HUNTINGDON COLLEGE
News Release
December 4, 2023
For more information, contact:
Dr. Anthony Leigh, aleigh@hawks.huntingdon.edu
Fraternities Strengthen at Huntingdon During Fall Term
Montgomery, Ala. – During the Fall semester, Huntingdon’s three fraternities affiliated with the Interfraternity Council (IFC) grew in membership and added opportunities for campus involvement for their members. Nathaniel Smith ’24 of Huntsville, Alabama, served as the president of Lambda Chi Alpha. Whitt Spurlock ’25 represented Sigma Nu as their Commander. Jack Young ’24 of Virginia Beach, Virginia, served as president of Sigma Phi Epsilon. The three presidents of the organizations during the Fall semester were asked to give an overview of their fraternity experience and their individual chapter’s activities.
Q. What did your chapter do uniquely for recruitment?
Nathaniel Smith, Lambda Chi Alpha: This fall our chapter focused on creating personal relationships first with the potential new members before we tried to recruit for the fraternity. It is a strong belief of our fraternity that the foundation of our beliefs is in our brotherhood, and we tried to use that belief during our recruitment process. This turned out to be a success as we ended up recruiting the largest class in history of 20 associate members.
Whitt Spurlock, Sigma Nu: For recruitment we had a big gathering with many of the freshmen that were interested in Greek life in our chapter space. This gathering included pizza, cornhole, ping pong and video games. This allowed us to get to know them and what they are looking for in a brotherhood in a more laid back environment.
Jack Young, Sigma Phi Epsilon: One of our primary goals for the Fall semester was to grow our membership with quality men and each of us took accountability to make the chapter stronger. Frankly, we worked our tails off and I’m so proud of the work of our guys to meet prospective members and to share the strong brotherhood that exists among Huntingdon’s SigEp men.
Q. What were your philanthropy events?
Nathaniel Smith, Lambda Chi Alpha: In the past semester we held many philanthropy events including volunteering for the Montgomery Dog Days of Summer event, and hosting an American Red Cross blood drive event, where we shattered our goal of 15 donors. We ended up having 24 donors in total, collecting 21 pints of blood which would go on to save 63 lives.
Whitt Spurlock, Sigma Nu: This semester we aided Friendship Mission, a shelter for women and children. The staff of Friendship Mission is mostly older ladies, so we helped them by moving heavy boxes of donated supplies and helped rebuild some wooden benches and shelves. We were also able to help the women get supplies for their families and play with the children. It warmed our hearts to be able to help those in need especially as the weather was getting colder.
Jack Young: Sigma Phi Epsilon: This fall, we partnered with Phi Mu during the Homecoming weekend to raise money for our philanthropic efforts. The event was called Wingfest. On the first day of the Homecoming weekend, we arranged a cornhole tournament and sold wings to students. The second day event occurred during the Homecoming football game, and we organized a silent auction for our chapter’s alumni, family, and friends. We raised around $1,000 for the SigEp Educational Foundation and Phi Mu’s Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. We also partnered with First United Methodist Church Montgomery and volunteered during their Pumpkin Festival.
Q. What social events did your chapter have this semester?
Nathaniel Smith, Lambda Chi Alpha: We had several social events as a chapter this past semester, including a Lambda Chi Jam with the band Half Mile for Welcome Back Week, slip ‘n slide kickball with Alpha Omicron Pi, a paint war with Chi Omega, five excellent tailgates on the Chuck for Huntingdon Hawks football, and to cap it all off we had a “Dirt Road Dreams” semi-formal dance.
Whitt Spurlock, Sigma Nu: We had two swaps with sororities. The first was an ice cream and games social with Chi Omega. The next was Boot Scootin’ Boogie with Phi Mu where we learned how to line dance. We planned a movie night with AOII but it was unfortunately canceled due to rainy weather and rescheduled for next semester. We hosted the Labor Day bash where we had cornhole and many other yard games on the Green with anyone on campus that wanted to attend. We also helped with the Mallard Ball, a country music concert, thrown by the Outdoors Club. Last, we held a talent show at the end of the school year with acts by brothers and other groups of students.
Jack Young, Sigma Phi Epsilon: This fall, our chapter had many social events on and off campus. A few of my favorites were our annual Coosa River kayaking trip, SigEp SandSlam beach volleyball tournament, a pumpkin carving contest with Alpha Omicron Pi, a game night party with Phi Mu, and all of our football tailgates on the Chuck.
Q. What brotherhood events/education events did you have?
Nathaniel Smith, Lambda Chi Alpha: This semester we had a number of brotherhood events including paintball, basketball tournaments, beach volleyball games, and others. We also had several education sessions throughout the semester where we went deeper into our core values of loyalty, duty, respect, service and stewardship, honor, integrity, and finally we ended off the semester with an empowering speech with Coach Goodyear about personal courage. As a chapter we have the belief that every event is a brotherhood event, meaning that everything we do as a fraternity can be used to grow closer together.
Whitt Spurlock, Sigma Nu: Brotherhood wise, we made sure to either go out to eat or play volleyball or even hang out at a house for a while at least once a week. This made our relationships and communication skills with one another better. We had several education sessions on things like finances and chapter education on camping etiquette. The education sessions were planned to help the brothers better understand aspects of the fraternity and things relating to brotherhood activities. Both of these types of events helped us grow as friends and brothers of Sigma Nu.
Jack Young, Sigma Phi Epsilon: During the first eight weeks of the semester, our chapter met once a week in addition to our regular meeting times to facilitate new brother education sessions. These meetings help our new brothers acclimate to Greek life, learn the rituals of Sigma Phi Epsilon, and build deeper bonds with fellow brothers, old and new.
Q. Give a shoutout to one or two brothers who stepped up this semester as a leader.
Nathaniel Smith, Lambda Chi Alpha: Two brothers who stepped up this semester as leaders were two freshmen, Cayden Anderson and Aidan Cox. This semester after being in the fraternity for less than a month they stepped up and planned an entire blood drive event with the American Red Cross, which is one of our most impactful philanthropy events to date, where we collected 21 pints of blood which would go on to save 63 lives.
Whitt Spurlock, Sigma Nu: Our brother Xander Earley, who joined later than all of his peers, jumped into leadership roles very quickly. One of these being helping the new member coordinator with a lot of his job and always coming to chapter with great ideas and a great attitude. The second brother I would like to give a shout out to is Jaime Gutierrez. Jaime just graduated this semester and not once did he fall out of our organization. He always showed great leadership and initiative and took on leadership roles he did not have to take. He took these roles because he genuinely cares about our fraternity.
Jack Young: Sigma Phi Epsilon: This semester, we were fortunate enough to have a large group of new brothers who significantly impacted our chapter within their first semester. Two guys stepped in as leaders, and I would love to shout them out. First is Gage Kettlewell. He filled an empty seat on our programming committee, and through his hard work, we had a fantastic semester of social events. Second is Hayden Smith. He joined our chapter with a positive mindset to improve things, and he kept that mindset throughout the semester and acted upon it every chance he got.
Q. How did you see your chapter grow this semester – regarding manpower and growth as a brotherhood?
Nathaniel Smith, Lambda Chi Alpha: This semester we were ecstatic to sign 20 new members. This is the largest associate class that we have had in our chapter’s history. However, more importantly our chapter has grown even closer together through our shared values of growing to become better men, while helping our community. This is one of the closest groups of men I have been a part of in my four years at Huntingdon, and I am proud to say that these men would have my back at any time and would keep me accountable for everything I do.
Whitt Spurlock, Sigma Nu: We lost manpower from the past year because of the number of brothers that graduated. This year we were able to bring our number back to what it was last year and continue to strive for more. Through this, we have strengthened our bonds as a brotherhood and have been able to become more unified since the older brothers stepped into the leadership roles.
Jack Young, Sigma Phi Epsilon: With the conclusion of the formal rush season on August 31st, we were fortunate enough to double our chapter size in three weeks. In addition, we crushed the recruitment goal provided to us by our national headquarters by 90%. Another great result of our success in recruitment was revealed a few weeks ago in our executive board elections. Sigma Phi Epsilon prides itself on the principle of equal rights and responsibilities for all brothers, new and old. Six of our twelve positions on the executive board are now held by new brothers. This is an excellent opportunity for these guys to get the necessary experience in leadership, preparation, and completion of short-term/long-term goals and bring new ideas and perspectives for us to use in chapter operations.
Q. What is your favorite aspect of Greek life?
Nathaniel Smith, Lambda Chi Alpha: Since joining Lambda Chi four years ago, my favorite part would have to be the friends that I have created through this organization. Through all of the leadership building this fraternity has done for me, all of the brothers have been there to support me through everything. I know that through Lambda Chi I have made my best friends for life. Just this last month I was in the wedding of alumni Jace Bailey along with three other brothers of Lambda Chi.
Whitt Spurlock, Sigma Nu: My favorite aspect of Greek life is that none of the fraternities have bad blood towards each other. It’s a very loving community. All of the sorority are very accepting of all of our brothers and candidates when we do swaps which is very beneficial to our relationship with them.
Jack Young, Sigma Phi Epsilon: Each fraternity and sorority provides its members with the necessary tools and opportunities to prepare themselves for their vocational goals, to better themselves, and to develop deeper connections with like-minded individuals. Ninety percent of my college experience has taken place outside of the classroom. I have had the opportunity to discover new passions and plans for my future during my time of service to my fellow brothers as president and partaking in the Balanced Man Program of SigEp.
Q. How do the three IFC organizations work together for the betterment of Huntingdon?
Nathaniel Smith, Lambda Chi Alpha: Though the three IFC organizations may not on the surface work directly with each other, each organization pushes the others to be better and do better things on campus. Each fraternity works to push to be the best in all aspects of brotherhood, philanthropy, and social events on campus. By doing this they create a better atmosphere through competition, which helps students life at Huntingdon.
Whitt Spurlock, Sigma Nu: The IFC helps to make things fair among the fraternities at Huntingdon and has shown to work. The IFC held the best recruitment I have seen here at Huntingdon. All of our organizations push each other to be better than we were the previous year even when we are not actively working together.
Jack Young, Sigma Phi Epsilon: The creation of the IFC executive board is a very useful tool that brings all three chapters together to meet in an environment where we can discuss relevant ideas and issues. I have served on this board, and the benefits of it can be seen in every meeting.
Q. Have you had an opportunity to participate in any national fraternity meetings/conferences/conventions?
Nathaniel Smith, Lambda Chi Alpha: I have had the opportunity to be a part of the High Alpha Summit this past January in Indianapolis, Indiana, where I learned tools and skills that would not only help me be a better leader and president for my chapter but would help me become a better leader in life and in my future career.
Whitt Spurlock, Sigma Nu: I had the privilege of being able to attend College of Chapters, where every new Sigma Nu Commander in the country goes to Roanoke, Virginia to learn how to be Commander. I also had the privilege to attend Grand Chapter which is where all of the Commanders and Lieutenant Commanders go to Fort Lauderdale for a week-long conference where we vote on new laws and amend existing laws.
Jack Young, Sigma Phi Epsilon: Through the hard work and dedication of alumni brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon, our national fraternity can offer a myriad of opportunities for us not only to help brothers run a successful chapter but also to become stronger leaders for the rest of their lives. I have traveled twice to Richmond, Virginia, to participate in the Carlson Leadership Academy and the Ruck Leadership Institute. In addition, I attended the 58th biennial Grand Chapter Conclave in San Antonio, Texas, in August. I have recently been paired with a SigEp career coach who will mentor me and help prepare me for my goal of attending law school and becoming a practicing attorney.
Q. If you could speak to an incoming student about why they should join a fraternity, what would you tell them?
Nathaniel Smith, Lambda Chi Alpha: I always tell incoming freshmen that the greatest decision I made at Huntingdon was joining Greek Life. I truly would not be the same person, or have had the same opportunities had I not joined Lambda Chi. I have grown in all aspects both personal and professional from the many events and education sessions we have done as a chapter. I would recommend everyone at Huntingdon even, if you do not think it is for you, to look into it, because everyone can benefit from it.
Whitt Spurlock, Sigma Nu: I would tell them that the fraternity experience is different for everyone. Everyone gets something different out of it but the one thing they can count on getting through fraternity is brothers for life. Not just a buddy you play ball with or a guy you may live with, but a guy who will stand with you through thick and thin not only throughout college but for the rest of your life.
Jack Young, Sigma Phi Epsilon: Many of Huntingdon’s newest campus members are presented with many extracurricular opportunities to involve themselves in to have fun and provide them with the necessary tools and resources for their success. If I had one thing to request of incoming students, it is to take the time to learn about the three fraternities on campus. Each brotherhood is excellent in its way, but there are a few things we all have in common: a higher on-average GPA than the rest of the campus community, a rich and unique experience that simply does not take place outside of Greek life, and finally the ability to live amongst like-minded individuals who genuinely care about the development and advancement of your life.
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