At the Arete Awards Luncheon during SigEp’s 59th Grand Chapter Conclave in Tampa, our celebration continued with brothers and guests gathering to celebrate the Fraternity’s professional achievement award — the Sigma Phi Epsilon Citation.

First presented in 1965, the Citation recognizes alumni who have achieved extraordinary success in their professional lives and brought honor to the Fraternity. Out of more than 365,000 lifetime brothers, only 267 have received the Citation prior to this year. The 2025 recipients were introduced at Friday night’s Educational Foundation Gala and Board of Governors Dinner, and stepped onto the main Conclave stage on Saturday to share lessons from their journeys in a series of inspiring fireside chats.

Emcee Jay Hurt, Davidson ’88 — a Citation recipient himself — welcomed the audience and framed the theme of the afternoon: Arete, the Greek ideal of excellence, a way of living that demands Virtue, Diligence and Brotherly Love.

Following lunch, Seth Irby, Louisiana State ’11, hosted conversations with each of the five new Citation recipients. Their reflections ranged from business growth and philanthropy to personal values and leadership.

Kelcy Warren, Texas-Arlington ’77

Executive chairman and co-founder of Energy Transfer, one of the country’s largest energy infrastructure companies, Warren is also a major philanthropist and advocate for education. He spoke about the lessons learned from scaling a business and the lifelong confidence gained from his SigEp experience.

When asked what he wished he had known as an undergraduate brother, Warren said to always “stay in touch with your brothers” and to never take those relationships for granted. He also advised to “find what you are passionate about and go after it.”

Mike Lincoln, Southeast Missouri State ’84

Vice chair of Cooley LLP and leading venture capital attorney, Lincoln has helped companies like Zoom and Uber go public. A former SigEp regional director, Lincoln emphasized the power of relationship-building and persuasion.

When asked about being a force for good and change on campus, Lincoln encouraged others to “go on a listening tour,” take in what others are saying, and learn from their perspectives. He also shared that one key to success after college is to “trust your gut and instinct.”

Kevin O’Connor, Loras ’79

A longtime executive in sports management, O’Connor has represented stars like Derek Jeter and Pete Sampras. He shared the importance of team chemistry and creating lasting value for those you serve.

When asked about lessons learned from failure, O’Connor focused instead on the importance of failure: “Don’t be afraid to fail.” He also shared that the key to building successful teams lies in “how you put teams together,” emphasizing that success isn’t solely about talent, but about thoughtful team composition and having the right people in the right places.

Charles McNeil, Colorado School of Mines ’71

CEO and founder of NexGen Resources, McNeil is a pioneer in energy and environmental innovation. He’s also a Distinguished Eagle Scout and major supporter of youth development. He challenged undergraduates to lead with values.

In his heartfelt message, McNeil shared that the best advice he ever received was to “follow your passion” and not to “worry about what your peers think about you, but to believe in yourself.”

Jim Pillen, Nebraska ’75

Veterinarian, entrepreneur and current governor of Nebraska, Pillen has built a thriving family business while serving his community. He emphasized the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people and building others up.

Pillen’s remarks centered on the importance of putting people first. He shared that “people are everything, people are the culture,” and reminded the audience that “achievements are soon forgotten, but how you treat people is what will be remembered.”

These accomplished brothers reminded the audience that achievement is not about titles or accolades, but about the impact one has on others.

Learn more about this year’s Citation recipients and their remarkable careers, success, and impact here.