Sigma Phi Delta - University of Illinois

DELTA DISPATCH 3 FINDING A HOME When I started my freshman spring semester, I was looking to make more friends and get more involved with campus organizations. One day, I received an email from Sigma Phi Delta about their recruitment events. At first, I didn't take any action, but after suffering through a particularly bad dorm meal, I remembered that SPD was hosting a wing night. That was all the motivation I needed—I decided to stop by the house for their traditional "Game Night." The moment I walked in, I immediately connected with the guys and felt right at home. SPD labels itself as a "social-professional fraternity," and that description couldn't be more accurate. The social aspect made my time in the fraternity unforgettable—I had an absolute blast living in the house with the guys for two years. But beyond that, SPD provided an incredible professional network. Collaborating with other undergraduates as engineers helped me grow academically and professionally. The exposure to alumni, who offered invaluable experience and advice, significantly influenced my career trajectory. There are countless great memories from my time at SPD, but one of my favorite traditions was our chapter meetings. Getting everyone together weekly for dinner and then handling fraternity business was always a highlight. It was a perfect way to catch up, stay connected and, of course, round up friends for our regular Monday night trip to KAMS afterward. CAREER AND GOALS My decision to pursue civil engineering was heavily influenced by my grandfather, who was a civil engineer at Illinois and one of my biggest role models. I've also been fascinated by trains for as long as I can remember, so once I realized that railroads hired civil engineers, my mind was made up. For the past four years, I have worked as a project engineer at Brightline, a high-speed railroad startup in Florida. I helped develop the organization responsible for maintaining the railroad and supported maintenance operations to ensure our track and structures stayed in top condition. In May, I'll be starting a new role as an asset system analyst for Metra, Chicagoland's commuter railroad. LIFELONG IMPACT When I first joined SPD, I was a quiet and relatively uninvolved freshman. By the time I graduated, I had become much more outgoing, and I credit a lot of that to the fraternity. The daily social interactions and the leadership opportunities within the house pushed me out of my shell and forced me to engage more actively. That personal growth has paid off immensely, especially as I moved far away from friends and family to start my career. I'll always have a special bond with my fellow pledge brothers from spring 2017: David Budzik '21, Matt Mujumdar '19, Div Nagpaul '19, and Mason Rosenberg '20. We were a small but mighty group, and growing up together was an amazing experience. LIFE AFTER GRADUATION I relocated from Orlando to Chicago in April. Outside of work, I'm a huge Illini fan and try to watch any and every game I can, across all sports. In my free time, I love playing in adult kickball leagues and dabbling in tournament poker. If you'd like to catch up, send me an email at jacob.rajlich@gmail.com. Jacob Rajlich '21 Shares How SPD Shaped His Story On the Right Track Chief Engineer Josh Loomstein '26 Vice Chief Engineer David Adam '26 Assistant House Manager and Network Chairman Levente Deák '26 Philanthropy and External Chairman Hama Otry '25 Historian Alex Luckett '27 Business Manager Andy Trujillo '27 Recruitment Chairmen Zach Perkins '26 Andrew Pressley '27 Mitchell Wetherill '27 Nicholas Adam '28 Chaplain Cole Profitt '26 Social Chairman and Commissar Jacob Stocco '25 EOH Canyue Wang '26 Secretary and EOH Sam Royer '27 Social Chairman Hrishi Kini '25 Pledgemaster Dev Desai '26 Risk Manager Christopher Taylor '26 Merchandise Chairman Nathaniel McGough '26 Athletic Chairman James Douglas '28 Philanthropy Chairman Owen Shin '26 CHAPTER OFFICERS CHAPTER OFFICERS John S. Perry '59 was pleased to visit the chapter house twice in the last year. First, during Founders Week, and later on, with his grandsons Aidan and James, his daughter, and his son-in-law, Mike, an Illinois graduate in civil engineering. "The brothers were most hospitable and encouraging, both toward Illinois engineering and SPD." John lives in La Grange, Ill. Email: johnperry3@mac.com Glen A. Zumwalt '63 owned and operated three businesses: Big Pine Sports, Good Time Rentals, and Sand Cars. He sold them in 2013 and has since volunteered. Glen's organizations include the Silver Reef Foundation, Lions Club, and Tri State ATV Club. He's also a Trail Steward, overseeing public trails and cultural and historic sites. Glen lives in Leeds, Utah. Email: glenzum@gmail.com Alumni News Alumni News

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