Beta Theta Pi - Miami University

Alpha Slants of BETA THETA PI PAGE 3 I n August of 2007, an equipment malfunction during his regular bike ride sent Mark Stephan '80 over his handlebars, fracturing the C2 and C3 vertebrae of his spinal cord and paralyzing him from the neck down. While he was fortunate to still be alive, Mark's prognosis was grim, with an expectation of life limited to a wheelchair. But Mark chose to fight, and within five months left the hospital walking. His remarkable recovery can be attributed to many factors, primarily the rehabilitation therapy he received, but also, according to Mark, the relationships that he had developed through his time as a Beta. "My appreciation to the fraternity extends as much from my post-graduation experience as it does my undergraduate experience. When I was 47 years old, I had a very serious accident and the support that I received from my fraternity brothers was meaningful, heartwarming, and important in my recovery." "Beta taught me that friendships stand the test of time and that what you invest early on comes back 100-fold relative to relationships. There is a true fraternal bond created and those friendships can be picked up immediately where they were left off with no pretense." Though his accident ended a career on Wall Street with Goldman Sachs, Mark has continued a lifetime commitment to service. He has been a board member of the Miami University Foundation, a trustee for the Hadley School for the Blind, serves on the board of directors for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and has been deeply involved in supporting clinical studies for spinal cord injuries. Mark has completed incredible fundraising feats since his accident, including climbing the 103 stories of the Willis Tower in Chicago and completing a 3,129 mile cycling journey, a trip that several Beta brothers made by his side. "One of the Beta phrases that often comes to my mind is 'be your brother's keeper.' We took that seriously. I would encourage today's undergraduates to take that message to heart. There are distractions that may not be in your best interest, and as a fraternity brother, you're responsible for one another. At a time when there is controversy over whether fraternities are pertinent, I believe that in today's society they are more valuable than they've ever been." Mark and his wife, Margaret, have four children and make their home in Winnetka, Illinois. You can learn more about Mark's journey at www. stephanchallenge.com or get in touch with him at markstephan@me.com. Armando Ocando '11 Takes Beta Lessons into Community Service Beta Friendships Aid Recovery for Mark Stephan '80 I t was the Men of Principle scholarship that initially attracted Armando Ocando '11 to Beta Theta Pi. It was clear that Alpha Chapter was looking to find well-rounded indi- viduals, and Armando could see that the Betas were a well-respected group on campus. "I did a ton of research on the fraternity. I looked at the guys in the chapter, the alumni, and started to learn about the holistic nature of Beta. That they wanted to make good men better." "From the survival training we did for initiation, to my role as public relations chairman, to the men who mentored me through a chapter Bible study, every opportunity was a chance to sharp- en yourself and become a better person." Armando received an interdisciplinary degree in business management with a focus on entre- preneurship and finance. A connection through a fraternity brother led Armando into financial planning, a career he has pursued since 2009. Outside of his day job, Armando has been ac- tive in numerous community organizations in his city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the local rotary club, a teacher at his high school's USC Leadership Academy, a volunteer through Junior Achievement, the treasurer for Pittsburgh's El Sistema, a volunteer with CRU, a member of the Pittsburgh Hispanic Chapter of Commerce, a member of the national board for Scripture Union, and a leader for the young adult ministry at his church. This year, Armando co-hosted a charity 5K for the Aruna Project, benefitting efforts to rescue women out of hu- man trafficking. He has also remained invested in Beta as a chapter advisor for the local chapter at Washington and Jefferson. "My experience as a Beta motivated me to not just participate, but also to be a leader. I learned how to interact appropriately in a group—when it's time to contribute ideas and when it's time to support someone else." "For those who will become Betas in the future, I would tell them not to take the experience for granted. Realize that the leadership you're doing at the chapter level can be preparation for orga- nizational leadership after college." In his free time, Armando still enjoys ultimate frisbee and makes time for golf, trap shooting, a bowling league, and salsa dancing with his girl- friend. He can be reached at armando_ocando@ lfgco.com. Follow us on facebook.com/AlphaBTP for recolonization updates and to stay in touch with your Alpha brothers. f

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