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start the recruitment process todayMission
Our mission at Sigma Alpha Epsilon is to create True Gentlemen out of our young, fresh initiates.
This is done through their introduction into an environment that emphasizes honesty, ambition, scholarship, and accountability. This environment fosters the development of social and professional skills that will greatly benefit them in their lives after graduation.
The fraternity serves as one of the greatest resources a university campus has to offer. The leadership experience and social skills learned within the walls of the chapter house simply cannot be matched by any other organization.
Membership is for life. The men at Sigma Alpha Epsilon learn the value of hard work, collaboration, and brotherhood. You will be hard pressed to find greater lasting friendships than the ones formed within the fraternity. These brothers will be at your wedding, and they will carry your casket.
Philosophy
Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s creed is “The True Gentleman“
“The True Gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety, and whose self-control is equal to all emergencies; who does not make the poor man conscious of his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deformity; who is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble another; who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, or boast of his own possessions or achievements; who speaks with frankness but always with sincerity and sympathy; whose deed follows his word; who thinks of the rights and feelings of others, rather than his own; and who appears well in any company, a man with whom honor is sacred and virtue safe.“
– John Walter Wayland
SAEs strive to adhere to this creed. It is committed to memory by all members. Taken seriously, it serves as a guide to living a fulfilling and honorable life.
President’s Letter
Welcome to the Washington Alpha Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon!
Hello Brothers and Parents,
My name is Benjamin Stevens and I am the Eminent Archon for the Washington Alpha Chapter (WAAL). The recent developments of the Chapter have been very exciting and I am thrilled to share with you an update on our progress and how I plan to continue our growth. Under the leadership of my predecessor, Kody Pham, we signed a New Member class of 28, the largest class since our Chapter was reinstated from suspension nearly a decade ago. I am happy to report these New Members are already very dedicated to the Chapter and have run for a multitude of positions within the executive board displaying their commitment to making SAE stronger.
Along with our growth in membership, our academic success has also improved. The average GPA of the Chapter this past Fall Quarter ‘25 was 3.35, a solid improvement over the 3.23 of Winter Quarter last year. Our New Member Class had an average GPA of 3.58, so the future is looking bright. I am committed to maintaining this academic improvement along with our Scholarship Chair, as we continue to maintain our growth in membership.
This year will bring significant change for the WAAL. With the demolition of New Section underway, we will be officially debt free—a great development. However, the very public facing aspect of this transition is a hurdle to be overcome, yet I am confident that if we further pursue our rush strategies that were implemented under Kody, we will be able to continue growing WAAL at a great pace and set the standard for years to come.
Our Philanthropic events have also been a success thus far; particularly our annual Haunted House which created a lot of buzz throughout Greek Row and raised over $500 for Dance Marathon, an organization supporting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. I am also reintroducing Paddy Murphy to the Chapter in Spring Quarter; a philanthropic week that I believe can drastically exceed our expectations for money raised for charitable causes. I am excited to continue our focus on philanthropy and help facilitate new, creative events along with our Philanthropy Chair. I also am growing our commitment to Green Greeks, planning to send at least three representatives every week to community clean-ups, ensuring we are doing our part to keep U-District beautiful.
I am extremely grateful and excited to have this opportunity to lead the best Chapter on Greek Row and continue to grow our Chapter to new heights. Along with the rest of the executive board, we are dedicated to creating the best environment for our young men to grow into True Gentlemen and facilitate the success of every Member who steps through our doors. My main goal for this year is to work closely with our New Member class and set an example of what you can do with hard work and a passion for Sigma Alpha Epsilon. My term as Eminent Archon is just beginning, but I am fully confident I can lead this Chapter to success and continue our trend of growth that was set by previous Brothers. I love SAE and every Brother that makes us who we are, and I will stop at nothing to ensure our Chapter’s success. Phi Alpha!
Benjamin Stevens – President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon
History
Sigma Alpha Epsilon was founded on March 9th, 1856 at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Since its founding in the Antebellum South, it has spread voraciously to all regions of the country, and has since initiated over 325,000 members. By this metric, it is the largest fraternity in the United States. On almost every major college campus in the United States, a chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon can be found.
Our House
The Washington Alpha chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon was founded May 30th, 1906. It has since enjoyed a long and illustrious stay on 17th avenue outside of the UW. SAE at the UW has never had its charter revoked for any reason.
The chapter house received a major expansion in the 1960s, with a massive addition being added onto the north side of the house.
Philanthropy
One of the great benefits of being a member of the Greek community is the chance to become involved in a great number of philanthropic events held throughout the year. Sigma Alpha Epsilon at the University of Washington holds its own Feed the Lions philanthropy each year, where money is raised through competition, and donated to the Make a Wish Foundation and the Seattle Children’s Hospital.
The members of SAE not only participate in the chapter’s own philanthropy, but are involved in multiple philanthropic efforts each quarter, with the result of thousands of dollars being donated to charities of all types.
The Washington Alpha chapter of SAE also has a very close relationship with Seattle Children’s Hospital and the nearby Bryant Elementary School, where many members offer themselves to tutor young children in math, reading, and writing.[/column]
