New Brothers

From top-left to bottom-right:
Lauren Wortman, John Baird-Gajdos, Caleb Handley, Joseph Hess, Travis Bauer, Gabriel Porco, Grant Leff, Cora Torongo, Ryann Levine, Blake Woodrel, Dalton Smith, Luke Kernahan, Maxwell Dorais Burt, Sydney DerKevorkian, Ivana Filipovic, Francesca Rudberg, Arya Sappidi, Caleb Brown, Nathan Bloom, Keegan Wynn

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This past week, our chapter had the exciting privilege to welcome 20 brothers into our fraternity this semester! During their pledge semester, they had unique opportunities in leadership roles, underwent professional development training to strengthen their career readiness, and made valuable connections within Michigan State.

“I am super grateful to have been this phenomenal group’s Pledge Mom,” Says Lina Haas, our VP of Pledge Education. “They taught me more than I think I taught them. Across the board, each of them brought consistent enthusiasm and dedication to every meeting, event, and activity. I am confident that each of them will thrive during the rest of their college career and succeed professionally post-grad. I am excited to continue growing my connections with each of them while watching them engage with the rest of our brothers!”

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LEAD Conference

Delta Sigma Pi Attends LEAD Provincial Conference

This past month, a select group of our brothers traveled to Chicago, IL, to attend the North Central LEAD Provincial Conference. This annual event brings multiple Delta Sigma Pi chapters together from universities across the North Central Region; fostering collaboration, networking, and professional development.

Throughout the weekend, brothers had the opportunity to connect with fellow Deltasigs while participating in immersive workshops and breakout sessions. These sessions focused on key areas, including:

Reflecting on this experience, Shriya Chandu (PC Fall ‘24) shared, “Being able to practice the networking skills that DSP taught me & seeing how other chapters operate really made the trip worthwhile. We got to gain some insight on how other chapters fundraise and promote themselves on campus”. While the Gamma Kappa chapter came into LEAD with a strong foundation, it’s apparent that our brothers left with a broader perspective on our fellow chapters and the organization as a whole! 

The conference provided an unforgettable experience, equipping our brothers with new skills, fresh ideas, and lasting connections that will support their personal, professional, and fraternal growth.

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Brothers’ Abroad

New semester, new adventures! This spring semester, a few of our brothers – Eloise Lacey, Luke Farella, and Clare Gulowski – set off on their study-abroad journeys, immersing themselves in different cultures while continuing their academic pursuits. 

Eloise exploring the streets of Budapest, Hungary; Luke Farella enjoying the historic ambiance of Rome, Italy; Claire Gulowski experiencing the charm of Sevilla, Spain.

Academics: Abroad vs MSU

Budapest, Rome, and Sevilla share surprising academic similarities, yet their approaches contrast MSU in remarkable ways. Luke, Eloise, and Claire all highlighted a key difference in their classrooms abroad: class size. Eloise Lacey explains, “The typical class size being 20 students, it’s lots of group work, less exams, but way more presentations!”- appreciating the interactive and collaborative learning environment. 

Similarly, Luke Farella shared that he enjoys the cohesive environment created by a smaller classroom; “The professors know everyone by name and they are never afraid to call you out if you are not paying attention!” Farella continues “…it is nice how they try and keep all the students engaged and it definitely makes time go by faster.”

Furthering this trend, Clare explains; “The professors seem to care so much about not just academics but also your social life and local cultural experiences.”, creating a more intimate class setting- a deeper connection to classmates and leading professors.

Lessons and Challenges

When embarking on a journey to a different country on the other side of the world, there are innate challenges one will face when adapting to a new pace of life. Nonetheless, our brothers have prevailed, and have learned some valuable lessons through their hardships.

Luke shared that the biggest challenge he faced was adapting to his sudden shift of total independence- figuring out how to balance his responsibilities while adjusting to life abroad. 

“I went from using the convenience of dorm life and dining hall meals, to navigating and living in one of the largest cities in Europe,” Farella continues, “From grocery shopping and cooking to figuring out transportation and daily logistics, I had to take on a lot more responsibility.” – Luke Farella

Learning how to keep up with the nuances of day-to-day life and juggling academics is no small feat, especially when you are adjusting to life away from home. Ultimately, Luke found his balance through the grace of time and trial and error.

Eloise Lacey expressed that, settling into life abroad, she missed her family and friends in Michigan dearly- wishing she could bring them along her journey to experience the place she has grown to love.

“No one talks about how scary it is landing in a new country and figuring things out by yourself with such a big language barrier!” – Eloise Lacey

Determined to adjust to life in Budapest, Eloise took a chance and embraced the idea of being out of her comfort zone. Journaling and sight-seeing being her outlets and means of acclimation.

Similarly, Clare stated that the language barrier and adjusting to the different lifestyle in Sevilla were intimidating, as this was the farthest she had traveled solo. Nonetheless, she quickly adapted.

“With a little effort and by making amazing friends, my worries were short-lived.” – Clare Gulowski

With new friendships and a spirit of exploration, Clare has grown to cherish her time in Sevilla, Spain. Furthermore, she expressed her newfound love for outdoor adventures from her time abroad, stating; “

Being present and seeing as much of the world as I can is something that I will definitely continue when I come home.” – Claire Gulowski

Safe Travels, Brothers!

For Delta Sigma Pi brothers, this experience isn’t just about adjusting to new customs but also learning, growing, and leaving this experience with in-exchangeable knowledge. Have a great rest of your semester, Deltasigs!

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Big/Little

One of the most anticipated moments of the semester! This cherished tradition connected our new brothers with their Bigs—mentors who will guide them through their DSP journey and beyond.

The reveal started with a scavenger hunt, building even more excitement for the reveal. Dressed in matching outfits, and with a hype-up song to ring them in, the pairings were brought together. This event marked the beginning of lifelong friendships and professional connections. Our Bigs are committed to helping their Littles grow, offering guidance in academics, networking, and professional development.

With this new wave of Big/Little pairings, we continue to strengthen our brotherhood with building lasting connections.

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Please Donate!

Please donate to our chapter if you are able! This donation would go to help funding our trips to LEAD Conferences, which promote professional and leadership development for our brotherhood.

The link to donate can be found here.