Sigma Phi Epsilon - Virginia Tech

Balancing Brotherhood and Growth Getting to Know Chapter President Anthony Hinojosa '24 W hen Anthony Hinojosa '24 embarked on his Virginia Tech journey, the idea of joining a fraternity was not high on his list. Initial perceptions were clouded by preconceptions of Greek life, but his life took an interesting turn, leading him to Sigma Phi Epsilon and reshaping his college experience. Anthony's initiation into SigEp began when he went out on a limb and applied for the Balanced Man Scholarship (BMS), in which Adam Berlinerman '23, BMS chairman, played a pivotal role. "He told me all about SigEp and how the organization would work to make me successful and grow as a person throughout my four years," Anthony recalled. Despite initial reservations, Anthony agreed to participate in a recruitment event, where he had the opportunity to connect with SigEp firsthand. "The energy I felt came from the brothers' genuine care and the way they valued my success, my growth, and me as a person," he shared. The fraternity's principles of teamwork, which forgo traditional hierarchies, resonated with Anthony, leading him to choose Virginia Kappa as his home away from home. Reflecting on his tenure as chapter president, Anthony reiterated the invaluable lessons he learned concerning teamwork and people management. "It's important to learn everybody's strengths and weaknesses and discover how to use them to benefit the whole." Anthony expects these skills to be pivotal for his future role as a project engineer and later, project manager in the construction industry. "I have spent my last three summers working for Dustin Construction Inc., once as a laborer and twice as a field engineer," he said. "After college, I will work for Dustin Construction in Northern Virginia." Anthony's academic trajectory was influenced by a serendipitous moment outside his dorm window. While observing a construction project in progress, he saw teamwork and people working together for a common goal. This revelation sparked his interest in construction engineering and management, shaping his career aspirations. As he prepares to graduate, Anthony fondly recalls key memories made within the chapter house. "There's never a dull moment and there's always something to do," he shared. "Maybe that's why it took me two weeks to unpack all my clothes and belongings when I moved in!" Another special memory is the first chapter meeting in the house. "It meant so much to be running that first meeting because everybody was excited, everybody loved the house, and we were all excited to see each other," Anthony said. "The cherry on top was going outside and taking our first-ever photo outside of the house. It marked the beginning of a new chapter without forgetting how our history, our effort, and our diligence led to that moment." Originally from Annandale, Virginia, Anthony's upbringing by Bolivian immigrant parents instilled in him a profound appreciation for community and caring for others. In his spare time, he values sharing adventures with friends and following Virginia Tech wrestling. "Whether it be outings, staying inside and playing video games, or hiking Bald Knob, I love being with a group of people who I can laugh and make memories with." If you'd like to reach out to Anthony and hear about his SigEp journey, you can send an email to tonio0622@vt.edu. Which of your achievements as chapter president are you most proud of? "During my tenure, membership more than doubled, going from 60 brothers to 145. The executive board also worked hard to discuss how we wanted to preserve traditions and make sure they were passed down to the next generation. I'm also impressed by how we learned to use the new house to its full potential. Finally, I am proud of our efforts to improve our recruitment process; we compiled recruitment criteria to help us reach out to men who will be a good fit for SigEp." EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President: Anthony Hinojosa '24 tonio0622@vt.edu VP Programming: Filip DeHaven '25 filipdehaven@vt.edu VP SigEp Learning Community: CJ Barreiro '25 cjbarreiro@vt.edu VP Finance: Nick Comer '25 nickcomer@vt.edu Chaplain: Shaughn Reese '24 shaughn@vt.edu VP Recruitment: Sebastian Romanello '25 sromanello24@vt.edu VP Housing: Gavin Bassett '24 gavinb01@vt.edu VP Member Development: Andrew MacWilliams '25 andrewmac23@vt.edu VP Communications: Daniel Tran '24 dantrvn47@vt.edu Congratulations to the undergraduate brothers that have been elected to serve in 2024: President: JT Cutting '25 jtcutting21@vt.edu VP Programming: Braden French '26 bradenfrench@vt.edu VP SigEp Learning Community: Cole Wendrowski '25 colew@vt.edu VP Finance: David Chomiak '26 davidc04@vt.edu Chaplain: Alex Sappenfield '26 alex4sapp@vt.edu VP Recruitment: Ben Ryan '26 benjaminryan@vt.edu VP Housing: Owen Livingston '25 owlivingston1@vt.edu VP Member Development: Robbie Blair '25 robbieblair28@vt.edu VP Communications: Brennan Rim '26 brennanrim@vt.edu Page 3

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