Chapter kicks off 3rd Annual Run & Ride to benefit the Oxford Free Clinic

The undergraduate members of the Theta-Upsilon Chapter are kicking off the first week of the Fall Semester with a major statement aligned with Kappa Sigma's Service Pillar and are seeking the help of alumni to make sure they reach their fundraising goal!  

Now in its third year the Worldwide Run & Ride benefits Oxford residents served by the Oxford Free Clinic who provides medical care and medicine for those that can't afford it. 

The annual event began in the Summer of 2020 as a COVID compliant philanthropy event with a handful of Interest Group members and members from several other Kappa Sigma Chapters in Southern Ohio. Participants pledged to ride bikes, walk or run and most importantly gather donations!

Because one of the organizers, Fernando Romero, who now services as the Chapter's Grand Procurator (vice president) was at home in Spain when the event took place, the group added "Worldwide" to describe the event. The event raised over $1,600 in its first year!  

Last summer with the Kappa Sigma colony of 29 members the event remained dispersed worldwide with a members participating all over the US and Europe including one running in the cooler temperatures of early morning in Greece! The 2021 event raised almost $6,000 showing real potential to make a major contribution to the community.       

"In the past, we have held this event virtually towards the end of the summer because of COVID concerns," said the Chapter's A Greater Cause Chairman, Charles "Chuck" Smith, a senior studying Biology and Pre-Medicine at Miami University.   

"This year is the first year we will be holding the event in person. We are looking forward to not only being with our fraternity brothers for the Run/Ride, but also celebrating with OFC volunteers, staff, and others from the community that support the OFC after the Run/Ride at the Chapter House!"

In addition to his studies, Chuck works at Oxford Priority Care as a Medical Assistant, and is a Combat Medic in the Ohio Army National Guard. He has also volunteered as a volunteer firefighter/EMT, the Salvation Army, and helping a a homeless shelter in his hometown of Monticello, Illinois. After graduation, he plans on taking a year off and then applying to Medical School. 

A key goal of the event is to raise as much money from outside of the Oxford community where Miami University is located. Chapter Grand Master (president), Emmett Jones has said that the Chapter hopes to really distinguish itself on campus and within the Greek System at Miami through service to the local community and in general and hopes to recruit additional members that share these values.  

"We have set a goal of $300 per brother this year, which would put us well above a $10,000 total donation," Chuck said, "This would constitute a large percentage of the total donations they receive per year." 

"Marilyn Sasser, Executive Director of the OFC really impressed me with the passion she shows for what she does," Chuck said, "I personally have interacted with many nonprofits and some of them don’t care as deeply about the cause as deeply as does Marilyn. She is the only paid employee (part-time) of the OFC... but she puts in full-time levels of work to ensure the clinic runs smoothly." 

To reach their fundraising goals, the A Greater Cause Committee is hoping many alumni will join the Chapter in this effort and make a contribution. Donations can be made on the GoFundMe website and attribute the donations to specific undergraduate to help with his goal of $300.  

This will be just the start of the semester's efforts. The Chapter will also be organizing a way to recognize Frist Responders on September 11 and beginning to plan an event for the Kappa Sigma Military Heroes Campaign likely to occur later in the Fall Semester. 

Calling for additional alumni to be an Alumni Docent

Most undergraduate members hear about the huge number of Kappa Sigma alumni that exist and wish they could tap it for their advantage as they start their post-college life. Unfortunately, that almost never happens, mostly because there is not an easy way to match interest with experience. 

do·cent /ˈdōsәnt/ noun:

1. (in certain universities and colleges) a member of the teaching staff immediately below professorial rank. 

2. a person who acts as a guide, typically on a voluntary basis, in a museum, art gallery, or zoo.

In a 2021 survey, the undergraduate members were asked what aspects of Kappa Sigma were of most interest to them and the number one highest rated answer with 91% rating it “High priority for me” was “Professional/Alumni Networking.”

The "Alumni Docent" program administered by the KSTUAA Chapter Advisory Council (CAC) in what might be the first of its kind, changes this for our undergraduate members at Miami University. 

The program matches a pledged member with an alumnus from a similar major, in a profession of interest or locality where possible. Both the undergraduate and alumnus will be given each other's contact information and some initial profile information to help break the ice.  The undergraduate member schedules an initial phone conversation.  The alumnus will share whatever insight they can and if possible help the undergraduate network with other professionals in the area of interest.

We have had 90 Alumni sign up when we first announced the program in 2021 and are seeking to double that amount in order to cover more professions and provide the opportunity for more alumni to engage in this exciting new program.

Alumni, please sign up here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZB37YGQ

FAQ

Is this an “Alumni Big Brother” Program?

Not exactly, but there are some similarities. We purposefully don’t want to confuse the two programs. The focus of this program is on “career-interest networking.” While we hope this promotes friendly fraternal bonds that last a lifetime, the focus is connecting undergraduates with alumni from the same major or career interest to help them as they investigate and start their professional careers.

How much time are you expecting from Alumni?

Just a phone call to start. You’ll get introduced, learn a little bit about each other and if you have some connections or ideas about what might be helpful to him and his professional objectives share those. We’d love to see the alumni reach out once a year to check in, but that isn’t mandatory. Maybe you will have some additional ideas or contacts that would be helpful. We are sure he will appreciate you helping him with introductions to other people in the field of interest.

Can I introduce the undergraduate to non-Kappa Sigs in his field of interest?

Yes!!!!!!!!!!! That is exactly what this is about! Networking! It starts with a Theta-Upsilon Alumnus that is willing to get to know the undergraduate a little bit, understand his interests and goals and then being a helpful brother and providing ideas and warm introductions to contacts you have. Maybe that is another Kappa Sig, but more likely it will be someone in your list of 100s of contacts you’ve made over time. It will be up to the undergraduate to pursue the connections from there. The Docent program gives our members an initial helping hand.

How do we get connected and will I get some information about the member beforehand?

A member of the CAC will send you a profile of the member (pledge member actually) you have been matched to. Ideally it will include a photo and information like hometown and interests. We will be providing your information to him too so you will both have a head start on the conversation. We will ask the member to reach out to you and schedule a time to speak.

What if he changes majors or his interests really aren’t in my wheelhouse?

We will be attempting to match undergraduate interests to alumni that have or are working in the field of interest. Failing that we will try to match undergraduates based on majors. In some, circumstances there wont be a good match, for example some majors and professions are new. In those cases, we are likely to match based on hometown if we can. The success of this program will not be about finding an exact match but rather a young inexperience member coming in to contact with an alumnus that might have 20 years of experience and that knows of people that the undergraduate might benefit from meeting. It might be a friend of a friend that brings the real valuable connection that helps the member. We are seeking to just encourage a start.

What does the alumnus get out of this?

We hope that you will find the opportunity to meet a new generation of Kappa Sigs enriches your own Kappa Sigma experience and adds credence to the idea that our fellowship is not for a college term only but for life. We hope that the interaction might prompt in person connections when you visit Oxford whether for Homecoming, our 5-year anniversaries or one of those trips just-passing-through. This investment in the next generation will continue our legacy and make the Chapter stronger.

I signed up before but haven't been matched?

This is normal. We will assign undergraduates based on whatever comes through as interests.  That can be random. We are glad you signed up and will reach out to you as soon as we have someone interested in your profession, industry or major.   

Who has signed up so far?

We have alumni from 1967 through to 2016 so far! But we are looking for twice as many to make the matching easier!  Please sign-up now 

1967
Christopher Collins
Bob Coons
Tom Wenning

1969
Gary Olmon

1971
Rick Kennedy

1972
Craig Stichtenoth
Elias David Vuicich

1973
John Jahoda

1974
Joel Benson
Mark Cross
Louis Isakoff
Jim Lewis
William (Bill) Nicolai

1975
John Wilson

1978
David Ciochetty

1979
Jeff Van Treese

1980
John Cassanos
Jay Cavender
Dyke Davies Mort

1981
David Brinkman
Chris Hanessian

1982
Terry Maggard
Brad Mikes
James C. Puccio

1983
Mark Gates
Peter Kanistros
Carter Ledbetter
David Mirolli
Mark Rowland
Charlie Wonderlic

1984
David Chambers

1985
Ed Bennett
Wes Bren
Troy Davis
Chris Elder
John Henry
Rick Sippola

1986
Doug Baker
Dave Bouve
Jeff Brown
Matthew Garvic
Mike McNally
Rob Miller
Scott Richardson
Larry Rosinski
Michael Schoedinger

1987
David Buckley
Mark J Heppner
Ed Kessler
Mark Loisel
Jeffrey Meek
James Rimmel
Thomas Sarty
Steve Siple
Matthew Smith
Nathan Varnum
Lane Williams

1988
Jeffrey B Anderson
Joseph Bial
Frazer Donaldson
Mark W Eckman
Craig Izzo
John McCarley
Eric Peiffer
Matt Weaver

1989
Jeff Aluotto
David Batch
Jeff Bieber
Chris Broome
Barrett East
Chad Hague
Patrick Reedy
Kyle Sisk

1990
Greg Adler
Preston Belding
Erik Christman
Jim Eglseder

1991
Michael Darkoch
Brian Eckman
Chris Ferritto
Tyge Fourtner
Tim Moerschel
Brian Olah
Patrick Surdy

1992
Tom Clarke
Colin Donovan
Christian Essman
Chad D Gibson
Shawn Isham
Chuck Smolky
Chris Veneklasen
Robb Warren
Steve Wolgemuth

1994
Michael Duffy
Jeff Kotalik
Andrew Zuchowski

1995
Jason Kimmel
Brad Vornholt

1996
Chris O'Brien

1999
Dace de la Foret

2000
Nick Griffith

2011
George Charles
Evan Hogenkamp
Greg McCarthy

2022
Wes Atkinson