Lambda Chi Alpha - North Carolina State University

GUZ BUZ 3 E arning a bachelor's degree in engineering is not easy. And it wasn't any easier back in 1975 for Mike Gwyn, GU 735. Mike came to North Carolina State ready to focus on engineering and had no intentions of joining a Fraternity when he arrived and he really didn't know much about the process. He ended up going through recruitment with others from his dorm primarily for the social events that took place. The moment came when the group ended up at the Lambda Chi house where Mike says, "It's hard to describe, but there was just a different feeling from the other houses." Two weeks later, Mike found himself as an Associate Member. He remembers Fred Comer, GU 702, Ben Adams, GU 723, David Bennett, GU 688, Ron Lapine, GU 725, Rod Rabold, GU 714, John Moore, GU 727, John Lytton, TU 443 and many others treating him as if he was already one of them. Mike enjoyed the following years at his time living in the chapter house. He served as Alpha, Kappa, and was the steward for the kitchen one year. "It was an honor to serve as Alpha but I really enjoyed being Kappa for two years and working with the Associate Members," Mike said. He also recalls two alumni who impacted his own time at the Chapter. "John Kanipe, GU 495 and Jerry Lassiter, GU 567 were involved in the Chapter and both had an influence on me in their own unique style. They both had and continue to share a deep and mature appreciation for and a conviction to the brotherhood," Mike said. Mike described the Chapter House as an anchor not only for the brothers who were living in it, but also for alumni who were drawn back to their old home. He has many fond memories from the time he lived in the Lambda Chi house: the start of the Morning Mixer social event; creating a Homecoming banner when he was an Associate Member; going to football games on the bus; and numerous community and charity events including the dribble-thon to the ACC tournament in Greensboro 70 miles away. The common key to all of these was the Chapter House. "That home was the anchor for all of these activities that are now fond memories," Mike said. Graduating from NC State with five job offers, Mike recalls at all of these interviews that those hiring were just as interested in his involvement with the Fraternity as his grades in his major and academic education in school. He is currently the president of The Benham Companies, which is a subsidiary of Haskell, a full service architecture and engineering design and design-build company. Living in Charlotte, N.C., Mike has the chance to go back and visit NC State from time to time. Mike says he is very impressed with the accomplishments of the active Chapter, "The men in the house now are making us look bad!" Mike and others near his class year say. When thinking about why he decided to contribute to the LCA: A Legacy of Excellence Continues campaign, Mike said, "It's a big piece of the greater puzzle. The Chapter needs the anchor that is the house and a magnet for alumni to come back to. I want young men to have the same full experience that I was able to enjoy. We really need everyone to get on board and contribute in a way that is meaningful to them. We have to maximize this opportunity to build an anchor for the Chapter." Mike and his wife, Claire, have been married for 34 years. They have two daughters, Madeline and Mairin. Mike enjoys spending time at Kiawah Island with his family, playing golf, and watching Wolfpack sports. You can reach him at mike.gwyn@benham.com. CREATING A NEW ANCHOR FOR LAMBDA CHI Mike Gwyn, GU 735 Shares Why He Gives Back to Gamma Upsilon WELCOME, SPRING 2016 NEW MEMBERS Kelby Berling, GU 1336 Richmond, Va. Zachary Bowen, GU 1337 Goldsboro, N.C. Jonathon Davis, GU 1338 Advance, N.C. Thomas Folk, GU 1339 Charlotte, N.C. Caleb Gellert, GU 1340 Pinehurst, N.C. Alex Goddard, GU 1341 Currituck, N.C. Brian Hendrick, GU 1342 Ft. Campbell, N.C. Hunter Lyons, GU 1343 Fayetteville, N.C. Andrew Priest, GU 1344 Doylestown, Pa. Cameron Shaffer, GU 1345 Cary, N.C. Matthew Stanaland, GU 1346 Myrtle Beach, S.C. Paul Tennison, GU 1347 Greenville, N.C. Right: Gamma Upsilon's graduating class of 2016. Top left to right: Will Bennett, GU 1241, Graham Bowers, GU 1231, David Naccouzzi, GU 1248, Josh Hull, GU 1261, Park Groves, GU 1308, Beau White, GU 1239, Erik Fisher, GU 1234. Bottom left to right: Matthew Westbrook, GU 1238, William Whitacre, GU 1252, Ivey Griffin, GU 1243, Mic Sugar, GU 1251, Malcolm Benitz, GU 1229, Justin Rose, GU 1250.

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