Psi Upsilon - Wesleyan University

PSI UPSILON PAGE 3 Richik Acharya '27 | Pleasantville, N.Y. Abby Bekele '27 | Glenn Dale, Md. Oscar Cassidy '27 | Los Angeles, Calif. Leila Forbord '27 | Oakland, Calif. Jess Huang '27 | Xiamen, Fujian, China Cyris Laury-Schaefer '27 | Haiku, Hawaii Juliete Sullivan '27 | Valhalla, N.Y. Cooper Thompson '27 | Los Angeles, Calif. Jay Watson '27 | Weston, Conn. Lawi Worku '27 | Cincinnati, Ohio Juno Wright '27 | Brooklyn, N.Y. Yuyang Zhang '27 | Irvine, Calif. WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS I originally joined Psi Upsilon because my brother Andrew '80 was already a member and two of my hallmates were also joining. I visited other fraternities, but PsiU felt like the best fit. Looking back, I know I made the right decision. To this day, I'm still close with a group of brothers who join me for a ski trip every year. What made me proud to be a member of PsiU was the way the brothers contributed positively to life at Wesleyan. Most were intellectually engaged and active in sports and other activities. Weekly chapter meetings were a highlight for me. They brought a sense of order and respect that I valued. The mentorship between younger and older brothers was also exceptional. Entrepreneurship has always been a part of my life. My first business was a chicken egg operation when I was 10. I had 18 Rhode Island Red chickens and sold eggs to neighbors. Andrew and I always knew we wanted to start a business. While at PsiU, we created the Keg Karrier, a tool for carrying heavy kegs. I also started a T-shirt printing business in the PsiU basement, complete with a printing press and conveyor belt dryer. The culture of ambition and self-motivation among the Xi brothers was influential, and many of us have gone on to achieve success in our respective fields. PsiU also shaped me by giving me responsibilities. As recruitment chairman, I oversaw a significant part of the house's operations, which taught me accountability and leadership. Andrew's and my biggest professional achievement was launching Peapod grocery delivery in 1989, a company we built over 30 years. Today, we're focused on the Sifter Solutions app, a grocery shopping aid, which aims to help Americans eat healthier and reduce chronic illnesses caused by ultra- processed foods and sugar. Our mission is to tackle the fact that 65% of Americans are overweight or obese, and nearly half have pre- diabetes or diabetes. Over the years, my primary connection to PsiU has remained the lifelong friendships I formed. We organize two trips each year: a ski trip in Colorado or Utah and a bike fundraiser called The Prouty at Dartmouth. Today, Andrew and I both live in Winnetka, Illinois, just four blocks apart. Andrew is married with two boys, and I'm married with a boy and a girl. In our free time, we're both avid kiteboarders. I also enjoy biking and pickleball, while Andrew still runs and plays ice hockey. Fraternally, Thomas "Parky" Parkinson '82 If you'd like to hear more about Sifter Solutions or see more of Thomas' collection of vintage Xi photographs, you can contact him at tparky123@gmail.com. Left: From left: Gordon Cooney '81, Andrew Parkinson '80, Bruce Crain '82 (honorary brother), Thomas Parkinson '82, Ed Stearns '82, Rob Miller '82, Bruce Bunnell '80, and Earl "Ben" Mix '80. Right: Brothers and friends gather for a celebratory group photo at the finish line of The Prouty at Dartmouth. "Your Xi brothers are your friends for life." Our newest initiates step through the front door and into a lifetime of Xi brotherhood. THOMAS "PARKY" PARKINSON '82 ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND BROTHERHOOD Lifelong Lifelong Bonds Bonds

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