Guided by alumni mentors and university faculty, these Tragos Quest to Greece Scholars will depart for Greece this June to study the influence that Greek philosophy, governance and the arts has and continues to have in everyday life. Selected from a competitive pool of applicants, these brothers will explore Greek culture and reflect upon the origins of SigEp’s values and the Balanced Man ideal.
The scholars were revealed in surprise presentations made coast to coast at their chapter meetings and events, made by past Tragos Quest scholars, mentors and special guests.
Wayne Alley, Rensselaer ’24
Wayne recently concluded a term as chapter president and previously served as vice president of communications. A hard-working student, he also enjoys tutoring calculus and could see himself teaching high school some day. An avid rower, he began coaching his university’s crew club while recovering from an injury. In addition to rowing, Wayne practices sound body by running and lifting weights.The electrical engineering major plans to continue his education after graduation by getting his master’s degree and hopes to become his chapter’s resident scholar.
Will Bachman, Cincinnati ’24
A former Balanced Man Scholarship chair, William is also a member of the National Honor Society and holds a 4.0 GPA. Outside of class, he volunteers as a coach for a church youth basketball league. He keeps fit by running and lifting weights several times a week. As a finance and marketing major, William is curious about a broad range of subjects, including real estate and investing, and looks forward to starting his own company one day.
Greg Brown, San Diego ’24
A mechanical engineering major, Gregory aspires to one day work as an aerospace engineer. He uses productivity tools to help him stay organized with his studies, activities and personal interests. He not only currently serves as his chapter’s vice president of programming, but is also on the national committee for the Boy Scouts of America’s honor society and served on the training team for the organization’s national 2022 event that brought nearly 7,000 scouts together.
Jose Cantua, Case Western ’24
A 2022 Ruck scholar, Jose has been active in his chapter as president and Balanced Man Scholarship chair. While maintaining a 4.0 GPA, the psychology major has also been gaining real-world experience at a hospital as a research assistant studying the most effective ways to help patients’ families deal with stress, anxiety and depression. Jose is also passionate about rock climbing and works at the university athletic center as a rock wall attendant.
Ernie Castro-Gonzalez, Sacramento State ’24
Ernesto serves as his chapter’s Phi challenge coordinator and previously served as Balanced Man Scholarship chairman and vice president of finance. An accounting major with a passion for auditing, he’s put those skills to use as a member of the national Fraternity’s Chapter Finance and Compliance committee. In addition to his involvement in SigEp, he’s active in a business fraternity and holds a 3.7 GPA. Ernesto practices music mediation and works out several times a week to maintain Sound Mind, Sound Body.
Matthew Crabtree, Colorado School Of Mines ’25
A mechanical engineering major, Matthew maintains a 3.9 GPA. His fascination with materials science led him to learn silversmithing. Now, he operates a business in his spare time making pens and other items. He’s held multiple roles in his chapter, including philanthropy chair and Balanced Man Scholarship chair. Currently, serving as chaplain, Matthew journals and practices yoga regularly as part of his sound mind routine. He also works with first-year students and teaches an orientation class as a participant in his university’s peer mentoring program.
Sawyer Depp, Louisville ’24
Sawyer, a history and political science major, maintains a 4.0 GPA while serving as his chapter’s vice president of member development. His interest in politics led him to become active in his university’s student government organization. In his role as chief of staff for the executive branch, he advocates for students while managing a $1.5 million budget. Civic minded, Sawyer has participated in his university’s dance marathon for three years, personally raising $2,000 in 2022 to support treatments for pediatric cancers.
Mason Doll, Lawrence Tech ’23
A 2022 Ruck scholar, Mason is highly involved in chapter leadership. He serves as vice president of his chapter’s learning community and has also served as social media coordinator and on the finance committee. A construction management major, he holds a 4.0 GPA and wants to work as a project manager for a construction company after graduation. In his free time, Mason enjoys playing the guitar and skateboarding. He also volunteers with a local organization that makes blankets for children who have been hospitalized.
Jack Larson, Montana State ’24
A former chapter president, Jack is majoring in mechanical engineering and microbiology while giving back to his chapter, on campus and in the local community. As Sound Mind, Sound Body chair, he implemented a program that rewards brothers for making healthy choices and doing activities together. His interest in other cultures and desire to help people from underserved communities led him to become a tutor at his university’s American Indian Student Success Center. Jack also volunteers as a mentor to a third grader and works as a nurse’s aide.
Tyrese Mitchem, California - Santa Barbara ’24
Tyrese is an environmental studies & biology major, passionate about studying environmental issues and injustice. Outside of his academic pursuits in the classroom, he also interns with the REEF Marine Science Institute on UCSB's campus. This past Balanced Man Scholarship chairman has been on the Dean's Honor List and plans to pursue a master's degree and join an environmental consulting company.
Luke Muckerheide, Purdue ’25
Luke has a wide range of interests, including history and math, and is excited to explore the variety of career possibilities his education and interests offer. The mechanical engineering major holds a 3.9 GPA and currently serves as his chapter’s chaplain. Luke practices Sound Mind, Sound Body by reading and writing fiction to fuel his creative side and exercising and eating a healthy diet. A frequent blood donor, he’s also committed to the well-being of others.
Justin Nguyen, California - Davis ’25
Justin has a passion for languages and neuroscience and believes studying the mind can help people better understand themselves. A computer science and cognitive science major, Justin maintains a 3.7 GPA while serving as a research assistant at a memory lab. He’s also active in the Vietnamese Student Association and his chapter. His interests in communication and learning more about people is fitting, given that he serves as vice president of recruitment. In his free time, Justin enjoys weightlifting.
Clay North, Missouri State ’24
Clay maintains an impressive 3.9 GPA and is passionate about social work. He has served as Missouri State's Student Body Chief Finance Officer and is involved with Big Brothers, Big Sisters. This Tragos Quest scholar has attended almost every SigEp national leadership program, demonstrating his commitment to continuous improvement in leadership and professional skills. Clay's career goal is to open a consulting firm with his older brother to service banks in all things regulatory and credit risk underwriting.
Josh Novack, Ball State ’24
The biology and pre-med major previously served as vice president of communications and is now president of his chapter. His 3.7 GPA has propelled Joshua to the dean’s list four times. Outside of class, he’s working as an assistant on potentially groundbreaking research on hypoglycemia and tutoring a variety of math and science subjects at the university learning center. After attending medical school, he looks forward to a career in pediatric medicine.
Parker Rossignol, Florida ’24
Parker currently serves as his chapter’s vice president of learning community. A recipient of the Balanced Man Scholarship, he later went on to chair the scholarship committee. Outside of SigEp, he’s in his second term as assistant director of an organization that brings entrepreneurs to campus to speak to and inspire students. The economics and political science major hopes to land a job in communications working for a member of Congress after graduation.
Will Servino, Connecticut ’24
Previously a member of the programming committee and the standards board, Will now serves as his chapter’s vice president of recruitment. He is also a site coordinator for the local Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate, managing transportation for a group of 22 bigs and littles. The civil engineering major relies on journaling and goal-setting to maintain his 3.9 GPA and stay on track with his coursework and personal commitments. He looks forward to building a meaningful career while making time for family and travel.
Hayden Topping, Morehead State ’24Hayden is a pre-med major and has sustained an incredible 3.7 GPA. Interested in history, he enjoys studying the past to inform the future. Hayden is also actively involved in activities to make the community around him a better place, including Habitat for Humanity, Kentucky Rural Health Student Association, Helping Hands, and Herron Leadership Organization. Professionally, this Tragos Quest scholar intends to become an emergency medicine physician.
Alejandro Torres, IIT ’24
A chemical engineering major, Alejandro is enrolled in a five-year program that will allow him to graduate with bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He has served as his chapter’s chaplain and vice president of member development while also being active in an engineering organization. Running is a passion, and he devotes up to 25 hours a week to training and competing as a member of the cross country and track team. The Balanced Man Scholarship recipient stays on top of all his extracurricular commitments while maintaining a 3.9 GPA.
Mentors
Bryce Giesler, Tennessee ’82
Bryce has supported undergraduate brothers at our Houston and Tennessee chapters in a variety of roles, including as chapter counselor, AVC president and balanced man steward. He’s also contributed to the Fraternity on the national level as a member of the Technology Task Force, National Advancement Council and other committees. Widely considered a pioneer in utilizing the internet for Greek life organizations, Bryce established SigEp’s first blog. The space he created enabled brothers from around the world to come together to share opinions, insights and information.
Brian Kassar, Montana State Renaissance
For more than a decade, Dr. Brian Kassar has served as faculty fellow and chapter counselor for SigEp’s chapter at Montana State. A licensed psychologist, Brian serves as a suicide prevention coordinator at the university and teaches a course on men and masculinity. His commitment to being of service in his field carries over to his interactions with undergraduate brothers. He frequently facilitates chapter discussions on physical and mental health and initiated an incentive program to help brothers set academic and personal goals.
Kyle McCoil, South Carolina ’17
Kyle is an assistant dean at Washington & Lee University, where he supports sophomores and new transfer students through a variety of programs and by connecting them with resources. He also advises the Interfraternity Council and the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Kyle volunteers as the chapter counselor at SigEp’s Virginia chapter and mentor to the vice president of programming at his home chapter. He also previously served as chapter counselor at North Carolina-Greensboro.
Victor Wilson, Georgia Renaissance
Currently serving as the Fraternity’s Grand Secretary, Victor has built a 40-year career as a student affairs professional. For the past decade, he has worked on behalf of students at the University of Georgia as vice president of student affairs. In this role, he oversees a staff of more than 600 and leads the university’s efforts to support student development and growth. He has volunteered extensively with SigEp, including serving as balanced man steward with our Georgia and Clemson chapters and on national committees and task forces.
Pat Githens, West Chester ’18
Pat serves on the Fraternity’s Headquarters staff as leadership programs director. He is responsible for curriculum, educational initiatives, and faculty recruitment and training for SigEp's leadership programs and events. The Tragos Quest to Greece program coordinator, he was an undergraduate scholar in 2017 and served as a mentor in 2021 and 2022. Pat will receive his master’s degree in higher education administration from William & Mary in May 2023 and will begin doctoral study at Virginia Commonwealth University in Fall 2023, pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy & Justice. Pat strives to create transformative experiences and environments for students within higher education through his work and research.
