Brad Sweet, alumni adviser to Wichita State University's Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter, was awarded the National Outstanding Chapter Adviser Award for the 2014-15 academic year.

The award is given to advisers who demonstrate peer leadership and excel in serving as both role models and mentors. The applicants for the award must have extensive knowledge of their organization’s activities, ensuring that members uphold the established policies and procedures of the organization.

Brad Sweet became an alumni member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity in 1981, but still remains active in the fraternity. Sweet’s method of advising in a hands off way allows him to provide advice and knowledge, while remaining outside chapter discussions. This gives the chapter the freedom to run itself and operate under its own actions, not under his. Sweet may remain on the sidelines, but he is always there for the chapter and ready to guide leaders, general members and new members.

Serving as a chapter adviser requires a significant amount of time, yet Sweet also volunteers his time to the House Corps board, the SAE Alumni Advisory Board, the Alumni Association and countless other committees to stay involved with the fraternity. The passion and love that he has for the fraternity inspires members and alumni alike.

“Brad absolutely deserves the award, and we sincerely don’t know where we would be without him,” says Nathan Lohkamp, chapter president. “We would like to thank him again for everything that he does for our chapter and its members.”

Sweet, the senior systems consultant for Professional Software, Inc., has recently stepped down as the chapter’s full time adviser into a co-adviser role. He plans to focus his efforts on an upcoming 50-year reunion to motivate other alumni of the chapter to give back to the organization that gave so much to him.