FEATURE
A Rising Star Congressman Kevin Yoder has quickly risen through the ranks of state and national politics. He attributes his success to his humble origins and his involvement with the Fraternity. By Andrew Talevich (Washington State)
C
ongressman Kevin Yoder (Kansas 1998) knows how it
feels to be the new guy. He remembers the ominous feeling he had as a freshman at the University of Kansas, on a campus of 25,000 students, and how he felt more than a year ago when he traveled from his Third District in Kansas to Washington, D.C., and took his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. His remedy to the problem: become involved in various leadership opportunities and forge meaningful friendships.
Commitment to Fraternity Yoder’s first involvement in leadership was during his sophomore year. He was surprised when his brothers elected him treasurer for the Zeta-Iota chapter. “My experience at Lambda Chi was really the beginning of my leadership potential,” Yoder said. “I quickly found a real liking for the responsibilities and leadership within the fraternity.” The treasurer position served Yoder as a jumping off point into a handful of other leadership opportunities within Lambda Chi Alpha. Yoder would go on to become the president of his chapter. For the General Fraternity he volunteered on the Student Advisory Committee and the International Ritual Team. He also attended several General Assemblies and was the runner-up for the Duke Flad Award. Beyond his Lambda Chi Alpha commitments, Yoder was the student body president of KU his senior year.
After graduating with a political science and an English degree from KU, Yoder continued his involvement with the fraternity. He was the alumni advisor for the Zeta-Iota chapter from 2001 to 2003 and the house corporation president from 2005 to 2007. “We are made up of the experiences we’ve had in our lives,” he said. “Through Lambda Chi I learned leadership at its rawest and purest form.” Yoder enjoyed helping to pave the way for undergraduates
www.lambdachi.org/cross-crescent
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Cross & Crescent March 2012