The Campaign for missouri ZeTa:Honoring our past, building our future

sigma phi epsilon • missouri ZeTa ChapTer

souTheasT missouri sTaTe universiTy

The Campaign for missouri ZeTa

Honoring Our Past

For over 60 years, the Missouri Zeta Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon has been at the heart of Greek life at Southeast Missouri State University.

From our founding to the present, our proud history speaks for itself through our athletic competiveness, leadership within the University, charitable support, academic achievement, and recognition from the national fraternity. With more than 1,400 initiates, Missouri Zeta has influenced the lives of numerous men, cultivating lasting friendships in the process. Many of our best college memories can be traced back to our Sigma Phi Epsilon experience.

While many of our alumni have gone on to successful and distinguished careers in law, medicine, business, engineering, technology, and countless other endeavors, the common bond of our brotherhood remains, along with our shared principles and values. Most of us can trace the roots of our success to E-Building on Greek Hill. E-Building was the heart of Sigma Phi Epsilon and provided many memories for our brothers from the 1960s through the 1990s. It is gone but never forgotten. Over the past two decades, K-Building and Greystone have served as our chapter houses at Southeast. Both houses provided a space for camaraderie, fellowship, and fun for our undergraduate brothers and have been the very best of any other fraternity on campus due to the incredible support of our alumni.

Through Sigma Phi Epsilon we not only learned the importance of friendship, knowledge, service, diligence, and excellence, but we acquired valuable assets, which include leadership skills, organizational skills, social skills, teamwork, and character. Oftentimes, these traits have been integral to our personal success and helped make us the men we are today.

The chapter house is clearly the focus of undergraduate life for Sigma Phi Epsilon. It has been a home away from home for hundreds of young men and a classroom where our brothers have learned virtue, diligence, and brotherly love. However, if we wish for Sigma Phi Epsilon to continue its strong presence on the Southeast Missouri State University campus, we must ensure that we are providing a safe, modern, and competitive facility while also addressing the future needs of our undergraduate fraternity brothers. Now is the appropriate time to secure our future.

1999 Founding Fathers

1963 Pinning Ceremony

1953 Charter Presentation

Honoring our past, building our future

Missouri Zeta Accomplishments

Sigma Phi Epsilon Awards • 2015 Gold Buchanan Cup – Sigma Phi Epsilon’s Highest Award for Chapter Excellence o The Buchanan Cup recognizes the best-of-the-best Sigma Phi Epsilon chapters. Chapters are measured in relation to the accomplishments of their peers on campuses across the country. Only the chapters that excel in every area of operations and further the Grand Chapter’s strategic plan qualify for this high honor. o A gold cup is presented after being awarded five consecutive Buchanan Cups, representing a decade of chapter excellence. o Missouri Zeta has earned eight consecutive Buchanan Cups – 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2015. • 2015 Honor of Philias – Sigma Phi Epsilon’s highest award for brotherly love o Awarded to one chapter every two years at Conclave. o Only 14 chapters have received this most prestigious national fraternity award since its inception in 1989. • J. Edward Zollinger Outstanding Senior Award (2016) – Matt Riley o The J. Edward Zollinger Outstanding Senior Award is presented each year at Carlson Leadership Academies to one outstanding senior in each district of the fraternity. Recipients are balanced men and models of excellence. The award is based on outstanding scholastic achievement, fraternity and campus leadership, and community involvement. Recipients must be attending a school with a Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter and be in good standing with that chapter.

University Awards (2014-2015) • Chapter of the Year/Presidents Award for Fraternal Excellence • Chapter President of the Year • Chapter Advisor of the Year • University Man of the Year • Greek Man of the Year • 2015 All-Greek Intramural Champions • Excellence in Chapter Management Award • Frank J. Ruck Leadership Award • Greek Week Champion o First place Greek Sing o First place Greek Games o Spirit Award

Everything I needed to know about leadership in the United States Marine

Corp., I learned as a part of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

– General James T. Conway ’69

2014 All-Greek Chapter meeting Our first Buchanan Cup-2001 Centennial Conclave

The Campaign for missouri ZeTa

Our Needs and Opportunities

While the Sigma Phi Epsilon experience is certainly more than the bricks and mortar of the chapter house, our home undoubtedly

plays a significant role in the development of our brothers and as a proud symbol of our shared values and goals.

In the 1960s, Missouri Zeta moved into the E-Building, which was part of the Sigma Phi Epsilon legacy for more than 30 years, before moving to K-Building and the Greystone Estate. Each building has played an important role as the home for Missouri Zeta. It has become clear that we must make a major investment in our chapter to remain competitive and provide a quality living environment. In response to the need for better housing for our undergraduates, Southeast Missouri State has committed to a partnership with the fraternity community to provide safe and modern chapter facilities for our members.

KEEPING OUR BROTHERS SAFEThe safety of our undergraduate members is of utmost importance; we must offer a structurally sound and safe home for our chapter members. Much like our personal homes, our chapter house must be a safe haven that instills confidence in our members and their parents. The new facility, built in collaboration with the University, provides a safe and comfortable living environment for our brothers.

PURSUING EXCELLENCE Southeast Missouri State University is as academically challenging as ever and the need for an enhanced, quiet, well-lit, and comfortable study space within our facility is necessary for our members to remain scholastic leaders on campus and within the Greek system. The new facility includes an office for use by the Faculty Advisor, Resident Scholar, and volunteer mentors to support individuals with their academics and support the efforts of our undergraduate chapter leaders. The facility is

also an accredited Sigma Phi Epsilon Residential Learning Community (RLC), which includes a multipurpose room with modular furniture that can be configured to hold daily study hours, new member meetings, large committee meetings, catered meals, rituals, and for use as a classroom. As a part of the RLC program, our Faculty Adviser will teach a class out of the SigEp house specifically for Missouri Zeta undergraduates.

SETTING OURSELVES APART While Sigma Phi Epsilon continues to attract top men, we must continue to offer facilities that meet the housing needs of our current and potential members. Not only will this new facility for Missouri Zeta provide a safe home with ample educational and brotherhood space, it will also allow the chapter to compete with the amenities offered in newly renovated on-campus residence halls and off-campus apartments.

Honoring our past, building our future

Our Plan

Today, perhaps more than ever, college fraternities play a relevant role in shaping the lives of young men. Sigma Phi Epsilon provides a

small-group living environment that offers our members a solid foundation for their education and also affords opportunities for high academic achievement and the development of leadership and social skills.

The Missouri Zeta Alumni House Corporation and undergraduate leadership developed a comprehensive plan to address a new chapter facility and the long-term viability of the SigEp experience on the Southeast Missouri State University campus. Working closely with the University and the architects from Hollis Miller, work has begun on a Greek Village that includes the new chapter facility for Missouri Zeta. The new house is unique to the

character of Missouri Zeta and will keep the nickname “Greystone” with the original limestone from the Greystone Estate being incorporated in the construction. The University has invested more than $10 million into the first phase of this Greek Village project. Sigma Phi Epsilon, along with Sigma Nu, Pi Kappa Alpha, and Sigma Chi, will each have new facilities thanks to this project.

Along with the bricks and mortar of the new “Greystone,” the leadership has developed plans for the future sustainability of the chapter and our brothers through future needs funding and scholarship opportunities with the Sigma Phi Epsilon National Fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation, and Southeast Missouri State University Foundation.

Replenish the Chapter Investment Fund with Sigma Phi Epsilon $125,000Establish a House Maintenance Account with Sigma Phi Epsilon $175,000Endow a House Equity Fund with Sigma Phi Epsilon $200,000Invest in a Sigma Phi Epsilon Scholarship with the University $50,000 SEMO will match 50% of donations up to $40,000Provide Named Scholarship Opportunities with the University $100,000

Minimum Fundraising Needs $650,000

Plans for The Campaign for Missouri Zeta include:

This is about more than bricks and mortar; it’s about the heart of our fraternity.

– Michael Kilker ’78

The Campaign for missouri ZeTa

Site Plan

Floor Plan

House Highlights

13 Rooms - 35-man occupancy Full-size kitchenRLC multipurpose roomAlumni/Volunteer officeBoard roomGreat roomCovered patioDedicated president’s roomDedicated vice president’s roomExecutive committee office

Honoring our past, building our future

Building Our Future

Investing in the future of Missouri Zeta will ensure the success of our chapter and promote a legacy upon which to build an even greater

brotherhood. The undergraduate men have made a commitment to work hard in maintaining the programs and traditions that have benefited the lives of so many SigEp brothers over the years. Together with our active members, the alumni leadership is committed to this major undertaking, which will allow us to add to the history of Missouri Zeta.

Now we are seeking alumni to provide financial and volunteer support that will be crucial to lead this project. Remember that each of us benefited from the hard work, generosity, diligence, and personal sacrifice of those who went before us. Now it is our turn to repay the fraternity, ensuring that the same, wonderful experience is available to others and that Missouri Zeta continues the legacy of excellence.

GIVING OPPORTUNITIESEach of us, simply by our presence, has contributed to the history of Missouri Zeta. How appropriate that each of our names be entered into the halls. All supporters of the project giving $2,500 and above will be recognized on a prominently displayed plaque. All donors contributing $1,000 or more to the campaign will be recognized in campaign publications, unless otherwise requested. Names will appear by category, relative to the size of their gift. Gifts in honor or in memory of brothers, as well as family and pledge class gifts, are welcomed.

Because of the magnitude of our objectives, we urge all alumni to consider significant contributions to the campaign. In order for each alumnus to maximize their participation, pledges may be spread over a five-year period. Some gifts may be eligible for company matching programs and tax deductibility.

The unique opportunities of this project allow three primary options for giving to the campaign for Missouri Zeta. The Sigma Phi Epsilon national fraternity will accept non-tax-deductible and tax-deductible gifts. Non-tax-deductible gifts to SigEp will contribute to the Missouri Zeta Chapter Investment Fund and House Maintenance Account with tax-deductible gifts being applied to the Missouri Zeta House Equity Fund. All gifts to the Southeast Missouri University Foundation will be tax deductible and create a general Sigma Phi Epsilon scholarship or endow personally named Sigma Phi Epsilon scholarships. Only gifts of $15,000 or more have the opportunity to endow a named scholarship.

A LIFETIME RESPONSIBILITY OF BROTHERHOODWe urge your thoughtful consideration of this plan. With your support, Sigma Phi Epsilon will continue to provide an affordable and quality living environment that supports, nurtures, and develops outstanding young men with the skills and confidence to face an ever-changing world. The commitment we make today cannot be underestimated—it will have a far-reaching effect on the lives of our Missouri Zeta brothers for years to come.

1960s Missouri Zeta Burning Heart Ceremony

“What we do has never been more important. We are helping young men strengthen their character, develop leadership and interpersonal skills, and build lifelong relationships in one of the most formative times in their lives. Your chapter has won the a record eight consecutive Buchanan Cups representing 16 years of continuous chapter excellence and the Honor of Philias, Sigma Phi Epsilon’s highest award for exceptional displays of brotherly love. The Missouri Zeta Chapter represents everything that a fraternity should be. It offers chapters around the country a model to emulate. I encourage you to support the current fundraising efforts and help advance the life-changing

opportunities SigEp brings to young men at Southeast Missouri State University.”– Brian Warren, Executive Director/CEO, Sigma Phi Epsilon National Fraternity

Honorary ChairmanGeneral James Conway ’69

ChairmenJeff Moore ’89

John Vincent ’99

Executive CommitteeJohn Hoffmeister ’57

Robert Rives ’60Lewis Bock ’63Joe Torrisi’76

Tom Howard ’78

Michael Kilker ’78Michael Willhelm ’85

Ken Schene ’88Kurt Bliggenstorfer ’02

Levels of Giving

Campaign Leadership$100,000 and above – Golden Heart Society $50,000 to $99,999 – Buchanan Cup Society

$25,000 to $49,999 – Founders Society $15,000 to $24,999 – 1953 Society

$10,000 to $14,999 – Ducal Crown Society $5,000 to $9,999 – Brotherly Love Society

$2,500 to $4,999 – Red Door Society $1,000 to $2,499 – Balanced Man Society

“Congratulations on the development of your new fraternity house here at Southeast Missouri State. This is a very exciting development for both your Chapter and the University. The fraternity’s legacy is the many

Missouri Zeta alumni of whom we are so proud, with a family of more than a thousand brothers. Everyone looks forward to the alumni of the Missouri Zeta Chapter becoming engaged to grow your membership and helping the fraternity to continue its leadership within the Greek community. We here at the University’s Foundation and the

Office of Alumni Relations are equally committed to ensuring your fundraising efforts are successful.” – Bill Holland, Vice President of Advancement, Southeast Missouri State University

“Greek life is an important component of Southeast Missouri State University. It is a key element in a student’s development and maturity during their college experience and one that for many of our alumni had a

profound impact upon their lives. Southeast Missouri State University has a long standing and deep commitment to ensure that Greek sororities and fraternities are strong and vibrant on our campus. This year will be the

grand opening of the Sigma Phi Epsilon in the new Greek Village which will be the catalyst for all Greek organizations here to grow and thrive this year and in the future.

We hope that you, as an alumni member of a Sigma Phi Epsilon, have remained connected to your fraternity as they build for the future. The success of our students can be enhanced through the active involvement of

Greek alumni to help model the way. Our Greek community, when united and working together, can accomplish great things and we are proud to share with you our excitement for the Greek community.”

– Carlos Vargas, President, Southeast Missouri State University