Sigma Chi - University of Virginia

T he Psi Chapter of Sigma Chi completed an eventful Spring semester. We built academically on a successful 2014 Fall semester, when we earned a cumulative GPA of 3.407, fourth highest of the thirty-one fraternities at U.Va. PSI CELEBRATES CHAPTER DIVERSITY, GRADUATING SENIORS Our Chapter remains a diverse and active Brotherhood with members representing fourteen different countries including Brazil, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. We boast three Jefferson Scholars, twelve Echols Scholars, and a Lawn resident who continues our ten straight years of Lawn presence. Psi members participate in seven different club and varsity sports and serve in executive positions of many University organizations including the Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC). The Psi Chapter would also like to extend our best wishes to our twenty-eight recent graduates who moved on in May, with some going to graduate school and others entering the workforce at prestigious companies such as Bain and Accenture. SIGMA CHI WELCOMES TWENTY NEW PLEDGES This Spring, we had a very successful recruitment and initiated twenty new members. Our recruitment process included exciting events such as a pig roast, go-karting, and a boat cruise on the Potomac River. We carried this success over to our Derby Days events last semester, and surpassed last year's $13,000 donation to the U.Va. Children's Hospital. We have worked to improve Derby Days by partnering with Dance Marathon, another fundraiser that supports the U.Va. Children's Hospital, and by raising the level of Brother and Pledge participation in new Derby events. SPRING EVENTS UNITE THE BROTHERHOOD The Spring semester held some of the Chapter's favorite social events, with our Bahamas Party being one of our most anticipated. We also hosted Parents' Weekend with events such as visits to local wineries, a golf tournament, and a formal gathering to introduce our parents to our Pledges and Brothers. PSI DEDICATED TO COMMUNITY SERVICE The Chapter plans to continue in Fall 2015 our long tradition of serving the Charlottesville and University communities by volunteering at Madison House and domestic and international charitable organizations in upcoming semesters. One such philanthropy is OneGoal, a student-run charity located on the Grounds that was founded less than two years ago by several Psi '15 Brothers. OneGoal works to promote healthy behavior and relationships by participation in athletics, which we support by collecting used sports equipment and raising money to ship that equipment to our contacts in impoverished villages in South Africa. Currently, OneGoal is attempting to expand by developing working relationships in Haiti, Kenya, and the Congo. Any surplus equipment is donated to Goodwill Industries or to local Charlottesville churches. Conor Kelly '17 is the current president of OneGoal. To all our Alumni Brothers, we are extremely grateful for your support of the Capital Campaign. As Actives, we know its success will not be possible without your help. If you are ever in the area, please stop by the House and meet the newest members of Psi. The door is always open to our and your home. In Hoc, Owen Sperling '16 Consul (203) 979-7121 / oas4bh@virginia.edu www.psiofsigmachi.com Chapter to Build on Strong Momentum Into the Fall Psi Continues Its Success wanting to support an institution at U.Va. that will positively impact generations of Virginia graduates to come. The positive ripple effects of Psi aren't limited to its members." Kurt believes every single Psi Alumnus can find a way to support the Honoring Our Past, Building Our Future campaign. "The living population of Psi Alumni is a little over 1,100. I certainly appreciate the concept of allocating finite resources across competing objectives, so to the extent a Brother is constrained financially, he can still directly support the success of the campaign by spreading the word across his era. A critical mass of broad-based participation across our Alumni population will ensure a successful project that doesn't leave the Chapter House financially burdened." Kurt and his wife, Cameron, a U.Va. alumna, live in Arlington, Virginia, with their children, Declan and Arizona. In his spare time, Kurt does crossfit training and plays golf. You can contact him at kurt.rupprecht@nm.com. Letter from House Corporation President Jim Moore '68 T he announcement of the official launch of the Psi of Sigma Chi's two million dollar Capital Campaign is an exciting milestone in your House Corporation's long-range plans to extend and enhance the life of Psi at 608 Preston Place. For the past several years, the Psi Chapter of Sigma Chi House Corporation, the undergraduate Brothers, and a local architect have worked together to develop plans for the renovation and expansion of our Chapter House. Approval from the city of Charlottesville to proceed with our initiative was obtained after much work by several devoted Psi Alumni. A professional fundraising firm, Pennington & Company, was retained to help us meet our goals, and a Capital Campaign Committee, chaired by Steve Herbert '68 and Bret Holden '83, was formed. For several months, the committee worked quietly to obtain pledges from ninety-one donors, identified on the second page of this newsletter. Now, with the public announcement of the Capital Campaign you are learning about today, the entire Brotherhood of Psi of Sigma Chi will have the opportunity to participate in this much needed project to preserve, for decades to come, our Chapter House at the University of Virginia. More information will be sent to you in the coming weeks as to how you can join those already committed to the Honoring Our Past, Building Our Future Capital Campaign. Your support is essential to our success.

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