Theta Eta Capital Campaign Announced Just before the Theta Eta (Northern Illinois) brothers teed off at their 4th annual golf outing last June, Brother James Owens, Executive Vice President of the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation, announced that the Alumni Association has embarked on a campaign to raise $100,000 to establish the Theta Eta Chapter Scholarship Account within the Sigma Nu Educational Foundation. Furthermore, he reported that ten (10) alumni had already made financial commitments of nearly $45,000 during the "silent phase" of the campaign.

Even though the Theta Eta Chapter is not scheduled to begin its recolonization until 2006, the Theta Eta Alumni Association decided that it was time to prepare for the future. So, Kevin Kedzior and Steve Sliga from the Theta Eta Alumni Association sought the advice and guidance of the Educational Foundation. Kedzior said, "We realized that. . . the Educational Foundation has the staff, resources and expertise to manage this - we don't."

The June 17th announcement was the springboard for the "public phase" of the campaign - a time for all brothers to participate. Prior to the announcement, the Foundation has been working with the Alumni Association to develop an innovative Internet based appeal which can be viewed at the Theta Eta website. In addition, the site contains updates, articles and other information related to the Theta Eta campaign and recolonization efforts.

The website also provides personal testimonials from alumni who have already contributed to the campaign effort. Alumnus Brett White said, "Everyone who shared the Theta Eta chapter experience should look inside themselves and ask the question, 'Would I be where I am today without the experience, leadership development, and networking opportunities that were absorbed while at Sigma Nu?' An honest man would say a resounding 'No.' Because of what the chapter gave to me, a successful career and the friends that I still see every week, I feel that it is only appropriate to give back to the organization that gave so much to me."

Alumni like Dan Schmieder confirm that the Sigma Nu experience at NIU had a meaningful influence on his life. "About 90% of my [college] memories are about my Brothers and Sigma Nu, not necessarily NIU. I did most of my 'growing up' during college at NIU. It was the sports we played, the offices we held, the relationships we built, and all the fun we had, that formed a lot of what makes me who I am today."

This important campaign is just the beginning of being able to offer the same positive experience to the brothers who will become Sigma Nus at NIU in the future. "Most of our brothers have the desire to give," says Owens. He says that even those who are unable to give in one lump sum are encouraged to support this new scholarship fund with a "smaller amount on a monthly basis in order to help us reach our goal of $100,000."

For more information about the Theta Eta campaign, please contact James Owens or visit the chapter website at: www.thetaeta.com.