Alpha Tau Omega - University of Nebraska-Linocln

3 Alpha Tau Omega www.atonebraska.org F raternity membership can make you a better student, more confident, and overall more successful in life after college. These were only a few of the benefits kurtis krentz '86 found as a member of Gamma Theta chapter of Alpha Tau Omega. In his years at Gamma Theta, the brothers of Kurtis' era were some of his best friends, making for an unparalleled fraternity experience. "It was an incredible experience to be a part of 75 men from all walks of life coming together. We operated as one unit, where the health and success of the chapter trumped individual achievements," he said. "Loyalty and trust, as well as numerous stories to be retold for decades, forged lifetime bonds that remain the closest friendships I will have in my life." Though he hasn't been able to visit the chapter house recently, Kurtis stays in touch with several of his brothers. "Regardless of how long it's been since I last spoke to a brother, time does not dull the bond we share," he said. The Gamma Theta chapter house was the foundation of years of unforgettable memories and friendships for Kurtis, and he believes it is his duty as an alumnus to ensure it remains a beneficial home for future ATWs. "The chapter house needed improvements when I was in school, so 30 years later it is beyond overdue," he said. "For Gamma Theta to attract the future leaders and diverse talent needed to continue the chapter's success, we need to have a building we are proud of and is top among fraternities at UNL." He encourages fellow alumni to consider what this new chapter house will mean for the fraternity. "If through supporting this campaign we can provide new ATWs access to an experience like we had, it will change their lives forever," Kurtis said. He believes the project will deliver long-term stability for Gamma Theta, and will allow future generations of brothers to have access to the best possible resources. Kurtis and his wife, Jill, live in Medina, Minnesota. They have two daughters, Mikayla (20) and Nicole (17). With his degree in accounting, Kurtis works for Ernst & Young as a managing partner of their assurance services business for a region comprised of 17 offices across 17 states. When he isn't working, he enjoys exercising, playing golf, reading, and spending time with his family. You can connect with Kurtis at kurtis.krentz@ey.com. thirty years of memories kurtis krentz '86 shares love for gamma theta and capital campaign involvement T his semester, Gamma Theta has undergone significant chapter improvements. We have implemented several programs to enhance our members' Alpha Tau Omega experiences. We see each and every challenge as a chance for improvement and growth for our chapter. IMPleMeNTING NeW leadership program With the help of alumni Jeff hansen '09 and kyle bruss '97, we started a new life skills program. The program has brought various guest speakers, including Dean of Students Dr. Hecker, to educate the chapter on various leadership topics. In addition to helping develop leaders and making ATW a stronger chapter, it has given us stronger relationships with the university. chapter remains close outside chapter house Having the chapter house closed this year for renovations has made bonding more difficult. However, we created and elected an outstanding brotherhood committee that has gone above and beyond to keep our brotherhood strong. We have enjoyed sharing Sunday meals together, watching sporting events, golfing, and attending various events downtown as a chapter. Luckily, two apartment complexes house many Gamma Theta brothers, which provide the familiar feeling of living in the chapter house. thank you, dedicated alumni The renovations at Gamma Theta are going extremely well and the construction crew and alumni volunteers have done a great job of communicating to the chapter the progress and plans for the chapter house. We have excited members planning to live in the chapter house in the fall, and we believe it will be a very strong recruitment tool to help bring in a new class. We are extremely grateful to have such strong faith and involvement from our alumni in our future. Without support of the donors, none of this would be possible. scholarships awarded for leadershape This summer, we will be sending three members to LeaderShape thanks to a gracious scholarship from the national fraternity, reducing the price from $700 a person to only $100. This will help add new leadership to the chapter, and we hope to emerge from our current suspension and assume a place at the top of Greek life at UNL. annual tau tee off In April, we hosted a speaker to educate students on sexual assault prevention and awareness as a part of sexual assault awareness month. On April 2, we hosted the annual Tau Tee Off golf tournament, and plan to donate the money raised to the Nebraska Veteran's Association. Looking forward, we hope to be able to recruit many new brothers this summer and return to campus as a recognized chapter by the university. new semester, new gAmmA thetA chapter implements leadership initiatives Members of ATW and Alpha Phi relax on a ski trip to Breckenridge, Colo. (Continued on page 4)

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