Alumni Newsletter SPRING 2012 Kappa Alpha PI

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SKID ROW BY: Kenneth Carbajal | SIGMA Pledge Class I remember listening to speakers during Spring Rush 2011, wondering why I should pledge and what differentiated Kappa Alpha Pi from other pre-law organizations at UCLA. As soon as Philanthropy was described as one of the pillars upon which the fraternity was founded I immediately envisioned being able to express my passion for serving the less fortunate through the fraternity. In each of the two quarters since I was elected Director of Philanthropy, and during my pledge quarter, my proudest moment has been when members meet at my apartment, make bagged lunches and take them down to Skid Row. I began attending Skid Row trips my freshman year of high school, when I was 13. The ability to be able to continue with those trips, that have been so important to me throughout my life, is one of my favorite aspects of this fraternity. During each of our quarterly service trips an average of fifteen members have met at my apartment at nine in the morning. We make bagged lunches from bagged snacks, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and water bottles. The satisfaction members felt after they pass out the bagged lunches has not been the only gratifying part of the trip. While preparing the lunches there is usually music playing, members are joking around and generally being good brothers to one another. This trip always unites brotherhood with philanthropy, we have fun while helping others. Oftentimes members who attend the Skid Row trip have not been to Skid Row before. It is difficult to describe the state that Skid Row is in, difficult to have someone imagine what its like not to have an adequate change of clothes or the comfort of knowing whether there will be anything to eat in a few hours. Members frequently comment to me that they enjoyed the trip and that they were surprised how quickly we ran out of food. I try explaining that regardless of how large 12 a budget we approve, we will never have enough food to pass out. It is both a rewarding and heartbreaking experience to help those who have nothing but the possessions they can carry with them. Some members are nervous about going down to Skid Row but it KAPI VOLUNTEERING IN THE SKID ROW DISTRICT OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES goes to show just how amazing our brothers are for not letting this fear get the better of them and actually going out with the intent of helping those who have less than us. It was my purpose when elected to this position to do as much as possible to help those in need. Although I do not feel I have completely accomplished this goal, I feel as a fraternity we have taken great steps towards sharing some of our wealth with the less fortunate. LA, CA 90013 PB & J SANDWICHES, GRANOLA BARS, AND BOTTLED WATERS WERE HANDED OUT
Congratulations 2012 BY: Brian Springer | OMICRON Pledge Class & Megan Grossman | PI Pledge Class Two years ago, we crossed into a fraternity full of graduating seniors. We watched in confusion as people bawled at banquet, saying goodbye. At the time, we didn’t understand the magnitude of the impact this fraternity would have on our undergraduate experience. But now, as we’re about to be in that same position, we understand exactly why everyone was so emotional and we can’t believe its coming to an end. Through all of the good times and all of the bad times, the frat has been important to us and it is really hard to be leaving it, once and for all. As we reflect on our times in the frat, we think about all of the things it has taught us. One philanthropy event stands out, where we made and delivered lunch to the homeless on Skid Row. Being able to so directly affect someone’s life in a positive way had a lasting impact on us. This year we have also witnessed a bunch of new events. One example was our Dinner with Professors event, where we interacted with a bunch of different professors and asked for advice on professional development. We also saw the return of the KAPi bonfire, where we got a chance for a large group of the members to get to know each other better, away from the pressure of school. We’ve seen this passion within the fraternity to throw new events that make a difference, whether in our own lives, or in the community. This fresh look at the pillars has allowed the fraternity to progress in a new direction and we are excited to continue to see it change even after we have graduated. Looking back at the last two years, we are realizing how much we are going to miss. In KAPi, we learned how to write a resume, how to interview professionally, and these skills helped us each get jobs at law firms. Throughout this whole process we gained lifelong friends who we hope to keep in contact with for the years to come. Even just in meetings, we have gotten the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of people, tied together by one common interest. We have been able to find our voice, even in difficult situations, without wavering in our brotherhood towards the people we may be having disagreements with. We will always treasure the random moments, hanging out with brothers that we do not normally hang out with, so we can get to know them on a personal level to really understand their story. This begins for everyone when you play five questions with your pledge class, connecting with people you have just barely met, form- ing a bond of brotherhood that lasts forever. We would not have made it these last two years without this family away from home. Now, we are moving across the country to University of Pennsylvania and University of Texas, to join some of our alumni in law school. We’re excited for the other graduating seniors, some going off to teach, some off to work, and others who are still planning to apply to law school in the future. We are confident that because of the things they have learned, they have the tools they will need to be successful. No matter where we go, Kappa Alpha Pi will always be a part of us, and how we have gotten to where we are today. You guys are the ones who have really made UCLA special. SENIORS: Angela John OMICRON Center Director, Mathnasium Math Learning Center of Westwood Brian Springer OMICRON University of Pennsylvania Law School, Class of 2015 Carlie Jones OMICRON Obtaining TEFL license and teaching abroad Dianna Lindsey SIGMA Teach for America- Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount School of Urban Education, Class of 2014 Elizabeth Black SIGMA National Teaching Fellowship for Citizen Schools: Boston Elliot Schwartz XI Working at Mark S. Temple, A Professional Law Corporation LSAT Studying (Part II), applying in the fall Ingrid Rodriguez TAU Attending the UCLA CAPPP program in fall & then taking the LSATs Jose Gonzalez SIGMA Pursuing a finance certificate through UCLA Extension and applying to business school Juan Hernandez RHO Pursuing CPA, MBA and potentially a JD. FBGM Katherine Do TAU Violin Teacher for the Huntington Beach Union High School District 13 14 WHAT’S NEXT ON YOUR RESUME? Katie Sloss RHO Applying to graduate school in philosophy and working on my graphic design portfolio Mary Fersch RHO University of San Diego Law School, Class of 2015 Maura Nuno XI Law Office of Jonathan I. Kelmanll Megan Grossman PI University of Texas School of Law, Class of 2015 Supreet Gill OMICRON Writing for Vibe Magazine Tessa Roberts SIGMA Boesch Law Group, Assistant LSAT in October, applying in the fall
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Alumni Newsletter SPRING 2012 Kappa Alpha PI

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