Sigma Pi - Missouri University of Science & Technology

Fall 2014 THE CROSSING A. I. SP S I G M A P I • A L P H A I O T A C H A P T E R The CROSSING L et me begin by thanking the alumni for the noticeable increase in alumni interest and engagement this year. The efforts of AIBA, the chapter, and our new chapter director, Jeremy Morris '11, have yielded results. Homecoming was an example of this re-engagement as 17 returning alumni enjoyed a day of events planned by the undergraduates, which included a barbecue, softball game, dinner at a local restaurant, and the annual outhouse burning. We especially enjoyed seeing the '94 pledge class members who returned for their 20th anniversary! Thank you, returning alumni brothers. We look forward to these numbers increasing in years to come. I would also like to thank all alumni who continue to financially support our annual fundraising campaign. Your contributions have allowed us to begin our framework plan for the properties, which was unveiled to the chapter at a Building Association meeting on October 18. The comments from the chapter regarding the proposed overall site plan and building rendering elevations were very positive. With these comments, we will develop plans to a point where preliminary costs can be developed. With 38 undergraduates, the chapter struggles to stay competitive with other fraternities due to the age of our facilities. Currently six fraternities on campus have undergone major renovations or built new houses for their chapters. This, in addition to a newly constructed dormitory and a second dormitory planned for next year, make the competition to attract new brothers increasingly difficult. The time to act is now and we need your help! I encourage alumni to reach out with comments and suggestions regarding our plan for the properties. There are many tools now available to let us know what is going on in your lives and careers, including the newly completed chapter website, the LinkedIn Alpha Iota alumni group, the annual biographical update, and our e-mailed newsletters. We would love to hear from you! Fraternally, Kurt W. Steinmann '97 Alpha Iota Building Association President (314) 267-3744 / ksteinmann@hbdgc.com Alan Smith '92 Challenges Alumni to Give Back to Alpha Iota A lan Smith '92 came to Rolla by way of Russellville, Arkansas. Being so far from home might have intimidated some, but not long after arriving, Alan made his way to Sigma Pi where he fit right in with the active members from day one. "I was recruited to Alpha Iota by Matt Dunehew '92, who was from Jonesboro, Arkansas, so we had that connection. I had decided on majoring in nuclear engineering and found out that two members of Sigma Pi, Steve Mertz '89 and Tim Holland '92, were also in that program, so that was beneficial. After joining, I came to realize that I had more connections than I initially knew, including Jim Withinton '92 in my calculus class and Sia Sunkara '92 as a member of the chancellor's leadership class with me." At a time when many other fraternities on campus had members that seemed to fit a certain mold, Alpha Iota prided itself on being diverse—a quality that resonated with Alan. "Diversity was our strength and what set us apart. We accepted members from very different backgrounds and from different locations and walks of life." Alan graduated from Missouri S&T with a bachelor of science in nuclear engineering. He completed his master of engineering degree at the University of Florida and received a DOE fellowship to attend Florida. While there, he served as chapter advisor for the Zeta Zeta Chapter for a year. He now works as a regional business director at NextEra Energy Resources LLC, responsible for managing (Continued on page 2) Alumni Plan for the Future of Alpha Iota Help Invest in Sigma Pi at MS&T

• Cover