Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity recognized as a top national chapter

From left: Jacob O’Conner, Sigma Phi Epsilon Ohio Pi Chapter president; Jeremy Keller, Chapter advisor and program manager for leadership; Connor Algren, vice president of programming; and chapter volunteer Jimmy Miller, Balanced Man steward.

Wright State University’s Sigma Phi Epsilon received the Buchanan Cup, the top chapter award from its national fraternity.

The Sigma Phi Epsilon Ohio Pi Chapter at Wright State was honored at the national fraternity’s biannual conference this summer in Denver.

The Buchanan Outstanding Chapter Award, or Buchanan Cup, recognizes superior and sustained achievement from the best Sigma Phi Epsilon chapters. About 25 to 35 chapters from across the country usually receive the award at the national conference.

The Wright State chapter was recognized for helping its members stay “connected to each other when they needed it most” during the coronavirus pandemic by operating, engaging and recruiting members remotely.

The chapter was also commended for opening up a fraternity scholarship to all students and conducting 10 times the number of usual interviews for the scholarship. The chapter was also recognized for recruiting Wright State President Sue Edwards as its Faculty Fellow to serve as a mentor and advisor to fraternity members.

This is the first time Wright State’s Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter has received the Buchanan Cup.

Representing Wright State at the national conference were Jacob O’Connor, chapter president and a communication major; Connor Algren, vice president of programming and an organizational leadership major; and Jeremy Keller, chapter advisor and program manager for leadership in the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership.

O’Connor said it means the world for the Wright State to receive the Buchanan Cup.

“Persevering through everything COVID-19 threw at us in the last year and a half and coming out of it with the most prestigious award that a chapter in our fraternity could win is a surreal feeling,” he said. “Our members, past and present, could not be more excited by the news. It is a culmination of years of hard work paying off.”

Keller said he was proud of the students’ hard work over the past two years.

“Their dedication to improve the lives of our members — through personal, professional and leadership development — only continues to impress me and those around them,” Keller said. “While this may have been their first time winning this award, I fully believe they are only getting started and will continue to pave the way forward for future members to follow on a path of excellence for Ohio Pi.”

The chapter was founded in 1974 and currently has 22 members. The chapter partners on community service projects with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dayton and plans to hold several collaborative events this fall and next spring.

The chapter also worked with Wright State’s Counseling and Wellness Services before the pandemic to discuss mental health awareness among men. Chapter members hope to continue that partnership as campus activities resume.