Hundreds of ASU alumni gathered for the Sigma Nu 70th anniversary
For more than 85 years, fraternities and sororities have played an important role at Arizona State University. Today, ASU’s Greek-lettered community includes more than 70 organizations and is the largest membership-based values-driven student community on campus. Among these, the Interfraternity Council (IFC) serves as the governing body for ASU’s traditional men’s fraternities, including Sigma Nu, promoting excellence and a shared commitment to leadership, service and lifelong brotherhood.
That legacy was on full display April 5, 2025, when the Sigma Nu fraternity chapter at ASU celebrated its 70th anniversary. Hundreds of alumni showed up and showed out for the brotherhood, marking a significant milestone for the Zeta Upsilon chapter.
“The whole mission here is to bring together ASU alumni for a really impactful event,” said Dominic Frattura, Alumni Chapter President and event manager. “People came in from all over the country and all over the world. (We had) 400 people here, a whole weekend of events here at Grass Clippings.
Hosted at Grass Clippings — Arizona’s first fully-lit night-time golf course — the event attracted alumni of all ages, places and backgrounds to reminisce on their time in the fraternity and discuss its future.
“I pledged in spring 1984, when I transferred here,” alumni John Anton said. “I was going to school in Rome, and transferred to ASU, and ended up in a town and a university four times the size of my hometown. I was going, ‘Wow, this is huge!’”
Anton wasn’t the only one who found themselves drawn to ASU’s reputation, following many who transferred there as it exploded in size and popularity throughout the ‘80s.
“John Castellano, spring ‘86 pledge, I transferred from Kansas University, because my best friend from high school was out here, and he said, ‘You've got to come to ASU.’”
“Some of these guys I haven't seen in 30 years, and you come back here, and you start where you left off, it's very special. There's not many people that have what we have.”
The sense of brotherhood was very strong between the alumni of Sigma Nu. A brotherhood not only established through 70 years of events and social gatherings, but through a universal code that members still follow well after they have gone out into the world.
“There's some things that actually really stand true with this fraternity,” alumni and former Sigma Nu Imminent Commander Michael Hendricks, said.
“We were out playing golf, and John made a joke. He's like, ‘Well, we'll just put ourselves down for a par’. And Keener goes, ‘Hey, remember — love, truth and honor.’ Because that's our motto, and we're walking off, and John goes, ‘I can't believe he nailed me on that. I’ve got to honor that.’”
The code of love, truth and honor remains an ever-present sentiment for members of Sigma Nu, one as strong as their pride for the fraternity itself.
“Love, truth and honor, because that's what we believe,” Hendricks continued. “That's the way we are. I've traveled around this country a lot. There's not a brotherhood better than Sigma Nu, ZY, Zeta Upsilon Brotherhood, and I'll challenge any fraternity, anywhere in the country.”
This sentiment and camaraderie isn’t limited to the alumni, as current Sigma Nu members were present as well. Current brothers mingling with 50-year alumni provided very interesting and inspiring insight for younger members.
“This shows me the brotherhood that I'm building right now with guys in the house and other active brothers,” Issac Lent, a freshman with Sigma Nu studying medical microbiology, said. “It shows me that down the road, these opportunities to grow closer to some of the seniors, and especially guys in my class, are worthwhile. And 20, 30 years from now, we'll get back together and it'll be like we never left.”
The support fraternities like Sigma Nu provide for their members not only helps carry them through their time in college, but often paves the way for their futures, with their brothers by their side.
“I've been involved for more than 40 years,” Anton said. “In fact, they helped me start my company, a company called Anton Sport. The Brotherhood, they were supportive, they helped me, and I wouldn't be where I am today without the relationships I built.”
Other notable alumni of Sigma Nu include former mayor of Tempe, Neil Giuliano, who shared his excitement about reconnecting with his brothers.
“It was fun to connect and reconnect with Sigma Nu Brothers from over the generations, remember fondly those who are no longer with us, and appreciate our shared fraternity experience that was so formative for us all.”
When asked what the future for Sigma Nu holds, Alumni Chapter President Frattura was excited for the continued growth of events like this moving forward.
The brotherhood has been strong since 1955,” Frattura said. “It's truly intergenerational. I have relationships with alumni who are 20, 30, 40 years older than me. We're already planning the 75th. That'll be in 2030. I'll definitely be a part of it.”
“We've got one of the best alumni groups in the world, in my opinion.”