The Delta Chi Educational Foundation

The Knight Errant Page 2 "A"s' Academy Taught Invaluable Lessons to Former "A" A nthony Sutton, South Dakota State '13, was drawn to Delta Chi because of its leadership and involvement in student government on campus. "At SDSU, Delta Chi focuses on three main ideas: leadership, personal development, and world travel. Also, the group of guys just made me feel like I was at home." goals to help my chapter move forward. I was able to bring a strategic focus to our annual retreat with the intent of enhancing recruitment and goal development for the upcoming year. Most college students don't know how to think long range, but after attending the academy, I found that I started setting goals for the chapter three and four years out." Anthony was active in the chapter serving as the philanthropy chairman, "C," "F," and "A." He was also active with student government, serving four years as a senator on the SDSU Students' Association, finance chairman, vice president, and as the only student on the SDSU strategic planning committee. "Delta Chi gave me the tools and framework, both internally and externally, to help me become the person I wanted to be. That first year in college, you kind of feel lost, and Delta Chi gave me a place to feel at home and great friendships, but also challenged me. The members convinced me to run for student government, and encouraged me to work with a U.S. senator in Washington, D.C. Without Delta Chi, I wouldn't be the man I am today. I am confident that what I learned there will help me succeed in all of my future endeavors." Anthony particularly notes that the training he received at Delta Chi's "A"s' Academy was foundational in developing his leadership skills. "I'm confident that I wouldn't have been as prepared to be an "A" without this training." He learned ways to develop his leadership skills and plan personal goals for the next year. It helped him assess where his chapter was and where it needed to go. "I learned how to better create SMART Being with "A"s from all across the country and Canada exposed Anthony to varied and interesting perspectives. "When we broke into smaller groups, I was the only person from the Midwest in my group. It was interesting to hear different experiences from those who grew up in different areas. Coming together, we were able to learn best practices from all the different chapters." The academy also taught Anthony to anticipate and handle unforeseen challenges and surprises. "We are fortunate to have some excellent facilitators who are leaders in their chosen field. They have helped many others through recruitment and grade issues, so they were a great resource to help us improve our chapters. It was inspiring to see how much they cared about Delta Chi." Anthony graduated from SDSU in May 2013 with a bachelor's degree in political science and history with minors in Spanish and American Indian studies. As he prepares to attend law school this fall, he is working in the auctioneering business with his family in Flandreau, South Dakota. DC "A"s' Academy 2013 "A"s' Academy attendees and facilitators. www.dcef.com Delta Chi undergraduates gain leadership skills from teambuilding activities.

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