Theta Xi - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

www.alpha6294.com Alphabet M uch like fall 2020, the spring 2021 semester presented difficulties regarding our philanthropic events in compliance with COVID-19 protocols. However, we still found ways to be involved with our community and support our national philanthropy while also maintaining good grades. PHILANTHROPIC ENDEAVORS Under the circumstances of increased transmission rates in the Capital District, along with several conflicting circumstances such as the school entering trigger phase one, our fraternity had difficulty securing a viable opportunity which would both benefit the local community and allow in-person interaction. For this reason, it was necessary to restrict our activities to either remote or outside in a socially distanced setting. In doing this, we sought out our friends at Oakwood Cemetery for an opportunity that would both benefit our local community and comply with COVID-19 restrictions. Our activities at Oakwood Cemetery built upon last semester's philanthropy efforts, through cleaning the pathways and roads within the cemetery of debris such as leaves and sticks leover from last autumn. Our efforts at Oakwood are typically an annual event for our fraternity in assisting with keeping the grounds clean, as well as showing respect for the families that visit the cemetery every day. Our associate members also hosted a Walk for MS event for the chapter, which raised funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, eta Xi's associated charity. ACADEMIC MERIT Our organization requires that we maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, and this was achieved. As the grades for the spring of 2021 had not been released at the time of preparing this report, the most recent data we have is from the fall of 2020. Our organization had a 3.16 GPA from that semester, and we had a 3.24 cumulative GPA. Although most classes were online and hard to deal with, the brothers still achieved their goals. Also, while the cumulative GPA stayed well above a 3.0 and only dropped .05 points from spring 2020, the brothers were able to keep their academics high on the list of importance. GRATEFUL FOR ALPHA ALUMNI We're proud of what we all achieved despite the difficulties of the pandemic. We're grateful for your ongoing support of Alpha Chapter and look forward to connecting in person when it's safe to do so. Until then, we wish health and happiness to you and yours. Yours in the Bonds, Chase Olson '21 (A1751) Spring 2021 Chapter President COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY SERVICE AND STAYING SAFE Alpha Chapter Finds New Ways to Give Back and Remains Focused on Academics Oakwood Cemetery Cleanup. The traditionally annual cleanup in the fall has become a biannual event. Brothers returned in the spring on April 10th to give time to the cleanup of the Oakwood Cemetery, a resting place of one of Theta Xi's founding fathers. Below: Our new member class. Spring 2021 graduates. From left: Antonio Martorano '21 (A1766), Chase Olson '21 (A1751) (top), Jonathan Didas '21 (A1744) (bottom), Connor Duncan '21 (A1739), Benji Prashker '21 (A1740), Anand Gandhi '21 (A1745), Kyle Heintz '21 (A1729) (top), and Joe Penn '21 (A1742) (bottom).

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