Sigma Nu Launches Inaugural Lexington Leadership Institute
In 2013, Fraternity staff developed the initial vision for a new, transformative leadership development experience hosted at a state-of-the-art educational building on the Sigma Nu Fraternity Headquarters campus. Eleven years later, that vision was realized with the inaugural Lexington Leadership Institute hosted at the Spears Family Epsilon Epsilon Center for Excellence. Executive Director Brad Beacham (Texas Christian) observed the event's significance in his remarks during the opening general session when he stated, “The Alpha Class of the Lexington Leadership Institute is the realization of a dream decades in the making.”
On July 25, 2024, 33 rising sophomore and junior members from across the country arrived in Lexington, Va., prepared to experience the latest addition to the Fraternity’s storied history of excellence in leadership development. Uncertainty, anxiety, and growing excitement accompanied each member with their arrival.
The Institute began with an opening general session including remarks from Brother Beacham and an inspiring keynote from Regent Maury Gaston (Auburn) reminding members, “Sigma Nu makes a better man, a better husband, a better father, a better uncle, a better employee, a better boss, a better citizen, and in your case because of this opportunity, a better and more ethical leader.”
Participants then departed for their first small group meeting. Each small group was named after a member of Sigma Nu’s Hall of Honor, intentionally selected for their connection with various elements of the Headquarters campus – Ora M. Baldinger (VMI), John Carmichael (VMI), Richard R. Fletcher (Penn State), and William Hampton Wade (VMI). The evening concluded with the first Core Session on the basics of leadership facilitated by Director of Leadership Development Scott Smith (Central Arkansas).
Day two of the Institute featured educational sessions exploring the connection between leadership and values, the importance of credibility to be an effective leader, strengths-based leadership, seven habits of highly effective people, grit, and integrity.
Participants learned the importance of teamwork and clear communication through team-building activities facilitated by the Fraternity’s consultant staff.
The final day of the Institute featured a morning walking tour of Lexington, the historic campus of Washington and Lee University, and the parade ground of the Virginia Military Institute. The tour included a stop near the limestone outcropping on which the first commitment was made to form the Legion of Honor. It concluded with a guided walkthrough of the Sigma Nu Headquarters building and surrounding grounds.
The day continued with educational sessions discussing the importance of confidence, resilience, influence, and managing change to be effective leaders. The Institute concluded with a celebratory graduation ceremony during which each participant was presented a printed copy of the Fraternity’s Creed and Preamble to the Creed, a certificate evidencing their participation in this historic occasion of the Legion of Honor, and a handshake of congratulations from their small group facilitator, Executive Director Beacham, and Regent Gaston. Regent Gaston provided a powerful closing keynote challenging attendees to “always get better […] as we all strive to provide the best collegiate and alumni fraternity experience in America.”
Thirty-three men arrived in Lexington as individual members from 29 different chapters across the United States of America. Three days later, they departed as Brothers united as the Alpha Class of the Lexington Leadership Institute.
Prior to this summer, there have been two Alpha Classes of the Fraternity to emerge from Lexington, Virginia – the Alpha Class of the Alpha Chapter at the Virginia Military Institute, without which the Fraternity would not be here today, and the Alpha Class of the Lambda Chapter at Washington and Lee University, without which the Fraternity would not have survived the early formative years. What will be the legacy of the newest Alpha Class – the Alpha Class of the Lexington Leadership Institute?
Additional Photos from the Institute
2024 Lexington Leadership Institute - Alpha Class
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- Tommy Bell (Colorado)
- Grant Breece (Southeast Missouri State)
- Emmet Brick (Central Arkansas)
- Mac Broome (Georgia Southern)
- Gabe Carson (Western Kentucky)
- Colin Challender (Jefferson)
- Davis Clark (Georgia)
- Jake Crosby (Arizona State)
- Adam Darst (Kansas)
- Maverick Diaz (Texas Christian)
- Forrest Dockery (Auburn)
- Andrew Essad (Florida)
- Nick Gradel (Northern Illinois)
- Caleb Grimm (Kentucky)
- Keegan Haessig (Akron)
- Will Hearn (Georgia)
- Max Hinds (Kennesaw State)
- Joseph Hornbuckle (West Georgia)
- Robby Kemp (Illinois)
- Griffin Knabe (Kennesaw State)
- Zac Mattison (Missouri)
- Abe Mercer (Missouri State)
- Hank Oakes (Oklahoma State)
- Joe Quinlan (Tennessee)
- Matthew Retzner (Indiana)
- Dylan Sackett (Bowling Green)
- Zach Sexton (Central Oklahoma)
- Jack Silverstein (Missouri State)
- Zach Stults (Arizona)
- Adam Thon (Minnesota)
- Logan Vargas (Bradley)
- Aaron Yocom (Missouri S&T)
- Kyle Zuanich (Northern Arizona)