Sigma Chi - University of Kansas

ALPHA XI page 2 W e are fortunate to have a chapter house that is not only one of the most beautiful at KU, but is also one of the most architecturally significant of Sigma Chi chapters. Though it's approaching 100 years old, our House Corporation has diligently worked to provide ongoing maintenance, repairs, and upgrades so that we have a comfortable chapter house for our members. Please stop by anytime and let us know when we can help with reunion events so that you can see how nice it looks. Your support of the Alpha Xi of Sigma Chi Educational Foundation goes a long way toward maintaining the chapter house's condition and will help us continue to be a Bell chapter. The foundation has benefitted the chapter since its inception by receiving tax-deductible donations and making grants for educational- related improvements. It serves as a vehicle for funding the recent renovation of the chapter house and will certainly be called upon to assist with funding our $200,000 kitchen remodel. Contributions can be sent to the foundation offices at 1901 W. 47th Place #204, Westwood, KS 66205. As some of you are aware, the Thomas Cowan Bell Chapter Challenge is a relatively new program established by the Sigma Chi Foundation. Specifically, when the aggregate contributions from a chapter to the foundation exceed $10,000, the chapter receives additional benefits, which include: • A designated, all-expenses-paid spot in the Horizons Leadership Training Workshop. This is an outstanding Sigma Chi program where undergraduates spend a week in Snowbird, Utah, working with professionally trained facilitators. They receive one-on- one leadership training and the interactive nature of Horizons makes it a unique and special experience. This summer, Consul Joe Morrow '18 will be attending, and last year, we sent House Manager Preston McConnell '17. • Academic scholarships each year for $2,000. This is separate and apart from the scholarship awards paid by the Alpha Xi Endowment fund. Jordan Gilman '16 and Francesco Rossi '16 are our most recent recipients of the Bell Chapter scholarships. • Three additional, free slots at Balfour Leadership Training Workshop. Each year, we send newly elected officers to Balfour where they learn to become better leaders through training in the core elements of their office. They also learn special leadership strategies and techniques. This summer, we will send eight Alpha Xi officers to Bowling Green State University. By contributing directly to the Alpha Xi of Sigma Chi Educational Foundation, should additional funds be needed to reach the Thomas Cowen Bell Chapter Challenge, the Alpha Xi of Sigma Chi Educational Foundation will provide the financial support to meet this educational goal. Your contribution is supporting not only the men at 1439 Tennessee, but also providing educational opportunities through our national fraternity. Alumni who helped Alpha Xi reach Bell Chapter status this year are: Hal Hansen '58 Chuck Warner '67 Doug Miller '71 Larry Pfeiffer '71 David Wysong '71 David Dillon '73 Bill Blessing '77 Mike Maloney '77 Jim Sloss '77 Scott Stewart '77 Larry Winter '77 Jim Hanna '92 Supporting Sigma Chi H eroes come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they're a movie star or come from a comic book, but sometimes they're a little bit closer to home. For Jeff Whelan '06, his hero was his father, Ward Whelan '71. As an Alpha Xi Chapter alumnus, Jeff never felt pressure to follow in his father's footsteps, or even in those of his grandfather, Charles Whelan '41, or his uncle, Jim Good '68. "I wanted to continue the family legacy," he says. "My dad never pressured me to join; however, he did take me to the chapter house occasionally when I young so I'm sure that had an influence on me. For recruitment, I connected well with the recruitment chairman at the time and liked how nice the chapter house was inside." In 2011, Ward passed away after an eight-year battle with cancer. With the help of Midland Care Hospice in Topeka, the Whelan family experienced amazing comfort and service while they were going through this journey. After Ward's passing, Jeff wanted to get more involved with the community, and with the help of his good friend, Karli Ritter from Fox4, the duo started Hospice for Heroes. Karli had lost her grandfather to cancer, and the group decided to hold a race to raise money for hospice care. "Karli and I believe they are greatly underappreciated for what they do and could not think of a more deserving organization as they provided the best comfort possible for our loved ones," Jeff says. "One hundred percent of the net proceeds benefit Midland Care and Kansas City Hospice. Both are 501(c)(3) organizations. The past three years we have donated a total of $68,000 and hope to give back even more going forward!" Heroes for Hospice recently celebrated its third anniversary, and Jeff hopes the organization will leave a lasting legacy on peoples' lives, just like the legacy Ward left for him. "Having my father around to lend his fraternal experience was invaluable," he says. "I was able to easily connect with a few of his pledge class brothers who were also able to lend a hand here and there." BEING A HERO Jeff Whelan '06 Finds a Way to Give Back Jeff Whelan '06 with his late father, Ward Whelan '71. Helping Alpha Xi Achieve More

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