The Tragos Quest to Greece is one of the most innovative leadership programs in the fraternity world. Inspired by the ancient Greek Ideals of Sound Mind and Sound Body, this program provides an opportunity for elite undergraduates, mentors and a professor to experience the origins of fraternal organizations and the foundation of Sigma Phi Epsilon’s Balanced Man Ideal. The lessons learned and the camaraderie built during this ten day program change the way participants view the world, the Fraternity and themselves.

In addition to stays in Athens, Delphi and Nauplion, this year we have added visits to Salamis, the site of what Winston Churchill called the most important naval battle in history; an active archaeological dig at Olympus; the battlefield at Marathon; a meeting with Pavlos Yeroulanous, the former Minister for Culture and Tourism.

Today, 19 scholars, five mentors and a professor will travel to Greece as the 2015 Tragos Quest to Greece begins. The 2015 scholars were selected from an applicant pool of almost 400 brothers from across the country. Each of them is a leader within his chapter, on his campus and in his community. The scholars will be led by a highly accomplished group of mentors and professor. Read more about them below.

Kris Alvarez, Stevens Tech ’16
Pursuing his degree in biomedical engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology. At Stevens, he runs track (110m high hurdles is my favorite race), is the spirit chairman of Gear and Triangle – a leadership honor society and a member of Be More and Order of Omega. In the New Jersey Alpha RLC, he has served as the Balanced Man Scholarship chairman, vice president of programming and is currently the Sigma Coordinator. 

Josh Antonious, North Carolina-Charlotte ’16
A junior at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, he is a double major in business administration, with a concentration in talent management and operation supply chain management. He has served as community service chairman, Junior Marshall, chaplain, and, most recently, president of the North Carolina Nu Chapter. A 2014 Ruck scholar, he just started a role as an Executive Team Lead Intern for Target.

Ryan Bixler, Ohio State ’16  
Since the start of his collegiate career, Ryan, a marketing major at Ohio State University, has obtained two internships with Fortune-50 companies Marathon Petroleum Company LP and Procter & Gamble as a Marketing & Business Development Intern respectively. He previously held the role of vice president of recruitment for the Ohio Gamma RLC, and outside of the classroom and work, is an intense weight lifter, avid reader and traveler. 

Timothy Cedrone, New Hampshire ’16  
Tim, a brother of the newly-chartered New Hampshire Gamma Chapter at the University of New Hampshire is a rising junior, dual majoring in sociology and international affairs. His career aspirations are to, one day, work for the World Health Organization or another division of the United Nations to help address poverty and the hunger crisis in Africa. He is currently serving as his chapter’s vice president of member development and his hobbies include: singing, writing music, running, cooking and reading. 

Jack Emery, Arizona ’17 
A sophomore from Fort Collins, Colo. who is currently studying finance at the University of Arizona. On campus, he is involved as a student body senator, SigEp’s chapter president, board member for the student services fee advisory board, member of Smores Sophomore Honorary, and has been accepted as a member of Chain Gang Junior Honorary for his junior year. His hobbies include basketball, snowboarding, hiking and running. In the future, he looks forward to pursuing a career in wealth management or investment management.  

Jason Esau, Murray State ’16   
Currently studying organizational communication at Murray State University, Jason is a member of the Honors Program, involved with the Baptist Campus Ministry and is a part of various honors societies. He has served as his chapter’s chaplain and is currently the vice president of member development. After completing his undergraduate degree at Murray, he plans to attend graduate school for a degree in Higher Education.

Tom Godlewski, Loras College ’16
A junior at Loras College, Tom is an international studies major with a keen interest in business. Throughout his studies, he has developed a heavy focus in the African Economics, most notably focused in South Africa. A member of his school’s rugby team, he also currently serves as his chapter’s vice president of recruitment. When the opportunity arises, he shares his passion for education and volunteers at his high school to help students with research work. 

Ben Hutto, South Carolina ’16
A junior from Lexington, S.C., he is majoring in finance and real estate at the University of South Carolina. Upon graduation, he plans to pursue a career in real estate. Another 2014 Ruck scholar, he has led his chapter as the vice president of member development and is currently the chapter president. In 2014-2015, he served as a Resident Mentor for 48 freshmen in a resident hall and, in the upcoming academic year, will serve as a University 101 Peer Leader where he will co-facilitate a freshman level course that helps with the adjustment to college. 

Kevin Madden, South Florida ’16  
Kevin serves as a university ambassador for the University of South Florida, and has been elected the organization’s next Director of Standards. He is also the current president of USF’s 5,000 member Student Alumni Association. In 2014, Kevin served as a Student Government Senator for USF’s College of Arts & Sciences. Before being elected the president of the Florida Iota RLC, he previously served as the chapter’s vice president of communications, Balanced Man Scholarship chairman, and vice president of member development. He is majoring in biomedical sciences with a minor in business economics and will be attending pharmacy school after his undergraduate graduation. 

Brian Michalka, Rensselaer ’16  
A brother from the New York Delta Chapter at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, he is currently serving in his second term as chapter president. A materials science and engineering major with a minor in business management, he is a member of the Rensselaer crew team and is a member of a Materials Engineering Professional Society.  Additionally, he has a small disc jockey company and DJs a variety of events each year, ranging from school dances to weddings.   

David Miller, Western Kentucky ’16 
A junior from the Western Kentucky University where he is pursuing a bachelor of science in civil engineering. During his collegiate career, he has served as chapter president and is involved with the American Society of Civil Engineers student organization along with a handful of other organizations. David also takes his talent and skills to the spotlight where he performed with the university’s A’capella ensemble, The WKU RedShirts.   

Cole Owens, Emory ’16
A junior at Emory University, Cole is in pre-med studying both biology and Spanish. He hopes to attend medical school next year with the help of the Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program and one day would like to work with an organization such as Doctors Without Borders with a specialty in tropical medicine. Currently chapter president, Cole also volunteers his time with Camp Sunshine House, an organization that enriches the lives of children with cancer and their families through recreational, educational and support programs. 

Tarin Phillips, Iowa State ’16
A junior at Iowa State University majoring in kinesiology pre-health professions, Tarin plans to enter the medical field upon graduation. This past spring, he participated in Delta Upsilon’s Global Service Initiative: Project Jamaica where he traveled with a group to rural Jamaica on a service trip working on two different primary (elementary) schools. Over the past year, he has completed two half triathlons and plans to complete either a full triathlon or a marathon within the next year. Tarin served two terms as president of the Iowa Beta RLC.

Ryan Pitzer, Washington State ’17
Ryan, a sophomore at Washington State University, is studying mechanical engineering with a Spanish minor. The current president for the Washington Alpha RLC, he previously served as vice president of recruitment. In his free time, Ryan has spent many hours working with area youth as a volunteer for the local high school football team and as a fifth grade camp counselor.  

Spencer Ruchti, Montana ’16  
A native of Pocatello, Idaho, Spencer is a writer and student of English creative writing and literature at the University of Montana where he dedicates his time to his role as chapter president, writing fiction and poetry, and reading and studying the works of Jack Kerouac and, most recently, Pablo Neruda and Rainer Rilke.  

John Rumbelow, Arkansas ’16
A finance and economics major at the University of Arkansas, he is the current chapter president and previously served as the vice president of recruitment for two years. He is currently working with the Garrison Financial Institute, a 2 million dollar investment fund through the Walton College of Business that is run by faculty and undergraduates in order to teach investing through experience. In his free time, he is an avid rock climber, fisher, camper and hiker.

Riley Shearer, Montana State ’16
A third year student at Montana State University studying chemical engineering, economics and biochemistry who plans to enroll in a dual PhD/MD program to study Economics and the health outcomes of different policies. In the Montana Beta RLC, he has held the roles of BMS chairman, chaplain and chapter president. Outside of school and fraternity activities, his passions primarily involve outdoor activities such as hiking, rock climbing and, most recently, ice climbing.   

Matteo Valles, Georgia Tech ’16
A junior at Georgia Tech studying mechanical engineering, Matteo is the SGA chairman, a freshman orientation leader and currently serves as the Georgia Alpha RLC chapter president. When he is not busy with these organizations, he likes to spend time playing a variety of intramurals, with volleyball at the top of that list. He is currently in the co-op at Delta Air Lines where he works with engine reliability.  

Alex Wisniewski, Toledo ’16
A junior at the University of Toledo, Alex is studying biology with a concentration in pre-medicine and neurobiology and will be attending medical school at the University of Toledo College of Medicine in August 2016. He has served as the Balanced Man Scholarship chairman, Sigma Coordinator, a member of the recruitment committee and vice president of recruitment for the Ohio Iota RLC. On his campus, he has been involved with Presidential Ambassadors, Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society, Order of Omega, men’s club soccer and the UT Community Care Clinics.   

The scholars will be led on this experience by five mentors and a professor:

Blake Knight, Pepperdine ’09: A 2007 Tragos Quest to Greece scholar, Blake received his degree in creative writing with a minor in Italian and multimedia design from Pepperdine in 2009. During his time as an undergraduate brother, Blake served as both vice president of programming and president. He currently works as an independent writing and research consultant on business and academic projects, including dissertations and theses, marketing and business plans.  

Sean Mittelman, Ohio State ’09: Upon graduation, Sean joined SigEp staff and served first as the regional director for the Northwest and then from 2010 – 2011 as a New Chapter Development Manager. Since leaving staff, Sean has continued to give time as both a faculty member at Life After College and the Carlson Leadership Academies and is a member of the Ohio Gamma AVC. Professionally, Sean is a middle school math teacher for Southwestern City Schools in central Ohio.  

Kyle Sutton, Cincinnati ’12: Kyle, a member of the SigEp Headquarters staff is currently serving as the Strategic Projects and Analytics Director and as the interim Information Management Director. In these roles he guides and supports SigEp’s strategic planning process, major project management, assessment and technology. Previously, Kyle served as SEC Director and Balanced Man Program Director.  

Roger VanHoozer, Washburn ’72: A member of the Order of the Golden Heart, Roger is a long-time volunteer having served as a chapter counselor, AVC member, district governor, facilitator at countless Carlson Leadership Academies and EDGEs and twelve years on the National Board of Directors where he served as Grand Secretary from 2001-2005. Professionally, Roger served as a CEO for 15 years and since then has worked with several companies to help them turn their business around.    

Peter Varney, Davidson ’96: Peter is currently the district governor for District 8. An alumnus of the North Carolina Epsilon Chapter, he is currently the Senior Counsel in the Legal Department at Lowe’s Home Improvement, headquartered in Mooresville, N.C. Prior to becoming DG in 2011, he served as chapter counselor for his home chapter (2008-2011) and for the North Carolina Mu RLC at Elon University (2010-2011) as well as serving as the AVC secretary and general counsel for the Emory University SEC.

2015 Tragos Quest to Greece Professor
Darren Middleton, Texas Christian Renaissance: Darren is professor of Theology and Literature at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. Originally from England, he has published widely, offering studies on Nikos Kazantzakis, John Updike, Caribbean dub poetry, postmodern theology, Rastafarian reggae and West African Christianity. A past recipient of one of TCU’s highest honors, the AddRan College of Humanities and Social Sciences Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar, Darren also served as the professor for the 2012 Tragos Quest to Greece.