Phi Kappa Theta - Iowa State University

Spring 2017 Newsletter

Iowa Xi Chapter of Phi Kappa Theta at Iowa State University

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CLONE PAGE 2 J ay McArdle '03 isn't afraid to take a chance on life and venture down the path less traveled. His family and fraternity brothers have provided support along the way. "My undergraduate experience with the Iowa Xi Chapter helped to shape me into the person I am today. I had great role models that helped me get involved, have fun, and make the most of life." Jay says the entire chapter made a positive impact on his life, but Jeremy Kaeding '00 stands out. "He reached out to me before I joined, making a trip to my hometown in Nebraska to recruit me into the chapter. That initial effort set the ball in motion for my amazing experience in Iowa Xi." While in school, Jay was heavily involved in Greek Week. "I really enjoyed getting out and meeting members of other fraternities and sororities. I also served on the Greek Week committee for two years. Many of the people I met in the Greek community are still good friends of mine." Keeping those connections is important to Jay and he does his best to stay in touch with Jeremy and several other Iowa Xi brothers, including Eric Newendorp '01, Jason Wiener '02, Paul Peterson '01, Craig Peterson '02, Isaac Olsen '02, Steve Brittain '03, Charlie Baumert '03, Jon Hicks '02, and Greg Stein '85. His undergraduate experience prepared Jay for life after college. "The fraternity helped me to Life Is an Adventure for Jay McArdle '03 Iowa Xi Builds a Foundation of Confidence and Connections Jay McArdle '03 and Greg Stein '85 at Yellowstone National Park. get out of my shell and get involved. To this day, that has had the biggest impact on my life. I learned that school is more than going to class, and life is more than going to work. It is so important to connect with your community and the world around you. The skills you learn and the connections you make not only help you in life, but also make life more fulfilling." Realizing there was more to life than work motivated Jay to take the adventure of a lifetime in 2013. "I quit my job in Kansas City, bought a Suburban, put a mattress in the back, and took six months to drive around the lower 48 states. I met with friends and family, explored many national parks, saw a lifetime's worth of oddities and museums, accomplished many bucket list items, and visited every MLB ballpark. I called the trip My Epic American Jaycation. I took the trip because I was at a point in my life where I had worked hard and was ready to make a move both personally and professionally, but had not taken the time to enjoy life. It was the greatest and most fulfilling thing I have ever done." Jay kept a digital journal of his adventure. To read about Jay's journey and see more photos, visit http://myepicamericanjaycation.blogspot.com. Following his adventure, Jay moved back to his hometown of Elkhorn, Nebraska, located just outside of Omaha, to work for his family business. He is the third generation in a heavy excavation and earth moving company that his grandfather started 64 years ago. "We are a medium-size business with about 60 employees. I work daily with six of my relatives. Specifically, I manage the office, some construction projects, and GPS technology." In his free time, Jay enjoys running, watching football, planning his next adventure, and working on his recently purchased 93-year-old house. E-mail: jaymcardle@gmail.com

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