On Saturday, October 25, 2025, more than forty brothers, alumni, and guests gathered on the University of Connecticut’s Storrs campus for the inaugural SigEp at UConn Career Day — a lively event dedicated to professional growth, mentorship, and brotherhood. 
The event opened with remarks from Tom Birmingham ‘86, who set the tone with an inspiring talk titled “The Journey of the Hero,” a theme made famous by American author Joseph Campbell. Birmingham reminded the undergraduates that their career paths mirror a hero’s journey — filled with challenges, mentors, and moments of transformation. “Over your lifetime,” he said, “you will each become heroes in the broad sense — heroes to your families, heroes to your friends, and heroes to your communities.”
Following the opening, Beth Settje and Theo Menounos, professionals from UConn’s Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills, led insightful presentations about internships, co-ops, and networking.
Ms. Settje covered a host of relevant topics related to conducting an internship and co-op search. Her remarks included the importance of developing career competencies, conducting strategic searches, leveraging the UConn Career Center’s online resources, and tailoring a résumé to a particular position or employer. She also discussed the transferability of skills learned as a SigEp to a successful career and life.
“I’m learning more about professional etiquette, gaining insight into my potential career path in financial asset management, and proper networking techniques. I also find the alumni keynotes exceptionally valuable. Their unique stories have changed my outlook on how to achieve career success,” new member Matthew Huang ‘29 remarked during the event.
Mr. Menounos led a discussion and interactive session around professional networking. He emphasized ways to build a networking mindset and to keep your resume and LinkedIn profile updated. The interactive session encouraged brothers to reflect on their goals and strengths, sparking meaningful dialogue across generations. One key take-away was the importance of sharing – both asking for and offering to help.
“The event didn’t just benefit underclassmen with advice, but also upperclassmen like myself with valuable connections to industries I want to pursue post-graduation,” stated current Chaplain Ethan Carty ‘26.
The day continued with a panel featuring five SigEp alumni whose careers span from the 1980s to the 2020s. Their shared wisdom underscored the importance of relationships, persistence, and humility in building a purposeful career.
“Seeing all of Tom’s and Alex’s hard work come to life during Career Day was really awesome. The entire event was well-organized and beneficial for all the undergraduates. A true testament to the effort that Tom and Alex put in,” remarked current Vice President of SigEp Learning Community Baxter McCarthy ‘27 regarding the efforts pooled into this event.
The day concluded in true SigEp fashion — with laughter, gratitude, and plans for continued connection — at HOPS 44.
This event was sponsored by SigEp at UConn’s Alumni & Volunteer Corporation, and was made possible by donations from our generous alumni. With on-going support, SigEp at UConn will continue nurturing both professional excellence and lifelong brotherhood, preparing its members to lead and serve as everyday heroes.