Connor Jaschen

First Counselor 2016

cjaschen@murraystate.edu

SIGMA PI
Gamma-Upsilon Chapter- Murray State University

After being recognized for achieving and

maintaining the national benchmark for Gold Standards of Excellence, the Gamma Upsilon Chapter of
Sigma Pi came into the 2015 fall semester with sights
set on in-chapter growth and maintenance of the ideals of Sigma Pi. Thus, the semester was filled with the
same hard work that has been expected of our chapter,
now ranking 2nd in the nation based off of our Standards of Excellence scores.

As a chapter transitioning into younger leadership, the focus our chapter has had was not only
the growth and expansion per numbers, but also the

return to the fundamentals of brotherhood and a never ending quest for excellence. In doing so, the quality
of the chapter as a whole has been raised, in both our
on-campus image and the maintaining thereof, as well
as the fostering of academic and ethical growth.

Along with chapter awards, the chapter was

proud to present two brothers, Michael Mann and
Aaron Rowland, each with the Gamma-Upsilon
Chapter Educational Fund Scholarship. Each was
worth $750 and was accepted warmly during the universitys Homecoming festivities, in the eyes of brothers and alumni alike.

WORTHY COLLEGE ACTIVITIES

In maintaining

Aside from
with the obligations of
homecoming, the
a Sigma Pi, the chapchapter has had a very
ter gave 100% when it
successful semester
came to social events,
in boosting sorority
such as mixers, and the
relations. The chapter
annual Murray State
hosted five throughout
Homecoming festivthe semester, each sucities. This year, the
cessfully and met with
Gamma Upsilon chappositivity from both
ter, in partner with the
organizations.
lovely ladies of Alpha
Sigma Alpha sorority,

The semester
The chapter with the ladies of Alpha Sigma Alpha during the Warer Wars Mixer.
won the annual float
kicked off with a Paint
building competition.
Your Date mixer with
The entire chapter was more than proud at what their
the sisters of Alpha Omicron Pi. This was followed by
hard work had accomplished. Next year, the chapter is a Water Wars mixer with our homecoming partners,
slated to partner with the sisters of Kappa Delta sorori- ASA, a Picnic mixer with Kappa Delta and, finally, a
ty.
Christmas party mixer with the ladies of Alpha Delta
Pi.

Exemplary Sigma Pi
and Citizen
This years 26th annual Fall Festival
brought a number of changes to the tried
and true philanthropys normal events.
The brothers were able to host a Pumpkin
Chunking challenge, with a twelve foot tall
catapult constructed exclusively for this
event.
To go along with Pumpkin Chunking,
sororities participated in a number of
other challenges, including a tug of war
competition, a pie baking contest and the
much-beloved Scarecrow Dance Off. For
the games, the chapter sold 178 shirts to
members of the Murray State community, not including brothers. In total, the
chapter raised over $14,000 for the Sean
Feliciano Amazing Day Foundation for
suicide awareness and prevention, and
hopes to raise even more in the following
years with the new and fresh groundwork
laid out this semester.

Pledge Class

The Gamma Upsilon Chapter of

Sigma Pi had a major focus on values
based recruiting this year. This, along
with the relentless recruitment, allowed
the chapter to welcome fifteen young men
into the new member process, in hopes
of one day calling them brothers. These
fifteen young men, who all showed the
early qualities and values looked for in
candidacy to become a Sigma Pi, proved
their mental fortitude and loyalty to one
another throughout the semester, participating in social events with sororities, to
doing community service, to participating
in the organization of this years philanthropy. Now that pledging has ended, the
Delta Mu pledge class has maintained an
astounding 93% retention rate thus far.
The chapter hopes to initiate the remaining fourteen members of the pledge class
after grade approvals and looks forward to
greeting every one of them as brothers.

A Quest for Excellence

In the light of what has been accomplished and what may be accomplished in the future, it has
become clear to the entire chapter what allows us to continue with the successes laid out by past generations and how to build upon those. Talking about the successes and awards, though, can often times turn
organizations goals from what they may have been initially, and instead make the organization so worried about the tangible, they forget what made their organization so important in the first place. Scholarship, philanthropy, brotherhood and the idea that each and every one of us can be great: these are the
reasons many of us joined Sigma Pi and why we wear that pin with pride.

I am overjoyed to know, that in the midst of our chapters successes and awards, we have not lost
sight of what makes us the men we are.
Fraternally yours,
Connor Jaschen
Progress, mans distinctive mark alone