Lambda Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho at the University of Minnesota
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1478460
B rother Karson Janssen #1841 was a friend to all and a caring person. His passing on November 11, 2021, left members of Lambda Chapter and the University of Minnesota community heartbroken. He will be deeply missed, but his legacy will continue. To honor him, brothers Christian Reveland #1838 and Caden Bruzek #1849 worked closely with Steve Koziolek #1241 to organize fundraising efforts for the Karson Janssen Memorial Gift and answered some questions about the gift below. What characteristics did you admire most about Karson? Karson was an outstanding individual who made an impact in the lives of everyone he encountered. He was able to connect with anyone he met, and his personality and smile lit up every room. We do not think he truly understood how impactful his life really was, nor did he truly understand how much he meant to so many individuals. We think his legacy was truly exemplified by the amount of support and passion presented through events after his passing. Whether that be through this gift at Alpha Gamma Rho, his "Be Nice, Be Neat, Be Humble" apparel, or his hoops for heart charity basketball event. It is clear to see that Karson's life impacted many, and his legacy will continue to do so for years to come. What inspired Lambda Chapter to make a gift in memory of Karson? Brother Janssen was an integral brother to the chapter and touched each and every one of our hearts. We felt one of the ways we could honor his legacy was by creating a namespace in the chapter house to make sure he is remembered for generations. It means a tremendous amount to the chapter to be able to dedicate a room of the house he loved so much to his name. What kind of impact do you hope to see from this gift? The gift will provide an area in the house where Karson and his memory can live on, and it will allow for everyone who enters the home to get to know him. With this gift, we hope that Karson's life can continue to touch all who enter the Lambda chapter house. MORE BROTHERS SHARE THEIR FAVORITE MEMORIES OF KARSON: "Karson was the light in any room. He was always there to offer a smirk, crack a joke, or lend a helping hand. He had a great sense of humor and a great sense of style, which he took pride in. He was a confident young man and oh so kind. He loved the water, the sunshine, the outdoors, and country music. He had a strong faith and enjoyed attending church. He always had a smile on his face. He was a great son, a loving brother, and an incredible friend to all." "Karson was involved in FFA, in which he served as vice president, 4-H, basketball, baseball, and more. He absolutely loved playing and watching sports. He rarely missed a game of his older siblings and knew the Minnesota Twins stats by heart. He had numerous employers, including Trimont Town Center and, this past summer, an internship at Nu-Way in Trimont, Minnesota." Letting Our Brother's Legacy Live On Lambda Chapter Makes a Gift in Memory of Karson Janssen #1841 F or Terry Bollum #1150, Alpha Gamma Rho proved to be an invaluable part of his UMN experience. Joining an agricultural fraternity gave him a similar background to his brothers along with common goals. Terry credits AGR with not only making college more fun, but also helping him graduate. It also helped that Terry wasn't the first in his family to pledge Lambda! He was fortunate to live in the chapter house with his two older brothers, Wayne Bollum #1122 and Randy Bollum #1131. Their younger sister, Cindy, was involved with Lambda Chapter as an undergraduate and later married Neal Grotsun #1215, making their AGR brother a brother-in-law. The brothers' father, Henry Bollum #1235, pledged Lambda in the 1950s but enlisted in the Army before he could become an active brother. Henry became an honorary Lambda initiate four years after Terry's initiation. Terry's cousin, Carl Bollum #1495, joined in 1996, and his son, Tanner, became an AGR at Montana State University. Wayne's son, Will, and Neil's son, Joe, also joined the fraternity at North Dakota State. "Pledging AGR was one of the best things I ever did," Randy said. "I met so many outstanding people—in the chapter and all over North America." "It taught us to work hard and play hard," Terry said. "There were lots of fun times, but when something needed to be done, we'd get it done." Wayne, who entered Chapter Eternal in 2013, was passionate about AGR well into his alumni years and gave generously to Lambda's previous capital campaign. When Terry joined the board for the Step Up, Secure Lambda's Future campaign, the Bollums decided on a family gift to honor Wayne's legacy. "AGR played an important role in all of our lives, and we felt it was a great way to give back to the organization for all of its benefits and rewards," Randy said. "Wayne stepped up pretty big last time, and we wanted to do the same," Terry said. "AGR gave us good times in college, and it's been beneficial ever since—I'm sure most other alumni feel the same." He hopes those brothers will give what they can to support Lamba's journey toward a strong future. If you'd like to connect with the family or ask Terry about the campaign, he can be reached at terry.bollum@gmail.com. Randy can be reached at rbollum@xplornet.com. Lambda brothers put together a "Waynefest" alumni event in 2013 after Wayne Bollum #1122 received news of his terminal cancer. Just as AGR came together to support Wayne and his family, the Bollum family happily supports this campaign to support Lambda Chapter and honor Wayne's memory. HONORING OUR HISTORY The Bollum Family Steps Up for AGR "AGR gave us good times in college, and it's been beneficial ever since—I'm sure most other alumni feel the same." -Terry