Beta Theta Pi - University of Kansas

2 W hen Maxwell Knorp '22 came to KU from Wichita in 2018, he didn't know much about the Greek system. Both his brother and his family friend advised Max to keep an open mind; when Max attended recruitment, he found himself impressed by the ambition, integrity, and boldness of the men who comprise Alpha Nu Chapter. Like many brothers of Alpha Nu, Max is a trailblazer. When he decides to do something, he puts his heart and soul into it. For example, when Max was 12, he thought, I'd like to make some money, and he built a career for nearly a decade. "I printed out a little piece of papers with a spot for names, addresses, and phone numbers, and I told my parents I was going to walk around and see if anyone wanted me to mow their lawn," Max explained. Aer walking to more than 100 houses in surrounding neighborhoods, Max only heard back from one household, but nothing came from it. Two months later, however, a man named Bob Wells approached him and asked him about the flyers placed around the neighborhood. "Bob told me he initially threw the fliers away, but his wife reminded him that seeing career drive at such a young age isn't so common anymore; I was an up- and-coming entrepreneur like Bob once was," Max noted. Aer some thought on Bob's behalf, he realized his wife was right: "Once I mowed Bob's yard, then another person would want me to mow for them—it spread like wildfire. Bob is somewhat of a mentor to me now," Max shared. Max continued his landscaping business up until fall 2021 when he decided to pursue flight school in addition to studying business information systems. "Going to college in a different city than where I did landscaping was tough, and I was on the phone constantly. ere were plenty of factors that went into why I bowed out of landscaping, but I mostly had different interests I wanted to focus on," Max clarified. Although Max's priorities have changed, his ambitious character never faltered. "I'm someone who always has to be moving," Max began. "As an aspiring commercial pilot, I'm certain there will be challenges, such as not being home around the holidays, but I couldn't stop thinking about the experiences I'd have as a pilot—seeing different parts of the world, meeting various people, witnessing new cultures …" e curiosity and fascination with planes runs in Max's family. His grandfather was an aviation pathologist and studied plane crashes, his father had a private license, and his brother flies helicopters in the Army. "With all this background in my family, I thought I'd give it a shot, and now I realize I wouldn't turn back any day," Max enthused. Alpha Nu brothers always have Max's back, "e brotherhood is always there for me," he added. No matter where Max's career takes him, he knows that he will always have a safe place to land with Alpha Nu: "Everyone's supportive, encouraging, and willing to help out at any time." Long-term, Max hopes to put in his flying hours and become a reliable pilot. Max and his brothers have also discussed starting a commercial real estate firm; while that's on his list of dreams to achieve, Max hopes he will be staying in the sky for as long as he can. Want to learn more about Max's unwavering ambition? Connect with him at maxknorp@gmail.com. I t's hard adjusting to a new school, let alone one in a new state so far from family. Creating these irreplicable friendships through Beta eta Pi, however, helped Californian Alexander Whitley '25 make this transition easier. Alexander was introduced to the house by a friend, Charlie McCarthy '25, who went through recruitment with him. "I saw so many unique aspects of the house, and I wanted to not only be a part of it, but also contribute to it," Alexander said. "Also, knowing how serious the chapter took grades and athletics into consideration, I knew it would be beneficial for myself and that I'd fit in very well." Alexander constantly strives to take full advantage of opportunities and even makes plans for seizing future openings, such as becoming recruitment chairman one day. He also puts the accountability that comes with being surrounded by very bright and driven people every day to good use. "Knowing I am being held to a higher standard, and also wanting to compete with others who are performing at a high level, truly enables me to strive to my full potential," Alexander said. Aside from academics, Alexander and his brothers are always bonding through activities together, such as playing sports (whether they be intramural or just for fun), constantly studying with each other, or simply chatting while walking to class. "ere are many ways our pledge class has bonded and continues to bond," Alexander said. "Among these are PC dinners every Sunday night—it's one of my favorite parts of the week." His pledge dad, Paden Adams '23, also had a big influence on Alexander's decision to join, as they both related to being from out of state. Kent McCarthy '80 has always been a mentor to Alexander, but when it came to joining Alpha Nu, Kent supported Alexander in several ways. Kent would reach out to Alexander, calling to give advice in areas such as which major to pick and helping him to understand the importance of the Alpha Nu Chapter, especially early on during his time there. "ere's a lot of support and people to look up to, which reflects the men that Alpha Nu has helped to shape and is still shaping today," Alexander said. "I would like to thank all of my family for the support they have given me since leaving for college, along with my entire pledge class and the other men of the house who have taught me so much about the real world and life in general." Alexander is a business management and leadership major. He will graduate in 2025 and plans to go to law school and become a sports agent. You can connect with Alexander and offer any post-graduation advice at alexander@whitleyscc.com. Undergraduate Maxwell Knorp '22 Portrays the Best of Alpha Nu Reaching for the Sky No matter where Max's career takes him, he knows that he will always have a safe place to land with Alpha Nu: "Everyone's supportive, encouraging, and willing to help out at any time." How Alpha Nu Gave Alexander Whitley '25 A Second Home rough ick and in "ere's a lot of support and people to look up to, which reflects the men that Alpha Nu has helped to shape and is still shaping today."

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