On Wednesday April 30th, in San Francisco, CA, Psi Upsilon held our annual FishFund Venture Summit. Our venue was the venerable University Club of San Francisco.
Cameron Turner, Zeta ’96 (Dartmouth), Alexander Senchak, Eta ’06 (Lehigh), and investment specialist Graham Siegle participated in a panel discussion centered around what sparks interest in VC and angel investors, and what does diligence and valuations evaluation, particularly for AI centered startups, look like in 2025. Our experts discussed some of the key effects of the AI hype on startups today, and shared ideas and recommendations for people dabbling or considering engaging in early stage companies. The panel discussion was followed by three entrepreneurial pitches courtesy of the FishFund. Speakers representing their companies presented and took rapid fire questions from the audience. The paid event brought together brothers from around the country.
We had presentations from Fennec Ai, a marketplace of AI and ML products and services specifically designed to grow the hospitality and nightlife industry, Tribe Money Pools, a way to collect money and manage it together, and Sureel AI, a platform which licenses and tracks AI-driven media usage with precise attribution, awarding royalties and driving new revenue sources for rights holders.
In the words of presenter Vishal Desh, Zeta Zeta ’22 (UBC) co-founder of Fennec AI: “I’m grateful to the organizers and my fellow brothers who made this experience so impactful. Thanks for putting together such a great event. The journey of building something new is always better when you’re surrounded by people who believe in paying it forward and creating a community where everyone can learn and grow together.”
Thank you to our hosts and sponsors, whose generous contributions this year allowed us to keep tickets costs for the event discounted. Thank you Oliver V. Smith, Beta Alpha ’93 (Miami University), Craig Chiang, Epsilon ’95 (University of California, Berkeley), Joseph P. Cillo, PhD, Delta ’61 (New York University), and James Volpentest, Theta Theta ’90 (University of Washington).
We learned that our date this year corresponded with the RSAC Security Conference, and are investigating aligning these events again next year: Do you attend RSAC professionally? Please email jonathan@psiu.org
We’d like to congratulate the 36 brothers from 14 chapters who received scholarships for the 2025-26 Academic Year from the Psi Upsilon Foundation, including six graduate awards! Below is the list of recipients based on their award.
We held an online announcement for the Scholarship recipients on April 30th hosted by the Psi Upsilon Foundation’s Chair and President, Alex Senchak, Eta ’06 (Lehigh), and our keynote speaker Tyree P. Jones Jr. ESQ, Kappa ’82 (Bowdoin), who offered comments on how Psi Upsilon has positively affected his life. You can view a transcript of that speech below.
We would like to thank all the generous donors to the Annul Fund and everyone who has helped make these named scholarships possible. Since 1959 The Psi Upsilon Foundation has awarded over 1.2 million dollars in scholarships to our members because of the generosity of our donors! As we are approaching the end of our fiscal year, please make a gift to support the scholarships and programs of Psi Upsilon today. If you already have, check here to see if your company will double your impact with a matching gift.
Graduate Scholarships
Lewis Finkelstein, Omicron 1983 Awards •Yury Onikashvili, Zeta Zeta ’22 (University of British Columbia)
Henry B. Poor, Gamma 1939 Award •Tuna Ergan, Gamma Tau ’23 (Georgia Tech) •‘Sarah Koh, Delta ’24 (New York University)
Dr. Tony Kremer, Omicron 1987 Award •Jack Patterson, Tau Epsilon ’24 (Clemson)
Undergraduate Scholarships
Albert C. Jacobs, Phi ’21 Award •Jack J. Drabik, Epsilon Nu ’27 (Michigan State University)
Francis C. Hardie, Omicron-Zeta ’18 •Randilyn P. Saul, Gamma Tau ’26 (Georgia Institute of Technology) •Andrew F. Stewart, Sigma Phi ’27 (Saint Francis University)
Curtis J. Rettke, Eta ’84 Award •Daniel C. Levine, Eta ’26 (Lehigh University)
Earl D. Babst, Iota-Phi ’93 •Tyler D. Hahn, Epsilon Nu ’27 (Michigan State University)
Eric W. Didul, Phi Beta ’90 Award •Katherine O. Rosinski, Gamma Tau ’26 (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Henry B. Poor, Gamma ‘39 Awards •Kabral K. Armah, Tau ’27 (University of Pennsylvania) •Daniel Bauer, Tau ’26 (University of Pennsylvania) •Derek C. Ike, Tau ’27 (University of Pennsylvania) •Ming-Hao (Alex) Lee, Tau ’27 (University of Pennsylvania) •David O. Oladeji, Tau ’26 (University of Pennsylvania)
Michael D. Oberg, Theta Theta ’88 Award •Torrin Pataki, Zeta Zeta ’25 (University of British Columbia)
Paul D. Friday, Theta Theta ’26 Award •Stephen A. Klock, Zeta Zeta ’25 (University of British Columbia)
J. Russell McShane, Delta ’32 Award •Jin Lee, Delta ’26 (New York University) •Ian Lin, Delta ’26 (New York University)
Jerome W. Brush, Jr.,Delta Delta ’39 Award •Yuriy A. Sandmerier, Upsilon ’27 (University of Rochester)
Jonathan E. Persky, Omega ‘85 Awards •Devan V. Johnson, Omega ’26 (University of Chicago)
R. DeWitt Wallace, Epsilon ’14 Award •Jacob Nahmias, Psi ’27 (Hamilton College) •Fernando J. Pardo, Upsilon ’26 (University of Rochester)
R. Timothy Leedy, Phi ’57 Award •Olubande T. Taiwo, Gamma Tau ’26 (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Robert W. Morey, Pi ’20 Awards •John W. Adams, III, Pi ’26 (Syracuse University) •William D. Alcorn, Pi ’26 (Syracuse University) •Conor L. McKenna, Pi ’26 (Syracuse University) •Logan J. Rothschild, Pi ’26 (Syracuse University) •Alex G. Torres, Pi ’26 (Syracuse University)
Robert W. Parsons, Xi ‘22 Award •Logan Heales, Zeta Zeta ’25 (University of British Columbia)
William P. King, Omicron ’73 Award •Kevin Sanderson, Omicron ’26, (University of Illinois)
Psi Upsilon was pleased to give out 36 scholarships this year!
Psi Upsilon Foundation Scholarship Announcement Keynote
April 30, 2025
Now moving on, I am very pleased to welcome Tyree Jones.
Tyree is a member of the Kappa chapter, Bowdoin College, Class of 82. I’ve known Tyree for about five years. He has been a speaker at our Social Impact Fellowship Retreat year one; he did a wonderful discussion on diversity and integration of diversity practices in organizations. He is a litigator and a seasoned litigator and a notable leader of his law firm living in DC and has a wonderful cadre of other Kappas who I’ve gotten to know and are just wonderful people. It is my honor and privilege to bring Tyree to the proverbial stage, and turn it over to him: Tyree.
Thank you, Alex, for that really wonderful and generous introduction and Congratulations to all the brothers and scholarship recipients.
It’s really a privilege for me to be asked to address you upon receiving this prestigious series of scholarships sponsored by our foundation, the Psu Upsilon Foundation. I don’t do this often. I’ve never done this before for Psi Upsilon in terms of just delivering remarks to scholarship recipients, so I thought about just a couple of things to one, be brief, but hopefully give some remarks that you know, not only help you understand more about the Fraternity of which you’re a member and why this scholarship program and the Foundation is so important to our mission, but to tell you about a little bit one about why Psi Upsilon is important – how that has jibed with the values and missions of the Fraternity.
And, you know, how you should really embrace this recognition. It is really a recognition of the tremendous work you’ve done to this point.
Not only impressing those who recommended you, but impressing those through the information you submitted who awarded you these scholarships and to really embrace what you have ahead of you because we all know and see from the material we’ve received from you that the future is really ahead and you all have really rosy and distinct futures to look forward to.
I’ll start with one, why Psi Upsilon is important for me. I joined the Kappa chapter of Psi Upsilon at Bowdoin, as Alex said.
A long time ago, back in 1979, just time spent interacting with other members there determined that it was really an organization that I wanted to be a part of.
And people that I wanted to really fellowship with as we continued our education at Bowdoin.
That was exactly what it proved to be, and we had an incredibly diverse body of members covering a variety of different academic disciplines, athletic disciplines. Social activism as we students were then in the late 70s and early 80s.
Just really a support network that carried on long after Bowdoin, which again as I say, jibes with the mission and values of the fraternity which really are focused around having all our members aspire to be Moral, intellectual, and social excellence in whatever you choose to do, whether it’s what you do on campus, what you do in your communities, and what you do as you go out and venture forth into the world in your respective disciplines. I ended up having a tremendous experience at Bowdoin during the years I was there, in part because of my membership in Psi Upsilon and, or as we called it then really Psi U… in the Kappa chapter at Psi U.
So much so that I’ve maintained a strong connection with Bowdoin. I currently sit on Bowdoin’s Board of Trustees. You know, and as a fraternity member, I am one who still lives the memory; Bowdoin got rid of fraternities during the 90s.
So the Kappa chapter no longer exists there on campus. But our house does and has been brought under the purview of the campus. It’s been updated and still is providing a resource for students there at Bowdoin and so so proud to see that when I go back on campus as I do certainly occasionally for trustee meetings.
The other thing I would talk about too is as I looked at information on many of you, I mean. You all in encompass a variety of fields of study, as I heard, I think, Alex and certainly Dick saying. You know, around science I saw clinical psychology, aerospace engineers, statistics, computer science, medicine. Women’s and children’s health. These are all just such important areas and fields of study where we need you to continue doing.
What you are doing and excelling in those fields. And we hope that the scholarships that you’re awarded here today will really help you in being able to accomplish those objectives.
We all know having been through college and for me, law school: pursuing educational endeavors can be costly and all help is appreciated.
We also appreciate the effort you undertook in applying for this recognition, and the efforts you will continue to undertake to be true not only to the fraternity’s mission, but to be true to yourselves so I would end with just being sure to congratulate all of you again for this recognition.
Wish you all the best in your future endeavors and just urge you to really be proud of this recognition, as I’m sure you’ll receive other recognition in your fields of endeavors and as you proceed and pursue success. So again, congratulations.
Thank you for bearing a few minutes to listen to me and thank you for what you do for the fraternity and how you represent it.
The Board of Directors of the Psi Upsilon Foundation are pleased to announce the election of Brother Apurva Upadhyay, Eta ’06 (Lehigh) as the newest member of the board. Mr. Upadhyay graduated from Lehigh and brings extensive experience from a distinguished career in insurance.
Apurva received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management with a minor in French Language from Lehigh University and his Masters of Business Administration from Villanova University. In addition to his extensive education in business, Apurva is a licensed property and casualty agent in the state of Pennsylvania, as well as a designated Construction Risk Insurance Specialist (CRIS). His great persuasive capabilities and affable nature make him an excellent addition to the Foundation board.
I lived in Florida before I went to Psi U at Lehigh University. And, when I moved to Lehigh, I didn’t have much in the way of family around. I didn’t have friends right away, either, as I was not local to PA, so when I joined Psi U, it became that. Psi U that immediate family for me, and it always will be, quite frankly. So, now I can be anywhere in the world, anywhere in the country, and connect with people that are family that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. Psi U will always be an important part of my life, and it’s something that I feel very, very strongly about…I truly feel that Psi U was that family that I needed when I was 18 years old and living away from home. That’s why I feel as strongly as I do about Psi U as a whole.
Professionally, Apurva joined The Safegard Group in 2008 and currently holds the position of Senior Vice President of Commercial Lines. He serves as a team leader and an Account Executive maintaining client accounts and proactively helping to improve their total cost of risk. Apurva maintains significant relationships with his clients, helping them with various coverage issues and keeping them informed. In addition, Apurva specializes in formalizing coverage terms and conditions across Safegard’s multiple insurance companies and keeping his clients informed of coverage and litigation changes that affect their risk management portfolio. Apurva has also incorporated managing and maintaining insurance company relationships and marketing efforts. By managing the book of business on a macro level, Apurva maintains growth and profitability goals for Safegard with its partner insurance companies.
Apurva has worked in the insurance industry for over two (2) decades. Previously, Apurva worked with Crum & Forster Insurance Company as a Senior Underwriter for the Philadelphia regional office with territory responsibilities as far west as Ohio.
Over the years Apurva has maintained contact with many brothers and describes some of the young men who he attended college with as his best friends that he still is in regular contact with. In fact, during Covid, his friends started a weekly “running call” with multiple Psi U brothers. “We have a running call with some of my buddies. Every Monday and Wednesday we go out at 6:30 in the morning, and we run wherever we are, and we talk and fill each other in on our lives, and it’s a great opportunity for us to catch up. We started that during Covid…I didn’t really have any outlets at all, and my buddy Mike (Michael Sale, Eta ’06) was like, “Hey, we have to go out and get some fresh air, do stuff and just talk and be connected.” [Other important parts of the group are Benjamin G. Jahre, Tom Rovere and Gregory Brown, also Eta ’05 and ’06. Just one way Psi U connections have been important to Apurva.]
For the Foundation Board Apurva looks forward to finding ways to contribute and move the leadership of Psi Upsilon to reflect the brotherhood and society as a whole. He is particularly passionate about the Schoepflin Society and planned giving program. He says, “I feel planned giving is crucial to what we [as the Foundation] do now. It’s [paramount] in terms of helping out brothers to make sure that they have an opportunity to succeed, and to continue to do the work we do. That’s something that we can’t do enough of. Planned giving helps to have a direct impact on that”
Apurva lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with his wife, Katie, and their dog named Gizmo.
Psi Upsilon is excited to announce an opening for the role of Growth Coordinator—a dynamic, full-time position for someone passionate about Psi Upsilon, recruitment, leadership development, and helping students thrive in their college experience.
As Growth Coordinator, you’ll play a key role in advancing Psi Upsilon’s mission by supporting recruitment and expansion efforts across North America. This will primarily involve restarting dormant chapters of Psi Upsilon and providing recruitment support to existing chapters that need assistance. Working closely with our Director of Growth and Chapter Services Team, you’ll travel to campuses, build relationships with university partners, and help undergraduates strengthen their leadership skills.
This role is ideal for a recent graduate who enjoys a balance of independence and teamwork, is energized by travel and personal connections, and is dedicated to making a positive impact within our fraternity. From identifying new members to implementing chapter retreats, the Growth Coordinator is at the heart of our efforts to grow and support Psi Upsilon.
What We’re Looking For:
The ideal candidate is a self-motivated professional with:
A bachelor’s degree
Strong communication and relationship-building skills
A willingness to travel and work with a variety of collegiate members and campuses
The ability to work independently while supporting a collaborative team
A valid driver’s license and insured vehicle
Psi Upsilon membership and leadership experience are preferred but not required. This role offers competitive pay, full benefits, paid vacation, and travel reimbursements. While the International Office is based in Indianapolis, remote arrangements will be considered for the right candidate.
If you’re ready to help shape the next generation of Psi Upsilon brothers and bring lasting value to our chapters, we’d love to hear from you.
Over the last two decades, I have been incredibly fortunate to have met a number of Psi U brothers but for those I have not had the pleasure of meeting, my name is Tim Zepp, Chi Delta ’08 (Duke University). I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself and provide an update on the work of the Executive Council including a number of our strategic goals and priorities.
By way of background, my undergraduate fraternity experience helped to shape me in countless ways and develop the soft skills that guided my career path from engineering to consulting to investment banking. In Psi U, I learned how to build consensus around common goals, navigate interpersonal challenges and was encouraged by my fellow brothers to step up in leadership roles. After graduating I wanted to continue giving back to this organization that had given me so much, which eventually led me to serve as a Director of the Psi Upsilon Foundation prior to serving on the Executive Council Board for several years and elected President this past July. The Executive Council helps to conduct the business of the fraternity, including developing the strategic vision and priorities guiding the future of the organization. In my time serving on both of our boards, I have been incredibly impressed by the level of thoughtfulness and dedication of our many volunteer leaders which has inspired me to be a better leader.
As President of the Executive Council, I am incredibly excited by the work we are doing to try to bring greater connectivity across our global network. We are thinking creatively to support our chapter and alumni group leaders so they may run their organizations more effectively and efficiently. One example is our work to rollout career-mentorship offerings across our chapters by codifying and leveraging ideas and best practices from successful programs like the one run by the Psi chapter at Hamilton College. We are also in the process of building the framework for geography-based Psi U Alumni Clubs to provide new opportunities to build cross-generational and cross-chapter connections across our network.
As we continue to enhance the programs we provide to our membership, we are also focused on investing in our long-term success and growth. Coming up next month, Psi Upsilon’s March Challenge is an opportunity to invest in the future of our brotherhood through the donation of money (or new for this year, pledging your time) to support the growth of our organization, including our plans to hire a new junior staff member to work closely with undergraduates on current and prospective Psi U campuses. Amplifying the impact of the amazing work that our brotherhood is already doing each and every day is a top priority and I believe the biggest opportunity we have to demonstrate the value of lifelong fraternal membership.
As we all know from our lived experiences and supported by research from the North American Interfraternity Conference, brotherhood in Psi Upsilon provides numerous lifelong benefits including friendships, a sense of belonging and skills that serve as an accelerator for success in college and beyond. None of this is possible without the many volunteer leaders and professional staff of our Fraternity and Foundation working hard each and every day to execute on the vision and many initiatives described above. The long-term success of our organization relies on the engagement of each of you reading this and the brothers in your individual networks. No matter your age, background, or past involvement with Psi Upsilon, we would appreciate your involvement, and I would enjoy hearing your ideas, feedback, and have you join an upcoming Psi U event! Thank you for reading and I look forward to connecting with many of you in the future.
Yours in the Bonds,
Tim Zepp, Chi Delta ‘08 President of the Psi Upsilon Executive Council
