In November 2016, Valparaiso University hosted its second annual TEDx event, an independent spinoff of the international TED conferences that host conversations on wide-ranging topics including education, business, science, technology and creativity. Valparaiso’s event is a student-run program, and three of its seven board members this year were undergraduate SigEps. Three other SigEps — all Valparaiso alumni — were selected as speakers for the program, despite the fact that the undergraduates and alumni were unaware of their shared fraternal connection until well into the event’s planning stage. In the run-up to the event, other brothers volunteered their time as well, with a total of 10 Valparaiso SigEps assisting in the planning and execution of the event.

“There seems to be a special story here of the connection of Sigma Phi Epsilon to leadership and being thought leaders who have ‘ideas worth sharing’ (the TEDx tagline),” wrote Carolyn Whittier, lead staff advisor for the event.

The 2016 event — themed “Dare to Build” — examined how leaders are implementing bold visions to build tomorrow’s future. The SigEps behind the event said they hope to challenge convention with a constructive attitude and to inspire change and innovation that would spread beyond their Northwest Indiana campus.

Valparaiso Chapter brothers Matthew Sherrier, ’17, Matthew Janke, ’17, and Michael McIntyre, ’17, organized Valparaiso’s 2016 TEDx event as board members. Their SigEp Chapter Counselor Ryan Bye, Valparaiso Renaissance, advised the event’s leadership team along with Carrie Whittier, a 2016 SigEp Distinguished Volunteer Award recipient. 

William Yonker, Valparaiso ’82, serves as senior pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in East Dundee, Ill. Yonker was named one of the 150 most influential Valparaiso alumni of the the last 150 years. In his speech, “Recognizing and Revitalizing the Best Thing in Life: Good Relationships,” Yonker spoke about the importance of establishing and cultivating meaningful relationships.

Nicholas Skytland, Valparaiso ’02, is a NASA data scientist with a passion for human space flight. He serves within the Technology and Innovation Division of the Office of the Chief Information Officer at NASA headquarters. In his speech, “Our Boldest Dreams,” Skytland detailed how NASA inspired and enabled him to pursue his dreams. He encouraged conference attendees to pursue their dreams as well.

Lee Murphy, Valparaiso ’85, is the CEO of Inspera Health, a business focused on improving the health of people living with multiple chronic conditions. In his speech, “Making Health Care Personal Again,” Murphy identified weaknesses in our current health care system in treating multiple chronic illnesses and provided insights into new treatment approaches.