November 2025- Happy Founders’ Day! As we pause to honor the eight men whose vision established our Fraternity so many years ago, I’m reminded of how deeply their values continue to shape my own life and the lives of so many of us. The strength of our brotherhood has always come from the character and commitment of its members, and I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to serve as your Supreme Prior.
Thank you to our undergraduates across North America who carry our values and traditions forward with energy and purpose, and to our alumni whose continued support, mentorship, and example keep our fraternity strong. It’s a privilege to stand alongside each of you in this work.
Wishing you a meaningful Founders’ Day and Happy Thanksgiving. May we continue to honor our past by living out our values as we look ahead. There is much to celebrate and be grateful for at this moment.
Fraternally,
Supreme Prior Benji Bearman
The Octagonian- Winter 2025
The Winter 2025 edition of The Octagonian is now available online. This issue is packed with engaging content that highlights the achievements, stories, and insights of our fraternity members. The Octagonian serves as a platform to celebrate the diverse talents and contributions of our Sigma Alpha Mu fratres. We hope you find inspiration and pride in the stories shared within these pages.

Publication Schedule Update
As we continue to enhance how we keep our members and alumni connected, we’ve made some updates to The Octagonian’s publication schedule to help ensure you never miss an issue.
Beginning this year, The Octagonian will follow a quarterly format. The November edition will remain our only printed and mailed issue, while the February, May, and August editions will be digital-only, delivered directly to your inbox and available online.
To ensure you receive each edition without interruption, please take a moment to sign in at portal.sam.org and confirm your contact information is up to date. Updating your information only takes a moment—and ensures you stay connected to the latest stories from across Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity.
This issue features:
A Message From Our Supreme Prior
Our Commitment To Sharing Your Stories
Dennis Paese Named Recipient of William P. Schwartz Distinguished Service Award
Finding Brotherhood Beneath The Waves
Sires and Sons / Dividends and Mergers
Our digital production is also bolstered by more content on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. If you would like to share news about professional accomplishments, marriage/newborn announcements, or alumni gatherings online, go to sam.org/heard and sam.org/family.
Thank you for your continued support of Sigma Alpha Mu. We look forward to hearing your feedback on the latest edition of The Octagonian!
Click here to update your Octagonian delivery preferences.

This online-only issue of The Octagonian highlights Sigma Alpha Mu’s brotherhood in action. Supreme Prior Bearman shares some insights from our inaugural undergraduate SAM Brotherhood Assessment. This issue also highlights…
Past Supreme Prior Hanno Mott (Omicron/Cincinnati, ‘52) entered Chapter Eternal on Friday, February 6th.Hanno was born in Berlin, Germany in 1933. His family was forced to leave Germany and settled…

November 2025- Happy Founders’ Day! As we pause to honor the eight men whose vision established our Fraternity so many years ago, I’m reminded of how deeply their values continue to…