A SigEp chapter and a recent graduate have been honored with Awards of Distinction by the North-American Interfraternity Conference. The awards recognize the contributions of individuals and groups that demonstrate the ideals of leadership, service and fraternal values.

New Jersey Alpha RLC at Stevens Institute of Technology was selected based on campus and community leadership, as well as its high academic standards. SigEps are a visible and active part of campus life — 10-15 percent of resident assistants and 20 percent of orientation leaders are members of the chapter. Equally dedicated to the Hoboken, New Jersey, community, members provided food and other crucial support to their neighbors and even opened the chapter home to fellow students in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Its commitment to creating a meaningful chapter experience led to the creation of the Leadership, Individual Fitness and Teamwork initiative that earned the chapter an award from the Northeast Greek Leadership Association. Because of its ongoing success, the chapter has earned four consecutive Buchanan Cups.

Kenneth L. Nilsen, dean of students at Stevens, noted, “Since the chapter adopted the Balanced Man Program, they have been a model for the campus. They are currently the largest chapter on campus, hold the highest GPA and provide substance-free housing. The men who participate in SigEp are some of our best leaders.”

Ryan D’Ercole, Christopher Newport ’16, received the Undergraduate Award of Distinction. The award recognizes undergraduates who have used their fraternity experience to develop personally and as leaders. Of the thousands of undergraduate fraternity men around the country, D’Ercole was one of just five chosen to receive the 2016 award.

As president of his chapter, D’Ercole’s work with university officials played a key role in securing new housing for the chapter and gaining accreditation as a Sigma Phi Epsilon Residential Learning Community. During his term, the Christopher Newport Chapter earned its fourth Buchanan Cup and received seven university awards, including Fraternity of the Year. The Christopher Newport community benefitted from his campaign to combat sexual assault, and his efforts to develop programming on global competency brought foreign ambassadors and business leaders to campus to speak.

“SigEp provided me with mentors who always pushed me to take on new challenges and always saw the man I could become,” said D’Ercole, who is now serving as a regional director for the Fraternity.