This summer, the university’s chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon made history. On July 24, in front of thousands of brothers at the national fraternity’s biennial conclave in Tampa, the 16-member chapter accepted the Buchanan Cup — Sigma Phi Epsilon’s highest honor and a prize many call the “Super Bowl of SigEp.”
For Aidan Gries, a senior who currently serves as chapter president, the moment was unforgettable. “I wouldn’t say I was surprised, but I was overjoyed,” Gries said. “We’ve always been the smallest chapter in the room. To stand shoulder-to-shoulder with schools that have hundreds of members, huge budgets, and endless resources and to walk away with the same recognition, it proves that we’re not just small, we’re mighty.”
The Buchanan Cup is not easily won. Out of more than 200 chapters nationwide, only 10–20 receive the award every two years. It recognizes not just one aspect of fraternity life, but excellence across the board: academics, leadership, community service, recruitment, and financial management. For the Lynchburg brothers, it was the first Buchanan Cup in chapter history and a triumph against the odds.
Gries explained that the fraternity’s identity rests on Sigma Phi Epsilon’s three cardinal principles: virtue, diligence, and brotherly love — and on the ideal of becoming a “balanced man.” That philosophy guided their pursuit of the award. “To be a balanced man means living those principles in every part of your life,” Gries said. “Academics, service, personal growth, we try to hold each other accountable in all of it.”
Dr. John Angelis, Associate Professor of Operations Management and the chapter’s longtime faculty advisor, said the Lynchburg SigEp brothers succeeded because they leaned into their creativity and adaptability. “They got a lot better at building to their strengths and letting their most creative members voice their ideas,” Angelis said. “They were willing to try new things, like starting a podcast, while also learning when it was time to move on from efforts that weren’t working. That willingness to innovate, while building on what past leaders had set up, really propelled them forward.”
Winning wasn’t easy. Lynchburg’s chapter faced unique challenges, particularly recruitment at a small liberal arts university where women make up a majority of the student body. “Recruitment is always tough for us,” Gries admitted. “At a school this size, with most of the student population being women and a big portion being athletes who already have their own communities, it can feel like we’re climbing uphill.”
That struggle showed in the award application, where the chapter received lower marks in manpower. Yet, paradoxically, it was their small size that made the victory even more remarkable. “We’re the only chapter in the history of SigEp to win a Buchanan Cup with fewer than 40 members,” Gries said. “We did it with 16.”
Angelis agreed that the chapter’s culture, not its numbers, made the difference. “They really bonded as a group,” he said. “They drew on alumni like CJ Markum, worked closely with me as their advisor, and leaned on regional staff. They pulled together every resource they had, and that collective effort was powerful.”
The Lynchburg chapter distinguished itself through consistent effort across multiple areas. Academically, they raised the bar higher than campus requirements and implemented a formal “academic plan” to help struggling members improve. The results were dramatic: one brother improved his GPA from a 2.2 to a 3.9 in a single semester thanks to the system of support. “We don’t want to kick people down when they’re struggling,” Gries explained. “We want to lift them up. That’s what brotherhood means.”
In service, the fraternity partnered with the Lynchburg Humane Society for biweekly volunteer projects and supported causes such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation for childhood cancer research. From organizing a soccer tournament to buzzing their heads on the university lawn, members poured energy into philanthropy. “When people think of fraternities, they think parties,” Gries said. “But for us, it’s about balance — fun, school, and giving back.”
Leadership development was another priority. Brothers attended national SigEp programs such as the Ruck Leadership Academy and the Carlson Leadership Academy, gaining training from alumni who are CEOs and business leaders. Within the chapter, newer members were given opportunities to lead committees and gradually step into executive roles. “It’s about preparing balanced men for life after college,” Gries said.
Both Gries and Angelis pointed to passion as the chapter’s defining trait. Gries reflected. “Every guy in the chapter gives his all, whether they’re on exec, a committee, or just showing up to events. Winning this award has only fueled that passion more.”
That energy was on full display when the Buchanan Cup was announced in Tampa. Gries was joined by several brothers, their alumni committee president and Angelis. “The first person I told afterward was my dad,” Gries said with a grin. “He’s a SigEp too, from Virginia Tech. He knew exactly how big of a deal this was, and he was just as excited as I was.”
Gries emphasized that the achievement wasn’t his alone. He credited Matthew Fox, the chapter president before him, with doing the heavy lifting on the award application. “Matthew deserves so much recognition,” Gries said. “He consolidated everything, did the writing, got reviews from alumni. That was his parting gift to the chapter, and without him, this doesn’t happen.”
For Angelis, the win is a lesson for other chapters nationwide. “Use all your resources, alumni, faculty, regional staff. Don’t try to do it alone,” he advised. “That’s what this group did so well. They pulled everyone in, and the result speaks for itself.”
Looking ahead, Gries said the goal is simple: keep the passion alive. “We don’t want this to be a one-time thing,” he said. “Our goal is to win another one. That means preparing the younger guys, making sure they understand the bigger purpose, and continuing to raise the bar. The Buchanan Cup is something you can hold in your hands, but it really represents a shared vision. For us, that vision is excellence.”
As the chapter heads into a new academic year, the gleam of the Buchanan Cup on their shelf serves as both a celebration and a challenge. “We’re proud of what we’ve done,” Gries said. “But this is just the beginning.”
As SigEp looks ahead, its message is clear: passion, brotherhood, and balance can turn even the smallest chapter into a mighty one.
For more information on this chapter and how to get involved, visit https://lynchburg.sigep.org/
