Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter of Fresno

Mike Patton

2026/2027 Scholarship Banquet-Awarding $68,000

A last minute change resulted in Preference Night being held at the Chapter House on September 21, 2026. The banquet was dual-purpose serving as Preference Night and the Scholarship Banquet. The House was the absolutely perfect venue for a relaxed evening, especially for the new pledges. This was the most fun Preference Night ever, and it was thanks to the informality of having it at the House with pizza instead of a formal dinner at a restaurant.

Attendees included thirty-one undergraduate brothers, nineteen new pledges and alumni including House Corporation President John Ballinger (65-S), Alumni President Brad Fischer (78-S), Endowment Board member and Seven Lights Alumni T.A.Heckel (82-F), Endowment Board President, Mike Patton (63-S), Chapter Advisor Gio Primavera (17-F), Alumni Chapter Secretary Bill Robinson, Ritual Coach and Warden of Epsilon Eta’s Monuments and Memorials Commission Steve Smith (80-F) and hopefully a new member of the House Corporation Austin Tuell (21-F).

During the presentation, the Active Chapter brothers receiving scholarships were given Certificates of Academic Excellence. They will receive between $8,000 and $14,000 for the 2026/2027 school year. The base scholarship was $8,000 with $2,000 bonuses for being a Top Five officer and $2,000 for achieving a 3.0 or $4,000 for achieving a 3.5 CGPA. The total awarded was $68,000, the largest on record. We are now competing with the Smittcamp Family Honors College which awards $6,000 scholarships plus an optional housing credit for the dorms. The average CGPA for the six recipients is 3.40.

L-R Michael Beaton, Nicholas Needham, Andrew Dritsas, Brody Mason, Jonah Craven, Nick Palm

Significant Sig Encounters First Grand Consul

Well, sort of. While visiting the Seattle area and Puget Sound with his wife, Collette, brother Dana McManus (70F) came upon a mausoleum. From Dana: “I was up at Roche Harbor over the Fourth of July and ran across some interesting Sigma Chi history. John Stafford McMillan was one of the founders at Roche Harbor and has many plaques and is mentioned all over the island.”

Remarkably, a Sigma Chi was involved in the establishment of the University of Puget Sound. Born on October 28, 1855, in Sugar Grove, Indiana, John Stafford McMillin attended DePauw University where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1876 and a master’s degree in 1879. While studying at DePauw, he became a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity on November 21, 1871, and served as consul of the Xi Chapter.

In the early 1900s, McMillin played a role in installing chapters at several universities in the Pacific Northwest. In Washington, Upsilon Upsilon, University of Washington, 1903; Beta Upsilon, Washington State College, 1919; and Gamma Epsilon, Whitman College, 1923. In Oregon, Beta Iota, University of Oregon, 1910; and Beta Pi, Oregon State College, 1916. In Idaho: Gamma Eta, University of Idaho, 1924. McMillin also donated the limestone for the Upsilon Upsilon chapter house, and presided at that chapter’s initiation of his son Paul in 1905.

A staunch supporter of the Life Membership plan adopted in 1925, he became Life Loyal Sig No. 11. McMillin passed away on November 3, 1936. He is buried at Afterglow Vista, a beautiful columbarium, in Friday Harbor, Washington. The mausoleum is cared for and monitored by the Sigma Chi Fraternity’s Monuments and Memorials Commission.

But brother McMillan also developed the Sigma Chi national leadership structure. As a reward, he was named the first Grand Consul of Sigma Chi. For the complete history of Brother McMillan, please click this link: https://www.sigmachipugetsound.org/about/heritage/

Nick Palm Awarded EH’s First Bell Chapter Scholarship

Undergraduate brother Nick Palm (24-F) was elected as Consul for the Active Chapter at the spring 2026 elections. He achieved a CGPA of 3.71, submitted his application at the Sigma Chi International scholarship application portal, and he is the first at Fresno Sigma Chi to be awarded a Bell Chapter scholarship.

The award is $5,000 for the 2026/2027 school year, but because he is a Top Five officer with a 3.5 or better CGPA, he will be awarded additional monies.

We have a total of $79,000 to award this August, and the amount Nick will be given will be determined by how many other brothers apply and qualify for our local scholarships.

Sergio Ilic Honored by Headquarters

On May 28, 2026 Sigma Chi International announced Brother Sergio Ilic (87-F) was chosen to be a Seven Lights Alumni, Epsilon Eta’s eighth since 2014.

For the last twelve years, Brother Sergio has contributed to Epsilon Eta in three important areas:

1-Through his decorative concrete company, Heritage Bomanite, he supported the House Corporation to maintain our most important icon as the premier chapter house at Fresno State mostly at no cost. The improvements added to the fun and brotherhood of being a member of Sigma Chi, and the fine chapter house was a feature to be used as a recruiting tool.

2-Similarly, he provided free concrete work for our endowment’s donor brick program which raised $100,000. Our endowment has raised $2M and has pledges for another $1M. When everything is in place we will be able to award $120,000 in scholarships per year, in perpetuity, to our undergraduate brothers at Fresno State.

3-Finally, Sergio, as an important member of the Fresno Sigma Chi Wine Tasting Committee for the last four years, has personally raised $25,000 for our endowment by auctioning priceless dinners at his home. The wine tasting is a fundraiser for our endowment, but its primary purpose is to be a brotherhood event.

Brother Ilic’s efforts and resulting contributions to the three areas above have “cemented” Sergio as one of Epsilon Eta’s most effective supporters.

Testimonial by Past Consul Jordan Ayerza (17-F) – As a proud alumnus, former two-time Consul of the Epsilon Eta Chapter (2020–2022), and recipient of a Founders Scholarship, I am honored to recognize Brother Sergio Illic for his remarkable contributions to our fraternity and his enduring impact on the active chapter.  In 2018, Sergio played an instrumental role in the design, funding, and construction of our chapter house’s patio remodel.  His vision and commitment not only enhanced the functionality of the space—with additions such as built-in seating and an improved layout—but also elevated the aesthetic appeal and overall presence of our chapter house.  The project became a symbol of excellence and pride, directly reflecting Sigma Chi’s enduring values of high ambition, leadership, and brotherhood.

Following the completion of the remodel, the chapter experienced a tangible improvement in both the quality of brotherhood and the reputation of Sigma Chi within the Fresno State Greek community.  The new patio quickly became a central gathering place where brotherhood was deepened, events were hosted with distinction, and the values of Sigma Chi were lived out daily.  Sergio’s dedication serves as an inspiration to both alumni and active members, reinforcing the Jordan Standard and other excellent foundations that define Sigma Chi.  His contributions truly embody the spirit of the Seven Lights Alumni Award and stand as a lasting example of what it means to be a lifelong brother of Sigma Chi.

Testimonial by House Corporation President John Ballinger (65-S) – Sergio has always had a deep passion for Sigma Chi and his alumni involvement over the past twelve years or more proves this fact.

I first met Sergio through my involvement as a member of our House corporation. As the owner of Heritage Bomanite, a long standing decorative concrete installation company, Sergio had been actively involved in our very successful donor brick walk of fame fundraising project. Two years later I would assume the duties of the House Corporation president, and I continue to contact Sergio for his advice and services.   Since that time he and I have become close friends as well as fraternity brothers.  His love for Sigma Chi began as a freshman when he moved into the house as a pledge.  Sergio did not move out until his graduation 4 years later!   This past year he addressed his ”bucket list” and took a trip to visit our national headquarters.  Upon his return he shared his visitation highlights with our Wine & Scholarship Committee members.

Our fraternity house continues to be the flagship of our Greek Mall.  This is in no small part attributed to the generous contributions of brother Sergio Ilic.  He has provided his resources and expertise to our many projects over the past years. 

Testimonial by Chapter Advisor and Past Consul Giordano Primavera (17-F) – Brother Sergio has made many meaningful contributions to the Epsilon Eta chapter, but perhaps the most impactful, was his design and execution of the patio remodel outside of the Chapter House.

Before the patio remodel, the space outside the house was fairly unremarkable. It consisted mainly of some shrubs and trees, and while it served its purpose, it wasn’t somewhere that naturally drew brothers outside to spend time together. After the remodel and the addition of the new concrete and built-in seating, the entire feel of the space changed. It created a place where brothers could gather, talk, and spend time together in a way that simply didn’t happen before. The patio quickly became a central spot for community and connection, and it noticeably strengthened the social atmosphere around the house.

I remember one night in particular where nearly all of the brothers were outside together around a bonfire. A few of the guys had brought out their instruments and started playing music while everyone else sat around talking and enjoying the moment. It was one of those rare, genuinely wholesome nights that perfectly captured what brotherhood is supposed to feel like, and it’s a moment I will never forget. The patio made experiences like that possible. This is just one of Brother Sergio’s many contributions to the chapter, and it’s a great example of why I believe he is truly deserving of the Seven Lights Alumni Award.

News from Bar Harbor Maine

Brother Rich Klopfstein (74-F) read about brothers Sergio Ilic (87-F) and T.A. Heckel (82-F) and the lobster and wine fest in our December 2025 alumni newsletter. He noted the following, “I read with interest of your Maine Lobster dinner spectacular. I just had a “lazy lobster” on New Year’s Day (warm “lobstah” in drawn “buttah”).

Rich and his brother Daniel’s (80-S) parents have a long and interesting history in Fresno in the culinary arts. In 1970, the owner of the Swiss Bavarian House in Fresno was a restaurateur known as Rene. His full name was Rene Klopfstein, who had immigrated with family from Switzerland in 1959.

Rene Klopfstein had previously worked as an Executive Chef for the Perry Boys Smorgasbord group from 1964 before he “struck out on his own” to open the 600+ seat Swiss Bavarian House in 1970. The restaurant was at the corner of Blackstone and Olive.

Next, Rene Klopfstein with his wife, Marcelle, went on to open two acclaimed fine-dining establishments named Rene’s. The first Rene’s was on Palm near McKinley, and later the second Rene’s was at the corner of West and Bullard, where The Manhattan is today.

More from Rich: “The Sigma Chi Rho Rho Chapter House at the University of Maine (Orono), 50 miles from our home in Bar Harbor and of which my wife Susan is a graduate of UMaine, was recently reoccupied last fall 2025 after being dormant for 27 years. We were one of many donors to the Chapter’s fund raising campaign ($1.2M for repurchasing the House from the University and renovations). We attended the Homecoming game and House Rededication Ceremony in October 2025. I have met many Sigs from this chapter, which brings back fond memories of Sigma Chi Epsilon Eta (A Sig I am). Pictures below are the UMaine Sigma Chi House (built in 1935) and with Tom Murphy, Steering Committee member.”

Sigma Chi Rho Rho Chapter House
Tom Murphy and Rich Klopfstein