Sigma Phi Delta - University of Illinois

2 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS W hile the bulk of our campaigning ended in 2020, your support to reach our goal is still very much needed and certainly welcome. We are just under $2,400 from reaching the $1 million mark. We have such an amazing group of brothers, and there is no reason we cannot hit the $1 million goal. You could be the brother that gets us over the edge! To do so, contribute online at tinyurl.com/DeltaChapterCampaign. Campaign Status at a Glance As of November 3, 2021 Campaign goal: $1 million ToTal CommiTmenTs: $997,609 ToTal ConTribuTors: 147 mailable alumni: 523 parTiCipaTion: 28% WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP How You Can Support Delta Chapter O ur campaign is nearing the $1 million mark in contributions, and we couldn't have done it without you. Thank you for you continued generosity! While the major interior work is completed and the house looks better than ever on the inside, we still have work to do. Your additional support will help us refurbish the exterior, specifically by replacing the front and back porches, revitalizing the landscaping, and reimagining the west side for use as a gathering space. Donations will help the alumni chapter reduce the debt incurred during this project and help put us on a stronger financial footing. If you have already donated, thank you. Please be sure to send in your pledged contributions when they are due if you have not already. If you haven't joined this effort yet, now is the time! We still need you. You can contribute at tinyurl.com/DeltaChapterCampaign or contact Mike Rohan '93 at mprohan@comcast.net or Don Buckner '89 at don@donbuckner. com for more information. Permanent recognition in the house on a commemorative plaque and room naming rights are still available, though the deadline to get on the first run of the plaques is fast approaching on December 31, 2021. A donation of $5,000 or more will ensure your place in Delta Chapter history. Thank you for helping us to create the best environment possible for a strong, vibrant chapter for generations of young engineers to come. A fter retiring from the Air Force and returning to the Chicagoland area, Dino Tsoukatos '96 wanted to reconnect with friends from the past, including Sigma Phi Delta brothers. He attended meetings and events until the pandemic put them on hold, then he joined a biweekly Zoom meeting, started by Burt Wagner '93, to hang out and stay involved. "It was a great way to stay connected, and as a result, I stayed in contact with many of the board members," Dino recalled. "Then Matt Braun '94 asked if I would be interested in the role [of alumni relations chairman], and I was happy to accept." As an undergraduate, Dino received a letter from the Delta Chapter recruitment chairman inviting him to the chapter house, "and I remember just having a feeling that I should go." He thoroughly enjoyed the house tour and meeting its members, and brothers like Pledge Master Ted Hampson '95 convinced him to join. "I remember having instant connections with so many good people. I really value the brotherhood we share," he said. "Knowing there are always people you can rely on was very important during those formative college years." Dino has wonderful memories of classes and weekends spent together, building Homecoming floats, and serving as Chief Engineer. Dino has loved aviation all his life. When poor eyesight ended his dream of flying and the UI aerospace engineering track was full, he went into theoretical and applied mechanics. Fast-forwarding to now, Dino has had a fulfilling 20-year career in the Air Force, which he says had many parallels to life at Sigma Phi Delta. "The people and relationships are the highlights of my career. Being a part of something bigger than yourself is both a humbling and rewarding experience." He spent nine years of his career living in foreign countries and visiting countless others. As alumni relations chairman, Dino will coordinate the board's quarterly meetings, especially Homecoming and Alumni Work Weekend. He looks forward to reconnecting with even more brothers and meeting new ones. His advice to undergraduates: "Remember that people matter, and treat others like you want to be treated." Dino and his family live in Frankfort, Illinois, and he and his wife spend most of their free time with their kids. He enjoys tennis and tae kwon do with his sons as well as woodworking, which allows him to build sets for his daughter's theater productions. Connect with Dino at dino.tsoukatos@outlook.com. LIFTING UP OUR BROTHERS Alumni Relations Chairman Dino Tsoukatos '96 Looks Forward to Working with Delta Chapter Dino Tsoukatos '96 with his family.

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