Sigma Chi - Montana State University

BOBCAT SIG 2 I t's far from uncommon for college students to join the same fraternity or sorority as a family member. Spencer Dahl '15 did just that, though unintentionally—it wasn't until after joining Beta Rho that he learned his father was a Sigma Chi as well! "It was the people in Sigma Chi that made it a great fit for me," Spencer explained. "I met so many fun and welcoming brothers during recruitment who showed me the positive environment their fraternity had cultivated. Learning about my shared family experience has led to a deeper connection with my dad as well." Spencer's reasons for joining centered on the community and getting to live with great new friends in the chapter. It only took a semester to realize that he'd become part of something greater than himself. This motivated him to serve as Kustos, Magister, and Consul in the chapter house. "I learned an immense amount about leadership styles and personal development, and working with different personalities is a critical skill in my personal and professional life." His favorite memories, however, came simply from spending time at the chapter house in college; no matter the time of day, someone was always ready to talk or hang out. "Sigma Chi had an inexplicable way of developing friendships between hipsters from Washington, farmers from Montana, and people from the Midwest. Despite the many different ideologies and life experiences, it gave them a bond and a common ground." After graduating in chemical engineering, Spencer worked for a pharmaceutical development company in Bend, Oregon. Working to develop various drugs inspired him to continue a research development path, so he went to graduate school at UC Davis, studying nanomaterials for lithium- ion batteries to improve their performance. Spencer completed his Ph.D. in September and moved back to Bozeman to be near family; he now works at Aesir Technologies, developing new battery material chemistries. Another thing Spencer now shares with his dad: both have maintained close Sigma Chi friendships as alumni. "He's been friends with his Beta Rho brothers for 40 years now, so it's exciting to see that it really does last a lifetime." Spencer also gives back to the fraternity as a member of the Officer Training Academy's Consul division, helping undergraduate brothers transition into the role of Consul at their chapters. "Sigma Chi has a unique way of giving more back to you the more you put into it," Spencer said. "The fraternity was critical in my personal development, and I continue to learn more about myself by reflecting on the values I learned at Beta Rho." You can reach Spencer at spencerzdahl@gmail.com. Consul (President) Bobby Beers '24 Pro Consul (Vice President) Tom Caron '24 Quaester (Treasure) Jackson Thorn '24 Magister (New Member Educator) Trevor Carl '24 Recruitment Chairman Jason Kwasny '25 j.kwasny27@gmail.com Annotator Will Hyatt '25 House Manager Nolan Copper '24 Kitchen Manager Austin Wheeler '24 Risk Manager Michael Shannon '24 Tribune and Chapter Editor Sean Royal '24 Scholarship Chairman Forrest Christian '25 Public Relations Chairman Tyler Lara '25 Philanthropy Chairman Jack Evanko '25 Sentinel Owen Mercer '24 Duane Ray '00 Inducted into Order of Constantine (Continued from page 1) "Duane was resolute in his commitment to recruiting only students of fair ability, as set forth in the Jordan Standard … the experience showed me what it means to make decisions based on integrity and values, even when they aren't the easy ones." –Ethan Reeder, Idaho '22, Consul "I marveled at Duane's connection with undergrads, his subtle teaching style that nurtured the undergrads to come to the right answers, and the grace with which he included me. The attention to detail was terrific, and the undergrads clearly were running their initiation (as it should be), but the trust they had in Duane and his approach was on display; he was their safety net when challenges arose. This leadership is borne out of a love of Sigma Chi, serious dedication to studying Ritual, depth of character, and a sincere desire to connect with college men." –Joe Beers, Arizona '83, Grand Praetor, Grand Canyon Province "If a Praetor is judged on the success of his chapters, then there is no more successful than Duane. His chapters annually win Peterson Awards and many undergrads from the Big Sky Province have served on fraternity committees, including at least two undergraduates who served on the Executive Committee as Undergraduate Reps." –Dr. Michael Codina, California-San Diego '93, Grand Historian "Duane has a knowledge of the fraternity and Ritual, which is very important in his role as the Big Sky Province Grand Praetor. I have observed this when, during our travels, he has interacted with the chapters in the province. Several times, I have been on a call when there has been a chapter problem. Duane will ask questions and involve them with deciding on how to solve this problem instead of telling the chapter what they should/must do. This allows chapter leadership to become involved and use their critical thinking skills to take ownership and make the desired decision." –C. Loren Butler, Idaho '63, Sigma Chi Foundation Board of Governors EXECUTIVE OFFICERS EXECUTIVE OFFICERS UNEXPECTED BONDS "Sigma Chi had an inexplicable way of developing friendships between hipsters from Washington, farmers from Montana, and people from the Midwest." Spencer'S Advice to BrotherS The best advice I've been given is to stay positive and optimistic regardless of the situation. As you progress into the world after college, your life will grow busier and more complex as you start a family and progress in your career. Embrace the complexity and learn from every situation you encounter. You should definitely take advantage of the opportunities at the university to gain experience and learn as much as you can during your time at Beta Rho. That, of course, includes lots of fun and some Bridger Bowl powder flu days. Spencer Dahl '15 Shares His Formative Beta Rho Years

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