Phi Kappa Psi - University of Michigan

Page 2 the sophon Fall 2019 "One of the nice things about going to Michigan is football and basketball games are easy ways to stay in touch with your friends. Whether you're texting during a game, calling each other, or talking about how you're going to meet up and go to a game. One of the things I love about my fraternity brothers is that everyone is pretty low maintenance. We know we all have our own lives, kids, businesses, and we're all off doing our own thing." Along with finding his own home in Denver, Jared's been successful finding forever homes for his clients. He is the owner of Blue Pebble Group, which provides a premier residential brokerage experience for clients along the Front Range, spanning Denver, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins. "There's no way for me to explain the insanity of starting your own business, especially starting out in real estate in what probably is the most competitive brokerage market in the country," Jared said. Jared enjoys his job so much that he considers work to be one of his hobbies along with golfing and sporting clays/rifle shooting. With the confidence his brothers instilled in him and his openness to change, Jared is excited for what the future holds. You can connect with Jared at jfrost@ bluepebblere.com. Meaningful Michigan Alpha Relationships (Continued from page 1) Jared Frost '03 closed four deals on houses during the month of August. A fter an eventful and productive summer, the brotherhood is happy to be back together again. We've already accomplished great things thus far and even more is planned for the remainder of the semester and next spring. ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT After the implementation of a newly designed academic support program and multiple academic scholarships last semester, the brotherhood has focused on keeping their academics as their utmost priority, and the numbers show it. With the new academic incentives, the chapter improved its GPA from 3.25 to 3.3, earning us the Dr. Thomas D. Myers Scholarship Award from the National Fraternity. "The effort to boost grades and earn one of our coveted scholarship awards is unprecedented. So far this year, the points that've been recorded far outpace last year at the two-month mark. If we keep on this pace, I see us improving our GPA yet again," Academic Chairman Carter Dunaway '17 said. PHILANTHROPIC ENDEAVORS With multiple events planned, this has been a particularly exciting semester for Michigan Alpha's philanthropic operations. Philanthropy and Mental Health Chairman Samuel Seckler '17 partnered with the skiing and snowboarding club, of which he is the president, for a private screening of the ski film, The Collective. Ticket sales benefitted Seckler family's non-profit, Charley's Fund, which raises awareness and funds to fight Duchenne muscular dystrophy. A few days following the film screening, our philanthropy committee hosted our largest annual event of the year, the Phi Kappa Psi Hot Diggity Dog hot dog eating contest. All proceeds from this event went toward Kids Without Cancer, a 40-year old charity that supports pediatric cancer research at Children's Hospital of Michigan. Lastly, Home for the Holidays (HFH) week, an annual tradition of Michigan Alpha in partnership with Kappa Kappa Gamma, is set for December 9. During HFH week, members of Michigan Alpha and Kappa Kappa Gamma are split into groups and given Christmas wish lists of local, underprivileged children. Throughout the week, the groups divide and conquer the wish lists, culminating in a gift-giving ceremony where they'll meet the children whose lives they've just blessed. GRATEFUL FOR A STRONG, SUCCESSFUL BROTHERHOOD Chapter Historian Jackson Pollard '17 showed our chapter's appreciation for our recent alumni by revitalizing many of our older composites, as well as ordering composites for the last three years. These composites are now proudly displayed on the walls of our main room, serving as a constant reminder of our tremendous brotherhood. Michigan Alpha won both preliminary matches and made their way, once again, to the 86th annual Mudbowl. They competed against Phi Gamma Delta on October 26 to claim the championship for the second year in a row. THANKFUL FOR PHI PSI The academic year started off just how we hoped it would. The brotherhood is focused on their academics, organized numerous memorable philanthropic events, and a newfound appreciation was gained for the generous brotherhood that we're fortunate to be a part of. We approach each day with the intention to leave the fraternity better than we found it. Fraternally yours, Eli Snyder '17 Outgoing President, Michigan Alpha Fostering a Positive Brotherhood Experience Michigan Alpha Increases GPA, Receives Scholarship Award from Phi Psi Winner of the Dr. Thomas D. Myers Scholarship Award from the National Fraternity

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