This week our blog series will feature a variety of Phi Delta Theta Foundation Donors, highlighting various categories and opportunities Phi Delta Theta has for members and alumni to give back.

Today, we feature Wisconsin Beta (Lawrence) Phi, Jeff Ramsey, a graduate fellowship recipient. Each fellowship is awarded in order to further the education of a deserving graduate student.

“I am a doctoral candidate in history at Marquette University and I would not be here without Phi Delta Theta. I have had the great privilege to receive two graduate fellowships from the Phi Delta Theta Foundation: The Rusty R. Richardson award in 2007 and most recently, the Marvin J. Perry fellowship. Both awards have provided me with necessary financial support to pursue my studies. These fellowships remind me about how amazing Phi Delta Theta really is. I am benefiting from the generosity of two of the great men in our organization who believe in the power of Sound Learning and set up these fellowship endowments to help others pursue their educational goals. It makes me want to work that much harder to prove that I am worthy of these awards. I then want to use my knowledge and resources to donate to the Foundation so I can help someone else achieve their dreams as well.”

“Beyond this financial contribution, Phi Delta Theta lead me to this career. I had the great honor to work as a Leadership Consultant for the Fraternity from 2000 to 2003. This position helped me discover my passion for working with college students. Spending three years on the road, meeting with students, planning and participating in conferences, getting to know our outstanding alumni, and learning more about the fraternity’s commitment to its Three Cardinal Principles, helped me become the man I am today and helped guide me towards my life’s work. As an undergraduate member, I got a glimpse of what it meant to be a Phi. Now, as an alumnus, I am often reminded of how deep and special being a Phi really is. I am proud to say that I am a lifelong Phi, and I strive in all areas of my life to live up to that title by adhering to the Three Cardinal Principles. I relish the opportunity to spend the rest of my life teaching college students and setting good examples of the kind of people they should be. Regardless of whether my students are Phis or not, I know they will see what it means to be a member of Phi Delta Theta. My ability to positively influence my students is directly connected with Phi Delta Theta, and I can’t thank the Fraternity or the Foundation enough for not only putting me on my path, but for continuing to support me. I can only hope that throughout my life, I live up to the examples set by the six founders and men like Rusty Richardson and Marvin Perry.

Learn more about the graduate fellowships Phi Delta Theta has to offer.  The applications for these fellowships will be live soon.