Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Connecticut

Cox Volunteer Institute participants: Danny Lubinitsky, Andre Wang, Ryan Jarnutowski, and Ryeed Khan. PAGE 6 SPEACONN I t is fair to say that the semester ended in ways we could have never have imagined. Because the campus and our Husky Village house were closed, CT Alpha explored ways to use virtual alternatives to provide opportunities for members to connect. Chapter and committee meetings moved online, including Sigma meetings for our new members. Senior members worked to adapt our senior sendoff Hoop of Steel ritual so it could be held over Zoom and, while sad, was really nice to have good turnout and see our seniors supported. We ended the semester with 88 members, including 16 graduating seniors. Fall 2019 recruitment brought in 14 members with 11 added this spring. Unfortunately, campus closure prevented us from acting on our goal of recruiting additional members throughout the semester, but we are continuing to identify potential new members, and our VP recruitment has hosted Zoom calls with potential candidates so we can be in a strong position once we return. While most of the semester's activities were cancelled, the chapter was able to participate in February's Huskyon, an 18-hour dance marathon to benefit the Connecticut Children's Medical Center. We also won the Hoops for Huskyon benefit with Alpha Chi Omega and Alpha Kappa Lambda. One of our primary goals as a chapter this semester was to recruit a faculty fellow as part of our application to become an accredited SigEp Learning Community. We have formed a faculty outreach committee to focus on the search and consulted with our own alumni mentors, as well as alumni who are faculty at other institutions. We are developing a list of potential faculty fellows and working on our messaging and approach to faculty and are hoping to hit the ground running with this in the fall. If you or anyone you know is faculty or staff at UConn and could help, please let us know. Even with all the changes, there have been some positives, and one is seeing how our brothers have responded to the crisis, putting their own concerns (and health) on the line to help others. CT Alpha Chaplain Zach Briggs '22, a biomedical engineering major from Stafford Springs, has been putting in 12-hour shis as a lead tech EMT with the Stafford Ambulance Association. John Donnelly '23, a civil engineering major from Litchfield, serves with the Connecticut Air National Guard as Senior Airman, 103rd Civil Engineer Squadron structural specialist, and has spent much of the semester staging tents at specific hospitals throughout Connecticut for patient overflow due to COVID-19 and helped the CT Department of Public Health distribute personal protective equipment to healthcare facilities and individuals in need. We could not be more proud of these brothers and their service in the community. Fraternally, Ross Bodington '21, Chapter President bodingtonross@gmail.com CT Alpha Brotherhood Remains Strong Leaders in Academics and Community Great to hear a wonderful CAMPUSPEAK presentation to UConn Greek life from David Stollman, Maryland '94 in October. Not only did he relate to college students, but his message was inspiring. ank you for opening our eyes to the positive impact fraternity men can have in their communities. Buy In or Get Out! Dean Zacchio '20 with his parents at the Family BBQ on October 26. CARLSON LEADERSHIP ACADEMY M ore than 300 chapter leaders and alumni volunteers from Maine to Virginia gathered in Parsippany, N.J., over the February 7-8 weekend to develop and implement the vision necessary to move their chapters forward. Connecticut Alpha was represented by 11 undergraduates and eight alumni and took home two awards recognizing performance and improvement in critical areas of chapter operations. e Talent Power Award is presented to one chapter per region for excellence in recruiting the highest caliber of men on campus. In 2019, CT Alpha recruited nearly half its total chapter size of 90 members, recruiting club sports players, ROTC members, presidents of student organizations and academic high performers. Congratulations to VP Recruitment Dean Zacchio '20 and his committee! CT Alpha also brought home an Excelsior Award for improvement in overall chapter standards, specifically in greater accountability around grades, finances, and participation in the Balanced Man Program. Congratulations to Chaplain Reilly Enos '20, the Standards Committee, and Executive Board for their leadership in supporting a culture where members live in accordance with the values and expectations of the fraternity and their university. Four recent CT Alpha alumni attended CLA to participate in the Philip Cox Volunteer Institute. Ryan Jarnutowski '19, Danny Lubinitsky '19, Andre Wang '19, and Ryeed Khan '17 received training designed to prepare them to support our undergraduates and mentor chapter leadership for CT Alpha and others.

• Cover