Sigma Pi - Missouri University of Science & Technology

Spring 2015 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 W ith so much negativity in the news about fraternities, it's great to be able to share some positive news about Greek life at our Alpha Iota Chapter of Sigma Pi. Congratulations to the chapter for an outstanding year, resulting in ranking third in grades! The chapter also recruited 12 pledges this fall and two this spring and, in collaboration with AIEF, are now issuing a Freshman Scholarship to further promote the fraternity and recruit top men at the university. We enjoyed visiting with 17 returning alumni for Homecoming, and more than 20 alumni joined us for the Orchid Ball. Thank you to all our returning alumni brothers and we look forward building on this momentum for years to come. As always, thank you, alumni, for your continued financial support of our annual fundraising campaign. Over three years our annual fund contributions have increased and we have put those funds to good use. Your consistent contributions have allowed us to further develop the schematic concepts unveiled at Homecoming for expanding and improving our properties. With the help of key alumni we have also started developing financial models to fund these improvements. As mentioned in our last newsletter, six fraternities have completed major renovations or built new housing facilities. The competition with new housing on campus in conjunction with the costs to maintain our aging housing, which exceeded $20,000 last year, has helped us reach a decision that the time to act is now. We must provide attractive housing for our brotherhood, or risk losing our presence on the campus of Missouri S&T. In doing so, we will need the financial support of each of our brothers who have benefitted from their association with Alpha Iota. We appreciate the comments received regarding our concepts for improving the properties, and we encourage more alumni to tell us what you think. Find us via the chapter's website, e-mail, our LinkedIn Alpha Iota alumni group, bio updates, etc. If you would like to find a lost alumnus—just let us know. We can help! We would love to hear from you! Fraternally, Kurt W. Steinmann '97 Alpha Iota Building Association President (314) 409-6773 ksteinmann73@gmail.com Alumni attend Orchid Ball April 11 in St. Louis. Alpha Iota Makes Plans to Remain Competitive Alumni Support Needed A Lifetime of Brotherhood Jeffrey Mockaitis '96 Values His Sigma Pi Friendships J effrey Mockaitis '96 cherishes the years of brotherhood and friendship that originated at Alpha Iota Chapter. "The brotherhood we shared was incredible. We would rally together for Greek Week and St. Pat's, but more importantly, we would also rally around each other, celebrating others' successes and offering a helping hand when a brother needed it." Jeff became a second-generation Sigma Pi, following his father, Vic Mockaitis, Eastern Illinois University '63, quite by accident, not having intended to join a fraternity at Rolla at all. He was invited to attend spring recruitment by Chris Rahn '96 and was impressed by the men of the chapter. While earning a bachelor's in chemistry, Jeff enjoyed being a leader in the chapter through the positions of sage and third counselor. He worked closely with Bruce Gregg '65, who was a strong role model for Jeff and helped him handle issues between the chapter and BA. "I always admired the way he supported the chapter and was able to balance his friendly demeanor with his drive to push the undergraduates to do more and improve." A favorite memory of Jeff's from his time in Alpha Iota is the weekend road trips to visit nearby chapters. "You can't really effectively and responsibly do that when you are an adult," he said. "I treasure the years I had at Rolla in Sigma Pi. Fall 1992 had a phenomenal pledge class, with a very good pledge trainer, Jeff Foerste '96. We bonded together very quickly and became good friends." (Continued on page 2)

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