On April, the 55 man chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon’s Tennessee Kappa eagerly welcomed the return of their alumni and guests for a day of celebration and commemoration of the chapter’s beginnings only 10 years ago.
From as far as Los Angeles, Calif. to as close as Paris, Tenn., friends and family all over the country came back to 610 Lee St. for the special occasion. The morning began with a golf game at Wyn Ridge Greens in Troy, followed by property tours and video presentations of the chapter’s events.
The lunch program began by Representative Mark Maddox (D. Dresden) of the Tennessee State Legislature presenting House Resolution 271 to the fraternity and its members. The resolution’s purpose was to “commemorate the Tennessee Kappa Chapter of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity at UT Martin upon the tenth anniversary of their colonization.”
The resolution was also passed in the Senate after being sponsored by Senator Roy Herron of Dresden.
After reading through the resolution, which further commended the chapter in areas such as striving to be different than other fraternities and recruiting young men regardless of race or religious beliefs, Representative Maddox offered some personal words to the crowd.
” I have had the opportunity to work with several of the brothers of this chapter, and I can personally attest to the character of these young men,” Maddox stated. “Parents, this is because of you. You are the ones that instilled the values, now fostered by this fraternity, into your sons,” Maddox said.
Jeff Davis, President of Tennessee Kappa, then introduced Chad Harrell, the keynote speaker and Alumni Board President of the fraternity. In his speech, Harrell took the audience back to the beginnings of the fraternity in 1993. He insisted that the current members continue to move forward in promoting and developing the goals of the chapter, while not losing sight of the humble beginnings and the groundwork of the past.
After Harrell’s remarks, chapter counselor Steve Shanklin presented members of the fraternity with awards. Some of the awards were given to members who demonstrated service to others such as the brothers who coordinated the Youth Villages Christmas Party in Dyersburg this past December. Other awards were given to brothers who have been dedicated to serving the university.
Senior Communications major, Matt Crouch, was given an award for his service to the campus newspaper, The Pacer. A very special awards presentation was made to Kellie Edington, a dear friend to the chapter, when she was given the “Phillip Ralston - Building the Brotherhood Award,” in remembrance of the late Brother Ralston who died in 2001 due to an automobile accident.
The evening came to a close with the annual Alumni versus Undergraduates Softball Game, followed by the All-Sing Competition. Sigma Phi Epsilon’s show took first place in the fraternal division this year.
President Davis states he is very pleased with this year’s event. “For brothers, alumni, and families alike, Sigma Phi Epsilon Family Day 2003 was a fitting celebration for the fraternity’s first ten years at UT-Martin,” Davis said.
The Brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon would like to thank all of those who were in attendance. They would especially like to thank the faculty and professors of the university that attended.