Sigma Chi - Montana State University

A s an undergraduate, Tom Eggensperger '73 remembers contributing to the leadership team of Beta Rho, along with close friends Bruce Burkitt '71 and Mike Langohr '73. As treasurer, Tom had the privilege of joining other Beta Rho leaders in working with Michael Ford, Delta Nu '72, the son of U.S. President Gerald R. Ford, who came from Sigma Chi headquarters to help strengthen the Beta Rho team. Through his experiences of living and working with his brothers, Tom has moved on to successfully lead his own newspaper. Tom and his wife, Bina, took over the newspaper that Tom's parents ran in Thompson Falls, Montana. Together, Tom and Bina take on the thrills and challenges of sharing breaking news and navigating the long hours that the news industry demands. "We both do everything in the business and it's been a rewarding and great opportunity to raise our kids in a small town and continue our involvement in the community, as we did in college," Tom explained. Sigma Chi got Tom into the practice of being involved with his community, which guides his career and his civic engagement outside of his job. Tom still remembers alumni Don Langohr '49 and Jim Barfknecht '49, who truly stood out as leaders and role models in the Beta Rho community. Through interactions with alumni like these, in addition to working closely with his brothers to lead Beta Rho, Tom learned how to effectively live and work with others and learned the importance of staying in touch with old friends. Tom keeps in touch with several of his Beta Rho brothers through e-mail and sees them frequently at Bobcat football games, a great tool for getting brothers together. He encourages alumni who want to reconnect to attend Homecoming, since the game and the usual event at the Baxter Hotel draw many Sig alumni together. Tom explains that despite the media's negative and sometimes false portrayal of the Greek community, he would never change his experience. "For me and the many brothers of Beta Rho, Sigma Chi was the pinnacle experience of our college years. We're proud of being members of a great college fraternity and a great college tradition." Tom and Bina have three children, Kelsie, Scott, and Mark, all graduates of Montana State. In their free time, Tom and Bina like to ski, kayak, and travel. E-mail: ledger@blackfoot.net 3 SIGMA CHI Tom Eggensperger '73 Shares His Journey from an Undergraduate Leader to a Successful Alumnus Brothers honor the memory of Brother Karston Waarvik '15 by cleaning the highway adopted in his name. Nick Ramberg '17, Chapman Hewett '17, and Colton Coffee '17 begin work on basement renovations, which include repainting the ceiling, replacing light fixtures, and sanding and re-staining the support beams. Brothers hike up Frazier Basin past Bridger Bowl for some early season skiing this winter. Christian Intorcia '17 and Jay Brooks '16 admire the scenery at the summit of the Grand Teton Mountains. "For me and the many brothers of Beta Rho, Sigma Chi was the pinnacle experience of our college years. We're proud of being members of a great college fraternity and a great college tradition."

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