920 Hillcrest Comes Alive: A Grand Opening to Remember

We Did It, Brothers – The Heart is Back on Greek Row!

Words can’t fully describe what happened on April 12th… but we’re going to try.

What took place at 920 Hillcrest Drive wasn’t just a ribbon cutting. It wasn’t just a housewarming. It was a revival — the kind of day that generations of Sigma Phi Epsilon brothers will look back on and say, “That was the moment we came home.”

A Day to Remember

Brothers from every era of Illinois Epsilon came together — from founding fathers of Kappa Chi to Balanced Man Scholarship leaders, TUGS warriors, and newly initiated undergrads.

Some flew in from the East Coast. Others drove from across Illinois. A few we hadn’t seen in decades. And yet… the minute you walked through the newly christened Red Door, it felt like no time had passed at all.

You were greeted by the smiling faces of Roxanne Peplow, Leslie Ramos, and Becky Scheuneman. You signed in, grabbed your SigEp sweatshirt and name tag, picked up the Bringing Back The Heart campaign brochure — and then walked into a house filled with warmth, pride, and legacy.

Program Highlights That Moved Us All

At 12:35 PM, we gathered on the middle deck for our formal program. The speaker list was as impressive as it was inspiring:

• NIU President Dr. Lisa Freeman shared her powerful vision for NIU’s future and applauded our student-led, alumni-supported resurgence.
• Mayor Cohen Barnes delivered an uplifting speech and performed the official ribbon cutting — celebrating our return as a key part of a revitalized Greek Row.
• Jeffrey Liesendahl, Co-Chair of the Greek Row Revitalization Task Force, gave us a glimpse of what’s to come with the new Greek Life Center across the street.
• Vicki Gerentes, Director of Greek Life, reflected on how far we’ve come and what’s possible when a Greek system lifts each other up.
• And our own Bill Nicholas, DeKalb City Manager and fellow SigEp, joined the celebration along with the DeKalb Police Leaders in Blue, our BMS applicants, and a sea of alumni and undergrads.

The Comeback Story That’s Still Being Written

Then, I shared the journey.

From our roots at 827 Charles Street to nearly losing it all… and finally coming back stronger than ever. From five undergrads and no house to launching the Bringing Back the Heart Campaign, purchasing and renovating 920 Hillcrest, and activating 35+ alumni across trades, recruitment, and scholarship.

Phase 1 is complete — including the Foyer, Great Room, and our first beautiful Bedroom Suite.

We shared vision renderings of what’s next: our Gym, Chapter Room, Kitchen, Executive Board Room, and more.

And we launched a Special Spring Balanced Man Scholarship — receiving 94 applicants, conducting multiple interview rounds, and building a strong undergrad team with one of the highest GPAs on campus.

This isn’t just a comeback. This is a revolution.

The Moment That Said It All

Brother Bill Flack ’86 closed our program with a message that hit home.

“This house belongs to every brother. You can put your name on a room. You can leave your mark. Heck, you can even name the whole house… if you want to play at that level.”

It was bold. It was honest. And it was real.

Then we handed out brochures with sponsorship opportunities, inviting every brother to be part of this legacy — not just in spirit, but in stone.

Click here to download the Bringing Back The Heart Brochure

The Celebration Continued

After the ribbon cutting and group photos, we shared a delicious lunch, took guided house tours, recorded oral histories with Kappa Chi and early SigEp legends, and captured the moment with an official Illinois Epsilon group photo.

Then came the grand finale: We marched two blocks in SigEp sweatshirts to the TUGS Championship match, where SigEp was a featured sponsor with two alumni tents in the beer garden.

Watching our new brothers represent us proudly—backed by 80+ alumni—was powerful. It felt like a story rewritten. A legacy reclaimed.

And This Is Just the Beginning…

We still have more rooms to renovate. More leaders to recruit. More stories to write.

But now, we have a home. Now, we have momentum.

And now, we know exactly what’s possible when we show up, lock arms, and lead with virtue, diligence, and brotherly love.

If you were there—thank you.
If you weren’t—it’s not too late to join us.

The heart is beating strong. The future is ours to create.

HFF & Cheers,
Markus Ketel ’91
SigEp Alumni Board Chair

#BringingBackTheHeart | #SigEpNIU | #GreekRowRevival | #LeadershipStartsHere | #LegacyInTheMaking