These were usually faces of SigEps pasted over vintage photos, and they always produced some good laughs.
“Rod lived life so fully...not having him around certainly leaves a big hole. "May the world be a better place and heaven all the richer for the life, love, and labor of Brother Rod Smart.” — Bob Lanham, Indiana ’77
“Rod embodied SigEp’s cardinal principle of brotherly love. He was a friend-maker and a bridge-builder. He was competitive and loved a spirited contest, but he was always kind hearted. Rod was a masterful story-teller. And while he loved to tell a great joke, it was never at another person’s expense. He loved his family and friends and our Fraternity fiercely. My heart is full of gratitude for his friendship, wit, generosity and love.” — Chad Carlson, Baylor ’95
Kent HickmanThe Fraternity mourns the passing of Brother Kent Hickman, Colorado ’61, who was deeply committed to supporting the leadership development of undergraduate SigEp brothers through his generosity, volunteer service and membership in the Legacy Society. Brother Hickman studied English literature at the University of Colorado, where he joined SigEp’s Colorado Alpha chapter and served as recording secretary. After graduation, he embarked on a career with the U.S. Agency for International Development as a foreign service officer, helping USAID administer philanthropic aid around the world.
In the 1990s, work took Hickman to Washington, D.C. He wanted to connect with a local SigEp chapter and began volunteering with D.C. Gamma at Georgetown. When his home chapter rechartered, Hickman was eager to ensure his Colorado Alpha brothers had the skills needed to successfully lead the chapter. He established a grant program to assist chapter members with the costs of attending SigEp’s leadership programs. The study room at the Colorado Alpha chapter facility was later renamed in Hickman’s honor in appreciation of his generosity.
Because of his passion for developing young men, Brother Hickman expanded his support to include rising leaders at chapters across the country. Over the years, he funded the attendance of hundreds of young brothers at SigEp’s Carlson Leadership Academy. The training these Hickman Scholars received has enabled them to step into leadership roles and create a meaningful SigEp experience for thousands of brothers. With the desire to extend his impact on SigEp beyond his lifetime, Hickman also made an estate gift to SigEp and will be forever honored among the members of the Legacy Society.
A few of the brothers who knew Hickman or were impacted by his generosity as a donor reflected on his legacy:
[caption id="attachment_23371" align="alignright" width="209"]
Chris Bittman with Kent Hickman[/caption]
“Kent had a vision to help brothers that were like him as a young student — full of leadership potential, but not yet elected to an office in their chapter.
“Because of his generous commitment, the Hickman Scholars 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
“Kent and I are both brothers who live very far away from our chapters. His chapter was in Colorado and mine was in Michigan. Even though we are 31 years apart in age, the SigEp brotherhood is the unifying bond that brought us together. For that, I am personally grateful. I am proud to have known this man and to call him my brother.” — Donald Stevens, Lawrence Tech ’92
“Kent’s selfless dedication will forever leave an indelible mark on our brotherhood. His unwavering support, both financially and through the investment of his time, aided in the growth of countless young men.
“He transformed our chapter house, granting it long-awaited improvements and fostering an environment conducive to learning and growth. Kent’s benevolence extended to scholarship programs that enabled members to embrace leadership opportunities that may not have otherwise been available.
“As the president of our AVC, I fondly recall Kent’s sage guidance and unyielding support. Kent and I would often talk on the phone, reminiscing about the Fraternity life we both so much enjoyed while attending the University of Colorado, although at different times, and strategizing for the future of Colorado Alpha.
“Kent’s profound influence will forever resonate within our Fraternity, inspiring us to carry forward his torch of humility, dedication and selflessness. Kent will be missed.” — Jeff Wille, Colorado ’83
“Receiving the grant was critical to providing me with an opportunity to develop my skills as a leader that would help me during my time as an undergraduate, emerging leader, a volunteer and now in my career. Sigma Phi Epsilon’s leadership training was pivotal to my growth and development. Participating was made possible by Kent Hickman’s commitment to education and leadership. I am thankful for Brother Hickman’s lifelong desire to fuel the next generation of leaders.” — Dan Alt, American ’12
SigEp will fondly remember Kent for his life of service and impact, and his legacy of generosity.
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As I traveled the country as Grand President, meeting undergraduate and alumni brothers, I was often asked if I got paid for this role. I always proudly responded, “More than you can imagine.” Many brothers were surprised, however, to learn I received no financial compensation.
The office of Grand President is a volunteer role (as are our other board positions). SigEp volunteers give of our time and treasure, almost always expecting nothing in return. Yet, we seem to always benefit disproportionately. It’s funny how that works.
As SigEp begins the earnest implementation of our strategic plan, we’ve set an audacious goal when it comes to volunteers. We’ve committed to recruit, train, support and retain 15,000 volunteers across the Fraternity. This includes filling a wide range of roles from traditional alumni and volunteer corporation members, to mentors for chapter officers, to a career coach for each undergraduate. Each role is nuanced and can fit what an alumnus or friend is able to give in regard to time commitment, skill application or proximity. Regardless of the role, I can tell you from firsthand experience — if you become a SigEp volunteer, you WON’T be sorry!
Today’s undergraduates seek and need mentoring and coaching more than ever. The expectations have never been higher for them in their roles as chapter leaders and as young men starting their careers. The good news is, SigEp has an abundance — dare I say embarrassment — of talent and experience accumulated in our alumni ranks.
Former Grand President Phil Cox used to say, “Behind every successful chapter are great volunteers.” And he was right. Without fail, there’s a direct correlation between high-functioning chapters and their access to committed volunteers who advise them.
And given the near 100 percent turnover in chapter membership every four years, they are virtually the only institutional memory our chapters have.
The truth is, SigEp simply couldn’t turn the lights on every day were it not for the thousands of men and women already coaching and mentoring our chapters and undergraduate members. We couldn’t even come close to paying enough staff to carry out all the essential work our volunteers do every day. Not to mention the cost we’d incur if we paid each one what they’re actually worth, taking their many decades of life and career experience into account.
In their latest Value of Volunteer Time Report, Independent Sector and the Do Good Institute estimated the value of a volunteer hour to be $31.80, a 6.2 percent increase from 2021 to 2022. If we assume just a couple volunteer hours per mentor, per week, SigEp will receive almost $1 million in human capital and talent each week when we reach our goal of 15,000 committed volunteers. As my grandfather used to say, “That’s adult money.”
It’s never been easier to become a coach or mentor to a SigEp chapter or brother. With ubiquitous cell coverage and the advent of remote meeting technology, you no longer have to be concerned about proximity, unless that’s important to you. You can work with a chapter or undergraduate on the other side of town or the other side of the country. If you’d like to learn more or you’re ready to sign up, just go to sigep.org/volunteers.
I’ll end where I started. I will conclude my term as Grand President in August at our 58th Conclave in San Antonio. It’s been an immense honor and pleasure to have the opportunity to give back to our brotherhood in this way over the past two years. I’ve been compensated more than you can imagine in my role as a SigEp volunteer. Getting the chance to work with undergraduates who are hungry to become better men is a gift. As the old saying goes, “The older I get, the younger my teachers become.” In other words, sometimes our young brothers teach me as much as I teach them.
So, take a chance and give volunteering a try. You WON’T be sorry!
Billy D. Maddalon,
Grand President
In a changing world where college students face unprecedented financial and social pressures, it’s never been more important for SigEp to understand the needs of our young brothers. To ensure we’re consistently providing a healthy, robust Fraternity experience, SigEp must make decisions that reflect the evolving needs and interests of the undergraduates we serve.
Like any successful organization, SigEp relies on data about its constituents to drive smart decision-making. For the past five years, SigEp’s annual Brotherhood Questionnaire has surveyed undergraduate brothers to gather feedback on their beliefs and behaviors, as well as how they view their Fraternity experience.
The survey, which is conducted each fall, was developed for SigEp by Dyad Strategies, a consulting firm that helps universities and organizations evaluate the student experience. More than 53 percent of SigEp undergraduates participated in 2022, providing data on how current brothers feel about their SigEp experience.
Using this data to understand chapter and national trends will enable the Fraternity to continue adapting recruitment and programming as the needs and interests of members change. SigEp’s results were compared to responses gathered from nine other fraternities that also participated in Dyad’s survey, allowing a picture to emerge, through quantitative data, of just how SigEp is different.
A key takeaway from the 2022 survey: Although a sharp decline in satisfaction is typical for all fraternities as members advance from freshman year to senior year, SigEp saw dramatically lower declines in this area than other fraternities.
The data we’ve gathered from the Brotherhood Questionnaire over the past five years confirms that our belief about what makes for a positive member experience aligns with the kind of brotherhood and leadership development today’s students are looking for. Collecting data on the changing needs of our brothers, and students in general, will continue to play an important role in our ability to build balanced leaders.
Gentry McCreary, Ph.D., the CEO and managing partner of Dyad Strategies, observed that SigEp does “a better job than other fraternities maintaining engagement and maintaining high levels of satisfaction” across the four-year college experience.
He added, “I think that’s a very strong indicator of the fact that the things you’re doing with the Balanced Man Program — particularly around keeping upperclassmen engaged — is really having an impact. We can see really a distinct difference between SigEp and some of the other fraternities we’re working with.” Although the survey indicates SigEps are experiencing a similar level of satisfaction as other fraternities, McCreary noted that SigEp offers a much healthier experience.
Data from the most recent survey underscores that the 2017 vote by undergraduates to make housing substance-free continues to have a positive effect on reducing risky and unhealthy behaviors that often occur with alcohol use. Our brothers are below the national average on all measures of alcohol use, including binge drinking frequency and overall consumption — a trend that has continued over the past five years.
Similarly, when asked about their attitudes toward hazing, SigEp undergrads expressed a lower tolerance for this behavior than members of other fraternities. SigEp has seen declines in hazing tolerance since 2018.
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This manual served as a guide to introduce volunteers to key mentoring concepts during the early days of the Balanced Man Program (BMP) in the 1980s. Initially called the Balanced Man Project, SigEp’s member development program was conceived as a way to provide brothers opportunities for growth throughout their collegiate journey in lieu of traditional fraternity new member programs that only focused on the first weeks of membership. While the Balanced Man Program has evolved over the years, the core concepts remain and have become the foundation of today’s SigEp experience.
Participating in the BMP gives our young brothers opportunities to develop into leaders and supports their academic growth. Since implementing the BMP as SigEp’s only member development program in 2015, chapters have consistently shown higher manpower and a culture focused on wellness and continuous personal development.
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When I started college, I had pretty mediocre expectations for myself. I hadn’t expected I’d even be able to afford to attend a college, let alone thrive at one. Sitting in the new student convocation, I listened to the student body president say, “One day, one of you will be standing on this stage giving this speech …” In my head, I laughed at the idea that I would ever be THAT student.
My perspective shifted as I adjusted to student life, especially after joining SigEp. Ask me now and I would wholeheartedly join the eight in 10 alumni who said in a recent Gallup poll that if they had to do it all over again, they’d still join their fraternity or sorority. Becoming a brother opened my life to opportunities and provided access to mentorship I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Mentorship is a natural part of the SigEp experience. The older brothers in my chapter, along with the few volunteers we had at the time, always pushed me to see more in myself than I knew was there. Having supportive mentors gave me the confidence to take on leadership roles in the chapter that led me all the way to the Tragos Quest to Greece. I even got involved in student government and became the guy on stage giving the speech when I was elected student body president my junior year.
None of those accomplishments would have happened if I hadn’t been pushed by my SigEp mentors. As I reflect on the mentors who influenced me, I can’t help but think of one brother in particular. He not only encouraged me to join the chapter, he was also involved in student government. He not only helped me recognize my potential as a leader, but also motivated me to run for student body president.
Mentorship taught me what I was capable of, opened doors for my career and inspired me to continue giving back long after I graduated. Mentorship continued to play a role after graduation, leading me not only into my first successful career in politics, but also into my current career in the fitness, health and wellness space. Mentors within SigEp continue to help me navigate the career landscape and keep me motivated when imposter syndrome takes hold.
I continue to look up to mentors within SigEp to this day. I lean on this brotherhood to inspire me and give me the opportunity to provide for others what was provided for me. The joy and purpose that derives from serving as chapter counselor and working with young brothers in shaping their development program, creating an effective recruitment strategy, and communicating how SigEp is different from other organizations on their campus has connected me through my own experiences as a mentee.
Fully understanding the value of those experiences today, as an alumnus, makes continuing the traditions of SigEp more than worth the costs of time, talent and treasure that I give as a volunteer and a mentor. So, thank you to all the mentors who stood beside me along the way. I hope I am giving even an ounce of what you gave me!
Sean Terwilliger is currently chapter counselor for SigEp’s Texas Beta chapter at North Texas.
" ["post_title"]=> string(32) "My Journey from Mentee to Mentor" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(32) "my-journey-from-mentee-to-mentor" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2023-09-01 17:20:47" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2023-09-01 21:20:47" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(26) "https://sigep.org/?p=22905" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [6]=> object(WP_Post)#5202 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(22949) ["post_author"]=> string(2) "16" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2023-08-31 23:57:50" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2023-09-01 03:57:50" ["post_content"]=> string(3714) "Since fall 2020, SigEp’s Career Coaching program has matched undergraduate brothers with alumni working in their chosen fields. Here are some highlights of the program, as of May 2023. In honor of the 12 who started it all, we present a dozen Fraternity facts, stats and items of interest about Career Coaching.
“When I decided to go into civil engineering, I didn’t have a clue what I’d do with my degree. After hearing about SigEp’s Career Coaching, I decided to try it. I was connected with Todd Pietrasiak [WPI ’92], the owner of New England Infrastructure. We connected over Zoom and discussed project management. I stayed in contact and ended up getting an internship at his company. I loved it so much, I went back the next summer. If there’s one thing I could tell other brothers, it’s that there are so many opportunities within SigEp. Alumni want to help. All you need to do is ask.” — Ethan Edwards, Mississippi State ’23
99.8% of undergraduates found Career Coaching to be valuable, while 99.7% of coaches said that Career Coaching was a valuable use of their time.
1,871 Career Coaching sessions held
“It gives me immense pride that I’m an alumnus of a Fraternity that values professional and personal development. Being able to shape our brothers at any stage in their life, personally or professionally, is the best feeling, since I do not have a sibling of my own. Being in these mentoring sessions, it felt like I was talking to my younger brother and giving him life advice.” — Rohit Anand, South Dakota State ’11
46: Number of states coaches come from
Countries where coaches are working:
“I signed up for a career coach and was matched with Bruce Anderson [Texas-Austin ’71]. I was studying for the LSAT at the time, but quickly realized I had little desire to practice law. Bruce advised me not to pursue a degree for something I had no interest in. Instead, he said, I should explore a graduate degree in the specific area I want to focus on. He told me about public affairs programs, and my conversation with him allowed me to discover the degree path that will lead me toward the future I want. I am so thankful for SigEp’s Career Coaching for connecting us.” — Lukas Parrish, Missouri ’23
1,584: Number of undergrads who have participated in Career Coaching
Industries represented: 110
“My career coach, Tom Birmingham [Connecticut ’86], helped me completely rebuild my résumé, which helped me secure a summer climate policy internship in Washington, D.C., at the American Enterprise Institute. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience!” — Nicholas Fitzmaurice, Montana State ’23
Chapters that have participated in Career Coaching: 181
Alumni who have volunteered to coach: 854
" ["post_title"]=> string(23) "Twelve: Career Coaching" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(22) "twelve-career-coaching" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2023-08-31 23:57:50" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2023-09-01 03:57:50" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(26) "https://sigep.org/?p=22949" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [7]=> object(WP_Post)#5203 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(22944) ["post_author"]=> string(2) "16" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2023-08-31 23:56:15" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2023-09-01 03:56:15" ["post_content"]=> string(14707) "Where would SigEp be without its volunteers? The Fraternity relies on our volunteers, and they step up — serving as everything from program facilitators to mentors for undergraduate brothers to fundraising captains for the annual Founders Day of Giving.
While it’s widely acknowledged that volunteers are the soul of our Fraternity, it’s not always clear to those who aren’t involved what actually goes into being a volunteer or even how to become one.
The main requirement for serving as a SigEp volunteer: a strong desire to mentor undergraduates and make a positive impact on chapter life. Those interested will find SigEp has a wealth of volunteer opportunities open to both alumni and non-members. Volunteers can serve remotely or in person with any chapter, in an ongoing role as part of an alumni and volunteer corporation or in one-time roles such as a career coach or event facilitator.
The Journal spoke with four volunteers about their experiences volunteering for the Fraternity.
Chad Phillips, Baker ’17When he learned about SigEp’s Career Coaching program, Chad Phillips signed up to serve as a coach. The program, which connects undergrads with alumni working in the fields they hope to pursue, is something Phillips says he wished existed during his undergraduate days.
A recent dental school graduate, Phillips was looking forward to sharing his experiences with brothers thinking of entering the profession. Since signing up to be a coach, Phillips has met with four undergraduate brothers.
The one-hour conversations have mostly centered on the process of applying to dental school, but Phillips said he’s also discussed “the life of a new dentist and the career transition after leaving school.” He said it’s been rewarding to know that he’s helped several brothers take the first steps on the path to entering his profession.
Payton Gabel, North Dakota ’23, one of the undergrads Phillips coached, said the experience helped him gain clarity about what he needs to do to realize his professional goals. “I felt that Chad was able to decipher and simplify the complicated route to becoming a dentist,” he said. “He was able to answer questions about the application process and shared what he wanted out of his future career.”
Phillips is glad his own experiences may make the path to dental school smoother for some brothers and noted he’s happy to have follow-up conversations with his matches if more questions arise and they want to speak with him again.
For a while during dental school, he served on a local chapter’s AVC, but the demands of attending school full time caused him to reduce his involvement. Phillips noted that Career Coaching has been a great opportunity for him to remain connected to the Fraternity and give back during a period in his life when he couldn’t commit to a more time-consuming role.
Frank Ko, Pepperdine ’97Frank Ko serves double duty, supporting his home chapter, California Psi at Pepperdine, with roles as chapter counselor and AVC vice president.
Guiding young brothers is personal for Ko because he remembers what it was like when the chapter lost its charter during his freshman year. “I mentor them to try to make sure they don’t repeat mistakes that were made previous on occasions,” he said. As a founding father of his chapter, it’s important to Ko to offer his guidance so the chapter remains on the right track.
That means doing things like getting together with members of the chapter’s executive board during the summer to discuss goals for fall recruitment. He sees his responsibility as chapter counselor to be an advisor who sets the tone, helps the undergrads establish goals and helps them focus on achieving those goals.
In his more than 20 years as a volunteer, Ko has also served as AVC treasurer and mentor to the undergraduate chapter’s vice president of finance.
“I would say to other alumni, it doesn’t matter when we graduated, just stay involved. If you put in the time and effort, you’ll see the results. You’ll never know the difference you can make if you don’t volunteer.”
Ko noted that being a volunteer is about doing what you can to give back, but that volunteering brings its own rewards. “Ever since I started volunteering, I’ve met awesome alumni. All of my closest friends are other SigEps, either from Pepperdine or other chapters.”
As a former regional director who was responsible for working with chapters in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia, Jimmy Miller was excited by the idea of continuing to serve multiple chapters as a volunteer.
After concluding his time on the Fraternity’s Headquarters staff, Miller initially moved to Dayton, Ohio, and began volunteering with the Ohio Pi chapter at Wright State. “It was a good opportunity to step into a local role and serve as their balanced man steward,” he said.
Miller is appreciative of how warmly the chapter embraced him. He said the chapter holds a brotherhood retreat and an especially meaningful Ritual each semester. “I was the first non-Ohio Pi SigEp to be invited to share that experience with them.”
Miller also decided to volunteer with SigEp’s Ohio Nu chapter at Cleveland State due to the strong connection he formed with the undergraduates while serving as their regional director.
“My decision to take on that role was purely emotional,” he stated.
Since he didn’t live near the chapter, he had to develop a plan for maintaining that bond with the chapter. “I visited about once a semester to do a workshop with the executive board,” he explained. “I kept regular tabs on them, talking every other week to the chapter president.”
Miller believes having a strong rapport with the chapter you’re serving is one of the most crucial aspects to succeeding as a volunteer, regardless of where one lives. “I may have been there [physically], but when they called, I answered. I know they trusted me to help them with whatever issue they were dealing with. It’s a warm feeling knowing I’ve built those relationships and have that trust with the undergrads.”
Miller is currently engaged as a mentor with Ohio Eta at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Since moving for work again, this time to Indiana, he decided to scale back his other volunteer commitments. He remains pleased about his time volunteering with multiple chapters and looks forward to a time when he can become more involved again.
While getting her master’s in student affairs at the University of South Carolina, Holly Lovern heard the school’s SigEp chapter was seeking volunteers. She’d been active in a sorority as an undergrad and was curious about what working with a fraternity would be like. Acting on that interest, she connected with the chapter and was asked to serve as mentor for the chair of the Brother Mentor challenge at SigEp’s South Carolina Alpha chapter.
Although she didn’t really know what to expect, she said she still found herself surprised by the experience.
“Sororities are structured differently,” Lovern explained. “We don’t have as many opportunities.” Beyond having the chance to interact with and serve as a role model for members of the chapter, volunteering also connected Lovern with other volunteers and members of SigEp’s Headquarters staff.
Her contributions were quickly noticed by fellow volunteers, and staff reached out to her about facilitating at events like the Carlson Leadership Academies.
After about a year and a half, Lovern relocated to start a new position at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Lovern had enjoyed her experience as a SigEp volunteer and wondered if there was an opportunity to volunteer at her new school. “I was interested in staying involved with SigEp because it was different from but also intersected with my professional work,” Lovern explained. As a gender violence service coordinator, Lovern works with students who have experienced sexual assault or interpersonal violence, but also seeks to prevent such incidents.
After reaching out to SigEp Headquarters, Lovern was asked to serve as chapter counselor for the North Carolina Gamma chapter at Duke and served in that role until the chapter’s closure in 2022. She was later tapped to serve on the national Fraternity’s SigEp Learning Community Committee, a role she enjoys because of its parallels to her work in education.
Today, Lovern has come full circle in her SigEp involvement. She is once again volunteering with South Carolina Alpha, this time mentoring the vice president of learning community.
“One thing I appreciate is that SigEp invests in its volunteers. I’ve had a lot of professional development and I also enjoy the interaction with other volunteers, so, it’s really become a community for me,” she said. Lovern added, “I think the connection I feel with SigEp has kept me coming back.”
Considering how much SigEp prioritizes the involvement of volunteers in the undergraduate experience, it should come as no surprise that the Fraternity has a volunteer role especially for the purpose of recruiting other volunteers — district governors (DGs). These key volunteers appoint chapter counselors and balanced man stewards and support the alumni and volunteer corporations in their districts by recruiting and training volunteers.
Brian Tenclinger, Louisiana State Renaissance, joined SigEp’s Headquarters staff in 2022 as volunteer engagement and education director. One of his early undertakings was to develop a leadership conference for the DGs, highlighting best practices in recruitment and training, the needs of today’s college students, and more. Bringing the district governors together to learn with and from each other is part of SigEp’s ongoing commitment to provide volunteers with training and resources so they can effectively support undergraduates.
Twenty-seven DGs were able to attend in person, with another six taking part virtually. The 2022 conference marked the first time in at least 15 years that an event has been held specifically for DGs to come together to discuss strategies for volunteer engagement.
Here’s the secret ingredient for succeeding as a SigEp volunteer: willingness to listen and share your experiences with our undergraduate brothers as they navigate life as a modern college student. There are many misconceptions about what it takes to be a SigEp volunteer. Let’s shatter some of those myths.
1. You must volunteer with your home chapter. On the contrary, volunteering with a chapter that isn’t your home chapter is a rewarding way to get to know undergraduates and fellow volunteers in a different city or area of the country, learn from each other’s successes, and pass on the life lessons you learned as an undergraduate. Alumni who don’t live near their alma mater shouldn’t feel confined to only volunteering with their home chapter. Sigma Phi Epsilon is a nationwide brotherhood, after all.
2. You have to live near a campus where SigEp has a chapter. As seen in the example of Jimmy Miller, phone calls, emails and video meetings can be used to stay in touch with undergraduate brothers between in-person visits. Maintaining a long-distance connection will create a foundation that makes your interactions all the more meaningful during the times when you’re face to face.
3. Volunteering requires more time than you can give. Doing something significant doesn’t always require a huge amount of time. For instance, serving as a career coach typically only takes an hour. But that hour you spend talking with an undergraduate brother about your career path will make a lasting impact on him as he tries to define his own.
4. You have to serve on an alumni and volunteer corporation in order to volunteer. You may not have the time to commit to serving in an ongoing role with a chapter, but there are a multitude of ways you can make a positive impact on our brothers’ development. In addition to Career Coaching, there are opportunities to facilitate sessions at SigEp events such as Carlson Leadership Academies, Life After College, Ruck Leadership Institute and Conclave. While the time commitment for these volunteer engagements is relatively brief, you’ll make a long-lasting impact on our brothers.
5. You have to be a brother to volunteer for SigEp. The Fraternity welcomes the perspective of women and other nonmembers.
6. All of SigEp’s volunteers are older alumni. Seasoned alumni are revered for their wisdom, but we shouldn't count younger alumni out. Because they were recently in the same shoes as our undergraduate brothers, they tend to form easy connections with chapters and have unique insight on what it’s like to launch a career in these unusual times.
Excited to start your own volunteer journey? Visit sigep.org/volunteers to learn more and get started today.
" ["post_title"]=> string(18) "Service above self" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(18) "service-above-self" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2023-08-31 23:56:37" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2023-09-01 03:56:37" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(26) "https://sigep.org/?p=22944" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [8]=> object(WP_Post)#5204 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(22914) ["post_author"]=> string(2) "16" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2023-08-31 23:54:44" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2023-09-01 03:54:44" ["post_content"]=> string(6368) "[caption id="attachment_23010" align="alignleft" width="410"]
Follow the Footsteps' Mike Mathisen instructs a program participant and parent during a skiing lesson.[/caption]
Many people go their whole lives without finding their true calling. But Mike Mathisen, Baker ’90, is fortunate to be able to do something he loves. The best part? He helps others while doing it. As founder of the Colorado-based nonprofit Follow the Footsteps Epic Adventures, Mathisen enables people living with disabilities to experience the joy and relaxation of outdoor activities.
Engaging in an active lifestyle can often prove difficult for people with disabilities, particularly when it involves the outdoors. Lack of equipment that meets their physical needs, inability to access certain areas and difficulty navigating tricky terrain are all common barriers. Through his organization, Mathisen provides adaptive sporting equipment and, assisted by a group of volunteer guides, coaches people living with disabilities to use it while exploring the National Trails System.
“The true goal is coaching people to independence, and mobility is independence,” Mathisen explained. “When you live with a cognitive or physical disability, your independence is often lost to some extent.”
[caption id="attachment_23015" align="alignleft" width="302"]
Mathisen enjoys a nature walk with a program participant.[/caption]
Mathisen has taken participants out to experience a variety of activities, including hiking, skiing and biking. In the summer of 2022, the nonprofit added its first rafting trip, taking nearly two dozen participants on a two-hour journey down the Colorado River. The group also organized a hike of the Colorado Trail in summer 2022, supporting participants who wanted to hike a portion or all of a planned 45-day trek. Follow the Footsteps is currently planning a hike of the Appalachian Trail for summer 2024.
The organization also gets the families of those who live with disabilities involved, encouraging them to accompany their loved ones on these adventures. They receive guidance from the Follow the Footsteps team so they can serve as a support “crew” on future outings.
[caption id="attachment_23017" align="alignright" width="257"]
During a lesson, Mathisen adjusts the tethers on a participant's skis.[/caption]
Kelly, a mom of a participant, had nothing but great things to say about her family’s experience. She said, “Mike shows incredible patience dealing with my child, as well as all the other kids throughout the different programs he has helped with. His tireless energy and dedication to coaching is a blessing to a single mom like myself. I not only appreciate the skills he gives my son while coaching, but also the mentorship.”
When Mathisen speaks about being in a position to help others move past perceived limitations, his passion for planning and leading these life-changing outings is obvious. “
My goal is to coach families and caregivers to run robust outdoor activities,” he said. “I give the crew the confidence that they can do it. The most rewarding part for me is, I can coach a family so that they can take their loved one out.”
Mathisen, who is an avid skier, realized there was a lack of outdoor recreation opportunities for people with disabilities because his own family has been in the same situation.
“I had two foster daughters who were adopted, and both of them have cognitive disabilities,” Mathisen said. This led him to become involved with a local program, Steamboat Adaptive Recreational Sports. He volunteered with that organization for about 10 years before branching out to found Follow the Footsteps in 2015.
While Mathisen is clearly devoted to Follow the Footsteps, running the organization isn’t his full-time job. He’s had a lengthy career at commercial food supply company Shamrock Foods. His current position as a sales manager keeps him busy, but he says he’s grateful to work for a company that affords him the flexibility and financial stability to do both.
Follow the Footsteps is mostly self-funded by Mathisen, along with donations. In 2022, the nonprofit received a grant for $23,500 from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. The funds were used to buy new skis and electric hand-assist bike equipment.
The purchases greatly expanded the capabilities of Follow the Footsteps’ Loan Locker program. It’s one of the aspects of the organization that Mathisen is most proud of. Follow the Footsteps has a collection of adaptive sports equipment that it loans out to members of the disabled community. The organization demonstrates and provides instruction on how to use the equipment, which can be borrowed for up to four weeks.
“We’ve converted all of our bike equipment to ebikes,” Mathisen explained. “Ebikes are a game changer for those who want to live an active lifestyle with a disability,” he added.
Terrance, who is living as a double leg amputee, is one of the first participants to benefit from the new equipment. He hasn’t been able to ride standard bikes because they lack the stability he needs to safely stay upright. “I was almost in tears, to be honest with you,” he said, after trying out one of the organization’s newly adapted ebikes. “It absolutely is a gift for people in my situation that people have designed and built this equipment.”
“I’m always searching for adaptive equipment, volunteers and donations to grow and expand,” Mathisen said. Noting that Follow the Footsteps currently provides over 300 guided ski/bike/hike/raft adventures each year, he added, “We are striving for the season when we guide over 1,000 participants.”
" ["post_title"]=> string(48) "Climb (and bike and hike and ski) every mountain" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(46) "climb-and-bike-and-hike-and-ski-every-mountain" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2023-08-31 23:54:44" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2023-09-01 03:54:44" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(26) "https://sigep.org/?p=22914" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [9]=> object(WP_Post)#5480 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(22907) ["post_author"]=> string(2) "16" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2023-08-31 23:53:17" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2023-09-01 03:53:17" ["post_content"]=> string(3088) "[caption id="attachment_23051" align="alignleft" width="302"]
Paul Deanno[/caption]
Paul Deanno, Syracuse ’96, and Scott Reiss, Stanford ’93, first met when Deanno interned at the TV station where Reiss had recently been hired as a news anchor. The two formed an easy connection and soon learned they’re both SigEps.
“It was a nice thing to have in common, and I think it took our friendship to another level,” Deanno said.
Although their careers have taken them in different directions — Reiss went on to become a sports anchor at ESPN and is currently the play-by-play announcer for Stanford football and basketball, while Deanno is now a meteorologist with NBC in Chicago — the friends reconnected during the years when they lived just minutes from each other.
By this time, Deanno, who has written four children’s books about weather, was running a small publishing company with his wife, Suzanne. One day, Reiss shared his idea with Deanno to publish a book in which top sportscasters recount their years in the trenches covering a range of stories, from everyday high school sports to quirky local events, in small cities and towns across the country.
He wasn’t looking to tell the typical stories about rubbing shoulders with pro athletes, but instead to share the offbeat stories famous sportscasters cut their teeth on while pursuing their big break.
[caption id="attachment_23052" align="alignright" width="302"]
Scott Reiss[/caption]
Deanno loved the potential in Reiss’ idea, but couldn’t commit to the project at the time. Fast forward five years: Reiss was on a beach with his family on vacation in Hawaii when Deanno called to say he wanted to publish the book Reiss had pitched to him.
The result is “Where They Were Then,” a compilation of 15 first-person essays from some of today’s most popular sportscasters, including Scott Van Pelt and Trey Wingo. Reiss said it didn’t take much convincing to get any of the sportscasters in the book to share their stories.
“They saw it as an opportunity to share part of their story no one ever asks them about,” he said. “These are the priceless anecdotes they share with their buddies over drinks. I knew capturing these stories would be interesting.”
From finding contributors to editing to marketing, the Emmy-winning broadcasters played a part in every aspect of putting the book together. The book took just under seven months for the pair to complete. In the summer of 2022, they released the audio version of the book and are looking forward to collaborating on more projects together.
" ["post_title"]=> string(20) "A whole new ballgame" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(20) "a-whole-new-ballgame" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2023-08-31 23:53:17" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2023-09-01 03:53:17" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(26) "https://sigep.org/?p=22907" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } } ["post_count"]=> int(10) ["current_post"]=> int(-1) ["in_the_loop"]=> bool(false) ["post"]=> object(WP_Post)#5175 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(23689) ["post_author"]=> string(2) "16" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2024-01-16 19:45:55" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2024-01-17 00:45:55" ["post_content"]=> string(4402) "[caption id="attachment_23694" align="aligncenter" width="768"] Rod SmartThe Fraternity is saddened by the passing of lifelong SigEp volunteer Rod Smart, Sacramento State ’77. While an undergraduate, he emerged as a chapter leader, serving as California Theta’s recruitment chair, vice president and president. Immediately after graduation, he hit the road as a regional director. His gift for connecting with others and developing leaders was evident as he assisted in launching 12 new chapters during his time on SigEp’s traveling staff.
A witty and warm spirit who always brought people together, Brother Smart will be remembered as one of the architects of the Freeark Society, a network that connects former SigEp staff members.
He continued using his gifts in service to the Fraternity during his long tenure as a district governor. He spent nearly 20 years in the role, recruiting and guiding countless volunteers in Southern California and Arizona. In addition to working with volunteers in his district, Smart was involved in the Fraternity’s national alumni engagement efforts as a member of the alumni task force and the alumni programming committee.
Smart also enthusiastically supported the Fraternity as a longtime member of the Board of Governors, SigEp’s lead donor group for the Annual Fund. In 2021, he was appointed to the SigEp National Advancement Council, a committee that supports fundraising for the Fraternity’s leadership programs.
Smart’s decades of selfless service were recognized in 2013 with the Fraternity’s highest honor, the Order of the Golden Heart.
Some of the brothers who knew Smart best reflected on his impact as a brother and a friend:
“Rod and I served on the SigEp staff in 1977 and remained very close our whole lives. We had many frequent and long calls filled with laughter and stories. Everyone loved Rod, everyone. Sigma Phi Epsilon was a part of his DNA, and he was a loyal and devoted brother his entire life. Rod had many talents and shared his love generously with his brothers and friends. He is irreplaceable in my life, and I will miss him for the rest of my life.” — Doug Nabhan, Purdue ’77
“Rod loved the brotherhood dearly, and it was a lifelong joy for him. Rod was a special guy who always had a smile on his face and a hug for his brothers. A great loss.” — Norm Nabhan, Purdue ’71
“Rod ensured fraternal glee and support. Quick wit, wonderful jokes; real compassion for brothers. He clearly understood, too, that fraternity requires resources of time and money. He served as a catalyst for both. Thanks, Rod.” — Ken Maddox, Oregon State ’75
“I served with Brother Smart as a regional director in 1977-78, and we maintained a very good friendship ever since. Rod would come across a funny thought, a new joke or hear a bit of news, and then he would just call. We would talk and laugh, trade barbs and occasionally have some very serious conversations. I always remember Rod showing up at SigEp events with a bunch of campaign-style buttons to hand out. These were usually faces of SigEps pasted over vintage photos, and they always produced some good laughs.
“Rod lived life so fully...not having him around certainly leaves a big hole. "May the world be a better place and heaven all the richer for the life, love, and labor of Brother Rod Smart.” — Bob Lanham, Indiana ’77
“Rod embodied SigEp’s cardinal principle of brotherly love. He was a friend-maker and a bridge-builder. He was competitive and loved a spirited contest, but he was always kind hearted. Rod was a masterful story-teller. And while he loved to tell a great joke, it was never at another person’s expense. He loved his family and friends and our Fraternity fiercely. My heart is full of gratitude for his friendship, wit, generosity and love.” — Chad Carlson, Baylor ’95