SigEp’s Kansas State Chapter commemorated 100 years of history, tradition and brotherhood in February 2018 at a celebration in Manhattan, Kansas. Brothers from the 1940s through today came together for a weekend of fun and fellowship as alumni reconnected with old friends and got to know current chapter members.

Chapter Counselor Pat Pesci, Kansas State Renaissance, observed, “It was good to see the younger and older members share their stories and experiences.”

AVC Treasurer Dirk Daveline, ’87, added, “Sigma Phi Epsilon is where I made some of my closest friends, and the reunion weekend brought back so many memories.”

For many alumni, their fondest college memories centered around the times they shared at the chapter home. House mother Diane Veith and some of the undergraduates conducted tours, giving alumni a chance to view the chapter’s more modern facilities. That evening, 245 brothers and guests attended a banquet where they applauded the more than 2,000 Kansas Beta brothers who’ve become leaders in education, science, medicine, government and other fields.

The occasion also marked an opportunity to celebrate the chapter’s future. Achievements of current brothers were highlighted as Carson Daniel, ’20, and Spencer Adam, ’19, were presented the Clifford C. Sawyer Scholarship in recognition of their academic achievement.

The keynote honored the chapter’s history as speaker Doug Scheibe, ’87, discussed Kansas Beta’s early days and its founders’ determination to create a truly special fraternity. In particular, he noted the contributions of three of the chapter’s 18 founders. Marshall Wilder, 1920, was an elite athlete who left Kansas State to serve in the U.S. Army during World War I before returning to finish his degree. Scheibe also spoke of Dr. John R. MacArthur, 1892, the chapter’s first faculty advisor. An Order of the Golden Heart recipient, MacArthur taught and mentored some of the nation’s brightest scientific minds at Cal Tech. Lastly, he profiled Order of the Golden Heart and SigEp Citation recipient Judge Earle W. “Jack” Frost, 1920, who was the school’s first student body president. Frost went on to become a municipal judge and civic leader who took on organized crime in his hometown.

The standard these men set as scholars and leaders remains a hallmark of the chapter today. The chapter has maintained a GPA above 3.0 and the all-campus average for more than 10 semesters. In 2018, the chapter produced a Zollinger Outstanding Senior Award winner and a recipient of the NIC Undergraduate Award of Distinction. In addition, brothers are actively involved in the Interfraternity Council and other organizations on campus, as well as philanthropies that benefit the larger community.