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Tradition and Commitment: WPI Students Help Feed Local Families Since 1994

sfoskett — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Perhaps unsurprisingly at a STEM-focused place like WPI, members of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity chapter have the annual food drive down to a science.

Three decades of running the event has led to a certain level of fine-tuning, from gauging the number of bags they need to deliver so people can fill them up with perishables, to deciding which neighborhoods to return to year after year, to the logistics of getting all that food to the Dean Street fraternity house and then to Friendly House, where it will be distributed to several hundred families over the Thanksgiving holiday.

This year, it went off without a hitch. Members fanned out into the city and collected thousands of pounds of food and monetary donations for the longtime city family services agency. WPI junior Jacob Ruppert, LCA鈥檚 external vice president, said the fraternity estimates it has collected more than three million pounds of food since it started the drive as a community service project in 1994.

The system Lambda Chi Alpha uses is simple and effective. Members leave grocery bags with flyers in targeted neighborhoods in the city a week or two before Thanksgiving, asking residents to leave out whatever non-perishable items they can鈥攐r a monetary donation鈥攖he Saturday before the holiday. That Saturday morning, they go out in groups and collect the food. There鈥檚 no minimum request, said Jeremy Hudon, a junior at WPI and one of the organizers of the food drive this year.

鈥淚t can be as heavy or as light as they want,鈥?Hudon said.

For the fraternity, it has become a tradition and a commitment.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really grown into an event,鈥?Ruppert said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an expectation鈥?nobody鈥檚 being forced to do it, but everyone just has a similar mindset. You drink water, you breathe air, you do the food drive. It鈥檚 part of our life. Everyone does it, and everyone enjoys it.鈥?lt;/p>

By noon the Saturday before Thanksgiving this year, a mountain of grocery bags filled with every canned good imaginable, boxes of stuffing, macaroni and cheese boxes, and more lined a hallway inside the fraternity house. The beep-beep-beep of the Friendly House box truck reversing into the driveway signaled to the 50 or so fraternity brothers that it was time to mobilize.

As Michael Moreshead, senior case manager and director of special projects at Friendly House, opened up the truck, the brothers lined up out the door and started passing bags. Many hands made light work, and the truck filled up in 15 minutes.

Moreshead said the fraternity鈥檚 haul will be combined with donations of turkeys from various organizations and companies across the region to give families a true taste of Thanksgiving.

鈥淭his is what Friendly House is all about: the community looking after itself,鈥?Moreshead said. People of Worcester come out and support folks in their season of need. Lambda Chi recognizes this, and they鈥檝e stepped up for 30 years now. It鈥檚 what community is all about, and what the holidays are all about.鈥?amp;nbsp;

The Month in Photos: April 2022

amracicot — Tue, 17 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

What happened at WPI in April? From Project Presentation Day and the return of an in-person TouchTomorrow to GradFest and renaissance fairs, the better question is, what didn鈥檛 happen? We packed a lot into this month; let鈥檚 take a look back with a super-sized edition of The Month in Photos.

New Greek Letters at WPI

amracicot — Thu, 12 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

When Noelle Morgan 鈥?2 was younger, she was quick to notice that when she was out and about with her parents while they were wearing their Greek letters, they were likely to be greeted like old friends by people they didn鈥檛 know.

鈥淭hey would run into strangers on the street, and it was like instant family,鈥?she recalls. That immediate connection stuck with her and proved to be a catalyst behind her goal of starting a Zeta Phi Beta chapter at WPI鈥攊t became official last month. 鈥淚 experienced how much of a community it can foster among strangers, let alone a community in a college. I wanted that at WPI.

鈥淵ou have family wherever you are,鈥?says Morgan, who鈥檚 graduating this year with a BS in electrical and computer engineering. 鈥淭he message is you have someone who is your friend wherever you go in the world. That鈥檚 tremendous in terms of support because you never know what might happen in life. That was something I wanted to have a part in鈥攜ou have a net to fall back on.鈥?lt;/p>

The appeal of this kind of support and security is especially important for building a community when you鈥檙e in college, she says. 鈥淚t all goes hand in hand with the tenets of sisterhood. It鈥檚 very much a real sisterhood with a shared history, culture, and ideals鈥攖here are even songs and dances you probably all know. It鈥檚 very securing, especially if you haven鈥檛 been part of something like this before.鈥?lt;/p>

The logistics for bringing the sorority to fruition were complicated, but Morgan remained undeterred in her focus to create that invaluable sense of sisterhood, support, and security. Acting as a single-handed public relations team, she talked up the plans to form a Zeta chapter anywhere she could鈥攖hrough newsletters, word of mouth, or just hanging out with others.

Her efforts didn鈥檛 go unnoticed鈥攊n fact, they鈥檙e exactly how Marissa Desir 鈥?3 first learned of the sorority and got involved. She'd always been interested in joining a historically Black Greek-letter organization, and after noticing Morgan鈥檚 advertisements around campus, jumped at the chance to get in touch with her.

Desir is now the chapter鈥檚 first president, something she describes as "nothing short of a total honor. While we were at the beginning phases of chartering, I dreamed of becoming the president at one point during my college experience,鈥?she says, explaining that her motivation to run for president came from a desire to address the voices of BIPOC WPI students over the years and to create a feeling of sisterhood among Zeta Phi Beta members.

鈥淥nce becoming a WPI student, I know how difficult it can be to find a community that鈥檚 welcoming for Black women,鈥?she says. 鈥淲e hope the Psi Phi chapter can cater to members who yearn to express their true selves and uniqueness.鈥?lt;/p>

Morgan agrees. 鈥淭his was to make sure there was a community for Black and Brown women on campus鈥攖o have a sister to look after you and support you,鈥?she says. 鈥淭his is what I wanted to create here. If something happens, you have someone you can contact and someone who can take care of you in ways that other people might not know how to do. I hope this encourages other Black and Brown women to choose WPI for their undergraduate degree because they do look for that when looking at colleges.鈥?lt;/p>

鈥淭his was to make sure there was a community for Black and Brown women on campus鈥攖o have a sister to look after you and support you. This is what I wanted to create here. If something happens, you have someone you can contact and someone who can take care of you in ways that other people might not know how to do. I hope this encourages other Black and Brown women to choose WPI for their undergraduate degree because they do look for that when looking at colleges.鈥?-Noelle Morgan 鈥?2

Morgan worked over a period of three years to get the proper鈥攁nd complicated鈥攑rocess of working with WPI and the national Zeta organization to establish the sorority at WPI. She began by collecting enough valid signatures (all of which, in combination with student ID numbers and addresses, she had to gather while she was remote in Maryland during COVID) to first establish the Women Interested in Zeta club鈥攁 precursor to the sorority. Once the club was official, it needed members, and Morgan needed to find a nearby Zeta chapter to charter the club as it progressed to a full-fledged sorority. Then, getting signatures again (this time for a sorority, not a club); forming a recognized sorority was next.

鈥淲ith some sororities on campus you become a member and then form a chapter, but with Zeta, you form a chapter and then become a member,鈥?she explains. Once WPI recognized Zeta Phi Beta, the chapter held a membership drive, then launched the sorority with a celebratory showcase ceremony on the Quad.

鈥淭he adrenaline rush and whirlwind of emotions were so strong, but it was so exciting to finally achieve our goal,鈥?Desir says of the ceremony, adding that the group took great care to execute every aspect of the event with grace and precision. 鈥淭he overwhelming love from members of other chapters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and the other organizations of the National Panhellenic Council was such an incredible experience.鈥?lt;/p>

Morgan is proud to graduate knowing she succeeded in finishing a process that was so important to her. But in the end, she says, this is not about her name being attached to Zeta Phi Beta鈥檚 WPI beginnings鈥攊t is about the fact that it exists at all, and is a reflection of the collaborative efforts of individuals and offices across campus who helped her get everything in place. 鈥淎fter all the work and the desire to build this community, it鈥檚 finally here. We鈥檙e excited to get things rolling for next term and to be a presence at WPI.鈥?lt;/p>

As she moves on from WPI鈥攏ext up is a role as a firmware engineer with Cambridge Consultants鈥擬organ says the legacy of Zeta Phi Beta will be lasting and significant. 鈥淚 feel a sense of relief and it feels almost surreal to wear the letters that I brought from home on the WPI campus, letters WPI has never seen before. These are sticking around. They can represent a part of my family and a part of the things I have done on campus.鈥?She鈥檚 had a chance to talk with some prospective students and their parents, and they were excited to see the chapter on campus, something she says speaks to the importance of representation.

When the sorority begins its first full academic year in the fall, Morgan will participate as a graduate member of the organization. She hopes to see all the typical events that will attract and keep members, ranging from study halls and craft and game nights to formal events, and she will keep an eye out for members proudly wearing their blue-and-white colors on campus. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to that and continuing to promote the tenets of the sorority鈥攕chool, service, sisterhood, and finer womanhood鈥攊n a way that鈥檚 beneficial and visible to the community.鈥?

The Month in Photos: February 2022

amracicot — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 12:00:00 +0000

February may be the shortest month of the year, but that didn鈥檛 stop the WPI community from filling it with a support walk, therapy dogs, new research, a birthday celebration for Gompei, and Valentine鈥檚 Day dances (and that鈥檚 not even everything鈥攕tay tuned for a special photo essay on WeConnect Day!). Take a look at what we were up to, all shared through the lenses of our talented staff photographers.

Phi Kappa Theta Wins Prestigious Founders Cup for Sixth Time

cbwamback — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 12:00:00 +0000

In a nod to its commitment to core values, Phi Kappa Theta, a longstanding fraternity at WPI, was awarded the prestigious Founders Cup last month for a sixth time. The Founders Cup is awarded every two years to the chapter that best exemplifies the national fraternity's values and its core development areas鈥攆raternal, leadership, spiritual, societal, and intellectual鈥攖hroughout the year while going above and beyond even those expectations.

鈥淚 am beyond grateful and thankful for this wonderful achievement. I am proud of our chapter members and the work that they put into this past year to make this goal a reality,鈥?says WPI Chapter President Brandon Persons 鈥?2. 鈥淭hey are an amazing group of guys to lead as president.鈥?lt;/p>

In addition to the Founders Cup, the fraternity took home five other awards from the Phi Kappa Theta National Conference in New Orleans: Spiritual Pillar Award, Fraternal Pillar Award, Societal Pillar Award, Leadership Pillar Award, and Gold Chapter Award. 鈥淭he awards are amazing and the recognition for WPI is also fantastic,鈥?says Persons, who attended the event. It is not only recognition for the WPI chapter of Phi Kappa Theta but also for the way that the Greek community challenges us to live our values.

鈥淥ur values are what define and drive Phi Kappa Theta - MA Lambda Chapter at WPI. Each of our brothers strives to live by, exemplify, and uphold our chapter's values: passion, dedication, leadership, integrity, and humility, within their daily lives both on campus and within the community,鈥?Persons says. 鈥淲ithout our values, our chapter would not be able to foster the exceptional men that leave WPI every single year from Phi Kappa Theta - MA Lambda.鈥?lt;/p>

Students Help Young African Immigrants Chart Their Paths to the Future

admin — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 12:00:00 +0000

The symbolism on the catwalk at the African Community Education鈥檚 fashion show and gala last month was as vivid as the brightly patterned Eldior Sodeck Designs the models wore.

That鈥檚 because sharing the runway were African-born Worcester public school students and members of WPI鈥檚 Black Student Union (BSU).

鈥淚t was kind of like a mirror, basically鈥攚hat the ACE students envision when they grow up and the WPI students representing what they can be in the future,鈥?said fashion show participant and BSU president Mbolle Akume 鈥?0, who immigrated as a child with her family from Cameroon.

鈥淭he juxtaposition of it made it something more than just a fashion show,鈥?she says.

Connections made

ACE was founded in 2006 to help African refugee and immigrant children succeed academically and prepare for life after graduation. Worcester is one of the largest hubs in the U.S. for African immigrants. Some 20,000 city residents were born in Africa.

The nonprofit offers after-school and Saturday sessions, mentoring, summer reading and workforce development programs, as well as English as a Second Language and citizenship classes for parents. ACE serves around 550 African immigrant youth and adults each year.

WPI, with its commitments to broadening students鈥?global and cultural awareness and serving academically talented students who face financial and social barriers to college, emerged as a natural partner to the nonprofit.

It was student groups that led WPI鈥檚 involvement with ACE. Members of the Black Student Union, the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the African Student Association, and Beta Theta Pi became active fundraisers and volunteers for the organization.

Later, more formal ties developed. WPI hosts ACE students on campus for special events that include engineering project days and panel discussions featuring African-born WPI undergraduates.

鈥淚t is really inspiring for our students to be able to relate to someone who is like them in many ways and is pursuing a college degree at a world-class institution like WPI,鈥?says ACE Marketing and Fundraising Manager Tim O鈥橬eil 鈥?4 (BS BME), 鈥?5 MS MG.

One of those ACE students who saw his future at WPI was Daniel Mbusa, who was 13 when his family settled in Worcester from Uganda. While his education in Uganda was rigorous, it emphasized memorization rather than 鈥渓earning to think,鈥?he says. He realized this in high school and turned to ACE for homework help and tutoring, and enrolled in the nonprofit鈥檚 Saturday English and STEM classes.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 the way I developed an interest in science and technology,鈥?he says. When Mbusa reached his senior year at North High School in Worcester, a mentor at ACE guided him through the college and scholarship application process.

The support was critical to his being accepted into鈥攁nd paying for鈥擶PI, he says. Mbusa is now in his second year, majoring in biology and biotechnology.

鈥淚鈥檓 thankful I went to ACE and got connected to people who have been very helpful in my journey from high school to WPI,鈥?Mbusa says.

The Journey

ACE鈥檚 annual gala is the nonprofit鈥檚 largest fundraiser of the year. WPI became more heavily involved with the event in 2017, and this year the division was a title sponsor.

鈥淲e鈥檙e committed to this critical work not only as a moral and ethical obligation to create more access and opportunity, but to highlight the incredible beauty of diversity within the greater Worcester community,鈥?says Rame Hanna, WPI鈥檚 Director for Diversity and Inclusive Excellence. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really led so much by our students on campus who want to work with the local community and want to create positive change working with and for others.鈥?lt;/p>

This year鈥檚 gala raised $62,500, exceeding ACE鈥檚 fundraising goal for the event, due in part to the logistical, creative, and other support offered by WPI and its various student groups, according to O鈥橬eil.

The evening鈥檚 entertainment included performances by the WPI Step Team and the African Percussion and Dance Ensemble. It was the idea of Bonnie Walker, ACE board member and former executive director of diversity and inclusion strategy at WPI, to incorporate the BSU annual fashion show into the gala, but on a smaller scale and with the symbolism of pairing BSU and ACE students on the runway

The evening鈥檚 theme, 鈥淭he Journey,鈥?was emphasized with short bios of each of the young fashion show participants. Emcee and NSBE president Kristophe Zephyrin 鈥?1 introduced the ACE students by their countries of origin, their current interests, and their hopes for the future.

Akume shared the stage with two sixth-graders from Worcester鈥檚 Canterbury Street School鈥擭athan (who lived in Kenya and Rwanda and wants to be an astronaut) and Jespin (who lived in Chad and the Central African Republic). Jespin is debating whether to work in technology or to become a martial arts director when he grows up.

鈥淗ere we were鈥攖he engineers who attend this amazing college, and the ACE students, still young, still growing, figuring out what they want to be when they grow up,鈥?Akume says. 鈥淲e are the people who they see as mentors now, and who they also can become in the future.鈥?lt;/p>

-By Sharron Kahn Luttrell

-Photos by Rose Wine Photography

They鈥檙e Good Dogs, Gompei!

amracicot — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 12:00:00 +0000

It鈥檚 a bit early for new members (or in this case, Friars) to start the rush process, but Phi Kappa Theta welcomed a new fraternity brother the day before Commencement, and he immediately became part of the brotherhood鈥攅ven if he鈥檚 the only one in the house who鈥檚 not allowed to sit on the couch.

His name is Diesel, and he鈥檚 majoring in training to become a guide dog for the Guide Dog Foundation (with a double minor in taking naps and being ridiculously cute).

The brothers of Phi Kappa Theta had regularly mentioned in passing that they鈥檇 like having a dog in the house, but for a long time, there was no initiative to come up with a viable solution to actually get one.

Outside of his training, Diesel's hobbies include

eating, napping, and being ridiculously cute.

鈥淭he general idea of having a dog is great,鈥?says computer science major Jake Scheide 鈥?9, who also serves as one of Diesel鈥檚 primary puppy raisers, 鈥渂ut the responsibility of having to actually take care of one is totally different.鈥?lt;/p>

Other fraternities have adopted house dogs in the past, but the brothers quickly decided against that, with Scheide explaining, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a 12-year commitment. People in the chapter 10 years from now might not want or have the capacity to care for a dog.鈥?lt;/p>

Eventually, the idea of partnering with the Guide Dog Foundation to raise a guide dog puppy was brought up, and Scheide immediately latched onto it.

The Foundation provides people who are blind or visually impaired with highly trained guide dogs free of charge, and operates almost entirely from donations and volunteer work, something Scheide says he and his brothers are honored to contribute to.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an awesome initiative to be a part of,鈥?he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a win-win: we get a dog, and we get to help someone else at the end of the day.鈥?lt;/p>

Of course, it wasn鈥檛 a simple 鈥渁sk and ye shall receive鈥?situation鈥攖he Kap house is owned by the fraternity鈥檚 alumni association, known as Aquinas. Their lease initially forbade pets, but starting in September 2017, Scheide offered his first presentation to Aquinas and his brothers about the benefits of raising a puppy.

Scheide left to complete his IQP in China a month later, but that didn鈥檛 slow the momentum鈥攈e continued to regularly call into Aquinas meetings to address insurance concerns, offer solutions, and reiterate positives鈥攕omething, he says, the dedication of his Friar class built upon and drove forward as their way to benefit the chapter until, ultimately, they brought Diesel home with the unanimous approval of Aquinas.

鈥淒iesel, sit 鈥?nice!鈥?lt;/strong>

While Scheide acts as one of Diesel鈥檚 primary handlers to help lead the training, all of the brothers pitch in from day to day in the hopes that they鈥檒l begin a legacy of sorts within the Guide Dog Foundation, where future brothers have the option of raising their own guide dog and creating a recurring tradition.

Scheide is quick to cite the support and enthusiasm of the Guide Dog Foundation in their endeavor to raise Diesel. 鈥淭hey knew he was going to get all the socialization he needed from being in the house鈥攖hey鈥檙e happy with how we鈥檝e been progressing with him,鈥?he says. 鈥淗opefully having this little guy around campus will convince others to take on the role and become puppy raisers, and he鈥檒l be the first of many at WPI.鈥?lt;/p>

Greek Community Earns Awards at Leadership Association鈥檚 Annual Conference

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 12:00:00 +0000

Addressing issues such as inclusion, gendered violence and sexual assault, WPI鈥檚 Greek community earned several awards at the Northeast Greek Leadership Association鈥檚 (NGLA) annual conference in February.

WPI鈥檚 Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic Council received the Amy Vojta Impact Award for Multicultural Initiatives for their work with the Greek Diversity and Inclusion Committee. The Panhellenic Council鈥檚 work bringing awareness to sexual assault, microaggressions against women and gendered violence earned it the Amy Vojta Civic Engagement Award. And Phi Sigma Sigma was honored with the Amy Vojta Impact Award for Risk Reduction for its work being mindful of and taking steps to reduce risk in their chapter and community.

鈥淲PI students are tackling issues that are very present on college campuses,鈥?says Student Activities associate director Christine Kobza. 鈥淚n true engineering process they are constantly thinking about how their delivery systems can be better, more effective, and how can more students be reached.鈥?lt;/p>
WPI attends NGLA annually, sending delegates from both councils. This year鈥檚 conference included about 1,100 attendees from more than 100 schools across the Northeast and a few outside of the northeast regional area.

IFC president Eric Peterson 鈥?9 says his group鈥檚 work with the Greek Diversity and Inclusion Committee is important. 鈥淩eceiving the award, with inclusion being such a big issue today, makes me proud to be a member of the Greek community here at WPI. I know that Greek organizations are under a lot of scrutiny nationwide, and understandably so, but here at WPI we hold ourselves to a higher standard and have the opportunity to focus on these larger community issues,鈥?he says.

Panhellenic president Rosie McCarthy 鈥?9 says the effort her group and the IFC have put into inclusion and diversity is exciting. 鈥淚 am honored to see the growth within the Greek community from both an inside perspective of being a part of the committee, and as a sister and leader in the community,鈥?she says. 鈥淪eeing the small changes even a few people can begin to make in their daily lives creates a small wave of change.鈥?lt;/p>

Aylin Padir 鈥?9, member-a-large for Phi Sigma Sigma, served as risk manager during the time for which the sorority received the Amy Vojta Impact Award for Risk Reduction. 鈥淚 am truly honored to have been recognized for my work to reduce risk in our chapter,鈥?she says. 鈥淩isk manager definitely isn鈥檛 a popular position, but it is an important one, so I鈥檓 extremely happy to have contributed to making my chapter happier and healthier.鈥?Padir gave presentations to the chapter on topics such as fire safety and sexual assault.

Juliana Wakeman, Phi Sigma Sigma advisor at WPI, earned the Guenzler Award, which recognizes significant volunteer commitments within the Northeast. She was presented with the award during WPI鈥檚 Greek Recognition Awards on Monday evening.

鈥淪he is constantly engaged, no matter the time of day or night. Juliana is always willing to answer questions or talk through any challenges our chapter is trying to work through,鈥?a nominator wrote in this year鈥檚 submission. 鈥淪he is always a great listener and a fantastic person to talk to whether it is about chapter or even career advice.

鈥淗er open mind and level head allows her to offer different perspectives and ideas to others and myself whenever we are faced with an issue. She is technically our chapter鈥檚 CKA, but she is far more than that to our sisters. She is a mentor, role model, and friend.鈥?lt;/p>
-By Lauren Curran

Worcester Polytechnic Institute Sororities Receive National Acclaim

admin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 12:00:00 +0000

For the fourth time in five years, the Panhellenic Council at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has received the College Panhellenic Excellence Award from the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), one of the nation's largest advocacy organizations for sororities.

WPI, which hosts six sororities, previously won the award in 2013, 2015, and 2016. This year, the university was one of 20 colleges to receive the honor, out of the more than 600 colleges and universities across the United States and Canada that belong to NPC.

NPC, which has recognized student-managed college Panhellenic councils with awards of excellence and achievement for more than 50 years, selects only the top scoring councils for recognition each year. Scores are based on seven criteria, including academics, programming, and community relations.

鈥淭he Worcester Polytechnic Institute College Panhellenic (CPH) is an example of an award- winning CPH that does not stand on its previous accomplishments,鈥?said Patty Gesell, College Panhellenics Committee chairman and area advisor to WPI. 鈥淭he women continue to challenge themselves in all areas and are not satisfied with the status quo. Whether they are evaluating and refining recruitment, looking at ways to support and acknowledge academic excellence, or supporting issues of importance to women, their positive impact extends beyond the organization to the campus and Worcester community.鈥?lt;/p>
More than 600 of WPI鈥檚 1,455 female students, representing 44.9 percent of the university's female population, are members of WPI鈥檚 six sororities, five of which are part of NPC. During the 2016鈥?7 school year, members contributed over 11,900 hours of community service and raised nearly $33,000 for multiple charities, including Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation to support the Fight Against Hunger, Alpha Phi Foundation to support Women鈥檚 Heart Health, Autism Speaks, and Make a Wish Foundation. Sorority members also volunteered at numerous organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Second Chance Animal Shelter, Big Brothers Big Sisters Worcester, Colleges Against Cancer, and Beaumont Rehabilitation and Nursing Home.

Sorority members are also involved in a number of leadership positions and groups on campus, including Student Government Association Community and Residential Advisors, Crimson Key Tour Guides, and Student Alumni Society (SAS), as well as club and varsity sports teams.

鈥淲PI Panhellenic Council has been successful in creating programming to support the mission and vision of the NPC within an affinity space that focuses specifically on women鈥檚 support and success in higher education,鈥?said Christine Kobza, associate director of student activities at WPI. "For the council to be recognized consistently over the past five years shows a commitment on behalf of the undergraduate women to support excellence of programming as well as strong partnerships with the university, their national organization, and the National Panhellenic Conference. They are truly showing excellence as a women鈥檚 Greek community.鈥?lt;/p>
Abigail King, president of WPI's Panhellenic Council, said her peers were gratified to receive the award.

鈥淭he women who serve on the Panhellenic Council are honored and humbled to receive this prestigious award,鈥?said King. 鈥淚t is the outstanding efforts of all the undergraduate sorority women on campus that inspire the hard work, sincerity, and dedication required to be worthy of the College Panhellenic Excellence Award. The support of both the Panhellenic community and our advisors push us to provide valuable programming, campus relations, and recruitment to the women of the WPI community.鈥?lt;/p>
In addition to the overall excellence award, WPI鈥檚 Chi Omega, Alpha Phi, Phi Sigma Sigma, Alpha Xi Delta, and Alpha Gamma Delta received individual national chapter awards for advising support, chapter excellence, academic achievement, recruitment, and philanthropy. The Panhellenic Council (Excellence in Civic Engagement) and Phi Sigma Sigma (Excellence in Membership Recruitment Practices) were recognized with an award at the Northeast Greek Leadership Association (NGLA) Annual Conference, an organization that works to support the co-curricular learning experiences for fraternities and sororities in the northeast. Helen Vassallo, professor of business, was recognized at NGLA with the Guenzler Award for her work with Phi Sigma Sigma. The award is given to an individual who volunteers in the fraternity/sorority community as a faculty advisor.

A Sea of Support

amracicot — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 12:00:00 +0000

When sophomore mechanical engineering major Jared Grier was ready to come back to campus after a fall that left him paralyzed, WPI had a network already in place to help. By the time he made his return (Aug. 19), he knew exactly what to expect in terms of accessibility, housing arrangements, and the overwhelming support of his school.

In May 2015, in his freshman year, Grier fell while climbing a tree at Institute Park, injuring his spinal cord. For the next year he navigated his way through multiple surgeries, physical therapy, and medical appointments.

But he was ready to come back to classes. As he is quadriplegic, he requires a motorized wheelchair.

鈥淚t was exciting to finally be able to say 鈥?that Jared would be returning for the school year,鈥?says Aaron Pepin, a senior mechanical engineering major who got to know Grier in their fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha.

鈥淗e started by asking us, 鈥榃hat can I do to help all of you be more comfortable with this?鈥? says Pepin, "and this amazing attitude and unbelievable resilience and drive to move forward has proven to be an inspiration to me.鈥?lt;/p>
Adjustments, adapting

What helped make the transition easier for all involved, says Emily Perlow, assistant dean of students, was the WPI Care Team.

Established years ago, staff members from health services, academic advising, counseling, athletics, and other areas meet regularly to identify and assist students who may need help to succeed. It could be a student who is having roommate issues or financial problems, for example.

Jared meets up with friend Alexis Gamez.

The Care Team is used to customizing solutions for students, says Perlow, and members are in communication with each other daily.

鈥淛ared鈥檚 circumstances are unique," she says. "We had to figure out who are the players who need to be involved鈥攍ike the Facilities Department鈥攆or door openers and our diligence about snow removal.鈥?lt;/p>
Meetings with Grier and his parents were held with director of disabilities Laura Rosen, and others over the summer. The Grier family came to campus from their home in Granby, Conn., Perlow says.

The goal was to set up so Grier knew what to expect and would have the best chances of success while back at school, adjusting to a new life.

鈥淲e were able to show him his room [in Founders Hall] with an accessible bathroom, before he moved in. We talked about what he might need,鈥?such as an air-conditioning unit modification, which was taken care of, says Perlow.

Transition work

As for Grier, his patience is tested each day as he continues to adjust to his new normal. Waiting for elevators, for example, isn鈥檛 something he had to do before. Laundry can be time-consuming. He is learning to give himself more time to accomplish personal tasks and understand he can鈥檛 do things as quickly as he did before.

Pepin and other fraternity brothers 鈥擜ndres Monterroso, Bly Rougier, Liam Fisher, and Tyler Greff鈥攎ade a GoPro video for Grier while he was out of school. They borrowed a wheelchair from Health Services and showed a real depiction of how to navigate around campus, sending the video to Grier while he was in a rehabilitation facility in Atlanta.

"We were taking videos from the point of view of someone sitting in a wheelchair 鈥?to give him a better idea of what he would be coming back to,鈥?says Pepin.

鈥淭he video definitely helped,鈥?Grier adds.

Grier is taking two classes now and is a PLA (peer learning assistant). This term he has a lab section for two hours twice a week, which he decided was a good way to ease back in to a full course load next term.

He has a standing frame that allows him to position himself upright, which helps the body in many ways, such as with digestion, he explains.

And he鈥檚 seen progress in his skills, he says. He鈥檚 regained control of his tricep muscles and has advanced in his overall strength, continuing to exercise in ways he learned in physical therapy.

鈥淚鈥檝e improved my transfers, so I can get in and out of locations like couches and move myself around,鈥?Grier says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 greatly improved.鈥?lt;/p>
Between the students, staff, and faculty, Grier says his return experience has been 鈥渞eally good.鈥?lt;/p>
鈥淔rom Day One, they were here and ready to help,鈥?he says of his school community. (In the first few days after the accident, President Leshin visited him at UMass Memorial Hospital.) 鈥淚 never once thought I wouldn鈥檛 make it back.鈥?lt;/p>
- By Susan Shalhoub