Georgetown SigEpAlumni Newsletter
To alumni, brothers and friends of Georgetown SigEp, we hope this newsletter finds you well and having a great spring! We want to share with you what we've been up to these past few months, what's upcoming, and a little about our new members. |
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Table of Contents - Georgetown Day Alumni Welcome Weekend
- Jumpstart DC Community Service Event
- Spring Retreat 2015: Gettysburg
- Senior Perspective by Derek Embry
- Executive Board Updates
- Spring 2015 Sigma Class
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Georgetown Day Alumni Welcome Weekend
For those of you that have not yet heard, we will be saying goodbye to both of our historic and beloved homes, 3326 and Pink House. In both cases the landlord is reclaiming the home for renovations and new use; the former for sale to adult Georgetown residents, and the latter as the landlords own personal family home. In commemoration of their closings, we will be hosting a number of events throughout Georgetown Day weekend, so mark your calendars and come join us!
Events will take place from Thursday night, April 23rd, through Sunday morning, the 26th. Events will include:- A reception
- Georgetown Day party at Pink House
- 3326 closing party
- Pink House and 3326 commemoration
- Auction of Pink House and 26 memorabilia
Additionally, if anyone has stories, ideas, or suggestions they would like to share—especially from those who may have lived in either house—please reach out to Matt Hamblin (mw...@georgetown.edu) and/or Andrew Arbeeny (adar...@gmail.com).
Let’s send these two homes off the right way! Stay tuned for more details.
HFF
Andrew Arbeeny, Former VP Programming
Matt Hamblin, Former President
Chris Tiede, President |
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This past Sunday, some of our members were privileged to work in collaboration with Jumpstart, a non-profit organization that helps to build language, literacy, and social skills in at-risk preschool children. We hosted an event celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday, where brothers spent a few hours with around 20 local children reading books, solving puzzles, and enjoying performances by both Georgetown Children’s Theater and other various musical groups. These children, initially very shy and quiet, began to open up, relax, and enjoy themselves as the day progressed. While many stuck to the planned activities, several kids even began to wrestle with brothers, but most importantly everyone was having fun. Jumpstart was very appreciative of our help in hosting the event, and we are thankful for our role in offering these children an exciting day of constructive learning. Seeing the smile on the faces of children and parents was very fulfilling for everyone who participated in the event. It was a great experience, and we look forward to any opportunities to partner with Jumpstart again in the future.
HFF,
Nick Payne |
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Spring Retreat 2015: Gettysburg
Last month, we jammed ourselves into minivans, sedans, and Chung's jeep alike as we made our way north to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The esteemed Jacob Sorrells was at the helm of my van and we soon learned that not only is he a totally inept driver, but really that he's just a bad guy. During the requisite stop at Chick-fil-A, 80 (yes 80!) brothers took the unsuspecting purveyor of fried chicken by storm, had our way with their Chicken Sandwiches and left in a flash.
Because we arrived late (re: Sorrells' ineptitude), we entered a killing field of snowballs. We strolled up the inclined driveway only to be assailed by those I once fondly called brother...weapon of choice? - Snowball. Tom Ferry, our new VP MD, then gathered us up as we began the weekend's activities. We started with story circle. For those older brothers unfamiliar with this tradition, it was started by AJ Serlemitsos (Col '17) and entails a small, predetermined group charged with opening up to each other by telling stories inspired by one word phrases picked out of an envelope.
After this, we regrouped and headed into the sprawling metropolis that is Gettysburg to grab some lunch. My van and several other SigEps wound up at the aptly named Blue and Grey Bar where we watched Villanova walk all over us. It was here that esteemed alumus Moose graced us with his presence (he can attest to Jake's erratic driving behavior). We drove back and were surprisingly greeted by a group of angry snowball-wielding SigEps yet again.
After grabbing dinner in town, we returned to the cabins to conduct Dyadic Encounters. I was lucky in that I was able to find a group of SigEps I admittedly did not know that well, so Dyadic was that much more enriching. It is always a cathartic experience to escape the hustle and bustle of the Hilltop and find peace, ironically, in a battlefield. Having an opportunity to share your troubles, accomplishments, anxiety, and excitement in a safe, friendly environment is seldom available and even more rarely is it with those you can call your brothers.
We then transitioned into SigEp Circle. While I will not get into the specifics of SigEp Circle, the beauty of us all being brothers, undergraduates and alumni alike, is that I do not have to describe it for you; you already understand its incredible power and meaning. Similarly to SigEp
Circle, we can share the burden of our concerns and problems as well as the excitement of our achievements and triumphs. Emotionally and physically exhausted from a long day, we all headed to bed, though some of us stay up later to continue curtailed Dyadics.
The next morning we all struggled to wake up early to make goal-setting before our departure. This is one of the best opportunities for Sigmas to get involved, especially in terms of recruitment and presence on campus. Every semester we strive to build upon our feats and learn from our failures. Goal setting is that forum where we can voice our opinions and shape our vision for the future of GU|SigEp.
Every alumnus I meet tells me they cannot believe how we've grown as an organization since they have graduated; it is our dedication to excellence and constant improvement, demonstrated through events like retreat, that makes us stand apart. Retreat reminds me of what we stand for and why I am so damn proud to be a SigEp for life.
HFF,
Richard Winchell
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Senior Perspective:
Surely in expressing how and why I feel SigEp has dramatically changed the course of my life for the better in the few years I’ve had here, I won’t be able to tell the full story. There’s simply too much to tell. In my undergraduate career I’ve had to do SigEp reflections a couple of times for recruitment purposes, but trying to explain the meaning of VDBL to groups of bright-eyed freshmen is wholly different than this. While all of that is true - that SigEp will give far more than it takes and that brotherhood lasts forever - the one thing that I can’t tell prospective recruits is that, with graduation approaching, I think I’m ready to move on.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve absolutely loved my time here; the days of “living” in 3326 and Pink Haus, the circle at all the retreats, formals, and even nights painfully deliberating which of the potential recruits we’d be proud to introduce to you all for hours in a stuffy Car Barn room were enjoyable in retrospect. However, the true point of SigEp that I’ve come to understand is not to make the four years of Georgetown the best possible college experience (but it is certainly a great side-benefit). SigEp exists to help all of us discover personal meaning from these few years and make us better men for the rest of our lives. In essence, the undergraduate brotherhood is actually four years of preparation for living and if given the chance to go back and do it all over again, I would graciously refuse. SigEp has been a series of butterfly effects, some leading to others and some purely serendipitous, that have all contributed to the path leading me to who I am today and I would wouldn’t want to risk changing anything. Because of this brotherhood, especially your mentorship, I am anxious and excited to continue on my path, confident that the fraternity is in good hands. I love this brotherhood and the Hoop of Steel is going to be tough, but I could not be more honored to join your ranks as an alumnus in the very near future. For now, I’ll enjoy these last few months and do my best to set an example for younger brothers as you had done for me while keeping my sights ahead, eager to get started.
HFF,
Derek “Dembers” Embry, BM ‘15 |
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New SigmasThis past recruitment cycle, we took 18 new recruits. Among them there are 4 sophomores and 14 freshmen. |
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Juan Diego Posada
Sophomore
From: Bogotá, Colombia
Fun Fact: Played golf with Sergio García when he was 16
Email: jd...@georgetown.edu
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Jose Mendez
Sophomore
From: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Fun Fact: Has 349 likes on his current profile picture
Email: jdm...@georgetown.edu |
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Andrew Rudy
Sophomore
From: San Diego, CA
Fun Fact: Was born at the Georgetown University Hospital
Email: ah...@georgetown.edu |
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Jeff O'Brien
Freshman
From: Montclair, NJ
Fun Fact: Left pinky is crooked because he dislocated it his first week of college and it never healed properly
Email: ja...@georgetown.edu |
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Louis Mulamula
Freshman
From: Potomac, MD
Fun Fact: Has aspirations for world domination
Email: ls...@georgetown.edu |
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Sid Ahuja
Freshman
From: Cleveland, OH
Fun Fact: Didn't learn to ride a bike until he was 15
Email: sk...@georgetown.edu |
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Aniket Naravane
Freshman
From: Woodbury, MN
Fun Fact: Broke his nose once, almost broke it again
Email: av...@georgetown.edu |
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Sagar Desai
Freshman
From: Cherry Hill, NJ
Fun Fact: Was featured on "Legends of the Hidden Temple" as a kid
Email: sagar....@gmail.com |
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Beau Dealy
Freshman
From: Greenwich, CT
Fun Fact: He has never eaten ketchup
Email: jb...@georgetown.edu |
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Patrick Rispoli
Freshman
From: Philadelphia, PA
Fun Fact: Was once on a Canadian reality TV show
Email: pg...@georgetown.edu |
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Payaum Sanatkar
Freshman
From: Brightwaters, NY
Fun Fact: Was almost arrested in 2009 for protesting in Iran
Email: ap...@georgetown.edu |
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Anthony Van Dervort
Freshman
From: Haddonfield, NJ
Fun Fact: He won the smiling contest at a Sixer's game when he was 5 so he got to meet Iverson
Email: antv...@comcast.net |
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Nick Payne
Freshman
From: State College, PA
Fun Fact: Hosted his high school talent show wearing a grass skirt and a coconut bra at one point. Sadly, there are no photos
Email: na...@georgetown.edu |
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Sami Scheetz
Freshman
From: Cedar Rapids, IA
Fun Fact: Lost two of his front teeth playing tackle dodgeball in high school
Email: sp...@georgetown.edu |
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