Sigma Phi Epsilon - University of Michigan

page 3 T he fall 2105 semester brought a lot of positives to the Michigan Alpha chapter. Our members continue to strive for academic excellence, and we achieved a strong GPA over the last academic year. We are excited to top our unbelievable fundraising efforts of $42,000 for pediatric cancer research this semester with our annual St. Baldrick's Foundation fundraiser, and we're proud to welcome in an exciting group of new members during winter recruitment. Michigan Alpha GPA Stays above Campus Average In the fall, Michigan Alpha achieved a GPA of 3.396, which ranked 10th on campus. Although we saw a decrease in GPA from the spring 2015 semester when we achieved the highest GPA on campus (3.468), we are proud that we were still able to make the top 10 of 28 chapters in IFC and had a higher GPA than the average campus GPA (3.366). To help our brothers continue to achieve academic success, Aziz Maredia '17 reserved study rooms in the Shapiro Undergraduate Library from Sunday through Friday for the entire semester. Focused on Philanthropic Efforts Our major philanthropic effort this year is our St. Baldrick's Foundation fundraiser, which is in progress and will culminate on April 10. After raising approximately $42,000 for pediatric cancer research last year, we hope to break the $50,000 mark this year. I hope you will consider supporting our fundraising efforts. If you are interested in getting involved or would like to make a donation, please contact Philanthropy Chairman Benjamin Keller '18 at benkellr@gmail.com. a Michigan Wolverine Led Jim Park '59 to Join Michigan Alpha learning about the Venezuelan form of capitalism, and playing basketball for the "Economics" team that traveled by bus throughout Venezuela. While at the Universidad Central de Venezuela, he had two part-time jobs: translating Spanish to English for the embassy and teaching English to young staff working for petroleum companies in Venezuela. Jim's love for Michigan continued as he returned to the university from Venezuela and obtained his MBA in 1961. He served a year in the military based in Fort Devans, Mass., and with the National Security Agency in Washington as a translator. Using his contacts made in Venezuela, Jim joined Price Waterhouse & Co. in Caracas, where he spent four years in the consulting department. While in Caracas, Jim and his former wife, Sally, had two children: Kim (51) and Scott (50). Jim and his family moved to Washington, D.C., for his job with Price Waterhouse & Co., before he was recruited to head the management services department in Tampa, Fla., where he became a manager with the firm. In 1970, Jim received an offer to join Besser Company, the world's leading manufacturer of concrete block-making equipment, which allowed him and his family to move back to Alpena, reigniting his passion for the University of Michigan and the Wolverines. He has been a Michigan football season tickets holder ever since moving back to his hometown and said the seats get better every year. Jim attends every home football game, which has allowed him to visit the chapter house and meet new members several times. "The active chapter is in great shape and represents the principles that are important to the fraternity," he said. Jim's family has followed in his footsteps, and both of his children are University of Michigan graduates. His son, Scott, has a daughter who is a sophomore at the University of Michigan and another daughter who was admitted in 2016. Jim and Sally also have two grandsons who are considering applying to the University of Michigan in the future. Jim has two sisters who graduated from the University of Michigan, and his son-in-law who obtained his M.D. degree from Michigan. Jim stays busy as owner and operator of a community center in Alpena, Mich., which includes four indoor tennis courts, two ballrooms, a gymnastics complex, and several meeting rooms. Jim and his life partner, Georgene Hildebrand, live in Alpena, Mich., and they enjoy playing tennis, golfing, and traveling for Rotary International events. E-mail: jcpark7@icloud.com Jim Park '59 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on January 1, when Michigan beat Florida 41-7. Michigan Alpha Aims to Achieve Academic Excellence SigEp Ranks Top 10 in GPA, Strives to Raise $50,000 toward Philanthropic Endeavors The chapter enjoys participating in our fundraiser for St. Baldrick's. Membership Gains Strength in Numbers During the winter recruitment period, we gained a new class of nine members. We are ecstatic for what the new members will bring to the chapter and how they will help us continue to improve the Michigan Alpha chapter. Alumni Support Enhances Undergraduate Experience I would like to thank our alumni for the continued support. Please feel free to visit, as we always enjoy meeting the men who got us to where we are today. We are excited to continue to strive for academic excellence and raise even more money for pediatric cancer research this semester. HHF, Andrew Vogg '18 Chapter President (630) 740-9404 asvogg@umich.edu

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