Beta Theta Pi - Michigan State University

2 THE DRAGON'S WAGON A s a freshman looking into fraternities, Joseph Rusek '16 found a connection with one of the smallest chapters at MSU. "I went through recruitment the year after Gamma Psi returned to campus," Joe recalled. "It was a smaller chapter with about 30 brothers, but they felt like the most authentic guys I met." Later serving as Chapter President during the rechartering process, he was blown away by the number of alumni who attended the ceremony. "It was a huge honor to be a part of that ceremony and see that Beta still means so much to so many." Joe spent his Beta Theta Pi years working toward common goals with his brothers and remains friends with many to this day. Joe graduated from MSU with a degree in history and a minor in psychology. Currently a high school teacher in Birmingham, Michigan, he teaches economics, psychology, and world history, additionally coaching football and baseball. His role as Vice President of Education influenced his career path, boosting his confidence as he helped lead his peers while developing communication skills and mutual respect. "I come from a family of teachers, so that always felt like the natural career path to me," he said. "Community and sports have always been important to me, and in the classroom, you have people working toward a common goal and trying to better each other—much like a fraternity." As memorable as the rechartering ceremony was for Joe, he finds that his favorite memories are the simple ones: just hanging around the chapter house, talking and joking around with the guys. He has stayed in touch with several of his younger undergraduate brothers, unofficially advising those in his former positions. "Ultimately, the best thing I did at MSU was exploring options—joining Greek life, playing sports, changing majors, and thinking about who I was as a person," he explained. "All of that helped me land a successful career that I genuinely enjoy. My advice to active brothers would be to take time to figure yourself out; enjoy your time in Beta and don't put too much pressure on yourself." Joe remains active with several brothers and tries to visit campus and the Gamma Psi senior house at least once a year. In his free time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, and spending time on the water over the summer. Connect with Joe at rusekjos@gmail.com. Finding Purpose and Friendship Through Beta Joe Rusek '16 Recounts Gamma Psi's Influence on Life After College "It was a huge honor to be a part of [the rechartering] ceremony and see that Beta still means so much to so many." A s a freshman, Nick Payne '16 knew very little about Greek life. "Not many from my hometown joined frater- nities, but I was interested in the networking opportunities they could offer," he said. "I was recruited into Beta by Jeff Boore '14 in 2012 and never looked back." Nick appreciated the focus on individual con- nections during his recruitment experience and went on to find genuine friendships and structure within Beta Theta Pi. Nick served as Vice President of Brotherhood and Chapter President as an undergraduate and considers both to be among his highest college achievements. "The guys around me motivated me and believed in me, and I know my brothers will always be there for encour- agement," he recalled. The brotherhood even played a part when it came to securing internships while a collegian. With the help of Frank Mer- cadante '15, he earned a sales and marketing internship at the MSU athletic department. "It was a demanding job, but it was one of my earliest exposures to the field I'm in today." Nick is currently a senior business development executive at Syndigo, a Chicago-based com- pany that develops digital product content for manufacturer and retail clients. While keeping up with the active chapter can be tricky long-distance, Nick has kept in touch with many of his fellow younger alumni and plans to attend the Beta tailgate at Home- coming. He still fondly remembers his days at Gamma Psi. "My best memories as an active brother were hanging out with Tyler Peterson '15 in his huge room, sitting on the top deck of the chapter house, or grilling in the front yard when the weather was nice. Some of the hugely impactful alumni at that time were Bob Cantrell '62, Tom Choinard '91, Keith Loch '86, and Paul Pfeiffer '64. I looked up to them as well as many of the upperclassmen in my early years, and so many of those Gamma Psi men modeled how to be outstanding lead- ers and friends." He encourages actives to be as involved in the fraternity as possible. "If you sit idly by and wait for social events, that alone won't build lasting relationships. Be invested in Beta and the activities they host, and you will get so much more out of it." Nick's looking forward to all the Spartan football tailgates this fall and catching up with Gamma Psi in Chicago. You can connect with Nick at jnmpayne71@gmail.com. Making the Most of the Brotherhood Nick Payne '16 Thankful for Beta Connections and Community

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