Sigma Pi - Cornell University

Page 5 SP T he Educational Foundation has completed the pairing of alumni mentors with under- graduate mentees. Last semester, we had the high- est interest ever expressed in the program with an incredible 70 undergraduate brothers and alumni participating. Mentor/mentee matches were made based on similarities of undergraduate majors, ca- reer interests, and professional backgrounds. The program is designed to provide the undergradu- ate mentees with career advice, industry insight, and perhaps most importantly, an individual to reach out to for guidance. We are thankful for the alumni who kindly volunteered their time to par- ticipate in the program, and we are very excited to see what the future holds for this program. We also began our Alumni Speaker Series in the fall semester, where undergraduate brothers were fortunate to speak with Gordon Adelsberg '90. The video conference took place in the Memorial Library at the Sigma Pi chapter house with nearly 15 brothers in attendance. During the speaker se- ries conference, Gordon detailed his experiences working in the food and beverage industry, at- tending business school, and starting his own con- sulting firm. He also provided insight on potential career paths for undergraduates and interviewing tips. We are hoping to host additional speakers this semester in a variety of industries to provide career advice and other useful information they have learned in their undergraduate and profes- sional careers. Fraternally, Rob Novo '79 I was privileged to travel to Indianapolis in the fall to enjoy a special fundraising event for College Mentor for Kids, which honored both Mu Chapter of Sigma Pi Educational Founda- tion and Kurt Rasmussen '80. The evening was called an "unGALA" and was well-attended. It was a special opportunity to represent Sigma Pi, but it was also a chance for me to thank Kurt for bringing the College Mentors for Kids program to Cornell. When the Mu Chapter Educational Foundation was founded, I served as chairman for a num- ber of years. I had dreams of finding activities that were noteworthy and character building that would appeal to our alumni as worthy of support through contributions to the new Foundation. Many fraternity foundations become simply tax havens designed to supplement the operat- ing budgets of a fraternity, and I hoped that Mu Chapter could be different and find activities that would enhance the education of the undergradu- ate brothers and bring positive notice of Mu Chapter, which is when Kurt suggested College Mentor for Kids. The Educational Foundation board moved for- ward with a significant cash grant and the Cor- educational foundation continueS alumni mentor program and kickS off Speaker SerieS Mu Chapter members met with their mentors in the Dick Cahoon '77 Tech Center during the inau- gural Alumni Speaker Series in the fall. Kurt Rasmussen '80 and Jim Keene '57 at the College Mentors for Kids 2017 unGALA. Mu Chapter Educational Foundation Honored Nationally by College Mentors for Kids nell Chapter of College Mentor for Kids was chartered. It was the first chapter outside of states near Indiana and served as a seed for other chapters that have followed on the East Coast. The Foundation continues financial support of the organization with an amount based on par- ticipation in the program by the actives. More than half of the brothers have "little bud- dies." They work with great enthusiasm and joy to introduce young elementary school-age children to the notion that they can someday be students in college, which is a bold concept for most of the children who participate. Kurt is a leader in the program, having served on the board and as chairman, and his remarks during the unGALA were succinct and meaningful. Kurt said, "For me, the underappreciated power of College Mentors for Kids is its self-propagat- ing nature. By helping one child, importantly, you affect that child's life, but just as important- ly, you can also change the trajectory of the lives of that child's entire family circle, including his or her children, grandchildren, and so on. Thus, by helping one child, College Mentors for Kids can have an impact on generations of people. I strongly believe that College Mentors for Kids is nothing less than a way to improve our mod- ern society. My College Mentors for Kids story began many years ago, but I hope it will continue until this program reaches every campus across America." We thank Kurt for his efforts and the lasting im- pact that this program will have on our members and the Ithaca community. Fraternally, Jim Keene '57

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