2O21
ABOUT THE INSIDE THIS EDITION:
Letter from the Chair 2
Statistics 3
2021 Scholarships
Psi U Beacon
The Psi U Beacon is an annual publication of the Psi Upsilon Foundation produced each June. The Beacon focuses on the scholarship award winners of the year and emphasizes the promising work these men and women are focusing their education and training on. Feedback and suggestions for future content or to sponsor this publication can be directed to jonathan@psiu.org.
Foundation
Scholarship
PRESIDENT & CHAIR
Gary Pan, Eta ‘86 (Lehigh University) • Served since 2010
BOA R D OF D I R EC TOR S
4
Alexander C. Senchak, Eta ‘06
Graduate Winners
Matthew J. Eckenrode, Epsilon Nu ‘04
5-6
New FishFund Scholarships 6
FishFund Scholars 7-8
Graduate Winners 9-10
Under Graduate Winners 11-12
Remembering Bill King 13
Where are They Now? 14
VICE CHAIR
C H A I R E M E R I TU S
Patrick J. Gilrane, Psi ‘83 S E C R E TA R Y
Martin Brayboy, Gamma ‘84 TR E A S U R E R
John F. H. Ong, Gamma ‘82 D I R E C TO R S
Garrett Gleim, Tau ‘01 Doug Jackman, Omega ‘89 Gary G. Pan, Eta ‘86 Larry Rakers, Omicron ‘86 P A S T C H A I R S / P R E S I DE N TS
Mark D. Bauer, Omega ‘83 Charles M. Hall, Nu Alpha ‘71 Thomas T. Hanford, Gamma ‘62 Samuel J. Tinaglia, Omega ‘88
D I R E C TO R O F ME MB E R E N G A G E ME N T
Jonathan M Chaffin, Gamma Tau ‘00 D I R ECTO R O F A DM I N I S TR A TI O N
Bethann Taylor D ON O R R E L A TI O N S MA N A G E R
Renee Beck
ABOUT OUR
Scholarship Program
The award of Psi Upsilon Foundation scholarships is based upon demonstrated achievement in the pursuit of moral, intellectual and social excellence. Awards include a grant to be used in meeting the recipient’s qualified educational expenses. Awards in amounts greater than the grant may be provided based upon a demonstration of financial need. Applicants are not required to demonstrate financial need in order to qualify for a grant. Members of all chapters, provisional chapters, owl clubs, and colonies are eligible to apply and shall be given due consideration without regard to race, creed, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, or other potentially discriminatory basis.
L I ST I N G COMM I T T EE
Richard A. Rasmussen, Upsilon ‘72 (University of Rochester) • Served since 1991 James A. Swanke, Jr., Rho ‘80 (The University of Wisconsin) • Served since 2012 Michael Thibideau, Epsilon Nu ‘11 (Michigan State University) • Served since 2019 Alexander Senchak, Eta ‘06 (Lehigh University) • Served since 2019 Sarah Mayo, Chi Delta ‘15 (Duke University) • Served since 2020 Thomas T. Allan IV, Theta Theta ‘89 (University of Washington) • Served since 2020 Jonathan Chaffin, Gamma Tau ‘00 (Georgia Institute of Technology) • Served since 2020 Robert Dorigo Jones, Epsilon Nu ‘85 (Michigan State University) • Served since 2020 Sheree Metzner • Served since 2020 Evan Terry, Epsilon Phi ‘93 (McGill University) • Served since 1996
From the Scholarship Committee Chair
ENDOW A
RICHARD RASMUSSEN, UPSILON ’72
The Psi Upsilon Foundation Scholarship Program is one of those prominent intersections of the objectives of both Psi Upsilon and the colleges and universities across the United States and Canada at which our undergraduate chapters are located. This year’s cohort of Psi U Scholarship recipients, one of our strongest ever, clearly demonstrates the link between what we hope to achieve within Psi U and the missions of our host institutions. Psi Upsilon exists due to the sufferance and support of its colleges and universities. Colleges and universities are unique institutions, as are fraternities. They are among the very few institutions across the globe that can measure their longevity in centuries, not just years. Beyond that there is something more that makes us truly unique. Colleges and universities are first and last about knowledge — its pursuit and discovery, its transmission, and its wise and effective use for the betterment of society. To achieve these ends colleges and universities are totally dependent upon people. These institutions thrive because of people like our scholarship recipients who are curious, willing to commit to something larger than themselves, passionate about what they do, able to work in teams and to collaborate effectively, skilled at overcoming barriers, able to confront failure and turn it into opportunity, committed to continuous learning and growth, seeking to make a difference, and determined to persist. People who demonstrate these attributes are inexorably linked to the academy’s ability to achieve its mission and to serve society. These are precisely the qualities that come from the Psi Upsilon Fraternity experience and which we celebrate through the Psi Upsilon Foundation Scholarship Program. There is no better laboratory for developing these skills than a fraternity that consistently teaches and reinforces its values and ideals. Psi Upsilon provides that opportunity to its members, not just during their undergraduate tenure, but for a lifetime. If you examine the scholarship applications, personal statements, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and service resumes of our scholarship winners you will find that Psi Upsilon has played a transformative role in shaping these young men and women into the servant-leaders they have become. It is abundantly clear that their personal experiences with Psi U have had a profound impact on their lives and one that they value dearly. They have achieved the highest levels of academic success. Beyond that, it is also clear that they exhibit a passion to pursue their chosen careers and fields of study in a manner that will enable them to be leaders in their fields and to make significant contributions to society. These honorees have also been generous with their time. They have served in multiple leadership roles within their chapters; they have contributed in significant ways to other campus organizations; and they have spent countless hours planning, leading, and conducting service projects for their communities. Perhaps most importantly they serve as role models for their chapters and beyond. The Psi Upsilon Scholarships they will receive will help them meet the financial challenges they face as they continue their education and professional training. These scholarships will also foster their continued involvement in their respective chapters and alumni organizations. This cohort of highly successful individuals represent the very best of Psi Upsilon. They have achieved much, and we expect they will become the leaders of tomorrow. We are proud of them. We congratulate them, wish them continued success, and look forward to their contributions to Psi U and the communities in which they will reside. They are the beacon light that will ever burst from old Psi U! 2
Named Fund: Significant permanent scholarship and other program funding mainly come from endowment gifts. Through the Foundation’s endowment, the gift is invested and only a portion of the interest income is used to support the scholarship. The principal is not spent so the fund and the resulting award remain in perpetuity. The donor, or group of donors, may name the endowment and pledge to fund it over time with an outright gift of cash, appreciated securities, or through a bequest in the donor’s will. The minimum amount needed to fund a named award is $50,000; an amount that will generate annual grants of $2,000–$2,500 To discuss initiating a new fund please contact Alexander Senchak, Eta’06,
Chair and President at asenchak@psiu.org
Statistics L EA D E R S H I P P O S I TI O N S H E L D
C LA SS Y EA RS IN C L U D I N G GRAD STUD EN T S
2023 30%
2019 3%
2017 3%
2011 6%
B Y TH E N U MB ERS
AVERAGE GPA:
2022 6% 2021 6%
3.478
Recruitment (Rush Chair) / New Member Education
AVERAGE SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT FOR UNDERGRADS:
$1,352
Archon (President) Philanthropy Chair / Service Chair
FOR THOSE WITH FINANCIAL NEED, NEXT YEAR’S SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS HAVE AN AVERAGE UNMET NEED OF NEARLY
2022 46% GENDER
He/Him 88% Them/They 3%
She/Her 9%
House Manager / Steward (Acquisitions Chair) Jboard/Morals & Standards/Brotherhood Improvement
$24,181 AND REPORTED ACCUMULATED STUDENT LOANS OF
Academic Chair Second Angelos (External Vice President)
$56,531 WE WERE PLEASED TO AWARD 34 BROTHERS WITH GRANTS RANGING FROM
Pledge Class Leadership
$500-$4,250 THIS YEAR!
COURSES OF ST U D Y
Grammateus Social Chair Social Media Chair First Angelos Philanthropy organizer Secretary (Executive Officer)
3%
6%
Accounting Business Administration Chemistry Education Environmental science History Integrated Marketing Communication Philosophy, Politics Political Science/International Relations Physics Sociology Psychology
Commerce Computer Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering Neuroscience, Biology
9% Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering
11% Finance Doctoral Medicine/Biology
20% Economics
OUR 27 UNDERGRAD RECIPIENTS HIGHLIGHTED A TOTAL OF 68 CHAPTER LEADERSHIP POSITIONS 3 RETURNING GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
FOR OUR
34 WINNERS 51 BROTHERS WROTE 72 RECOMMENDATIONS
CHAPTERS REPRESENTED Alpha Omicron NJIT Chi Delta Duke University Epsilon Iota RPI Epsilon Nu Michigan State University Eta Lehigh Gamma Tau Georgia Institute of Technology Lambda Sigma Pepperdine University Omega Chicago Phi Michigan Phi Nu Christopher Newport University Pi Syracuse University Psi Hamilton College Tau University of Pennsylvania Xi Wesleyan Zeta Dartmouth Zeta Zeta University of British Columbia 3
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2021-22
Psi Upsilon Scholarship Award Recipients GRADUATE RECIPIENTS:
Lewis Finkelstein, Omicron 1983 Awards
Henry B. Poor, Gamma 1939 Awards
Matthew Dickey, Zeta Zeta ’17 (UBC) Doctor of Medicine UBC
Christina A. Del Carpio, Chi Delta ‘11 (Duke) Ecology and Evolutionary Biology – UCLA
Don R. Nguyen, Epsilon Nu ’20 (Michigan State) Master of Science in Global Health – Duke
Lorenzo Lindo, Zeta Zeta ’19 (UBC) MSc Interdisciplinary Oncology UBC Department of Medicine
FishFund Awards
Psi Upsilon Foundation Graduate Scholarship Award 2021
Thomas Graham, Psi ’21 (Hamilton) Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) – Physics TBD
Chris Kizer, Chi Delta ‘12 (Duke) Master of Education in College Counseling and Student Development. NC State
David L. Mealie, Epsilon Iota ’20 (RPI) Masters of Aerospace Engineering RPI
UNDERGRADUATE RECIPIENTS: Albert C. Jacobs, Phi ‘21 Award
J. Russell McShane, Delta ‘32 Award
• Salim Roland, Tau ‘22 (Pennsylvania)
• Stephen Kurilla, Alpha Omicron ‘22 (NJIT) • Harald Erici, Tau ‘22 (Pennsylvania)
Benjamin T. Burton, Chi ‘21 Award
Jerome W. Brush, Jr., Delta Delta ‘39 Award
• Michael Graff, Pi ‘22 (Syracuse)
• Juo Shuen Lee, Gamma Tau ‘21 (Georgia Tech)
Curtis J. Rettke, Eta ‘84 Award
Jonathan E. Persky, Omega ‘85 Award
• Thaddeus Janowski, Eta ‘23 (Lehigh)
• Dylan White, Omega ‘23 (Chicago)
Earl D. Babst, Iota-Phi ‘93
Michael D. Oberg, Theta Theta ‘88 Award
• Kush Pandey, Tau ‘23 (Pennsylvania)
• Yury Onikashvili, Zeta Zeta ‘22 (UBC) • Mustafa Ozbag , Zeta Zeta ‘22 (UBC)
Eric W. Didul, Phi Beta ‘90 Award
• Zachary Kempf, Phi Nu ‘23 (Christopher Newport)
Paul D. Friday, Theta Theta ‘26 Award
Francis C. Hardie, Omicron-Zeta ‘18 • Dylan Spector, Zeta ‘22 (Dartmouth)
• Chaewoon Song, Zeta Zeta ‘22 (UBC) • Brendan Woodward, Zeta Zeta ‘22 (UBC)
Gardner A. Callanen, Psi ‘29 Award
R. DeWitt Wallace, Epsilon ‘14 Award
• Solomon Kim, Lambda Sigma ‘22 (Pepperdine) • Matthew Lewis, Lambda Sigma ‘22 (Pepperdine)
• Max Freeman, Tau ‘23 (Pennsylvania)
Gregg E. Rohlin, Phi ‘83 Award
R. Timothy Leedy, Phi ‘57 Award
• Zachary Kaufman, Phi ‘23 (Michigan)
• Jared Holmes, Zeta Zeta ‘22 (UBC)
Henry B. Poor, Gamma ‘39 Award • • • • •
Robert W. Morey, Pi ‘20 Award
Lily Cooper, Chi Delta ‘22 (Duke) Hannah Kubik, Chi Delta ‘23 (Duke) Nicholas Hamilton, Tau ‘23 (Pennsylvania) Nicolas Herrerias, Tau ‘23 (Pennsylvania) Lucas Rempel, Zeta Zeta ‘22 (UBC)
• Paul Gagliardi, Pi ‘22 (Syracuse)
Robert W. Parsons, Xi ‘22 Award • Norm Cotteleer, Xi ‘22 (Wesleyan)
William P. King, Omicron ‘73 Award
• Sajni Saravanan, Gamma Tau ‘23 (Georgia Tech) 4
GRADUATE RECIPIENT SPOTLIGHT
MatthewDickey • Zeta Zeta ’17
LEWIS FINKELSTEIN, OMICRON ’83 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD Matthew was born and raised in Popkum, British Columbia, a rural town of only 1000 people. Due to their isolation, they struggled with access to healthcare. For Matthew’s whole life, he witnessed unnecessary human suffering in his community, either from lack of physicians or health resources in general. Popkum is not alone in these experiences. With Canada having one of the lowest population densities in the world, there are communities all over the country who struggle with access to healthcare, and people die because of it. This motivated Matthew to provide medical aid to the rural and remote communities who need it most. Driven by a lifelong passion for science, desire to save lives, and drive to be a leader, Matthew decided to pursue a seat at University of British Columbia Medical School and was accepted. He chose UBC not only for its stellar reputation and holistic approach to training doctors, but also for its focus on healthcare specific to BC, his home, and the province he plans to work in. The distributed UBC MD Program is highly competitive, admitting and educating students who will be equipped to address the current and future healthcare needs of British Columbia. Only 288 students are admitted each year from a pool of over 2,000 applicants. While Matthew can make a difference on the local level, he hopes the influence he will gain as a doctor will allow him to advocate for all rural communities within the province. In addition, he hopes to get involved in these communities and inspire other students from rural areas such as his own to
“I can’t talk about my successes without mentioning Psi Upsilon. This group of extraordinary gentlemen gave me the support and the experience I needed to achieve all my goals.” pursue medical school, which is one of the most competitive programs in Canada. Many students from rural towns never even consider pursuing this due to a lack of opportunities to build a strong application. This is an issue because students from rural backgrounds are the ones most likely to return to rural areas to practice as doctors. Matthew’s professional objectives are to graduate from his program as a physician and subsequently obtain a surgical residency. After becoming a surgeon, he hopes to work in a rural community in Canada that needs one. Matthew’s intellectual objectives are to continue learning about his specialty for as long as he practices medicine. One of the educational pillars at UBC Medicine is that of “scholar”, which includes becoming a life-long learner. The field of medicine is constantly changing and improving, so it is imperative that graduates continue educating themselves outside of school for the benefit of patients and their quality of life. Even after retirement, it is hoped that doctors will return to the faculty to teach the next generation of medical students. Matthew hopes that one day he is able to do this.
“ Matthew’s commitment, work ethic, and natural ability to be disciplined are the reasons he is going to make a fantastic doctor.” — Mark Kopani, Zeta Zeta ’18
About our cover. On the left, Lorenzo Lindo, Zeta Zeta ‘19 (University of British Columbia) plys his trade in the lab. Lorenzo was recently awarded the prestigious CIHR Frederick Banting and Charles Best Scholar award. On the right, David L. Mealie, Epsilon Iota ‘20 (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), takes his first steps toward a career reaching for space alongside Psi U brothers - he writes “I only have one photo of myself working, it was taken on the day of my first successful test fire of an EARLY prototype of what would become my masters research. On the left is brother Brass Perkins, Epsilon Iota ‘22, and on the right is brother Rose Bollerman, Epsilon Iota ‘22. 5
GRADUATE RECIPIENT SPOTLIGHT
Lorenzo Lindo
• Zeta Zeta ’19
Henry B. Poor, Gamma 1939 Awards One of Lorenzo Lindo’s motivations for joining the Zeta Zeta of Psi Upsilon was the chapter’s significant philanthropic efforts and community service. Upon joining, Lindo immediately got involved by starting to work with brothers organizing philanthropy events. From them, Lindo learned the ropes of organizing philanthropy projects and how to rally the Chapter to work together. The following year, Lindo ran for Philanthropy Chairman and was elected. “A major issue at UBC is that of student mental health because of this, my first event was to raise funds for the Movember Foundation, which raises awareness and supports projects benefiting youth mental health.” Lindo organized and executed MoFlips, one of the most successful events the Zeta Zeta chapter has run and donated 100% of proceeds to the Movember Foundation. He also organized Psi-U-Think-YouCan-Score, a soccer tournament that raised money to support the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, the same hospital that cured his sister’s leukemia and that cared for brother Ryan Bell, Zeta Zeta ’20, who battled congenital defects in his immune system throughout his childhood years. Lindo was also invited into Order of Omega and was elected VP of Programming. He organized and executed a successful Songfest 2019 with over 500 people in attendance and awarded the winning chapters with donations to their philanthropy of choice. In his free time, Lindo enjoys spending time outdoors either hiking, snorkeling, or bouldering. His other passions include playing the guitar and weightlifting. He is also a proponent for the knowledge translation of science (to help educate and involve the public in the advancements of science) and an advocate for the funding of scientific research projects. As a graduate from UBC, Lindo recognizes that Psi U was a major part of his life. He considers himself an “active alumnus” of the chapter as he still visits the house and meets the new members. He prides himself in helping guide the younger students and members by providing insight on academic endeavors, career advice, and personal life. “As an active alumnus, I hope to be able to inspire other young Psi U’s and guide them on their paths to success.” Lindo aspires to become a clinician-scientist in oncology, that is, to become both a cancer doctor who treats patients, and researcher, who develops novel therapeutic strategies. He is currently enrolled in the UBC MSc in Interdisciplinary Oncology Program to gain cancer research experience to help prepare for medical school and residency. Lindo has decided to dedicate his life to studying cancers and to develop better and more effective therapies with less side effects after watching his sister, mother, and grandmother all battle cancer and come through the other side. In April 2021, owing to his research successes so far in his career, Lindo was awarded the prestigious CIHR Frederick Banting and Charles Best Scholarship, Canada’s top master’s-level award.
FishFund enables new scholarships, fellowships, and venture network
The Psi Upsilon Foundation FishFund equips brothers with the skills and network to succeed in venture development, and encourages all brothers to discover their entrepreneurial spirit. The Fund increases scholarships/fellowships to deserving brothers -- and also initiates new activities to support an innovative venture network of brothers/entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors. Established 2021 with a transformational commitment by brother Joe Cillo, Delta ’61 (NYU), FishFund promotes “thinking big” and leveraging our network of talented, successful brothers. The name, derived from the concept of learning to fish as a means of harvesting ideas that change the world, aligns with our emphasis on personal growth at every life stage, which can result in impactful changes in our communities and world. Psi U has a long history of trailblazing entrepreneurs. The FishFund focuses on programs to activate that spirit even more. The Fund, with brothers who participate, enables a powerful network, with a big splash far beyond our inner fraternity. To learn more about the FishFund and ways to participate, contact Alex Senchak at asenchak@psiu.org
The FishFund Is Designed To: •Honor •Support •Educate •Facilitate
GRADUATE RECIPIENT SPOTLIGHT
David L. Mealie • Epsilon Iota ’20 FISHFUND SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
The values of Psi Upsilon have always included the development of the young person for their personal benefit as well as the benefit of their community. Brother David Mealie exemplifies these values showing how those values can shine in a person and how that person in turn benefits those around them. While David began his career at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) as a mechanical engineer he quickly changed over his studies to aerospace engineering and never looked back. His enthusiasm for rockets is described as “infectious” even by those who do not share his major. All of this enthusiasm is coupled with a driven work ethic that helps bring all of these dreams to fruition. During his undergraduate years he maintained a 3.7/4.0 GPA, placing him in the top 15% of students in his program. During his undergraduate years David showed a commitment not just to his academic success but to the brotherhood and his community. Leadership within the fraternity began as the social chair where David made special efforts to organize innovative joint events with other fraternities as well as other RPI organizations. David’s work continued in this vein as he eventually rose to the rank of Internal Vice-President where he continued his outreach to other campus organizations. His involvement with the brotherhood goes beyond mere responsibilities and he’s taken undergraduate brothers on outings to see the rockets he’s working on. His focus has been on hybrid rocket engines with swirling oxidizer that, according to his faculty adviser, is “quite unique with respect to historical literature and the knowledge base developed for hybrid propellant motors” and that he expects this to lead to new insights in the field.
“Any challenge that pushes you beyond the limits of possibility is worth pursuing with foolhardy vigor Ad Astra Per Aspera, through hardship to the stars!”
His commitment to academic passions as well as the bonds of brotherhood have led David to his current pursuit of staying at RPI for his masters. Indeed, during his undergraduate career David participated in an accelerated program to take graduate level courses during his undergraduate days and to graduate sooner. David cites two reasons for continuing his masters at his undergraduate alma mater: to continue his research with the same mentor and to continue his friendships and bonds with his friends and Psi Upsilon brothers as “the closest friends I’ve ever had by my side.” In addition to his academic and personal commitments, David is working with the start-up launch provider, Vaya Space, helping to develop the first commercial rocket powered by the very same engines he is researching. Personally, David is described by friends as a warm and energetic person. He plays the bass guitar with his best friend and fellow brother, if not as often as he’d prefer on account of graduate school. Those who have worked with him describe him as reliable and the first to volunteer any time that a brother is in need.
“ It is inspiring to see the amazing people who decide to join and lead Psi Upsilon’s chapters across the US and Canada. Our brotherhood continues to exist because of these young leaders... and everything we can do to help with their education is a blessing” — Michael Thibideau, Epsilon Nu ‘11 77
GRADUATE RECIPIENT SPOTLIGHT
Thomas Graham • Psi ’21
FISHFUND SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
During his undergraduate studies at Hamilton College, Thomas Graham participated in a Research Seminar course and senior thesis. During the Research Seminar, Thomas proved himself to be a smart, ambitious, and capable student. Professor Gordon Jones called him a pleasure to work with, saying of Thomas, “I feel more like I am working with a colleague or a highly competent graduate student than with an undergraduate senior.” During class discussions, Thomas was clearly one of the top few students in the group. Professor Jones tried to run the seminar with as little of his own voice as possible, paying particular attention to students who could see the solutions to experimental problems without guidance. When the class discussion started going off on a tangent, it was nice knowing that Thomas could be relied upon to get a solid idea that would put the class back on track and let them move forward. Thomas was confident and willing to speak, but did not force his opinions on the class. He was able to see where the professor was herding the class, but patient enough to let the class get there on their own. He was able to work independently, his experimental results were solid, and he seemed to enjoy the challenge of analyzing data. In addition to his excellent academic performance, Tom Graham has a history of leadership within the Psi Chapter and beyond. He served as Thesauristes during the Fall 2019 semester and First Angelos during the Spring and Fall 2020 semesters. To say Tom was heavily relied upon by the Executive Board of the Psi chapter while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic would be an understatement. His experience, calm demeanor, and analytical skills were instrumental in many of the discussions had regarding the fraternity and operations. Tom knows all too well how thankless leadership roles can be,
“I have been lucky to find some of my best friends in Psi Upsilon, and I hope to bring the values the Psi has instilled in us into my future research.” and yet he served his chapter dutifully while maintaining one of the highest GPAs in the fraternity. Maintaining a high GPA at a toptier school like Hamilton while serving on the Executive Board is an accomplishment in and of itself, but to do so as a physics major is downright astounding. As if that weren’t enough, Tom is a 4-year member of Hamilton’s varsity golf team and has been a captain since his junior year. In short, Tom wears many hats at Hamilton and yet still somehow manages to exceed expectations in every way. Following his graduation from Hamilton College, Thomas Graham is planning to start a PhD program in physics at Boston College in the fall. His goal is to work on new electronics and analyze their results and performance. Over the course of his studies and internships, Thomas discovered that his interests lie in analyzing data and creating or improving electronics to better understand systems. Ideally, he would do this in the field of quantum electronics and quantum computing because algorithms and quantum mechanics have been among his most interesting and challenging courses. While all of the institutions Thomas applied to have research groups that he wanted to contribute to with professors who are making important strides in the field of quantum devices, he has chosen Boston College next year for his PhD and will be working with Professor Brian Zhou in his lab on Quantum Spintronics. Thomas was recently elected to be an associate member of Sigma Xi, the international Scientific Research Honor Society.
“ Brother Tom exemplifies fidelity, and his love for the fraternity knows no bounds.” — Andrew Charman, Psi ’21 9 8
GRADUATE RECIPIENT SPOTLIGHT
Don R. Nguyen •
ChristinaDel Carpio •
Epsilon Nu ’20
Lewis Finkelstein, Omicron 1983 Award
Chi Delta ’11
Henry B. Poor, Gamma 1939 Award
Being the son of immigrants who came to America for a better life, Don Nguyen was taught about the great value of education and the vast doors it can open. Nguyen took great pride in this value, and helped instill it within the Epsilon Nu Chapter, helping the brotherhood rise to the top for fraternity GPAs. Throughout his undergraduate career Nguyen held numerous leadership positions and participated in many philanthropic efforts. He served as the Vice President of Community Relations on the Interfraternity Council for Michigan State University, which raised over $110,000 from its Greek Week. In addition, he served on the University Student Commission, a student government body that meets regularly with the East Lansing Mayor and other city officials. “When I have free time, I love to immerse myself in both videography and photography.” Self-taught through YouTube videos and reading books, Nguyen learned the fundamentals of photos and videos, and jumping into the new age of digital media. Today he owns his own freelance videography company, DNG Productions, which has done projects for Michigan State University, Title Boxing Club, lululemon, and more. During his last year of college, Nguyen served as the academic chair for the Epsilon Nu chapter at Michigan State and started initiatives that include brotherhood tutoring, Dean’s list rewards, and brother study hours. His prior positions include serving on the Justice Board for enforcing chapter rules and laws, the Housing Committee for repairing and improving house amenities, and as Philanthropy Chair where he helped raise over $14,000 for a local charity in Michigan. “I may have graduated [last] Spring, but I will be a Spartan forever and a Psi U for just as long.” Nguyen currently attends Duke University pursuing a Masters of Science in Global Health where he works as a research assistant in the Duke One Health Laboratory. He plans to complement his training with an M.D. degree and utilize his education to treat illnesses, while using research to push the frontiers of science and medicine. As Don begins this new decade in his 20s, he hopes to continue making close-knit friends that he will long be connected with. East Lansing was an amazing home for Nguyen, and he is proud to call Durham his current one. “This scholarship will relieve much of the financial burden that plagues higher education, and give me the freedom to receive the best possible training I can, to make a difference in the world of global health.”
Tina Del Carpio began leading early and never stopped. As a pledge, Tina took an unofficial role as pledge class president where they ensured that their class exceeded expectations. Two weeks after initiation, the Chi Delta brothers elected them Second Angelos. During their senior year, Del Carpio received recognition with the Chi Delta Alumni Association (CDAA) scholarship, the Francis C. Hardie Psi Upsilon Foundation scholarship, and elected as an alternate member of the Undergraduate Advisory Board at the 167th Convention at the University of Illinois. After graduation, Del Carpio began work as a lab instructor at Duke and remained heavily involved with the chapter, becoming a mentor and advisor to many brothers, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds studying in STEM fields. When they entered their Ph.D. program several years ago, Del Carpio determined to earn their degree and become a professor. Since then, their experiences as an underrepresented student navigating the challenges of graduate school has revealed how poorly institutions support the diverse populations they recruit. Del Carpio founded the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Mental Health Group focused on improving institutional support for graduate student mental health. In this capacity, they gave talks on how to access mental health care with the University of California, Los Angeles’ (UCLA) resources. Beyond UCLA, they maintain a blog titled “the Anxious PhD Student” (www.AnxiousPhDBlog.com) with the goal of normalizing conversations around mental health in academia. They mentored underrepresented minority students through the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS). They also serve as a board member of the Scientific Excellence through Diversity Seminar Series program. Currently Del Carpio pursues a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCLA. Mentoring underrepresented minority students in the sciences inspires their personal interest, as their parents are both immigrants from Latin America. “My family’s limited experience with higher educati\on means that I navigate graduate school without their guidance; however, I have reached the current point in my career with the assistance of multiple mentors.” Looking forward they wish to continue this cycle of mentorship by working in higher education in a position focused on the retention of underrepresented students in science graduate programs. As Del Carpio continues their PhD, they have found their calling in advocating for the needs of graduate students. Del Carpio one day hopes to continue their stand for those who are less fortunate than them, to overcome similar challenges. 9
GRADUATE RECIPIENT SPOTLIGHT
Chris Kizer • Chi Delta ‘12
PSI UPSILON FOUNDATION GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
college counseling track, he will also be taking classes with students interested in clinical or K-12 counseling. At the end of the program, he will have sufficient training to become a licensed counselor in any field. North Carolina State’s School of Education is well-regarded in the United States, especially in Chris’ home state of North Carolina. The Master of Education in College Counseling and Student Development is a much broader approach to counseling than the title belies, which opens many more doors after graduation than simply working in a university’s counseling and psychological services center. Logistically, this is a part-time, mostly online program that Chris can pursue without leaving his current day job at Duke. Low-level university administrators are not highly paid, and it would be impossible for him to save enough money to quit his job and go to school without accumulating thousands and thousands of dollars in debt. This program is the most sustainable way for him to earn his desired degree without risking long-term financial instability. All students in this program must pass the NCE exam, which is required for anyone in North Carolina to seek licensure as a clinical counselor. Even if Chris’ goals in higher education do not come to fruition, this program will provide him with a strong foundation to open up a private practice instead.
Chris Kizer began his college education at Duke University in 2008, and currently works as a communications specialist at the Duke University Graduate School. He wants to help students follow their dreams and achieve their goals. He was privileged to have excellent counselors and advisors throughout his education but has worked with hundreds of students who have struggled from a lack of guidance. He intends to research ways of improving the admissions process to help students make better decisions and suffer less anxiety. He would also like to ensure that current students receive the help and support they need to succeed once enrolled. Chris’ most immediate objective is to rise to a position within the university administration where he can work to achieve his goals for change and improvement, which would require him to get a master’s degree. The Master of Education in College Counseling and Student Development from North Carolina State University fulfills the baseline credential requirement for a promotion at his current position. It also will provide Chris with the academic background and training he needs to execute his plans and make the university experience better for all students. It is an online program that prepares graduates for clinical-level service in a college or university setting. While Chris will be pursuing the
“The Masters of Education in College Counseling will not only help me advance my career and personal long-term goals, but also will provide me a robust skillset to improve in my volunteer work as the Chi Delta chapter’s faculty/staff advisor. I have the opportunity to immediately put my classroom work into practice helping my local chapter.” “Through recommendation letters of the applicants, we foster positive relations with university faculty and leaders who mentor these students and learn the impact that the fraternity is having on their collegiate experience.” — Alexander Senchak, Eta ‘06 10
U NW DE HR EG RR E AADRUEA T H E ESYC H NOL WA; R S BIOGRAPHIES OF PAST RECIPIENTS
Hannah Kubik •
Nicolas Herrerias
Chi Delta ‘23
Henry B. Poor, Gamma 1939 Award
• Tau ‘23
Henry B. Poor, Gamma 1939 Award
Hannah Kubik came to Duke with a stellar academic record, including National Merit Semi-Finalist, several APs, and having taken Multivariable Calculus. She was named her high school’s outstanding math senior and served as an associate editor of her school’s literary magazine. Her academic breadth has continued at Duke, with her arriving as a prospective English, Classics, or Environmental Science major before deciding on a Computer Science major and Creative Writing minor. Across her diverse academic interests, she has maintained 4.00 GPA, an impressive achievement for someone exploring the STEM fields. During her freshman year at Duke, Hannah joined Blue Devils United, an organization dedicated to LGBT advocacy, as well as The Archive literary magazine. When she found Psi Upsilon, she recognized early on the lifelong nature of our brotherhood and had lengthy and deep discussions with each of the brothers in the lead-up to initiation. While such discussions are required of pledges, they are more commonly half or hourlong discussions, not the three-to-four-hour depth that she took them to. One of her pledge class members credits her with being a significant part of the reason they completed pledging. Her actions around campus and interactions with the administration reflect well and nobly on the chapter. Last fall she took over the role of Second Angelos after the previous officer stepped down. In that role, she guided the chapter through the pivot to virtual events, co-organizing things like their Bob Ross Paint-Along virtual rush event, board game nights and their virtual Halloween party. All the while balancing an extremely time-consuming linear algebra class, three other classes, the internship application process, and her duties as newly elected Editor in Chief of The Archive. This semester, she is First Angelos and looks forward to preserving the organization’s rituals and making sure they are undertaken with the proper planning, reverence, and care. Hannah prides herself on her logistical skills and has a deep appreciation for our rituals. She is inspired by being part of the centuries-long history of Psi Upsilon and getting to carry the torch of this fraternity and its rituals is a responsibility she is honored to hold. While every brother is important to a chapter, there are certain brothers who truly make the chapter what it is, embodying the chapter’s soul during their time as actives, and often as alumni. Hannah has either become that for the current chapter or is well on her way to embodying that in the coming year.
Nicolas “Nico” Herrerias entered the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School after studying at The Pennington School, a private co-educational boarding school in Pennington, New Jersey. Fluent in both Spanish and English, he performed extremely well in his secondary school and graduated with a 4.0/4.0 GPA in May 2019. Soon after his admission to Pennsylvania, Nicolas decided to concentrate in both Finance and Accounting at the Wharton School and to minor in International Relations in the College of Arts and Sciences. An outstanding student, he has maintained an overall GPA of 3.94/4.0. In addition to joining Psi Upsilon during his freshman year, he has worked as an analyst for the prestigious Wharton Investment and Trading Club and the Wharton Undergraduate Finance Club. His most significant leadership experience at Pennsylvania has been his serving as the Co-Founder and CEO of the Hispanic Capital Group, an intercollegiate studentrun nonprofit investment firm that focuses on educating Hispanic students through an actively managed portfolio and mentoring opportunities. The Group, which has received over 260 applications from over thirty universities, has a tenweek educational curriculum and the support of business professionals and college professors. Even before he enrolled in the Wharton School, Nicolas began working in financial services firms. He served as a private equity analyst for Axis Capital in Mexico City during the summer of 2018. Subsequently, during the 2020 Fall Semester he simultaneously attended on-line Wharton courses and worked as a private equity fellow for the Austin, Texas company, Activus Capital Partners. During this current semester, he is serving as a part-time analyst for Alea Capital, a boutique investment bank based in Mexico City. As a result of his experiences in financial services and his outstanding academic record, McKinsey and Company offered him a prestigious position as a freshman business analyst during this past summer in their New York office. He has already accepted McKinsey’s offer to return to the firm in June as an incoming strategy and corporate finance summer business analyst. His curiosity and passion for his field are real, and he will certainly find great success as an investor after graduation. Nico’s hard-working ethic, approachability, and intelligence make him a well-liked and respected member of the Tau. Having served in an executive board position in his first two initiated semesters, Nico’s dedication to the Tau is unquestioned. Despite many commitments outside of the Tau and the classroom, Nico has held two positions in his first two initiated semesters, serving as House Manager and Risk Manager. 11
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARS
Dylan Spector •
Nicholas Hamilton •
Zeta ‘22
Francis C. Hardie, Omicron-Zeta 1918
Tau ‘23
Henry B. Poor, Gamma 1939 Award
Nicholas Hamilton entered the University of Pennsylvania’s College of Arts and Sciences after graduating from Reddam House, a private preparatory school in Cape Town, South Africa, where he was the valedictorian of his class. He won a number of academic awards, including national medals in mathematics and English. In addition to graduating as valedictorian of his summer school program at Oxford University, where he studied economics and critical thinking in 2017, he achieved international recognition as the Captain of the South African Debate Team and a semi-finalist in the Pre-World’s University Debating Championship. Soon after his admission to Pennsylvania, Nicholas decided to major in both Mathematics and Economics, with a minor in Computer Science. An outstanding student, he has maintained an overall GPA of 3.88, and a 4.00 GPA in his major. Despite only being an initiated member of Psi Upsilon’s Tau chapter for a year, Nick has served in a plethora of positions, including Chairman of our judicial board, Morals and Standards, Grammateus, Social Media Chair, and Recruitment Assistant. In addition, Nick oversees the Tau’s social media, where he serves as the bridge between our chapter and the Penn State community, and always acts with the utmost professionalism and maturity. In his role as Grammateus, Nick utilizes his comical yet deliberate character to provide the chapter with thorough summaries of chapter affairs while making everyone burst out in laughter with his weekly chapter minutes. For both Grammateus and Social Media Chair, Nick highlights his impressive communication skills for the betterment of the chapter. Additionally, Nick demonstrated his creativity through his role as Recruitment Assistant last semester. He was faced with a unique challenge of recruitment during the Covid pandemic when gatherings were not permitted. But again, through his communication skills, he was able to run multiple successful virtual recruitment events. In addition to his enormous contribution and dedication to the Tau and the classroom, Nick is heavily involved in many clubs at Penn. Nick is an incredible debater and a leading member of Penn’s Debate Club. He was a Semi-finalist who ranked 2nd highest Speaker at the Haverford Tournament, and was a Finalist who ranked 5th highest speaker at the Swarthmore Tournament. As a Research Assistant in the University’s Economics Department, he works eight hours weekly at developing a mathematical proof in the field of correlated equilibriums. Nick is an analyst for both the Wharton Emerging Markets Club and the Penn Microfinance Club. He is also a vital member of the Financial Literacy Community Project (FLCP), where he teaches a course on financial literacy twice a week to underprivileged high school students in West Philadelphia.
Dylan Spector believes moral excellence is achieved through acting with kindness and generosity, and establishing a value system that is selfless and consistent. He defines intellectual excellence as dedicating himself to understanding the surrounding world and maintaining a commitment to personal growth. He thinks social excellence is not just being well liked, it is being a good friend, and is achieved through being trustworthy, open-minded, and tolerant of differences. Because he has demonstrated the three pillars of excellence so admirably, Dylan Spector has been chosen as one of this year’s recipients of the Psi Upsilon Foundation’s Merit Scholarship. Dylan represents qualities of a leader, setting an example through his academic and philanthropic achievements. He has a stellar GPA, majoring in Economics and Computer Science. He is often found supporting his peers with their studies. He is involved with The Dartmouth, the oldest operating college newspaper in the country, as well as the Dartmouth Investment and Philanthropy Club. Dylan also co-founded the Chicago chapter of Fuel Our Heroes, a philanthropic organization providing personal protection equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dylan is a man of high morals, wise beyond his years, and a pleasure to have as a brother in the Zeta. Dylan writes movingly of his experience with Psi U: My social and professional journey has been shaped by the ideals of moral, intellectual, and social excellence that Psi Upsilon has instilled in me. Moral excellence is achieved through acting with kindness and generosity and establishing a value system that is selfless and consistent. Intellectual excellence is dedicating yourself to understanding the surrounding world and maintaining a commitment to personal growth. ...Psi Upsilon has had an immeasurable impact on my college experience and, more broadly, my life. I cannot verbalize the gratitude I have for this organization and what it has done for my personal and professional development.
“Dylan has upheld Psi Upsilon’s qualities of leadership and service in his response to the global COVID pandemic and his consideration for the well being of others.” — Morgan Baylor, Zeta ‘20 12
Remembering Beloved Brothers
THROUGH A NAMED SCHOLARSHIP
Remembering William P. King, Omicron ‘73 William P. King Jr., Omicron ‘73 was a true giant in our Fraternity. Bill’s contributions to the Omicron Chapter at the University of Illinois and to the International Fraternity were deeply valued. Bill served his chapter in many capacities, including as the Omicron Alumni Association president for many years. He was instrumental in organizing the 142nd Convention, hosted by the Omicron in 1985. Surprisingly, that was Bill’s SECOND go organizing a convention at Urbana-Champaign; Brad Corner recalls he was crucial to the organization of the 133rd Convention as well. The autumn Diamond of 1976 writes, “A vast amount of credit must be given to the committee chairmen who undertook the sizeable task of providing for the many facets of the Convention. Apart from support by the Alumni Association these young men of the Omicron Chapter did a yeoman-like job with a minimum of problems arising. The Convention Chairman was William P. King, ‘73. He was assisted by John R. Parker, ‘28, as Alumni Host.” Brother King attended all but two Psi Upsilon Conventions from the time of his initiation in 1973 until his untimely death in 2000. He served as president on the Alumni Advisory board, and as secretary and director of the Psi Upsilon Foundation from 1995 - 2000. A 1977 graduate of the DePaul University College of Law who was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1980, Mr. King was a law clerk to Judge
Joe Barr, Omicron ‘83; Dale Peterson, Omicron ‘85; and Bill King, Omicron ‘73, accept the Psi Upsilon Award for Academic Distinction on behalf of their Chapter from Russ McShane, Delta ‘32 at the 139 Convention in New York City.
Charles B. McCormick of U.S. Bankruptcy Court before joining the law firm Gesas, Pilati & Gesas where he worked for 14 years in bankruptcy law practice. The named scholarship in his honor has helped more than fourteen brothers complete their education. Established through the leadership of Brothers Lew Finkelstein, Omicron ‘83, and Brad Corner, Omicron ‘72, and with the generosity of Brother Thomas W. McCaffer, Jr., ‘77 and the additional contributions of more than 17 brothers individually and the Omicron Alumni Association, Bill will be long remembered in Psi Upsilon with the establishment of an annual scholarship grant in his memory, given to a brother who demonstrates the high ideals of our fraternity - the pursuit of moral, intellectual, and social excellence.
C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S T O G A R Y PA N , R E C I P I E N T O F T H E D I S T I N G U I S H E D A L U M N I S E R V I C E AWA R D . “Use your skills, these are your ‘superpowers’... elevate your game and make a difference. Be leaders, inspire others, remember where you came from and help others to get to where they are going. On your journey, be sure to give back to those who made a difference in your lives and live a life of distinction.” — Gary L. Pan, Eta ‘06 Look for a full profile of Gary in the fall 2021 Service edition of the “Beacon” 13
WHERE ARE THEY NOW; BIOGRAPHY OF A PAST RECIPIENT
Ting-Pau Oei •
decade Ting-Pau served in various executive offices for the pharmaceutical industry. Primarily he travelled, and during a trip to Brazil his family introduced him to his wife Suzana. The couple raised two daughters. Suzana and Ting-Pau currently live on a horse farm in central New Jersey. In 1981 Oei moved to Johnson & Johnson where he spent the next 22 years of his career. The final 12 years of those he served as the Vice President of Johnson & Johnson Development Corp., the investment and venture capital wing of J&J. In 2004 he retired from J&J and has since served on a variety of corporate boards in the biopharmaceutical industry. These days the majority of his time consists of Fox Feather Ventures, an investment company he founded, and serving as CEO of xMD Diagnostics, Inc. In addition to his professional work in healthcare, Ting-Pau also contributes to charities dedicated to eliminating cancer. His own father’s death and the discovery of how cancer plagued his extended family moves him to donate. “The pharmaceutical industry gets a bad rap but I get to work with thousands of people dedicated to finding cures and making the world a better place.” When asked what advice he had for the college students of today he said “I know it’s cliche but savor every minute. This is your time to explore the choices in front of you and you’ll never have another time like this again.”
Theta ‘68 (Union)
Brother Ting-Pau Oei received a scholarship from the Psi Upsilon Foundation in 1967 during his junior year at Union College and remembers it as a “very welcomed amount that helped pay for books and tuition” In that same year he lost his father Bian to cancer. Their family had known hardship in ways many cannot imagine. During WWII TingPau’s mother Jacqueline worked with the Dutch resistance hiding people in their apartment building and smuggling guns across the city. In the later days of the war, she spent time in an internment camp where all of the men were killed the day before liberation forces arrived. After the war Jacqueline reconnected with Bian and the two married. Shortly after the birth of Ting-Pau the entire family moved to New York. In the year he received the scholarship Brother Oei worked in the Union college alumni office and received other scholarships allowing him to continue with his college career. Brother Oei has continued contributing to the Psi Upsilon Foundation in recognition of the benefits it gave him in his time of need ever since. Psi Upsilon became a presence in Ting-Pau’s life even before the first day of class. He participated on the soccer team and so arrived on campus a few weeks ahead of classes to begin training. He describes it as a “fantastic” way to begin college and build lifelong friendships. Ting-Pau, along with a handful of other freshmen on the team, all decided to pledge the brotherhood. Brother Oei continued with soccer for the rest of his time at Union and served as captain of the varsity team his senior year. He served the Theta chapter as both Treasurer and Steward during his college years. “There was a lot going on at the time,” he recalls, “we had the New York black outs, the sexual revolution, and the Vietnam War. In those days you either went to grad school, enlisted or were drafted.” Brother Oei chose to pursue graduate school and earned his MBA from Columbia University. For the next
TO ALL BROTHERS WHO SERVED ON THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE A N D W R O T E R E C O M M E N D AT I O N S . . .
Thank You!
Named Psi Upsilon Foundation Scholarships • Earl D. Babst, Iota-Phi 1893 • Salvatore (Sam) L. Biardo, Omicron 2004 • Jerome W. Brush Jr., Delta Delta 1939 • Benjamin T. Burton, Chi 1921 • Gardner A. Callanen, Psi 1929 • Eric W. Didul, Phi Beta 1990 • Lewis R. Finkelstein, Omicron 1983 • Paul D. Friday, Theta Theta 1927
• Francis C. Hardie, Omicron-Zeta 1918 • Albert C. Jacobs, Phi 1921 • Robert Kaiser, Zeta 1939 • William P. King, Omicron 1973 • R. Timothy Leedy, Phi 1957 • J. Russell McShane, Delta 1932 • Robert W. Morey, Pi 1920 • Michael D. Oberg, Theta Theta 1988 14
• Robert W. Parsons, Xi 1922 • Jonathan E. Persky, Omega 1985 • Henry B. Poor, Gamma 1939, Delta/Lambda/Tau/Chi, • Curtis J. Rettke, Eta 1984 • Greg E. Rohlin, Phi 1983 • R. DeWitt Wallace, Epsilon 1914
2021 Support Psi Upsilon Scholarships • Make a Gift to the Psi Upsilon Foundation • Encourage your brothers to apply to undergraduate and graduate programs • Write a recommendation for an applicant • Volunteer to serve on the scholarship committee
www.psiu.org/give/
OUR MOST POWERFUL TOOL IS OUR BROTHERHOOD CONNECT VIA
1.
Add “Psi Upsilon” to your profile as an organization, interest, or volunteer experience
You should leverage the Psi Upsilon network to advance professionally and help other brothers.
2.
Search for and connect with other brothers in your industry
3.
Join the “Psi Upsilon Professional Network”
4.
Share your publications, accomplishments, jobs, and internships in the Professional Network
Contact the Director of Member Engagement Jonathan Chaffin, Gamma Tau ‘00, at jonathan@PsiU.org to learn about these and other strategies.