Page 4 - Phi Dleta Theta MIT - Winter 2018-19

get to know our new pledges:

13 PROMISING MEN ACCEPT BIDS TO BECOME BROTHERS AT PHI DELTA THETA

RITAANK TIWARI GRIFFIN LEONARD a concentration in Mandarin. In my free time,
CLASS OF ’22 CLASS OF ’22 I enjoy playing soccer, learning new languages,
Hometown: Los Hometown: reading any interesting book I can find, and
Gatos, California Hermosa Beach, meeting awesome people at MIT. Over these
My parents are California next four years, I look forward to taking advan-
both from India and I spent most of tage of everything that MIT has to offer, and
immigrated here for my life in Southern bonding with my fellow Phikeia and the broth-
higher education. California. I plan to ers of Phi Delta Theta.
I have one older study some combi-
brother who is cur- nation of computer
rently studying computer science at UC—Berke- science and brain and cognitive science. I am KEITH MURRAY
ley. I am humbled to have the opportunity to on the water polo team and was also on the CLASS OF ’22
study at MIT, and will make the most of it. I swim team in high school. Hometown:
am a member of the MIT varsity fencing team, During Campus Preview Weekend I stayed Indiana, about 30
and am currently running for freshman class in Theta Tau, so I spent a lot of time exploring minutes outside
council. I look to the future with excitement different fraternities and when I arrived at MIT, of Louisville,
and optimism. I was pretty sure I wanted to join a fraternity. I Kentucky
learned about Phi Delts through the brothers on Growing up,
the water polo team. During rush I met more of my family always
DIEGO ESCOBEDO the brothers, and I really loved Phi Delt’s sense pushed me to re-
CLASS OF ’22 of community and how welcoming all the broth- ceive a world-class education, and thus, I was
Hometown: ers were. I ultimately pledged Phi Delt because driven to come to MIT. Many people from my
“...Well, it’s it is a very diverse group of people committed to area didn’t tend to value education as highly
complicated.” improving themselves and others. as I did, so for the majority of my high school
Cambridge is experience, I went to a small boarding school
now the seventh in northern Indiana. At this boarding school, my
city I’ve lived in, so ALEX HOMMA drive for education began to follow me outside
when I have to tell CLASS OF ’22 of the classroom and into my daily life. Outside
people where I’m Hometown: San of classes at MIT, I am a member of the varsity
from, it’s a struggle. San Francisco, São Paulo, Antonio, Texas heavyweight crew team, the MIT Digital Hu-
and Mexico City have been the most recent lo- and Monterrey, manities Laboratory, and the MIT Paul Revere
cations. Having lived almost all my life in warm Mexico Army ROTC battalion.
climates, Massachusetts’ bitter winters were In both places, When it came time for rush, I didn’t know if
a factor I put in the “negatives” column while I grew up surround- I wanted to join a fraternity, but if I did, I knew
considering schools. Ultimately, MIT’s strength ed by a melting I wanted that fraternity to have the same com-
across a variety of departments, the focus on pot of diverse cul- mitment to excellence and education I have.
undergraduate research, and the vibrant, tight- ture—from languages I could not understand, Phi Delta Theta soon became the obvious
knit community more than made up for other to celebrations and holidays from every part of choice, and I haven’t had a dull moment since
extraneous factors. the world. Throughout my childhood, the inter- pledging. I look forward to becoming more in-
I am currently planning on majoring in 6-3, actions I had with people of all backgrounds volved at MIT, and more specifically, becoming
and minoring in 15-2 and 17. I have a passion fostered a curiosity in me that led me to learn more involved in Phi Delta Theta.
for data, numbers, and information—hopefully everything I could about other cultures. As a re-
combining those areas of study will allow me sult, when I looked into which college I wanted
to do something that will make an impact on to attend, I knew that I wanted a place that was FAUSTO URIBE
the world. not only academically elite, but also full of peo- CLASS OF ’22
Joining the frat was not an easy choice; my ple from diverse backgrounds, whose personal Hometown:
only exposure to fraternities had been through experiences could teach me something new Mexico City; San
the stereotypes presented in movies and TV and help me grow as a person. Antonio, Texas
shows. However, after CPW and rush, I realized This desire led me to MIT and, more spe- I am mostly in-
that frats at MIT are nothing like what is present- cifically, Phi Delta Theta. Aside from the diversity terested in comput-
ed in popular culture. Everyone is smart, driven, of Phi Delts, I value how joining a fraternity has er science—though
and passionate, while still knowing how to have provided me with an amazing support system I have no specific
a good time. I am having the best time of my for all aspects of life, and made meeting and area of interest yet. I
life. I am learning new concepts and ideas ev- networking with exceptional people so much am originally from Mexico City, but moved to
ery single day at a breakneck pace, while main- easier. San Antonio, Texas, when I was 12 years old.
taining a minimal level of stress, thanks to the Outside of the fraternity, I am involved in Growing up, I was passionate about math but
support system provided by administration, my the MIT Consulting Group and the Society of also interested in creative fields. This caused
friends, and Phi Delts. Hispanic Professional Engineers. I enjoy eco- me to delve into several areas such as visual ef-
The brothers here have made me feel so nomics and business related fields, so I am fects and music production, before finally stum-
welcome, and I’m proud to be a Phikeia. planning on majoring in 6-14 and 15-3, with (continued on next page)

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