Jared Fenton ’17: Without Sig Ep, I wouldn’t be able to impact others in the way I do today  

Jared Fenton ’17 ([email protected]) says that he gives back to Sigma Phi Epsilon because of the brotherhood. “The work of Sig Ep is crucial and personally meaningful. It has had a huge impact on guiding my work,” he said. “Through Sig Ep, students engage in brotherly love. We help people flourish; we encourage them to be exactly who they are and love and support others as they do the same.”    

The decision to join Sigma Phi Epsilon was an easy one. They put value in the individual and who they are. “They wanted me for who I was rather than the person they, perhaps, hoped I could ‘play’,” he said. “They were really interested in getting to know the real me and they were presenting their true selves as well. That was kind and empowering.” 

The brothers supported one another through and through. The brotherhood and love are unrivaled. “Sig Ep sets itself apart in terms of genuine interest in each other and support and care for one another,” he said. 

He shares a time when his brothers showed up for him. “I did psychology-based research and related to that, I founded a student club that I later turned into a nonprofit known as The Reflect Organization. At a time when mental wellness issues were often looked at with shame and stigma, it was so important to give students a space where they could remove their Instagram filter and just be themselves. I wanted people to show up to the very first Penn Reflect event, so I stood in front of my brothers and asked for their support,” he said. “My brothers showed up in a big way. They put themselves out there and dozens of them came to support me and help to shatter the stigma.” 

He says that the support and brotherhood that he experienced has driven him to be actively involved and become a board member. “The incredibly supportive culture at Sig Ep, to me, relates deeply to the idea of One Caring Person,” he said. 

Because of the love and support he saw while on campus, he has created a mental wellness movement that is reaching people nationwide. “I just want to express my deepest thanks to all members of the Alumni Board, the team at Headquarters, as well as my Sig Ep brothers present and future,” he said. 

Without Sigma Phi Epsilon, I wouldn’t be the person I am today, impacting others in the way that I do.