Alumni Spotlight - Lambda Phi Epsilon
Transcription
Alumni Spotlight - Lambda Phi Epsilon
LAMBDA PHI EPSILON February 2013 Midyear Newsletter — Issue #2 Fulfilling a Vision Lambda Phi Epsilon’s vision is to become the preeminent international Asian interest fraternal organization, providing outstanding leadership, philanthropy and advocacy in the community. “Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no Good Luck! leadership, society stands As second semester is beginning we would like to wish all chapters and brothers good luck with the coming semester. still. Progress occurs when Direction seize the opportunity to To the active brothers, remember what makes our Fraternity great and build upon it for the upcoming semester. Always strive to better yourself. You have the opportunity for a fresh start, seize it! courageous, skillful leaders change things for the better.” - Harry S. Truman In This Issue 2013 Midyear @ Duke University Presidents Address Introducing the National Board Midyear Around the Fraternity Alumni Spotlight Academic Report Charles Andrean Presidents Address Brothers, I hope you are all enjoying a great start to your 2013! I'd also like to send my sincerest congratulations to all of our newly crossed brothers! You have joined an unmatchable brotherhood that will not only profoundly impact your life, but will give you the opportunity to more profoundly affect the world and those around you. Last Convention, we challenged you to forget the mistakes of our past and make this Lambda Phi Epsilon your own - to not be confined by what the fraternity is, but instead, to take the lead and define what you want it to become. And with confidence, I can say that many of you have taken this message to heart. Whether it has been presenting a "gentlemen" themed recruitment week, attempting to work with fraternities you might have called your rival before, or committing to building a relationship with your university advisor, you are taking the gradual, yet significant, steps that will take this fraternity to the next level. It's gratifying to know that we have so many admirable men among our ranks, but I encourage you to not let this momentum end. I can personally attest that we've come FAR from where we were even five years ago, but there is a long road ahead of us to true inward and outward greatness. When considering what exactly you can do to lead this change, I implore you to continually ask yourself what you want our fraternity to be... where you want to see it in the future, no matter how crazy your ideas might sound. DREAM BIG. I know these ideas exist within all of you, though the challenge is aligning our actions to coincide with those ideas. Above all else, don't ever let your fire for the fraternity die. As long as there are brothers who truly care to see Lambda Phi Epsilon succeed and thrive (and there are many), it will. National Board Training Retreat National Board Meeting at Midyear 2012—2013 National Board As for the near future, our National Board has a lot in store for the fraternity. At Midyear, three interest groups received a bid to charter, and we are looking forward to seeing some strong, new additions to Lambda Phi Epsilon by the end of the year. There are a record-breaking (not sure if that's a fact, but it has to be) five chapters applying for promotion at this year's convention. I've witnessed firsthand much of the hard work these chapters are contributing and we want to wish them all luck as they reach for the next level of fraternity. Convention will be hosted in the Norcal Region as a National Board effort, and we are putting extra thought into making it one of the best events to date. More details will be shared soon, so stay posted! Lastly, I wanted to let you all know that, for the first time in our history, our Board of Directors is hard at work on a long-term strategic plan for the fraternity. This will very much stand as the National Organization's effort to help "define Lambda" and will provide some much-needed direction. Overall, I am incredibly hopeful for what the future holds for Lambda Phi Epsilon. We are in the midst of what will be one of the most momentous and exciting time periods in our fraternity's growth - and you will all be part of it. I want to encourage you all to connect with our National Board for any questions, comments, concerns, suggestions, or absolutely ANYTHING you want to discuss. We are here to serve you! Thanks for reading and best of luck in all of your fraternal and personal endeavors! Charles speaking at Convention In Eternal Brotherhood, Charles Andrean National President Phi Chapter Policy Discussion Lambda Phi Epsilon National Board 2012-2013 President VP Internal VP External Treasurer Secretary Charles Andrean Chris Chen Isaac Chung Michael Liang William Tan National Expansion Chair Wilson Tam NorCal Governor SoCal Governor MW Governor SW Governor NE Governor SE Governor David Shim Evan Pham Alford Lew Minh Lai Jason Lau Joe Vo Fundraising Chair PR Chair Academics Chair Historian Human Resources Webmaster Events Coordinator Philanthropy Chair JC Chan Lucas Lay Tony Kim David Quach Joon Lee Jonathan Chao Tony Chao Lychhay Kim W Expansion Chair Central Expansion Chair NE Expansion Chair SE Expansion Chair Steven Kuo Thomas Nguyen Justin Wong Michael Le Midyear @ Duke University Midyear 2013 Midyear was held this year in Raleigh, North Carolina hosted by the brothers of Duke University Associate Chapter. The weekend kicked off the new semester for many brothers. We discussed what the National Board has been up to this past semester, explaining our goals and vision for the future of our fraternity. Brothers were updated on the status of the fraternity as a whole regarding academics, fundraising goals, public relations and many other issues. The day included many team building activities to allow chapter representatives to work with each other. In the afternoon, Shelly Brown Dobek, the President of the Association of Fraternity Sorority Advisors came to speak about inspiring leadership within the fraternity. Leaders should be unapologetic about their vision, to never be afraid of implementing change. Active Meeting Change of Format Members who have been to previous Midyear or Convention meetings were introduced to a new format of how the meetings were conducted. This year, two concurrent meetings took place at once. One for the active body, and one with the National Board. The National Board took hold of policy change and implementations as the day progressed. National Board Meeting Reminder The National Board waived all registration cost for Midyear and in addition, provided complimentary rooms for chapter presidents or representatives in good standing. It is mandatory for each chapter to send a representative to National events. We would like to stress however, that these rooms, while complimentary, are still to be treated with care. Any damages that occur reflect badly upon the Fraternity as a whole. National Board Meeting Purpose Midyear serves as the halfway point of the academic year. It allows the National Board and chapters to come together and determine what has been successful and what needs more work. Regional Breakout Instead of just focusing on the past, we wish to put a greater emphasis on the future. We encourage chapters to develop action plans in ways that they want to see their chapters succeed. With the help of Governors and other regional chapters, there will never be a shortage of assistance for chapters that need it. The ability to communicate with other chapters is extremely beneficial considering the distance between chapters. It isn’t often e brother from the east coast will come in contact with a brother from the west coast and vice versa. At midyear and other National events, we try to foster these relationships, showcase that our brotherhood truly knows no bounds. Convention As stated in the President’s Address, the next National event, Convention, will be hosted in the NorCal region by the National Board. Stay tuned for more info! Team Case Studies Our intention is to pay respect to other Asian Greek organizations, because we are a part of that very community. We pay respect to what they stand for and represent, not what some of their individuals have done on their own volition in the past. Isaac Chung Other Asian Greek Organizations: Dealing with our past, and looking to the future Dear Brothers, As you all know, Lambda Phi Epsilon has faced much of what we would describe as adversity and tragedy in the last decade. At the same time, for the sake of a better future, our most recent years have seen numerous changes in the organization's leadership structure and methodology in response to some of these trials and tribulations we have faced. One of these changes is to promote better relations between Lambda Phi Epsilon and other Asian-interest Greek organizations. Promoting better relations is nothing new. But when it comes to other Asian-interest fraternities, which many of our members and alumni view as "rivals" or "competitors," the idea is often frowned upon. Several days ago, the National Board had posted a short Facebook message on the Lambda Phi Epsilon page, wishing a "happy anniversary" to two other Asian-interest Greek organizations. One was Alpha Phi Gamma, and the other was Pi Alpha Phi. Unfortunately, the simple show of support and respect was not viewed positively by all. Some have even interpreted the actions of the National Board as attempting to bury the memory of a fallen brother, Alam Kim, who had died in 2003 in the midst of a brawl involving Lambda Phi Epsilon and Pi Alpha Phi. It is the National Board's hope that all of our brothers, actives and alumni, understand that neither we, nor any other brother for that matter, would ever intend to overlook this tragic loss. If the message seemed insensitive to those closest to Alam, then we deeply apologize, and we would like to explain ourselves. On the personal level, we may not always see eye to eye, but their organization's ultimate purpose is to support the Asian-American community, just like we do. We must recognize that when we view them as competitors or rivals, it hurts all of us. Eventually, every single one of us will one day have to come to terms with the fact that we are all part of the same Asian-American community no matter how hard we want to believe otherwise. The sooner we realize this, the sooner we can all move forward. Moving forward does not mean we forget or disrespect the memory of our fallen brother, nor does it mean that we have reconciled this loss. Our actions are meant to promote a better future between our organizations, and a stronger Asian American community. More importantly, it is to ensure that our differences will never escalate to the point of violence, as that is what caused this tragedy in the first place. Let us not begrudge an entire organization or group of people based on the actions of a few individuals. Even our very own brotherhood is not without its faults and controversies, and every one of you know, that all of us carry the stigmas and labels put on us based on the actions of a few of our individual members. It would only be karmic that we experience the same prejudices, should we continue to think like this towards others. We truly hope that you have a better understanding of what we are trying to do, and we apologize if the situation was construed as insensitive. We also hope you understand why the National Board would try to promote a positive and peaceful coexistence between present day members from all Asian-American Greek organizations. We are mostly long-gone alumni from the college scene, and this fraternity now belongs to the younger generation. Our responsibility as the elder, and hopefully wiser, alumni is to be sure they do not repeat mistakes of the past, and to ensure a safe, positive, and valuable experience in this brotherhood. Please do not hesitate to contact me in regards to this. In Eternal Brotherhood, Isaac "Count Chocula" Chung National External Vice President Alpha Eta Chapter Going the Distance Justin “Hammerhead” Wong Alpha Kappa Chapter, Cornell University, Spring 2006 With the recent shift of young adults towards fitness, we would like to focus in on a particular group: the endurance athletes. What motivates an endurance athlete? Why do they do it? From my talks with other brothers around the country, there are pockets of various endurance athletes from ultra-marathoners to Ironmen. The mentality and drive with these particular individuals sets them apart and allows them to break that barrier. However, everyone has to start somewhere and that starting point is always the hardest obstacle to overcome. The mindset I see when confronting a jog, run, swim, or bike ride is not the physical exertion or pressure to become fit, but a chance to reflect about my body and my surroundings. Taking note of how your footfall and breathing are slow, steady, and rhythmic are key factors to gauging how much your body can handle. Being able to feel the muscles expand and contract with every stride and breath is just the first step towards that so called runner’s high. I look forward for the rush of endorphins at the end of a long run or ride. The momentary aches and pains are nothing compared to the life flowing through my body. Once you have mastered knowing your body, you can take time to enjoy the scenery around you. Take in the cool and crisp air, and enjoy the ambience that surrounds you. You have to realize though, that this is only a baby step towards preparing yourself for a race. Some of the best runs are on your own at your own leisure. I have to say that the biggest motivating factor to any race is to never quit and to never let the race beat you. Once you are able to satisfy this need, I think of races in more of a selfish perspective in that I will try my fullest to not let anyone pass me and to go at a pace that I can maintain. The person in front of me is always my motivation to go faster and harder during the race. I see that number or athlete in front of me and I think, “I know I can catch him.” The worst thing you can do is set limits on yourself. If you have a goal, then work towards it and achieve it. If you are in the process of wearing down, just go at a slightly slower pace and never quit on yourself. One excellent read I recommend that follows the evolution of an average Joe to an endurance runner is the novel Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It is a highly motivational and eye-opening novel that follows the author in his search for the fastest runners on the planet and his research for the art of running. Just the benefits of exercise are a huge boost to one’s lifestyle and endurance sports give some of the best endorphin highs you can find. Not only do people do this for the good health, but the feeling of knowing your body and performing at an incredible level are gratifying outcomes of this sport. Alumni Spotlight Huy “Badbeat” Nguyen University of Oklahoma Chapter, Fall 2007 Professional Poker Player 1. What is it like to compete in the WSOP? Every summer the best poker players from across the world come and compete in the WSOP. Every series runs about 60 events that includes different variations and it culminates with the $10,000 Main Event that people see on TV. Competing in the WSOP is nerve wrecking but extremely exciting. It's an historical series of events that dates back to the 70s so as a professional, I look forward to it every year. 2. Which poker players do you draw inspiration from? My favorite players is Tom Dwan and Phil Ivey. But I also come from an online poker background so a lot of players I draw inspiration from are relatively unknown. The TV pros aren't necessarily the most fundamentally sound players in the game. They are fun to watch on TV but the internet kids are clearly better. 3. What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment in life so far? My greatest poker accomplishment is winning one of the biggest WSOP-circuit Main Events ever hosted for $232,000. I've played poker for almost a decade and have built my career from grinding the smallest stakes available online so my poker career as a whole is probably my greatest life accomplishment. Got to crawl before you ball! 4. How did Lambda Phi Epsilon prepare you for your journey and success? A big thing in being a Lambda that helped me prepare for my journey is in meeting new people. Growing up I went to a different school every year until high school because my parents moved around a bunch. Consequently it was hard for me to build lasting relationships. In college I played online poker outside of school and didn't do much socially until I met Thomas and he introduced me to Lambda Phi Epsilon. The journey it took to cross into LFE helped change my life. It got me out of my comfort zone by getting me to be more proactive in meeting new people as well as being more engaging. Being a Lambda also helped me with social skills I feel I lacked. I have started building good relationships with various media outlets in poker and have had successfully gotten sponsorships. 5. Having Chartered at Oklahoma, what part of LFE do you cherish the most? I cherish most the memories of grinding out weekly road trips with the other charters, up and down Southwest, to be able to bring LFE to OU. That semester was mass chaos but there are a lot of lessons and memories that I'll definitely remember forever. 6. Did having an Asian background hold you back in your career at any time? If anything it actually helps being an Asian playing poker! Asians have a stereotype to be looser so we get less credit and people will pay us off more often. Also I think there's a strong aura with being a smart looking Asian player and people can be easily intimidated. 7. What advice would you give for younger members who want to follow in your footsteps? Poker is just like any other activity. To get very good at anything it takes relentless hard work, obsessive focus, and true belief that it can happen. Anyone can do anything they set their mind to. 8. Any chance you’ll make an appearance at this year’s convention? This last summer the first WSOP event started on Convention weekend and I wasn't able to make it. The schedule hasn't come out yet for the upcoming summer but I'll let you know! amazing script or shoot an amazing video, and no one will even know you are Asian by watching it. The point is, your work speaks for itself. I can’t say the same for Asian American Actors as I know that has its own challenges based on the market and image, but truthfully being Asian American has never been a hindrance to me in this field. 4. What are your favorite movies? What movies do you most draw inspiration from? Alumni Spotlight Vincent “Freakazoid” Lin Tau Chapter, Pennsylvania State University, Spring 2003 Annex – New York University (Alpha Beta Chapter) Writer/Director/Producer 1. Being involved with media industry, what kind of projects have you been a part of? I’ve been fortunate to work on an assortment of productions ranging from Kanye West music videos to feature films like Steven Spielberg’s Munich. I moved into commercial production a few years ago and have worked on several national campaigns, most recently Samuel Adams (beer) commercials. I’ve also done several award-winning short films and viral videos, featured on Youtube channel YOMYOMF, and working with talent like Arden Cho and Kevjumba. 2. What inspired you to go into the film industry? I’ve always loved stories and when my mom bought me a camera when I was young, I started taking countless amounts of pictures. When I realized you could tell stories through image, it opened up a world of possibilities, so I started learning and just going out and filming things. Plus I was never too good at anything else so it was just fun for me. I never felt like I grew up and got a job, I do the same thing I did when I was younger, only now I shoot with larger cameras, a professional crew, and a budget. 3. Did you experience any challenges breaking into the industry being an Asian American? I think the film and commercial industry doesn’t have as many hurdles when it comes to being Asian American, especially as a writer, director, or producer because your work is ultimately what you see on screen or on paper. What I mean is you can write an My favorite films tend to rely strongly on character development and visual aesthetic. My “favorites” change depending on my mood, but here are a few that I can watch over and over again any day of the week.. Fallen Angels (Wong Kar Wai), Seven (David Fincher), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michel Gondry), Trust (Hal Hartley), The Sugarland Express (Steven Spielberg), Darjeeling Limited (Wes Anderson). Also I’m a sucker for stupid comedies. Zoolander, Dirty Work, Office Space, Airplane!, anything Mel Brooks, is almost always fun. 5. How did Lambda Phi Epsilon prepare you for your journey and success? A key quality to success is leadership, being driven, and actively striving for a goal. I’m in a particular industry that is very competitive and difficult to break into. And in certain regards, I’m still pushing for bigger and better projects, but when I lead a team I’m able to utilize everyone’s skills and inspire them without losing sight of the final objective. Lambda Phi Epsilon is also a great network to be a part of professionally and personally, and if you’re resourceful, opportunities will present themselves. 6. What advice would you give for younger brothers who want to follow in your footsteps? You have to love what you do with a passion. Not just in the film and commercial world, but any field. If you want to succeed, you have to be willing to put in the hard work, but also truly pursue it with a passion, to the point of almost obsession. Because if you don’t know someone else out there will. Also, never eat Indian food before an international flight. 7. For those unfamiliar with your work, is there somewhere it could be viewed? I started a production company last year, Valiant Pictures. We currently have several projects in development and 2013 is looking to be a big year for us, we’ve been lucky to win some awards as well, some big, some small, the recent being the Panavision New Filmmaker Program ($60,000 camera grant). I’m working on my first feature film, developing the commercial aspect of the company, and have a cartoon currently being animated. You can check out our work at the website here: valiantpictures.com Here’s a link to the short I did which won Best Director at NBC Short Cuts Festival titled Love, NY and starring Randall Park. http:// youtu.be/4GRsW6a7Jjw Active Classification (541 Actives, 13 Probation, 3 Suspension, 28 Graduating, AVG: 3rd Year) Academic Assessment We received 40/42 academic assessments and our data shows that our active strength is at 541 with the average member being a 3rd year junior. Our national average GPA is currently at an all time high of 3.13 and you will notice our GPA distribution is skewed left as shown. The average active house consists of 14 members with an average house GPA of 3.07. The figures on represent recent trends over time. 600 500 21 - 5th Year 400 90 - 4th Year 300 201 - 3rd Year 200 169 - 2nd year 100 40 - 1st Year 0 Actives Active GPA (AVG 3.13) 250 193 200 # of Actives The chapter academic policies as well as the academic chair responsibilities have been sent out as a resource for your chapters to utilize. We have also successfully gathered academic data from the majority of all active chapters through the academic assessments and have carefully analyzed the data to provide results on the academic status of our fraternity on the national level. As an important tradition in the fraternity, we will continue to recognize exceptional Lambda Phi Epsilon members who have demonstrated academic excellence by providing three scholarships for 2013. Please encourage your members to apply for the national scholarships and all previous scholarship recipients can be viewed on our national website. 162 150 126 100 49 50 0 1 4 5 0-.5 .51-1 1.01-1.5 1.51-2.0 0 2.01-2.5 2.51-3.0 3.01-3.5 3.51-4 -50 GPA Range Average Chapter GPA Total Active Count 3.15 650 600 596 3.11 3.1 550 527 531 483 500 541 3.05 3.05 3 480 2.95 450 2.98 2.95 Spring 2010 Fall 2010 Spring 2011 Fall 2011 Spring 2012 Fall 2012 2.85 Spring 2010 Fall 2010 Average Active House Spring 2011 Fall 2011 Spring 2012 3.15 16 16 3.13 3.1 15.5 3.1 3.05 15 15 15 3.05 3 14.5 14 Fall 2012 National Average GPA 16.5 14 2.97 2.9 400 16 3.07 14 2.95 13.5 2.9 13 2.85 Spring 2010 Fall 2010 Spring 2011 Fall 2011 Spring 2012 Fall 2012 2.99 2.96 Spring 2010 2.95 Fall 2010 Spring 2011 Fall 2011 Spring 2012 Fall 2012 Congratulations to all our Spring 2013 Graduates Alex Xiao Dai Tran Jiaju Xu Takeshi Tawarada William Huang Phil Kim Andrew Kim Hyunwook Shin Isaac Kwong Lambda Phi Epsilon Graduates of Spring 2013 Frankie Acfalle Bryan Dosono Peter Tu As you look back on a journey - a journey that started out with hesitant, tentative steps, you may see just how far you have progressed. I thank you greatly for your contributions towards our fraternity and hope that you do not forget about Lambda Phi Epsilon in your future successes. Timothy Canete Jonathan Chen Kenneth Lee As you face and tackle the inevitable changes, hold true to yourself. Remember to hold onto your value system, your work ethic and most importantly, your humanity. Today's achievements may eventually fade or even be forgotten. The applause may become a distant memory and your certificates and medals may gather dust on a shelf or in a drawer. But, you will always be remembered for caring enough, for helping someone, for making someone feel special and appreciated for the relationships you have made throughout your collegiate career. It is these qualities that will guide you further on your journey. Chris Lin Christopher Nam Edward Loyola PJ Yoo Eric Wing Carson Chu Minh Lai Congratulations to all of you and best of luck in all your future endeavors. Our future is destined in your capable hands as leaders among men. Chao Gao Leo Liao Jin Han Best Regards, Zhiming Liu Kyosik Kim Tony Kim Johnny Sor National Academic Chair Xavier Kuo Mike Pacelli Adrian Kwon Making the Honor Roll Congratulations to these brothers who have successfully made it onto the honor roll. You serve as an example to other brothers who are on their journey to achieving academic excellence. Name Major Chapter Anh Pham Accounting James Madison University Jay Seo Biology Virginia Commonwealth University Warren Chan Management Science & Engineering Stanford University John Tuddenham Neuroscience & Behavior Columbia University Michael Lo MEAM University of Pennsylvania Allen Au Commerce University of Virginia Andrew Kim Aerospace Engineering University of Michigan Derek Yang Business University of Michigan Nam Vu Finance University of Houston Jeffrey Wu Accounting CUNY Baruch College Alexander Pae Engineering Management Systems Columbia University Duo Xu Political Science Columbia University Edbert Li Engineering Management Systems Columbia University Tony Duong Electrical Engineer University of Oklahoma Afanasiy Yermakov Computer Science/Mathematics Duke University Andrew Shim Computer Science Duke University Peter Zhu Biomedical Engineering/Mathematics Duke University Dennis Won Computer Science Stanford University Max Silverstein Biology Stanford University Jeffrey Fan Finance University of Pennsylvania Bryan Dosono Informatics University of Washington Tony Lee Economics – Political Science Columbia University Matt Tse Computer Science Duke University Larry Tang Fiannce University of Pennsylvania Michael Kim Biochemistry University of Virginia Kevin Suh Financial Economics Columbia University Youngho Jin Finance, Math University of Pennsylvania Dan Park Molecular & Cellular Biology UI, Urbana Champaign Jerry Sun Financial Engineering Columbia University Robert Chen Bioengineering UC Berkeley Pavan Upadhyayula MCB UC Berkeley Calvin Tuong Computer Science Stanford University Anthony Fowler Computer Science Stanford University Ian Zhang History/Chinese Duke University Bryan Kim Economics Duke University Sang Lee Psychology/Political Science Duke University Kong Chen Accounting Michigan State University Eric Wing Economics McMaster University Kai Wu Economics University of Toronto Brian Wu Computer Science Columbia University Josh Kamdjou Computer Science University of Maryland Charlie Wu Chemical Engineering Columbia University Sett Mon Min Marketing University of Oklahoma Garrett Weng Computer Science UC Santa Cruz Lert Thavornwongwongse Hotel Administration Cornell University Christopher So Computer Engineering Columbia University Wanjin Park Economics Stanford University Antonio Hur Math, Econ University of Pennsylvania Adonis Vasquez English CUNY Baruch College Lei Wang Undecided Engineering University of Kansas Vinh Vu Chemical Bioscience University of Oklahoma Layton Xu Finance McMaster Unviversity New Direction Contact Us We hope you enjoyed this semester’s newsletter. As you may have already seen, the Fraternity is moving in a forward direction. The National Board is here to assist all brothers. If there is anything you would like to see from the National Board at future midyear’s or conventions, please feel free to contact us. For more Information Contributions Wanted! If you would like to see your chapter highlighted on our website or in the next newsletter please feel free to email our National Historian or your Governors. For any comments, questions or concern regarding the newsletter, please email [email protected]. Lambda Phi Epsilon National Fraternity PO Box 1709 New Brunswick, NJ 08903 (408) 905 –7443 [email protected] www.lambdaphiepsilon.com Lambda Phi Epsilon National Fraternity Inc.