Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Connecticut

PAGE 6 SPEACONN C onnecticut Alpha Chapter is growing at a pace that few chapters across the country can match. e focus on academics and leadership has paid off in manpower and national recognition. Our first Buchanan Outstanding Chapter Cup application was submitted in March, but we had to wait until Conclave in July to hear that Connecticut Alpha would be bringing back our first cup in 30 years! Building Our Brotherhood We had our largest graduating class to date, with 28 seniors leaving the active chapter in May. Keeping our numbers strong was a top priority for the chapter in the spring, and I am happy to report that we finished the semester with over 100 active members. Vice President of Recruitment Dean Zacchio '20 and the recruitment team helped bring in 30 new members, with 25 initiated in February and five more in April. is is the strongest 365-day recruitment effort seen at Connecticut Alpha since returning to campus in 2014. Reaching New Academic Heights We are proud to have ended the academic year with the highest GPA in chapter history with a cumulative GPA of 3.48 in the spring and 3.52 for new members. Chapter GPA in fall 2018 was 3.43, also highest among fraternities. at's two semesters in a row with the top academics on campus. Our academic support system continues to grow stronger under the supervision of Vice President of Residential Learning Patrick Houlihan '21. With the large number of graduating seniors and so many new members joining, maintaining our academic standards was a big challenge to the team. Nearly $17,000 Raised for Charity Connecticut Alpha raised almost $17,000 during the 2019 HuskyTHON, UConn's February dance marathon fundraiser to benefit Connecticut Children's Medical Center. Our sponsored child, Corey, had a blast dancing and playing games all night with the brothers. Our Movember fundraiser is to raise awareness for men's health focusing on prostate and testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention which will be highly anticipated this semester. I'm confident that our fundraising and philanthropic efforts will increase as we continue to grow as a chapter. We hosted our second annual Faculty Reception in April where professors, advisors, alumni, and other faculty members were invited to learn about our organization and celebrate our academic accomplishments. Awards were presented to brothers demonstrating outstanding academic achievement. SCSU Professor and Connecticut Alpha volunteer Johnathan Wharton (Renaissance) spoke about his experiences advising SigEp chapters in the Northeast. Strengthening Our Greek Relationships April began with brothers traveling from UConn to meet with the sisters of Alpha Delta Pi at Sacred Heart University for Live Your Oath, a national partnership between ADPi and SigEp to discuss and promote sexual assault awareness. e discussion was facilitated by Connecticut Alpha alumnus Ken Mysogland '89, MSW, director of the Ombudsman Office of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. Participants talked about their obligation as campus leaders to help change the culture to prevent sexual assault on our campuses. e 2018-19 school year ended with the Grand Chapter Conclave in July. anks to the financial support of our alumni, and national scholarship help, we were able to send 12 undergraduates to Houston for this incredible weekend. We credit our success to the great history and tradition our alumni have le and the higher standards we wish to achieve as SigEps. I encourage anyone interested in getting involved to come by the chapter house in Husky Village and see how we are setting the standard at UConn. Fraternally, Tim Specht '20 Chapter President timothy.specht@uonn.edu Setting the Standard at UConn Buchanan Cup Winning Connecticut Alpha Surpasses Chapter GPA Records Brayton "Brady" Walsh '67 retired as vice president of marketing from Kirk- Stieff Silver Co. in 2007. He and his wife, Patricia, live at the St. James Plantation in Southport, N.C., enjoying retirement. Brady kicks back by golfing, traveling, and watching his seven grandchildren grow up. Email: spat.brayton@snet.net Raymond A. Dionne, D.D.S. '68 began a new career as a professor at the UConn School of Medicine in December 2018, and relocating back to Connecticut from North Carolina after 50 years away. He retired from the National Institute of Health in 2013 and spent five years at East Carolina University. Raymond researched and published extensively on pain management, primarily in dentistry. His wife, Shanon, is the new dean of students at the UConn School of Dental Medicine. "Back in the area and squandering money on boats," Raymond reports. Email: raymond.dionne@icloud.com Joseph Semprini '69 is a financial advisor living in Costa Mesa, Calif., where he also creates contemporary artwork and enjoys beach life near "Surf City USA" in Huntington and Newport beaches. "Life is good! Carpe Diem! Miss all you guys." Email: jlsemprini@gmail.com William Anderson III '71 and his wife, Carol, live in New Fairfield, Conn., where he is a senior PT at Danbury Hospital. "Great gathering of the 'Dirty Dozen' remnants this year in Cheshire. Thank you, Jim Olson '71," he said. Email: billyuconn@yahoo.com Retiring in 2005 after 35 years as a teacher and dean of students, John "Skip" Schwanfelder '71 continued to substitute teach in Florida and Georgia. A Vietnam Navy veteran and Army veteran of the post-Vietnam era, Skip remains active with the American Legion, Post 172, Warner Robins, Ga. (Honor Guard), and at the USAF Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base. Skip has two children and two grandchildren. He lives in Warner Robins with his wife, Pamela. Email: jschwanfel@ aol.com Alumni News (Continued from page 4)

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