Page 2 - Eta Survey - Spring 2019

Chapter News 2

From the Chapter Spotlight: Gary Braznichenko ’21
Consul

Editor’s NotE: Representing the chapter in the spotlight is Gary Braznichen-
Dear Alumni: ko. He currently serves as our pontifex, previously served as our risk manager,
am very excited to have and has been just and reliable as the head of advisory. All the brothers in the
I been elected as the new house feel comfortable going to him with issues or simply to talk. He is also
consul for Eta. As an elementary education studying computer science and has already had two different internships as
major, I spend a lot of time in different class- a sophomore. From the hometown of Vernon Hills, Illinois, Gary is working
rooms in a few local schools. When not required toward his BS in computer science and his BS in statistics. Current part-time
for my major, I spend even more time volunteer- work includes a an internship at Capital One as a software engineer and an
ing for different programs that tutor underprivi- upcoming internship as a software engineer intern at IMC for summer of 2019.
A member of the club tennis team, he also enjoys skiing and ultimate.
leged kids in areas that they might need.
Kappa Delta Rho has been an incredible What led you to
experience for me. Throughout the initiation pro- join the chapter? sure that I can experience
cess, we work to include the new members in all as many of these potential
of our brotherhood activities so that they will not Coming into UIUC as careers as possible through
only grow closer to their pledge class but to the a freshman, I knew that internships. After work-
established active members. The Eta men see academics were my prior- ing as a software engineer
brotherhood as a core value of our fraternity. ity, and I had yet to find a intern at both a hedge fund
I am proud to share that our annual fall philan- fraternity that I enjoyed. I and a bank, I understand
thropy, Car Bash, managed to raise over $900 for received a text from Bobby that I enjoy financial con-
the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation. Through McAuliff, the consul at the cepts, but perhaps UI/UX
the hard work of our philanthropy chair and his time, about coming around design is not something
the house to meet some of Brothers Matthew Kinsella and Gary Brazni­
committee, as well as many other involved broth- chenko hold up sledge hammers for our fall that I am interested in.
ers, we managed to make this event a great success. the guys that were current- philanthropy, Car Bash. When did you
We hope to close out the spring semester with con- ly in the fraternity that my develop such a
tinued progress and leadership. brother was a member of, ΚΔΡ. I instantly saw a knack for counseling?
different atmosphere than I had before. Everyone I wouldn’t describe it so much as a “knack
was outgoing, and it felt as though I was being for counseling” but as a genuine concern for the
included in fun, not interviewed. This cohesive well-being of those whom I can call my brothers.
and fun environment led me to join ΚΔΡ.
Joel Alva I want everyone I know in the house and those
What have you enjoyed most as a joining the house to know that there are people
member of Eta? that they can talk to if they need anything and
I think that being able to branch out to meet resources that can help them in almost any facet
new people and to experience new things is an of college. Being there to listen and help my
opportunity that I wouldn’t have been able to friends is something that I feel is really impor-
have without Eta. After joining the fraternity, I tant to the heart of a fraternity and to myself.
met so many people that I consider some of my Outside of school, what do you do
closest friends now. Everyone I have met has con- for fun?
tributed to my learning, my social life, or other I love playing sports of all kinds. While I
aspects of my time at college in some regard. didn’t play much of it growing up, it’s always fun
How would you like to apply your to play basketball with the guys in the house. I
degree after graduation? am also a member of the university’s club tennis
I am not entirely set on what it is I would like team and Eta Chapter’s intramural ultimate team.
Our spring 2019 pledge class (l–r): Dev Kumar, to do after college yet. Majoring in both computer Beyond just sports, my hobbies include work-
Michael Hultberg, Anthony Pulido, and Cody Baker. science and statistics opens a lot of doors for me, ing out, skiing, and working on fun side projects
Not pictured: Kyle Burns and Arihant Jain. whether I choose to go into data science, technol- in computer science. Over last spring break, I
ogy, or finance. My goal right now is to make worked on a challenge to predict expected values
Group photo after our induction ceremony. of March Madness teams this year. I ended up
doing well, and it was a great learning experience.

Gary skiing in the mountains of Whistler, BC, Canada.