Outstanding Member Involvement Award

This isn’t a story from my everyday college life, but it’s a special moment from my junior year that’s worth remembering.

I received the Fraternity Outstanding Membership Involvement Award — an honor I applied for and was fortunate to be selected for through a vote.

Hearing what my close friend Amber said when she introduced me made me realize that the “involvement” this award recognized went far beyond the fraternity itself — it reflected the impact of showing up for the broader community.

Amber shared:

“The Fraternity Outstanding Membership Involvement recipient is a former member of the track team and currently works for the IT department here at the university, developing systems for online education. He spends his time volunteering with the Knights of Columbus, supporting widows in the community, and frequently dedicates his weekends to helping at the student food pantry. He also regularly attends town hall meetings and assisted in the selection of President Schill.

In regards to his fraternity, he says, ‘I may not hold an executive position, but whenever I can take the weight off a brother’s shoulders, I will step up to the task.’

Congratulations and thank you to Aaron Smet of Theta Chi for your hard work and dedication to our community.”

It’s a moment that still makes me proud — a reminder that showing up for people in different corners of life matters just as much, if not more, than holding a formal title.