Volunteers are the lifeblood of our Fraternity. They are the role models, advisors and friends who undergraduate brothers rely on to guide them. Here, we share photos of memorable volunteer moments and volunteer reflections on their experiences and what motivates them.

1. “If I had to choose an energizing song to start every volunteer call, it would be the Marine Corps Hymn. It’s iconic and instantly recognizable. It also carries a deeply personal memory of [Past Grand President] Brother Shawn McKenna and the 2011 Conclave. Shawn pulled me up to stand beside him and sing the Hymn as we introduced another SigEp Marine, Brother Col. Robert Lanham, before his presentation on Marine Corps leadership principles. Following tradition, several SigEp Marines stood at attention and joined us in singing. It was a powerful reminder of our brotherhood.”

— Renato Villacorte, Cal Poly-Pomona ’91 (district governor; vice president,
NUTS! McAuliffe Society)

2. Members of SigEp’s 2022–23 traveling staff: Noah Brinkmeyer, Trevor Sullivan, Zach Harris, Tyler Cox, J.J. Bishop, Patrick Trombetta, Henry White and Connor Algren. Each of them is now volunteering.

 

3. “Every interaction as a volunteer has the potential to be extremely impactful, but one that stands out was the day we closed on our first chapter home. We rented for 20 years and always talked about owning. It was an 18-month process just to get to closing. Fast forward four years, and we have now secured the campaign commitments to build a modern chapter facility. To see the vision come together knowing the future impact is extremely rewarding.”

— Chris Yerges, Wisconsin-Platteville ’09 (alumni and volunteer corporation president, Wisconsin Theta)

4. “The highlight of my transition to a volunteer was returning to speak at the Balanced Man Scholarship banquet. Being invited by the current vice president of recruitment, who I helped recruit years ago, was a profound full-circle moment. Before joining, attending this banquet and witnessing the professionalism of the brothers and alumni solidified my desire to join. Seeing that example of leadership shaped my own aspirations. I am honored to step into this new alumni role, continuing the cycle of mentorship and showcasing the Fraternity’s lifelong impact to the next generation of leaders.”

— Reese Manfredi, Rider ’25 (balanced man steward, New Jersey Zeta)

5. Chris Lu, Cal Poly-Pomona ’01, balanced man steward at Ohio Rho, pays a visit to SigEp’s Headquarters.

 

 

6. Past Grand President Brad Nahrstadt, Monmouth ’89, and his son, Benny Nahrstadt, Indiana ’16, share a moment during a Carlson Leadership Academy.

 

7. Volunteers Caleb Massey, Virginia Commonwealth ’14, and Logan Massey with their son, Oliver, at SigEp’s 2025 Conclave in Tampa, Florida

8. “I volunteer with chapters across the U.S. to empower undergraduates, helping them become more confident in their skills and work through ideas to maximize the best opportunities for leadership and personal growth. Undergraduates need an environment to find mentors and have open and honest conversations about their careers, goals and aspirations while also developing their own communication and leadership styles. I enjoy working with the other volunteers and undergraduates to provide perspective, help them uncover their strengths, and advise them about how to create culture shifts and growth mindsets within their chapters so each member can have the same opportunities and experiences that we had as -undergraduates.”

— Alec Carlos, DePaul ’09 (balanced man steward, Texas Rho; mentor for recruitment, Illinois Xi)

9. District Governor Phil Smith, UNCWilmington ’94, shows off some of the many ribbons he’s acquired at Carlsons and Conclaves over the years.

 

 

 

 

10. Volunteers from North Carolina Nu SEC at North Carolina-Charlotte facilitated a transition retreat for chapter officers.

11. “Adapting to an ever-changing environment is simpler with chapters other than my own; I can focus on developing their dreams without the color of my past experience. It’s a challenge with my home chapter, where comparisons are inevitable. In either case, I try being the long-term thinker who sees two years out, while undergrads are focused on months and weeks. There’s no better feeling than connecting with an undergraduate, seeing him grow, succeed in college and become a successful adult. It keeps the fire burning in my SigEp heart!”

— Paul Litcher, Indiana Tech ’88 (mentor, various chapters; treasurer, NUTS! McAuliffe Society)

12. “I have a picture of the inside of the Washington Beta chapter installation banquet book from 1922. It’s an interesting item for a couple of reasons. First, it has the wrong year printed on the program. It should read Jan. 14, 1922, not 1921. Second, it’s signed by many of the attendees, including Past Grand Presidents William Phillips and Frank Hammack (well before they served in that role), as well as California Alpha alum Oliver M. Hazen, who has a prominent high school named after him in the Seattle area.”

— Steve Ruttner, Washington ’79 (chapter counselor, Washington Beta)