Young Graduate Finds ATO Basis for Strong Friendships and Network Opportunities

Why did you join Alpha Tau Omega?

In high school, I had an opportunity to visit the house and meet some of the guys, when I was visiting the campus. Right away, I knew they were a good group of guys. They seemed to be very well rounded, in the sense that they had their acts together academically and socially. They were involved in campus organizations and intramural athletics. They just seemed like a real well rounded group of guys. They made me feel accepted as a pledge, and it just seemed like an exciting opportunity. They were a well respected group of guys on campus. And everything turned out just like I thought.

What is your favorite memory of the fraternity?Continue reading→

The Former Chief Illiniwek

The days of exhibiting his Illini pride as the infamous mascot are long gone, but the memories and friendships created by Brother “Biff” Forsyth ’83 in the halls of ATO in the early ’80s are stronger than ever. We caught up with him and asked him to relive those days. We hope you enjoy this alumni profile.

Why did you join ATO?

I joined ATO because of camaraderie and commonality I experienced when I visited the Gamma Zeta Chapter during fraternity rush. The fraternity brothers took great pride both in the physical plant and the esprit de corps of the members, and that made a lasting impression on me.

Tell us about your favorite memory of the fraternity.Continue reading→

Four Years of ATO Not Enough for Patrick J. Jensen ’98

“Alpha Tau Omega was a major piece of my life for four years,” says Patrick J. Jensen ’98. “It didn’t make sense to abandon that once college was over.” Patrick still stays active with ATO as House Corporation President. “A lot of alumni donated time and energy before me building the chapter to what it is today. I had a great experience in the house and want to make sure that continues for others.”

“Most brothers look back at their ATO experience as a great time, filled with memorable moments and outstanding friendships. As a member of House Corp., I want to keep the alumni informed on the chapter activities, the continued success of the chapter and to help make connections among alumni and undergraduates. We have a great team of people on the House Corporation who volunteer their time to continue the tradition.”Continue reading→

Why did you join?

Was impressed with both the actives and the pledges. Beautiful facility

Tell us about your favorite memory of the fraternity

Outhouse scramble

With whom do you still stay in contact? Who would you most like to find?

No one. Mike Lindsay

Tell us about your family Have you married? Do you have children?

Continue reading→

Q) Why did you join?

A) Good people

Q) Tell us about your favorite memory of the fraternity

A) Outhouse Scramble

Q) What kind of influence has the fraternity had on your life since graduation?

A) Meeting and evaluating people

Q) Tell us about your family: Have you married? Do you have children?

A) Married sandy (thornton) 4 children eight grandchildren retired

Q) Did you live in the house?Continue reading→

Q) Why did you join?

A) The guys I met during Rush Week

Q) Tell us about your favorite memory of the fraternity

A) Butch Smith, T.J. Smith, Bill Dietrich, Pete Fernandes, Bill Monroe

Q) What kind of influence has the fraternity had on your life since graduation?

A) Great memories

Q) With whom do you still stay in contact? Who would you most like to find?

A) Schmulbach, Rod Hanson, Bill Monroe. Have lost Butch Smith’s Address. Have never been able to locate Bill Dietrich.

Q) Tell us about your family: Do you have children?Continue reading→

Q) Why did you join?

A) Being the oldest in my family and not knowing much about college when it was time to decide where to live, my mom described the fraternity as compared to the dorm. The fraternity deal sounded much better.

Q) Tell us about your favorite memory of the fraternity

A) Food fights, Road Rallies to pick parking spots for the year, Fixing up room #2, intramural sports, walk out

Q) What kind of influence has the fraternity had on your life since graduation?

A) During rush we used to have a saying douche bags breed douche bags. It has always helped me in making choices about some things that are close but not just right and the value of patience in waiting for the right situation. Also as president I learned that as a leader of an organization, the way to raise everyone else’s level of motivation was to raise your own.

Q) With whom do you still stay in contact? Who would you most like to find?Continue reading→

Q) Why did you join?

A) I pledged at the end of my freshman year after I had time to look around campus and meet some of the brothers. I found guys with similar interests who knew how to play winning sports, excel in academics, and find plenty of time for having fun.

Q) Tell us about your favorite memory of the fraternity

A) Running for Urbana City Council in 1979. A dozen of the brothers became deputy voter registrars, and everyone pitched in to help me beat a long term incumbent. It was the first time a student Republican had ever served. We had several campaign events at the house including the election night victory party. The mayor and the Republicans on City Coucil came to 1101 Pennsylvania with the press.

Q) What kind of influence has the fraternity had on your life since graduation?Continue reading→

Making friends and enjoying college were two important criteria considered by Mark Zieba ’00 when he joined the fraternity as a first semester freshman. “My brother, Matt, is two years older than me and was an ATO at the University of Illinois. I met a lot of his friends in the house and everyone seemed to get along well. I decided that joining was a good opportunity.”

Mark’s educational pursuits didn’t end when he graduated in 2000 with a major in kinesiology from the University of Illinois at Champaign. He enrolled in the dental school at the University of Illinois in Chicago and graduated in May 2004. He is now a dentist in private practice at Webster Dental, 2829 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. In addition to his brother Matt who is in the Marketing Director at ATI Physical Therapy in Chicago, Mark remains close with many of his fraternity brothers. “Actually, there are too many to name so I won’t try. I don’t want to leave out anyone.”Continue reading→

Cary McMillan ’80 grew up in Urbana, so he and his friends from high school naturally had their sights set on attending the University of Illinois. They also had the advantage of participating in rush the spring before his freshman year. Seniors scheduled to enter the University the following fall were given the opportunity to come to campus for a weekend and rush all three stages.

There were dozens of fraternities on campus at the time, but he gravitated toward Alpha Tau Omega.

“The Gamma Zeta Chapter had a lot going for it,” Cary said. “The house itself was the nicest on campus and the older guys were great. They made you feel comfortable right away.”Continue reading→