THE
DELTA DAWG
SIGMA PHI EPSILON AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA • NEWSLETTER | SPRING 2022
Update from the
SLC Vice President
Georgia Delta Undergoes Major House Renovation
Dear Brothers, Georgia Delta is pursuing accreditation as a SigEp Learning Community. The Learning Community program was established as a guide for chapters to create a more powerful living-learning environment. The RLC concept expands upon traditional residential college models and recent research within higher education. Students in living-learning communities have higher overall grades, are more engaged in on-campus activities, and are more likely to spend their time outside of the classroom developing the life skills they need to succeed after graduation. SigEp Learning Communities are accredited through a rigorous application process to ensure the chapter is committed to the philosophies of the program. Once accredited, chapters are required to go through a biennial renewal process. The purpose of this exercise is to continually reflect and assess the current state of the chapter’s SigEp Learning Community programming, engagement of volunteers and university stakeholders, and physical space if applicable. Georgia Delta submitted its initial application in December of 2021 and received conditional accreditation. The chapter will submit an updated application this year in hopes of receiving full accreditation. Many SigEp chapters at other SEC schools and UGA’s peer schools are already accredited, including Alabama, Florida, LSU, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Florida State, and Georgia Tech. This accreditation process would not be where it is today without the constant support and guidance of brother Darren Rodgers. Given Darren’s serving character, the time we have spent on the application thus far has been conducted with ease. I cannot thank him enough for making sure that SigEp GA Delta has the utmost advantage in receiving such an accreditation. Fraternally, Daniel Maxwell
New and improved alumni room.
In the summer of 2021, Georgia Delta’s Alumni Volunteer Corporation (AVC) began a much-needed renovation of the chapter house. In order to minimize disruption to chapter operations, the renovation is being done in phases which began with the foundation and most of the first floor last summer, continues with the renovation of the kitchen in spring semester 2022, and, finally, the second floor of the house in summer of 2022. With that being said, the first phase included renovations on the front porch, alumni room, living room and dining areas, the President’s suite, and the chapter Continued on Page 4
Remodeled living room area, with new chairs, couches, and TV.
Completely renovated dining area
Renovated chapter room, complete with brand new flooring and stage platform.
Sigma Phi Epsilon at the University of Georgia
LYNNES McKINNEY President
2022 Executive Board Members
WILL SHUFORD
Vice President of Member Development Will is from Watkinsville, Georgia, and is a third-year double majoring in finance and real estate. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball and reading.
Will became the vice president of member development because he wants to serve the fraternity by ensuring that all fraternity challenges continue to remain as impactful for new members as they were for him.
ALEX GARRISON
Vice President of Programming Alex is from Dacula, Georgia, and is a second-year finance major. A few of Alex’s hobbies include playing basketball and Madden with friends, as well as running.
Alex chose to become vice president of programming because he felt that this position was the best way he could give back to this fraternity. He enjoys planning and organizing events, and he believes that this role best epitomizes these skills.
WADE DURRENCE
Vice President of Recruitment Wade is from Claxton, Georgia, and is a second-year mechanical engineering major. Some of his favorite hobbies include hunting, fishing, and playing intramural
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sports. Wade chose to become the vice president of recruitment because he is extremely passionate about recruiting the best class of guys possible, and he wants to make sure that the future of GA Delta is constantly heading in a positive direction.
Lynnes is from Statesboro, Georgia, and is a second-year agricultural business major. Two of his favorite hobbies include hunting and fishing when he has the time. Lynnes became president of GA Delta because he cares
deeply about the fraternity, recognizing how much he has grown during his time in college. He wants to make sure that new members will be able to experience everything he has for years to come, and he believes that serving as president is the best way to give back in order to continue improving upon what SigEp does best.
ERIC SAUL
Vice President of Finance Eric is from Brentwood, Tennessee, and is a second-year accounting major. Outside of his position with SigEp, he enjoys playing golf, as well as just
being outside in general. Eric became vice president of finance because he knew this position was the best way to utilize his skills in order to serve the place, men, and ideals that have changed his life.
WYNN ANDREWS
Vice President of Communications Wynn is from Sandersville, Georgia, and is a third-year broadcast journalism major. In his free time, Wynn enjoys watching sports and playing guitar.
Wynn chose to become vice president of communications because he considers relationships with others to be his main priority, and he knew that he could best benefit the fraternity through meeting and working with alumni and parents in this position.
AUSTEN HENSEL Chaplain
Austen is from Roswell, Georgia, and he is a thirdyear student double majoring in management information systems and real estate. His favorite hobbies include golfing with
friends as well as playing sports in general. Austen chose to become chaplain because he looked up to the older guys in this position when he was an underclassman, and now he wants to be the same leader and role model for new members in the future.
Newsletter | Spring 2022
Spring 2021 New Members SAM AYCOCK
WYATT COPELAND
DAVIS EATON
Hometown
Hometown
Hometown
Major
Major
Finance
Accounting
BURKE BERRY
LARS OSTERVOLD
CLARKE BADGETT
Hometown
Hometown
Hometown
John’s Creek, GA Accounting
Peachtree City, GA Major
Atlanta, GA
Marietta, GA
John’s Creek, GA Major
Marietta, GA
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Major
Finance
Finance
SPENCER WILEY
JOE WEST
LOGAN BROOKS
Hometown
Hometown
Hometown
Major
Major
Augusta, GA Marketing
Suwannee, GA Biological Engineering
Major
Albany, GA Major
Finance
Georgia Delta Continues Academic Excellence in Fall 2021 The brothers of the Sigma Phi Epsilon GA Delta chapter had another outstanding semester academically, placing second among IFC fraternities with a 3.57 average GPA. This strong showing continues a long tradition of academic excellence among SigEp members, consistently placing in the top two of IFC GPA rankings for the past several years. When compared to the average GPA for all IFC fraternities, as well as the average GPA for all UGA undergraduates, this GPA standard only becomes more impressive. In addition to excellence in the classroom, GA Delta brothers have also had the opportunity to partake in faculty talks with distinguished UGA faculty. Last semester, Dr. Henry F. Schaefer came and spoke to our chapter about his career in theoretical chemistry, his personal life, and his journey of faith. This semester, Dr. Gary T. Green, professor and assistant dean of academic affairs, spoke about his diverse set of life experiences, offering life
advice on professional communication, career, and much more. GA Delta brothers continue to value and cherish meaningful relationships with the prestigious faculty of UGA by seeking their advice at this influential point in their careers. This spring, GA Delta will host the annual faculty dinner where brothers invite their professors to a dinner meant to honor the commitment of UGA’s faculty to the academic success of their students. Academics remain a priority of SigEp’s GA Delta chapter as initiatives focused on mentorship, opportunity, and support are continually emphasized. In the pursuit of becoming bal-
anced men, this chapter continues to set the bar for academic excellence and career achievement among IFC fraternities and the university as a whole while also maintaining a high standard for all other aspects of the college experience.
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Sigma Phi Epsilon at the University of Georgia
Chapman Shuman Awarded 2021 UGA Interfraternity Council President of the Year GA Delta has worked hard role as president, disto maintain a reputation of playing leadership that great leadership and character, embodies the pillars of and current brother and forthe UGA Arch: wisdom, mer president Chapman Shujustice, and moderation.” man has served the fraternity Along with this accowell in both of those areas. lade, Shuman was also After assuming the role of recognized as the 2022 GA Delta president as a sophGregory R. Singleton omore during the 2021 school IFC Member of the Year. year, Shuman was faced with This award “recognizes many obstacles, one of them an undergraduate IFC making sure that the fraternifraternity member in the ty remained responsible in the Southeast who is a role public eye due to the glaring model to their peers and COVID-19 pandemic, as well consistently illustrates as other challenges. However, what it means to live with Chapman Shuman GA Delta continued to thrive, integrity and by the valfollowing the examples he set along the way. ues of their organization.” As a result of his efforts, Shuman was named Shuman was the only recipient of this award the 2021 UGA Interfraternity Council President out of the entire Southeastern Conference. of the Year. This achievement is decided by the Although Shuman’s presidential term has Greek Life Student affairs office, and Shuman come to an end, his leadership is still seen in was selected out of a group of 26 other chapter every aspect of GA Delta, further encouraging presidents. He was given this award “in recog- other members of the fraternity to bring home nition of outstanding chapter leadership in the additional awards in the future..
Lost Brothers Where are they? Georgia Delta is working hard to keep alumni records up to date. A few of the many alumni for whom we have no contact information are shown below. If you have any updates for those on this list, please return the attached news form or contact brother Darren Rodgers at darren_rodgers@icloud.com.
John Abernathy ’66
Carey Lamb ’80
Johan Bagheri ’91
Brooks Maddox ’88
Ivy Cadle ’00
Gabriel Nassar ’89
Mike Dalka ’77
Nilsson O’Brien ’96
Mark Edmonston ’09
Jeffrey Paddock ’88
Robert Farrar ’08
Richard Qualls ’84
Derek Gann ’05
Jarrett Rabe ’09
Jason Hale ’05
Christopher Sailing ’91
Jay Imperatori ’94
Samir Talbi, ’07
John Jackson ’94
Matthew Upchurch ’12
Ryan Kaufman ’13
Stephen Wagner ’88
House Renovation Continued from Page 1
Newly installed Red Door at front of the house.
Newly paved walkway leading to the entrance of the house.
Renovated walkway next to the staircase leading to the chapter room.
room. To complete the work, the AVC engaged Georgia Delta brother Jim Sapp (UGA, 1980) and his firm, S&S Contractors, which includes several other SigEp brothers. The total cost of the renovation exceeds $1,000,000 with construction financing provided by the SigEp National Housing Corporation and, so far, over 100 brothers have made donations of over $250,000 toward the renovation. If you’d like to be included as a contributor to the house renovation, you can make a 100% tax-de-
ductible contribution by following the link below. Be sure to select “GA Delta RLC” in the dropdown box under “What would you like your donation to support?” If you have questions about your contribution or the renovation, contact brother Darren Rodgers at darren_rodgers@icloud.com.
Alumni communication services provided by
www.classy.org/give/211828/#!/ donation/checkout
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