Page 4 - The Illinois Sig - Fall 2012

Chapter News

Chapter Spotlight: Jack Etchingham ’14

that I wanted to run for executive
Editor’s Note: Jack, legacy and younger
brother to Pat Etchingham ’10, is the current house positions because I firmly
chapter Consul. From the hometown of believed in what I was taught as
Arlington Heights, IL, Jack is working a pledge and when I initiated.
toward his degree in Finance and I.T. Read However, some of the things
on to find out more about our chapter leader! that we were taught as pledges
and during initiation can get lost
at a 40,000 person institution Jack making a presentation during Homecoming 2012 to alumni,
with demanding academics and undergraduates, and pledges regarding the Chapter’s involvement
a vibrant student life. More than in the Balfour Leadership Training Workshop.
anything, I wanted to run for Consul because summer, I am interning at an accounting firm
I wanted to remind the Chapter as much as I in Chicago. While I do not know if this is
could as to why we were all Sigma Chis, for what life has planned for me, I do know that
the brotherhood and scholarship. I never want it will give me more experience from which
our chapter to lose sight of the larger purpose to draw a better understanding of what it is
of our lives as Sigs and that is the main reason I want to do with my life. Hopefully, after
I wanted to be Consul. working this summer I will have a better idea
of what I will do after graduation.
What are your thoughts about where the
chapter is headed? What do you do for fun?
I think our chapter is headed in a great My friends always make fun of me for
direction. First off, our chapter recognizes being a simple person and what I do for fun
the importance of our ritual and truly respects is no different. I play sports, hang out with
what it stands for. Also, we have created friends, listen to music, and immerse myself
an atmosphere of campus involvement, in whatever interests me at the present time.
whether it be engineering honor societies or Although it may seem boring and cliché,
Interfraternity Council executive positions. these are the things that make me happy and
Jack with his pledge brother Bill Renwick (l).
Also, we raised more than $13,000 dollars I imagine that this is how I will have fun for
What brought you to Sigma Chi? this year through Derby Days, as well as a long time.
First off, I knew that Sigma Chi was one winning Kappa Kappa Gamma and Alpha
of the biggest, most prestigious fraternities Chi Omega’s annual philanthropies. Putting
in the country before I arrived on campus. this all together, I firmly believe Kappa Chapter Officers
My brother, Patrick Etchingham ’10, is a Kappa will continue to thrive on campus. Consul: John (Jack) R. Etchingham
Sigma Chi, and a former Magister, so I had
an inkling of what made Sigma Chi special How do you juggle Finance and IT at Pro Consul: Michael T. Bellah
before I arrived in Champaign. However, school? Annotator: William T. Renwick
Patrick gave me the freedom to make my own Juggling finance and IT in school is just like Quaestor: Kevin J. Dailey
decision, and I rushed a couple of different juggling anything else in life. In college, we Magister: Robert F. Merlo
fraternities here on campus. In the end, what all recognize that our education is preparing Recruitment Chair:Harrison C. Meyer
I felt at Sigma Chi was special. Seniors were us for a lifetime of work and achievement. Tribune: Robert F. Merlo
introducing themselves to me, and although My parents have always emphasized
at first I merely thought they were just education and I have realized here on campus Scholarship Chair: Kris Friedlein
rushing me, I soon saw how they interacted that as long as you put the work into your Kustos: Vincent D. Carballo
with the sophomores in the house, and how schooling, it will work out. Therefore, I try Risk Mgmt Chair: Holden B. Orler
genuine all of the friendships were between to plan out my classes as much as possible.
people of all ages. Put simply, the atmosphere When I feel overwhelmed by school, I try to
of friendship was something I knew I wanted relax by heading back to the chapter house
to be a part of, and that was what drew me to and just hanging out with friends. By doing
Sigma Chi. so, I have found the stress of balancing two
majors much easier.
How has your membership encouraged
you to represent the chapter as President? Do you have any plans yet for after
Just as with any organization we choose to graduation?
become a part of, Kappa Kappa did not come Just like any other college student, I have
without faults. I decided during my Initiation no concrete plans for after graduation. This
4