Pi Kappa Alpha - University of Texas

3 www.texaspikes.com I n the fall of 1972, engulfed in a sea of burnt orange, omas Peel '73 set out to find his group of friends among the 50,000-plus students at the University of Texas. Aer discover- ing Pi Kappa Alpha, Tom spent the next four years building relationships with his fraternity brothers and develop- ing his leadership skills. Looking back now, Tom's favorite memories are times spent at the chapter house surrounded by his closest friends. "e camarade- rie that comes from living with a group of friends in a small house atmosphere is my favorite memory," he said. "Al- though many of us were different in some ways, we all had the bond of be- ing fraternity brothers. You couldn't get that same feeling in a dorm or apart- ment complex. at's what makes a fraternity house a special place to live." ough his favorite memories revolve around his years living in the chapter house, Tom has recognized that the need for a new facility has been around for decades. In order to give back to the organization that has had a signifi- cant impact on his life, Tom made a point to contribute to Beta Mu's alumni fund and serves as an alumni volunteer. "It's difficult to gain momentum to accomplish a project of this size. When I realized that there was a plan and a budget set, and that it was attainable, I said, 'I'm in, and I want to help recruit others to ensure the success of the project.'" For the past three years, Tom has been working with a group of alumni volun- teers envisioning the future of Beta Mu. e result, the Honoring Our Legacy, Securing Our Future capital campaign, will show how deeply Beta Mu alumni care for the future of their college home. "For those who are my age, we are just lucky to still be here and to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create something very special that will affect so many lives in the future," he said. "is is the time for everyone who thinks it should happen to help make it happen." Tom and his wife, Cindy, live in e Hills of Lakeway. Tom is president of EntryProducts.com, a company that distributes garage doors and open- ers. In his free time, he enjoys golfing and fishing. Tom can be reached at tbpeel@gmail.com. W hen Jonathan Saperstein '06 found himself choosing a fraternity, he was drawn to the camaraderie that Beta Mu encompassed. He saw an organization he could grow with and a group of men who would become his best friends. To provide active broth- ers a similar experience, Jonathan has donated his time and resources to Beta Mu. "I want to pull everyone together so that we leave a lasting leg- acy and continue to grow," he said. "I want to be able to take my family to the chapter house and be proud of what we've accomplished." As an alumnus, Jonathan has served on the alum- ni advisory board, donated to various events and provides a custom burnt orange BBQ trailer at Pike tailgates, and contributed to the Honoring Our Legacy, Securing Our Future capital campaign. "We're in dire need of a new chap- ter house," Jonathan said. "is is not something that comes up ev- ery year. is is for all the years you were with Beta Mu. If you re- ally enjoyed your time while you were there and you want to pro- vide that for the next generation, then make a donation." For Jonathan, preserving the companionship he found as an undergraduate is an important aspect of Beta Mu's campaign. "Right now, they simply can't fit," he said. "When I joined the fraternity, it was for the friendships. How are active brothers sup- posed to remain close if they can't fit everyone in a room together?" Additionally, he sees the cam- paign as a way for alumni who have lost touch with the chapter to reconnect. He encourages un- dergraduate brothers to enjoy their college years and build re- lationships that will continue into their own alumni years. "Just like life, you are rewarded by the ef- fort you put into the fraternity," he said. "I don't know where I would be without Beta Mu and I can't picture my life without it." Jonathan and his wife, Emily, live in Houston where he owns an agricultural nursery business, TreeTown USA. Jonathan can be reached at jsaperstein@treetownusa.com. A Time for Change omas Peel '73 Encourages Brothers to Take Part in Beta Mu's Future Jeff Kuhn '74 with Campaign Chairman John Rathmell '76 and alumni volunteers Rusty Tamlyn '75 and Tom Peel '73 on a fall 2016 golf trip. Jonathan Saperstein '06 Donates to Continue Beta Mu's Legacy e Perfect Fit

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