News

Spring 2014 Pledge Class

From left to right — Front Row: Jake Silver, Houston, TX | Chris Lee, Havertown, PA | Dani Resch, Palma de Mallorca, Spain | Sebastian Albagli, Santiago, Chile | Matt Rigdon, Granite Bay, CA (Seated) | Sam Atefyekta, Mission Viejo, CA | Rob Carlile, Santa Ana, CA | Clayton Rule, El Cajon, CA | Greg Simmons, OC, CA

From left to right — Back Row: Arya Sadeghi, Irvine, CA | Jack Del Santo, Hillsborough, CA | Andrew Waite, Rye, NY | Alex Wicker, Moraga, CA | Will McBride, Woodinville, WA

Not Pictured: George Ellenikiotis, Los Gatos, CA

On Monday, November 18, 2013 Beta-Sigma initiated 31 new members. The chapter is now 140 men strong.

Adam Williams Brea, CA | Andy Frankel, Highland Park, IL | Austin Giles Alberta, Canada | Cooper Perkins Los Angeles, CA | Cory Marino San Diego, CA | Daniel Adebiyi Bronx, NY | Evan Daboub Corona Del Mar, CA | Guido Scassellati Rome, Italy | Hank Robson Los Gatos, CA | Hunter Kurtz San Diego, CA |Ian Fergie São Paulo, Brazil | Jack Huebner Vancouver, Canada | John Pollard Chicago, IL | Jose Rodriguez Madrid, Spain | Kyle Kevorkian Los Gatos, CA | Maksym Tsvetkov Walnut Creek, CA | Marshall Jacobs Los Altos, CA | Matheus Afonso Sofia DaSilva Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Matt Round Saratoga, CA | Max Wootton Mercer Island, WA | Nick Grace Granite Bay, CA | Nick Round Saratoga, CA | Nolan Dohnalek Lake Forest, IL | Pat Hart Chicago, IL | Robert Hellman Atherton, CA | Robert List Las Vegas, NV | Scott Goebels Irvine, CA | Spencer Christoff Newport Beach, CA | Teva Brender Los Gatos, CA | Tyler Chrystal Vancouver, Canada | Will Gibson Danville, CA

You are looking at a shot from the Apollo Interactive Sun Deck on TKE East into the new combined TKE West and TKE East backyard. Yes, the DJ is about 20 feet above the crowd. Known as the biggest fraternity party on the West Coast, TKE Halloween 2013 was a big success.

It’s Saturday night and the new TKE compound backyard is put to good use. Check out those new LED lights and see if you can spot any guys in the photo?

Here is what the front deck looked like on Wednesday, August 28th at about 6PM

It’s the third night of Fall Rush and TKE is packed. More than 85 rushees showed up to go to Jillian’s Billiards in Universal City. The buses ran out of room and additional transportation was required. Thursday night is an invite only party at Hooters to watch USC play Hawaii and Friday night is the Blue Chip invite only dinner at Palos Verdes Country Club.

Introducing the newest members of Beta-Sigma TKE at the University of Southern California. Our Spring 2013 class.

Dear Fraters,

It is with deepest regret and sorrow that we bring you the news that Shawn Talbott passed away on the morning of Friday, April 26th when his vehicle crashed. Though final results are not in yet, all signs point to his having experienced a heart attack, that took him quickly, as the cause of the crash.

Shawn Talbott made a huge impact at TKE from the moment he pledged the house in 1988. Gifted with remarkable intelligence, insight, courage, conviction, and overwhelming charisma he was an almost unstoppable force at USC. He earned a spot on the 1988 Trojan Football team that played in the Rose Bowl and was one game away from a National Championship. He served as Vice President of the Fraternity. Most recently he served as Chapter Advisor.

Shawn grew up in Palos Verdes, attended Rolling Hills High School and graduated from the University of Southern California.  He was Owner/President of the Southern California Umpires Association and Referee at USA Water Polo.

We encourage all to post condolences, well wishes, and memorable moments with Shawn on his Facebook page where Memorial Service arrangements will be posted as they become available:https://www.facebook.com/shawn.talbott.98

Shawn leaves behind his wife Lauri and a beautiful daughter Brooke. We are all supporting Lauri, Brooke and the rest of the family with a memorial fund to help with expenses.

From left to right: Shawn Talbott, Kevin Regardie, Pete Gutzwiller, Jeff Ruggels, Erik Brannon and Drew Schlussel

Dear Fraters,

It is with a heavy heart that I must write this letter to all of you. In the very early hours of January 1st 2013, Jeff Herle, one of our recent Beta Sigma Alumni was struck and killed by a car on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu leaving a New Years Eve Celebration. We do not know the details of how this tragedy occurred other than the very little that has been given to us by the authorities.

Jeff was a member of the Fall of 2007 Pledge Class at Beta Sigma and has been an important part of this fraternity ever since. Jeff was full of life and always had a smile on his face, always trying to be the life of the party, and everyones friend. “You gotta want it”, his signature phrase, will forever be ingrained in our memories because of his simple care-free antics that made him a popular figure amongst all of the fraters in TKE.

There will be two memorial events held in Jeff’s Honor this week, We would like as many Beta Sigma TKE’s in Attendance as possible to show how much he meant to this fraternity that we all love. The information for these events is listed Below.

Vigil: Wednesday January 9th, 7:30pm at American Martyrs Church in Manhattan Beach. The family requests that we were something very “Jeffrey-like”, aka lots of colors, USC gear, bow ties, or whatever you feel like reminds you of him.

Funeral: Thursday 10am at St. John’s the Baptist Church in Baldwin Park. We ask that you wear TKE Formal Attire, Blue Blazer, Khaki Pants, Red Tie, and TKE Pin. 

Please take a few minutes to reflect on the relationships you have with your family, your friends, and yourself, and truly cherish every moment you have. I love you all. Rest In Peace Jeff Herle.

Yours in the Bond,
Michael Nigosian
Beta Sigma 1250

Alumni support propels our first ever professionally facilitated chapter leadership retreat.

On the weekend of March 30, 2012 a select group of current and up-and-coming chapter leaders traveled by bus to Pilgrim Pines camp in the mountains outside of Yucaipa.  Upon arrival these 15 undergraduates were met by five TKE alumni for 48 hours of thought-provoking focus on the future of TKE at USC.

We were privileged to have John Deckard, Chief Administrative Officer of TKE International as our guest facilitator.  As the force behind the TKE Leadership Academy, John used his strategic motivational talents to challenge our members and inspire action.  “Beta Sigma Tekes are used to being told how wonderful they are by alumni, parents and even National”, said David Bohline. “We wanted someone to tell them they could be much better to help them ELEVATE their game. We knew we would get that from John Deckard.”

The weekend consisted of indoor discussion and outdoor activities that were designed to provoke thought.  With no cell phones or electronics the undergraduates were thrown far outside their element.  One of the highlights of the weekend was when the undergraduates were asked to take over the retreat and started goal setting for the next school year.  The most consistent comment heard was that ELEVATE enabled the members to focus in a setting far away from the distractions of a 140 man house in Los Angeles.

Equally impressive for our chapter was the fact five alumni including Chapter Advisor, Chris Sorley, Tom Rule, Tex Wall, David Bohline and John Deckard volunteered their time to participate in the weekend.  This was noted by the undergraduates who genuinely appreciate the support that the Alumni Association and its members provide the chapter.

The inspiration for ELEVATE came to David Bohline when he attended the TKE Leadership Academy in Summer 2011 and saw John Deckard in action.  TKELA is supported by alumni donations and designed for the entire TKE nation, and Bohline thought that Beta Sigma could leverage the concept for the specific benefit of Beta Sigma.  Once John Deckard agreed to facilitate the event and the Beta Sigma Alumni Association pledged financial support the event planning was off and running.

“Beta Sigma is very lucky”, remarked Tom Rule.  “We have a great chapter, but we also have very generous alumni who have helped make our chapter what it is today.”  ELEVATE is an example of how your financial support of the Beta Sigma Alumni Association is making a difference in our undergraduates lives and ensuring continued success for the chapter.  Thank you for your generosity.