httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEHV3YEo72k
Tawan Martinez RIP
We are sorry to report that Tawan Martinez, 37, died Thursday, October 30, 2014 in his home in Long Beach, California. Tawan had been diagnosed with brain cancer sixteen months earlier, and his difficult journey inspired his many loyal friends and loving family members to live every day to the fullest.
Frater Tawan (Beta-Sigma PIN #960) joined TKE in the Fall of 1995 and graduated USC with a bachelor’s degree in Communications with a double minor in Fine Arts and Business. He had a huge heart and an amazingly bright spirit. Countless people have said with sincerity that Tawan was the nicest man they had ever met. He is survived by his wife Nicole Marie Federico Martinez and son Valen Wakan James Martinez.
There will be a celebration of Tawan’s life on Saturday, November 22, 2014 at Torrance Beach from 2-5pm. Please dress casual & colorful and bring a beach towel or beach chair. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his young son Valen’s educational fund. Donations to Valen Martinez / memo – Franklin Templeton 529 Account may be mailed to USC Credit Union Attn: Tom Tan, 3720 South Flower Street 1st Floor Los Angeles, CA 90089. Tawan’s family has entrusted his care to the White & Day/Rice Mortuary, 5310 Torrance Blvd. Torrance, CA 90503, 310-792-7599.
From left to right: Tawan Martinez, Bobby Falar, Matt Beshear, Matt Hanson, and Richard Balue
TKE West Remodel Completed
This summer the critical life safety features and systems of TKE West were upgraded. Improvements include a fire sprinkler system throughout the property, a fire alarm, kitchen fire suppression system over the stove, new smoke detectors, emergency lighting, upgraded electrical panels, and rewiring. In addition to the important upgrades, we were also fortunate enough to add air conditioning and heat in every room. The shot above shows off the new LED exterior lighting.
2014 USC Commencement Speaker Marc Benioff
Marc gives a big “shout-out” to the TKE House…

“Don’t forget to do something for others.”
Marc Benioff first recalled hearing those life-changing words spoken from a spiritual guru in India. Decades later, he passed that wisdom on to graduates at USC’s 131st commencement on May 16.
Benioff, the CEO of San Francisco-based Salesforce.com, has been lauded not only as a pioneer in cloud computing and one of the country’s most respected CEOs, but also for his 1-1-1 plan, in which he took the Indian spiritual guru’s words to heart. His company operates under a policy that donates one percent of product, one percent of equity and one percent of employee hours back to the communities it serves.
“The real joy in life comes from giving, from service, from doing things for other people,” Benioff told the more than 40,000 graduates, families and friends gathered in Alumni Park. “Nothing will make you happier than giving.”
Watch the entire speech here. Listen to the TKE House shout-out here.
VISIONARY | TROJAN | TKE
Mark R. Benioff, chairman and CEO of Salesforce.com was named to the USC Board of Trustees in Feburauary 2011 and is serving a five-year term, overseeing all major university decisions.
Benioff, an ’86 alumnus and member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, has worked in the technology industry since high school.
Marc Benioff, Beta-Sigma TKE #730, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Salesforce.com
TKE Brochella 2014
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK80ObZopZ0
On Saturday, April 19, 2014, TKE invited 1,000 of their closest friends to Brochella.
Introducing the Spring 2014 Pledge Class
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
Congrats to TKE ΒΣ Fall 2013
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
TKE Halloween 2013
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.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khdh9VcPMWU
Saturday Night
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?