Florida Chi Chapter Receives Full Charter from SAE National Office.

April 26, 2025. The Florida Chi Chapter of SAE at UTampa have been awarded full "charter" status by the National Office of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. After 8 months of hard work, the Florida Chi Chapter has overcome all obstacles in record time and is officially a chapter of SAE after a very long absence from the UTampa campus.

The Florida Chi Alumni Association hosted an end of the year "Charter Initiation Banquet" for the brothers to celebrate the most profound victory on campus for the Florida Chi Chapter at UTampa in over 34 years. Over the April 25-27th weekend, the SAE National Office sponsored a number of events in the continuing education of this young and bright chapter. Included were a VIP Banquet at Mis En Place restaurant hosted by the SAE National office, the emotional and moving "Toi Poi - What SAE Means to Me" circle in H.B. Plant Park, an All-Star cast for Initiation, as well as "The Meaning of Insignia" on Sunday during their chapter meeting to complete the weekend.

"We are thrilled," stated Eminent Archon Trevor Sandler, "as we set the bar very high and knew the odds were against us," stated Sandler, "But we prevailed." Brother Sandler continued, "As a fraternity, we stayed on course and accomplished many things," said Sandler, "including 7 philanthropic events, raising over $61,000+ in fund raising for various public service organizations throughout Tampa Bay, 3 Greek Awards presented by the Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life, and 2 awards from Province Nu Epsilon," Sandler concluded, "But the icing on the cake and our greatest accomplishment was returning the Florida Chi Chapter to full charter status at UTampa."

"The road was challenging," stated Eminent Deputy Archon Ryan Stimson,"but we set our goals high." Brother Stimson continued, "We presented a 164-page Charter Request Proposal to the SAE National office, presented a 90 minute Power Point presentation to the Investigative Team, the Supreme Council took a hard look at both, and was finally voted and approved by the Realm of Sigma Alpha Epsilon." Stimson concluded, "I know the entire chapter is very proud of what we've accomlished so quickly."

"I am so proud of the work these men put in to accomplish a 'once-in-a-lifetime' goal," said Chapter Advisor Mark Turner. "All the brothers put in the work required to meet a very lofty goal," Turner continued, "and I am convinced these men have laid down a foundation for future success for the Florida Chi Chapter at UTampa."

For addition photographs of all events, please go to the Florida Chi Alumni Association's "Welcome True Gentlemen" page on Facebook.

Special thanks to Richel Lavette of Lavette Photo Studio for all photoghraphy.

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