O M I C R O N D E LTA K A P PA
T HE L E ADER FALL 2018
Celebrating
STUDENT LEADERS
Meet the
BOARD
Spotlight on
ODK MEMBERS
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E S I G M A C I R C L E AT T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A R Y L A N D
1 | ODK Sigma Circle THE LEADER
MESSAGE FROM THE CIRCLE COORDINATOR By Brooke Supple Happy Fall ODK!
construction dust) is filling the fall air.
Things are moving at a rapid pace here on campus. Construction is booming, the Terps have kept us on the edge of our seats, and ODKers are very busy!
However, the growth is not always positive. As you have likely seen, it has been a difficult summer and early fall on campus. We continue to mourn and understand the senseless death of football player Jordan McNair in June. The loss of a student is always tragic, but when it becomes a regular news story, it makes it difficult for our community to heal. In addition, an unanticipated over enrollment led to many unexpected triples and quads, unprecedented August heat led to lots of un-air conditioned residence halls, and extreme rain and humidity led to record-breaking mold! After evacuating hundreds of students to area hotels during mold eradication, we hope the fall is settling down and the rest of the semester will be filled with cool, crisp, sunny days for College Park!
The fall semester began with a fantastic selection process. With so many members who graduated in May, we are small but mighty! This semester, 272 undergraduates applied for ODK, and the ODK officers led a smooth, efficient selection effort resulting in 61 new undergraduate members, two graduate members and several honorary members tapped. ODK continues to be one of the most sought-after honors on campus! As soon as selections and tapping ended, Homecoming began, and we had a sensational Homecoming Leadership Reception where we welcomed back decades of ODK leaders for brunch and good times! French toast and a photo booth made for a fun-filled morning before the Terps triumphed over Rutgers. (See pages 9 and 10.) Campus continues to buzz with construction. Cole Field House and the Brendan Iribe Center are coming along and the Discovery District around The Hotel continues to grow. The energy (and
As always, please keep us informed of any changes to your contact information and provide us with updates about your lives. Visit odk.umd.edu to update us electronically. If you are willing and able, please support our activities and events by making a gift to the Sigma Circle. See the enclosed envelope for more information. Enjoy the remainder of the fall and we hope to see you back on campus soon! Save the date for Maryland Day 2019 on April 27!
Fall 2018 Executive Officers
Elizabeth Arentz Philanthropy & Community Service Coordinator
Doron Tadmor President
Katie Bemb Public Relations Coordinator
Jeff O’Neal Vice President
Maria Viera Communications Coordinator
Kevin Li Events Coordinator
Sarah Joseph Membership Coordinator
Jacqueline Deprey Digital Communications Brooke Supple Circle Coordinator Dean Chang Faculty Advisor
THE LEADER ODK Sigma Circle |2
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT By Doron Tadmor Greetings ODKers, My name is Doron Tadmor, and I am thrilled and honored to serve as the ODK Sigma Circle president this school year. Here at Maryland, I am studying Operations Management & Business Analytics and International Business with minors in Spanish and Technology Entrepreneurship. Outside of classes, I am active in the University of Maryland Student Government Association, University Student Judiciary and Smith Undergraduate Student Association. I have the privilege of working alongside truly talented officers who are filled with creative ideas, are dedicated to their work, and exude contagious enthusiasm. This semester has gotten off to a great start with circle-wide events, the Homecoming Student Leadership Celebration, new member selections and tapping. We are focusing on strengthening the Sigma Circle community by building deeper relationships between current members and with alumni. During new member selections in September, we were reminded of the breadth and depth of passion, leadership and commitment on this campus. Reviewing the accomplishments and accolades of so many student leaders is undoubtedly a humbling experience. This semester, we welcome 61 undergraduates, two graduate students and many new honorary members. Each of our new members has distinguished themselves uniquely as a leader among leaders through their contributions to our campus! We look forward to formally inducting them into the Sigma Circle in December.
Looking ahead, the Sigma Circle is proud to be engaging the broader student body and campus community! On Oct. 1, in partnership with the SGA, University of Maryland Police Department, and University of Maryland administration, ODK participated in the annual Safety Walk to identify safety hazards on campus. Student Government will compile and share a report to correct these hazards moving forward. Prior to the Homecoming game against Rutgers on Oct. 13, the Division of Student Affairs hosted the annual Homecoming Leadership Celebration where we ate delicious food while networking with leaders of the UMD community and honoring select faculty and students. Organizations such as Student Entertainment Events, SGA and Residence Hall Association were also present at this pre-game breakfast. While ODK is a national resource that helps Sigma Circle members develop professionally in college, it’s only possible due to the hard work and extreme dedication of Brooke Supple and Zimri Diaz, along with the support of the Office of Student Affairs. Their dedication to helping ODK grow as an organization keeps our chapter alive and thriving. One of my favorite parts about ODK is that it connects people who would not otherwise cross paths. We come from different pillars, different corners of campus, and different decades to celebrate and practice leadership among truly inspirational individuals. The executive board is elated to lead the Sigma Circle in another year of growing and supporting leaders among leaders.
Making a difference By Marilee Lindemann Executive Director, College Park Scholars Inducted Spring 2018 I’ve spent my whole career on university campuses, trying to produce positive institutional change. For many years, that meant working to create space for the new knowledge produced by and about women and LGBT people in the wake of the civil rights movements of the 1960s and 1970s. Over the last four years, it has meant working to make College Park Scholars a dynamic and Marilee Lindemann addresses a new class of College Park Scholars at fully inclusive community in which all students can Convocation. ism wasn’t just a style of leadership. It was a survival thrive. strategy. Our badassery made us strong. We had a bold Every year, I’m proud to see a number of Scholars alum- idea and training in cutting-edge academic fields that ni are inducted into ODK—but I’m not surprised. Our were transforming our understanding of human beings Scholars values of intentional community, service and and the socio-cultural systems of sex and gender. We integrity, after all, align with the values of ODK. Among felt unstoppable, but our incrementalism was just as important. It made us patient, perother things, ODK emphasizes sistent and careful when care was scholarship and campus and comneeded. munity service. In Scholars, we emphasize integrative learning to In Scholars, we Badass incrementalism has educate the whole person and supemphasize integrative served me well during my time port young leaders as they look to leave their mark on their campus learning to educate the at Maryland, but I didn’t consciously think of it as my official and community. whole person and style or practice of leadership support young leaders until recently when I was workBut how do you lead on a campus ing with one of our amazing stuas large and complex as ours? as they look to leave dent leaders in Scholars who was their mark on their embarking on a big campaign to For all the talk about left-wing radicalism on college campuses, unicampus and community. raise awareness about an important issue on campus. Late on a versities are actually fairly conserFriday afternoon in my office, we vative places in that they are slow to change and in some ways resistant to doing so. That’s fell into an intense conversation about strategy, specifpartly because universities are large bureaucracies and ically about the kind of rhetorical strategy that would resources are limited, but it’s also because academic launch the campaign. The student was inclined to go in norms of self-governance and peer review mean that a provocative direction and take a somewhat adversariproposals for any kind of change or new endeavor go al stance toward the campus administration. through lengthy and careful scrutiny. The badass in me understood the impulse, but the inIt’s in this environment that I developed a practice of crementalist was concerned. What might such a stratleadership that I not too facetiously refer to as “badass egy produce? It might get attention, but it might also undermine prospects for constructive dialogue with incrementalism.” higher-ups. Would it likely create the conditions for the This philosophy came into play when I was working to kinds of changes the student was seeking? establish the university’s LGBT Studies Program. For the group of faculty and staff who crafted and re-crafted I asked the student: Do you want to make a splash, or the proposal and shepherded it through a process that ultimately took close to five years, badass incrementalContinued on page 4... 3 | ODK Sigma Circle THE LEADER
Prestigious alum Jason Williams tapped into ODK By Sami Main Inducted Fall 2017 On behalf of the whole campus, it was a pleasure to welcome Jason Williams, University of Maryland class of 1966, to College Park this September. Mr. Williams was the first African-American varsity athlete at the University of Maryland; he was also the first African American to compete in the entire Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). He broke barriers during a time of racial discrimination to earn his scholarship. On top of his rigorous athletic schedule, Mr. Williams was also a member of Air Force ROTC on campus. ODK members tapped Jason Williams on Sept. 25 in Stamp Student
The leadership qualities that Mr. Williams possesses Union. Mr. Williams was on campus to speak about his experience breakand his dedication to our campus are extraordinary. He ing down barriers at the University of Marland. has shown others that it is possible to fulfill a dream, as a student-athlete but also graduating as a second and he now supports fellow Terps so that they can do lieutenant. the same. He attributes his successes throughout life to the opportunity of receiving an education. He recently There is absolutely no doubt as to why he was nominated as an honorary member and it was a privilege pledged $50,000 in scholarship funding. to present him with his key and welcome him into the As a student-athlete myself, it is stunning what Mr. Wil- most respected and effective leadership honor society liams was able to accomplish in his time here, not only across the nation.
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do you want to make a difference? My student, a deeply manding change, about refusing to wait or to cooperate caring individual, quickly got the point. with those who would counsel moving slowly through proper channels. We have a great recent example of The campaign launched, with rhetoric that was power- the power of impatience in the students from Marjory ful but in no way hostile, and I’m proud to say that it has Stoneman Douglas High School who, as CNN phrased already led to positive changes on our campus. it, “went from experiencing a mass tragedy to launching a mass movement” in support of gun control in just over This situation reinforced for me just why I enjoy work- five weeks. They recognized the opportunity presented ing as executive director of College Park Scholars. Every by the moment, seized it and rode it as if it were a wave. day, we as faculty and staff get the opportunity to en- In fact, one of our International Studies Scholars spent counter amazing students—many, as I have mentioned, this past summer campaigning with March For Our Lives who go on to be inducted into ODK—doing amazing as a student lead on the Road to Change advocacy tour. things. More importantly, we get to support and guide student-led initiatives that have added real value to our Patience or impatience, incrementalism or swift action: community. ODK embodies the importance of collabo- Effective leadership requires knowing which to use ration among students, faculty, staff and alumni to ad- in any given situation and finding ways to inspire and vance leadership. It’s something that resonates strongly empower others to join in the work of advocating for here in Scholars. change. Working with and paving a path for student leaders on this campus has been one of the great privLeadership on campus is not always about jumping ileges of my professional life. I am doubly honored to through hoop after hoop after hoop. Yes, sometimes, now be an ODK member, as so many of our Scholars things do need to be approached incrementally. Other students and alumni are. times, however, it’s about seizing the moment and deTHE LEADER ODK Sigma Circle |4
Meet the Board DORON TADMOR President My name is Doron and I am a Junior double majoring in International Business and Operations Management and Business Analytics with minors in Spanish and Technology Entrepreneurship. Outside of ODK, I am the Chief of Staff for the Student Government Association, Central Board member for the University Student Judiciary and a member of the Smith Undergraduate Student Association. In my free time, I enjoy oil-painting, breaking world records and learning languages.
JEFF O’NEAL Vice President My name is Jeff O’Neal, and I am a Senior studying Mechanical Engineering. Outside of ODK, I am the Treasurer of the Maryland Triathlon Club, as well as the Terrapin Triathlon Coordinator, which plans our on-campus triathlon in the spring. I previously served as President of Engineers Without Borders, and I continue to volunteer with them, working with three different projects. In my free time, I enjoy trying new restaurants, reading and traveling the world.
KATIE BEMB Public Relations Chair I am a Senior Multiplatform Journalism major and Public Leadership Scholars alum minoring in International Development and Conflict Management. In 2018, I have worked with the American Red Cross as a media relations intern and with AARP as a strategic communications intern. I have also worked for College Park Scholars for three years managing communications. Once I graduate in December, I plan to work at a nonprofit in the D.C. area where I can explore my passions for human rights and social justice.
JACQUELINE DEPREY Digital Communications Chair I’m Jacqueline, a Junior from Rockville, Maryland. I am studying Computer Science and Operations Management and Business Analytics. On campus, I am a Maryland Images campus tour guide, a tutor for the Maryland Center for Women in Computing, and former contestant/current exec board member for Survivor Maryland, a semester-long student competition. In my free time, I enjoy running marathons and traveling the world looking for the best ice cream places, which I evaluate in my Instagram blog, sundaes_scoop.
2018-2019 MARIA VIERA Communications Chair I am a Senior studying Marketing and Theatre. I am Sergeant of Arms for the professional business fraternity Phi Chi Theta and serve as a Smith Ambassador. I am also involved in performances at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center as an actress and stage manager. This summer I interned at Strathmore and found a passion for arts management. Long term, I hope to combine my love of entrepreneurship and theatre by opening a drama school.
ELIZABETH ARENTZ Philanthropy Chair My name is Elizabeth Arentz and I am a senior Biological Sciences major with a concentration in Neurobiology and Physiology. I am the Vice President of Intellectual Development of Alpha Chi Omega, the President of Order of Omega, and Director of Operations for FLAME, an after-school program in Prince George’s County. I am also a weight/fitness staff member at Eppley and a Resident Assistant. In my free time, I enjoy trying new food and petting dogs.
SARAH JOSEPH Membership Chair I study Public Relations and Business, and I will be graduating a semester early in December 2018. At Maryland, I am a Resident Assistant, a Peer Counselor at the university’s Help Center hotline, a member of Tamid Consulting Group, and an active member of Jewish student life. I am currently working as a data analytics intern with Weber Shandwick, where I compile reports and create data visualizations. After graduation, I hope to work in consulting or public relations and eventually pursue an MBA degree.
KEVIN LI Events Chair My name is Kevin and I am a Senior double majoring in Marketing and Information Systems. I am the Comedy Director for Student Entertainment Events, Senior Vice President of enTERPreneur, and the President of Senior Council. I’ve interned at multiple nonprofits, one most important to me being Liberty in North Korea, an NGO devoted to the rescue and resettlement of North Korean refugees. After graduation, I hope to pursue marketing work in the nonprofit sector using my skills to help people.
Student-led courses create space for students to share passions in the classroom By Ishaan Parikh Inducted Spring 2018 When I started at the University of Maryland, I wanted to learn how to build software. I joined student groups with individuals who taught me the tools and technologies I wanted to learn. Quickly, I realized how important peers were for the learning process. During the fall 2017 semester, I met Sashank Thupukari, who introduced me to web development. Sashank and I wanted to see if there was a way to scale this style of learning to reach our peers in the computer science department.
The leadership team is focused on ensuring every student has the opportunity to share their passion with the rest of the student body. While many departments are extremely supportive of STICs, some simply do not have the mechanisms in place to run these types of courses. We are working hard to make sure the path is cleared for any dedicated student who wants to teach.
Some departments have funding to pay student-teachers while others do not. This is problematic for two reasons: First, it creates inequity between student-teachers from different departments. STICs is striving to overcome this inequity to ensure each student-teacher After working with the computer science department, is compensated for their work. Sashank and I taught the first student-initiated course (STIC) under The second reason this is a problem the guidance of a faculty advisor. is that some students’ financial situWe titled the course “Full-stack ations require them to work. TeachWe are working hard Web Development with Node.js,” ing a class while working is difficult, and over the course of a semester, to make sure the path and some students are unable to taught 28 students to build and deprioritize paid positions over unpaid is cleared for any ploy full-stack applications. Some ones. STICs wants to address this so students told us that during interevery student at this university has dedicated student views, companies specifically asked the opportunity to design, develop who wants to teach . them about projects they had done and teach a class. for class, and many of these students ended up receiving job offers thanks to the prac- Currently, most of our funding comes from external dotical skills they learned in our STIC. nors who believe in the power of peer-based learning. We hope to pursue more sustainable forms of funding Since this class, we have been working with the Acad- through partnerships with external organizations, uniemy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to generalize versity funding and education grants. this model across all UMD departments. Since the first semester, the leadership team has expanded to a team The leadership team spends time on STICs because we with multiple positions and support from staff and fac- recognize how much you can learn from peers, student ulty across many departments. We are communicating groups and mentors. We have experienced firsthand with administrators and departments to gain support the benefits of peer learning, and the majority of recent for the program. We are working with colleges to deter- academic literature on this topic corroborates this. We mine program structure. We are raising funds to com- want to give more students the opportunity to experipensate facilitators in underfunded departments. ence the benefits of this nontraditional form of learning. STICs has grown from one class in spring 2017 to 21 classes in seven departments this semester. Some examples of student-initiated courses include: Analysis of Hip-Hop Music; Front End Web Design and Development; Digital Product Design; and The Role of Evidence-Based Advocacy in Environmental Policy. 7 | ODK Sigma Circle THE LEADER
STICs enables students to take control of their own education. By diversifying the course catalog at UMD, students will have more power to take classes they are interested in. I hope that these courses spark passions in students that will last far beyond college. For more info: stics.umd.edu
Little Shop of Horrors: Leadership in the performing arts By Maria Viera Inducted Fall 2017
After implementing over 700 light cues in addition to sound, actor and scenic cues during the tech process, Sydney created a calling script that enabled her to safely and accurately lead the crew in executing these elements each night of the show. In the wings, Sydney and Molly led the Little Shop of Horrors deck crew in quickly and effortlessly accomplishing prop positioning and scene transitions – including the handling of a large plant puppet and its puppeteer, a central focus of the performance, sometimes in less than a 30-second time frame. With over 30 costume changes and 15 wigs, I led our wardrobe team in transforming the actors into their characters and completing quick changes backstage. When combined, these elements create an environment that allows the performance to succeed and invites the audience into the world of the play. “The stage management team is like an anchor,” Sydney says. “We keep all the parts of the show together even in the face of strong winds.”
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center presented Little Shop of Horrors in early October. Photo: Stephanie S. Cordle
With a powerful cast, crew and production team, this year’s musical, Little Shop of Horrors, packed the house at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center each night and received multiple standing ovations from the audience.
Beyond the technical responsibilities, stage management exemplifies leadership through relationship building and problem resolution. As facilitators during the rehearsal process and leaders backstage during performances, stage managers help to keep all parties involved informed of changes and expectations, create a safe and inviting atmosphere for cast and crew to put on a successful show, and work to tactfully solve any problems and obstacles that arise during a performance.
A silent, yet essential component to the mounting of a production is the stage management team. Both in an Most importantly, however, stage management is one educational setting and the professional world, a stage rewarding piece of the large puzzle that helps create the management team consists of one stage manager and final product. one or more assistant stage managers (depending on the size of the production). Among a myriad of other tasks, stage management is responsible for creating and organizing rehearsal schedules, tracking props and costumes, noting blocking, overseeing scene transitions and quick changes, maintaining actor and crew safety, and coordinating the technical elements of the production. Given the size of the production and the amount of resources and talent that we are fortunate to have at the university, our production of Little Shop of Horrors had a four-person stage management team – Sydney Ziegler as stage manager, Sydney Morrison and Molly Klezer as scenic and props assistant stage managers, and myself From left to right: Sydney Ziegler, Sydney Morrison, Molly Klezer and as costumes assistant stage manager. Maria Viera THE LEADER ODK Sigma Circle |8
Celebrating student leaders at Homecoming By Katie Bemb Inducted Fall 2017
For the fifteenth year, the Division of Student Affairs hosted a Student Leadership Celebration in the Grand Ballroom of Stamp Student Union. This year, the leadership celebration was held on Saturday, Oct. 13 prior to the Terps’ football game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Invitations are extended to all current and alumni ODK members, providing an opportunity for multiple generations of leaders to celebrate involvement at UMD and learn from each other’s experiences. Other student groups are also invited, including organizations such as the Student Govern- ODK members gathered in the Stamp Student Union’s Grand Ballroom to celebrate student leaders on Homecoming weekend. ment Association and Student Entertainment Events. At the event, Sigma Circle Coordinator Brooke Supple received the Morlan-Bishop Outstanding Circle Officer Award for her efforts in guiding the university’s chapter of ODK. “Brooke’s work for ODK is only accentuated by her further service to others,” noted former Sigma Circle President Jacob Veitch in his nomination essay for Supple.
ODK National Executive Director Tara Singer awarded the Morlan-Bishop Outstanding Circle Officer Award to Brooke Supple for her efforts in guiding the Sigma Circle of ODK. Supple has worked in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs since 1996. 9 | ODK Sigma Circle THE LEADER
“As a Chief of Staff, volunteer program coordinator, and – most importantly to Brooke – working mom, she regularly impacts and improves the lives of thousands of students, faculty, and staff.”
Spirit of Maryland Award Laila Abujuma is a Cell Biology and Genetics and Nutritional Sciences double major. She is from Waldorf, Maryland. Laila has served as a Group Fitness Instructor at RecWell, a founding member of Phi Delta Upsilon, International Medical Society. She has also directed wellness efforts in the Muslim Students Association.
Kevin Li is a double major in Marketing and Information Systems from Rockville, Maryland. He is the Comedy Director for Student Entertainment Events, President of the Senior Student Council, and the Events Coordinator for the Sigma Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa.
Laila Abujuma and Kevin Li were this year’s award recipients. Vice President of Student Affairs Linda Clement presented the award at the Student Leadership Celebration, and Abujama and Li were honored again at the football game during halftime.
Seven out of 12 Spirit of Maryland finalists are members of ODK. Pictured with University President Wallace Loh from left to right, congratulations to: Humzah Yahya, Jeff O’Neal, Stacey Mannuel, Kevin Li, Stephanie George, Bryan Gallion, Katie Bemb, Elizabeth Arentz, Alexis Amos and Laila Abujuma. Not pictured: Junellie Gonzalez Quiles and Timothy Chen THE LEADER ODK Sigma Circle |10
Introducing the Fall 2018 ODK Class On Sept. 23, the current members of the Sigma Circle met to select the Fall 2018 induction class. From among many highly qualified applicants, 63 undergraduate and gradudate members were selected, along with new honorary members. Congratulations, Fall 2018 inductees!
Blanca Arriola Palma Amelia Avis Tolulope Awosika Joseph Bailey Vania Beltran Eli Berger Emily Berry Mary Boyle Anthony Brown Joseph Caudill Abigail Cerciello Nelson Chen Maria Cortes Laura Cross Juliette Ducasse Gideon Epstein Savannah Gaines Bryan Gallion Amanda Giordano Ryan Goldberg William Green Shannon Hayes Erin Hill Christina Hnatov
Laura Hood Mary Hummel Harry Huntley Amy Iandiorio Pamela Kekst Lee Kirshenboim Daniel Klawson Andy Kuo Jacob Lapidus Hannah Lee Catherine Liu Matthew Marcus Mario Menendez Julia Mikolajczak Varun Mohan Daniel Morrison Hannah Palmer Justin Pan Nina Parekh Michael Pique Sara Pohland David Polefrone Manaahil Rao Benjamin Reichard
Sarah Joseph, Jacq Deprey and Jeff O’Neal tapped Robin Sultan 11 | ODK Sigma Circle THE LEADER
Christine Rhee Avis and Bruce Richards Grace Riley Ariana Riske Julia Roh Gary Rome Barret Rus Patrick Saumell Ankit Sheth David Stein Mark Stewart Robin Sultan Justin Tabatabai Alexander Tran Cathelyn Wang Sydney Wess Jason Williams Martin Wollesen Kristin Woo Adam Wright Aaron Yang Sophie Yang Douglas Yeager Berwin Yuan
Sarah Joseph tapped Christine Rhee
Maria Viera, Jacq Deprey, Nikhil Modi and Jeff Zhao tapping Ankit Sheth
Kevin Li and Doron Tadmor tapped Hannah Lee
PHOTOS FROM FALL TAPPINGS
Katie Bemb and Sarah Joseph tapped Pamela Kekst
Rick Mikulis and Elizabeth Arentz tapped Will Green
Rick Mikulis, Doron Tadmor, Katie Bemb and Noah Eckman tapped Emily Berry, Ben Reichard and Bryan Gallion at a Residence Hall Association meeting
THE LEADER ODK Sigma Circle |12
Member Spotlight By Jessica Nahmias Inducted Fall 2016
From July 2017 through August 2018, I volunteered through a program in Ecuador called Rostro de Cristo. Rostro de Cristo is a Catholic volunteer and immersion retreat program that works to support the Ecuadorian people in meeting their basic human needs. The organization is located in two communities on the outskirts of Guayaquil–Ecuador’s largest city and port–in the southwestern Ecuadorian province of Guayas. While there, I partnered with a few nonprofits in Durán and Guayaquil: Damien House, a home for residents with Hansen’s disease (leprosy); Nuevo Mundo, a bilingual private school; and Manos Abiertas, an after-school program for any children in the neighborhood who needed homework help or a safe place to play. We lived among our Ecuadorian neighbors, sharing in the dirt roads, lack of A/C during 100 degree afternoons, delicious food, and hospitable culture. This solidarity and simplicity allowed me to enter deeper into this experience that gave me not only beautiful relationships, but also a tangible taste of social injustices unimaginable to our known culture. Beyond my work, I got involved in the community by helping to start a music group for teenagers to teach guitar and piano, learned how to speak Spanish with no classes and no other option, and enjoyed trying new fruits, like pitahaya and granadilla.
Mental stamina:
In and out of the classroom
By Jeff O’Neal Inducted Fall 2017
While we may not rep Under Armour as frequently or zip around on cool scooters, there are many other dedicated and hardworking athletes on UMD’s campus. Through the Department of Recreation and Wellness, the Club Sports Office hosts almost 50 club sports teams, from Badminton to Triathlon. I joined the Triathlon team during my sophomore year. Triathlon is the perfect combination of cross-training so that I could stay healthy and keep fit. Our team has everyone from first-timers to Ironman finishers, and we welcome all who are interested in participating in the sport. While training can sometimes accumulate to over eight hours a week, it forces me to be disciplined and stay motivated in other activities. The sport serves as a different type of challenge and a great break to my studies. As a Mechanical Engineering major with minors in Spanish and Project Management, the academic load of classes can be overwhelming, and I normally look forward to practice. I have enjoyed my time on the team, which is why I joined the Executive Board as Treasurer, as well as a Terrapin Triathlon Coordinator. Every spring, the team hosts an on-campus triathlon for students, alumni and community members to bring the community together to promote a healthy lifestyle, share the sport, and show off our beautiful campus.
Jessica Nahmias worked with children in Ecuador through her program with Rostro de Cristo. 13 | ODK Sigma Circle THE LEADER
Club sports are a great avenue for students to get involved, stay active and develop leadership skills. To learn more about the team, visit umdtri.com.
We are so grateful for all of our alumni and friends who support the Sigma Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa. Thank you for all of your continued involvement and support. Steward of the Fountain Society Phil Aronson Dru Bagwell Susan & Brian Bayly Kyle Beardsley James E. Bond D. Stuart Bowers Sue Briggs Kenneth Brown Adam Chepenik Zimri Diaz Devin Ellis The Honorable Gordon England Terry Flannery William Fourney Eric S. Francis Michael Freiman Susan Wachs Goldberg & Bob Goldberg Barry Gossett
Lance Governale Marc Greenberg Alden Gross Jeff Hathaway Rick Jaklitsch The Kenny Family Kelly Kish Nick Kovalakides Kevin Kruger Phil Livingston Lisa & Paul Mandell Deven McGraw Joan Meixner Hillary & Doug Mintz Ann Tatsios Mowrey Dawn Nichols ODK Executive Officers 2012-13 ODK Executive Officers 2014-15 ODK Executive Officers 2016-17
James Osteen Khalil Pettus Caroline Carrick Pisano Philip Rever James Rychner Joyce & Phil Schneider Mark Sobel Marc Solomon Bob Stumpff Brooke & Matt Supple Lee Thornton The Honorable Joseph Tydings Joana & Jason Ward Joel Willcher Gail Smelkinson Willoughby & Wayne Willoughby Bruce J. Winter Julia Young & Eric Young Terry & John Zacker
Support the ODK Sigma Circle with a Corporate Sponsorship! Sponsorship benefits include: • Opportunity to network with ODK members and alumni as well as UMD campus leaders • Speaking opportunities • Recognition at the ODK Sigma Circle Induction Ceremonies & Receptions • Tabling at signature UMD events with access to thousands of UMD students • Inclusion in e-communications, social media and printed materials • Logo exposure and brand awareness • Invitations to ODK Sigma Circle events and programs Please contact us for more information: Ed Kenny edkenny@umd.edu | 301-405-0322 Casey Bell cbell9@umd.edu | 301-314-3694 THE LEADER ODK Sigma Circle |14
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