UT’s Richard Brandt Named Delta Sigma Pi National Collegian of the Year

For the last six years, UT’s business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi has had regional winners in a National Collegian Award competition. This year, UT’s Richard Brandt ’13 took nationals, receiving the Delta Sigma Pi National Collegian of the Year award, the highest honor from the fraternity to a collegiate member.

Advisor Amy Brownlee, an assistant professor of management, wasn’t surprised.

“This award is absolutely well-deserved. He is an excellent example of a student leader,” Brownlee said. “It is also a testament to the motivation and ambition of the future business professionals we have here at UT. The individuals in this fraternity are leaders not only in their fraternity but throughout the college.”

With about 65 members, the business fraternity meets weekly at 10 p.m. (with near perfect attendance) to learn from guest speakers, plan service projects, attend professional events and network.

Brandt’s award comes with a scholarship and a two-year seat on the national board of directors of Delta Sigma Pi. UT’s chapter president, Gregory Whitleigh ’13, said their chapter nominated Brandt because of his extensive involvement in the fraternity, from vice president of scholarship and awards to vice president of pledge education to even last year’s presidency.

“It is a huge honor to have one of our members be on the national board of the fraternity,” said Whitleigh, who is majoring in finance with a minor in entrepreneurship. “He will serve on it for two years, in which he will travel to different conferences and be present in making decisions that impact the future of the fraternity.”

The national position is a volunteer spot, so Brandt, an accounting major, will continue working for Franklin Templeton Investments in St. Petersburg, where he has been working this semester. One of his goals while serving on the board is to create a database of Delta Sigma Pi alumni so active collegiate brothers are able to connect with alumni to promote professional networking and career connections.

“This experience is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’ll gain so much knowledge about real life budgeting, representing others and solving issues at a high level, all of which will assist me in my ultimate career goal of being a manager at Franklin,” Brandt said. “I want to help others get as much as I have from the fraternity.”

Brandt, of Sarasota, joined Delta Sigma Pi in 2010. He had wanted to get involved in Greek life but couldn’t find the right fit. With Delta Sigma Pi, Brandt immediately made friends and immersed himself in fraternity life, not just at UT but at the regional and national levels.

“By joining Delta Sigma Pi I think I made the absolute most out of my experience at UT. Not only did it connected me to some of my best friends, but I also got to meet a large number of faculty and staff at UT,” Brandt said. “It was great walking into any class within the College of Business and knowing that there was going to be at least one other brother in the class.”

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