March 27, 2023– GAINESVILLE, Fla. Since our re-founding in 2016, the Florida Alpha chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon has built a reputation at the University of Florida as leaders on campus, raising the bar across the Greek Community. With the assistance of National Board Member Brady Alexander (’22), our chapter was able to spend the day hosting SigEp Grand President Billy Maddalon at our chapter facility. Florida Alpha is blessed to have an active local alumni board to support and mentor undergraduates; I sought to show our chapter the immense amount of resources that SigEp Headquarters also offers that our brothers can and should take advantage of.

            With our Regional Director & Volunteer Specialist JJ Bishop (’22) volunteering to chauffeur Mr. Maddalon around (thank you, JJ), and an itinerary for the day set, our chapter was ready to show the Grand President what it means to be a Florida Alpha. Grand President Maddalon started his day in Gainesville with a tour of our chapter house. He stopped in our common spaces, the gym, and bedrooms to introduce himself to brothers and learn their stories. He then spent time in our Alumni Room, meeting with small groups of brothers who wanted to know more about his time as an undergrad, and what Headquarters is doing to support chapters like ours.

            Following an afternoon of listening, storytelling, and sharing the occasional dad joke, Grand President Maddalon joined the 159 active brothers in Florida Alpha for dinner and our weekly chapter meeting. At dinner, he sat with members of our Spring 2023 Sigma Challenge Class, the newest group of brothers in our chapter, hearing their first impressions of what it means to be a SigEp.

            As our chapter meeting approached, he spoke with seniors and recent alums, hearing about how our chapter developed them into Balanced Men and discussing how SigEp will continue to benefit them as they shift from active members to brothers for life. After the 2023 Executive Board presented their weekly officer reports, the floor was opened to Grand President Maddalon. The Grand President shared with the chapter how SigEp nationally, like our chapter at UF, is the example of what a fraternity can and should be: a brotherhood dedicated to uplifting and bettering one another. He also touched on the immense investment that SigEp Headquarters is prepared to make to stand by our values of Sound Body and Sound Mind to support undergraduates’ mental health.

            I am beyond thankful to Grand President Maddalon for taking the time to fly to Gainesville and meet with the Florida Alpha chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Our brothers learned first-hand that they are a part of something great, one of the largest social fraternities in the nation, with the resources that allow us to make the most of our college experience. Thank you to JJ Bishop, Brady Alexander, and our Chapter President Ryan Feocco (’25) for helping me plan and coordinate such a momentous day for Florida Alpha. Grand President Billy Maddalon and his genuine care for his brothers have left an impact on our chapter, and I am hopeful that we have shown Mr. Maddalon that our chapter is focused on the mission of SigEp, Building Balanced Men.