Summer 2026 Newsletter
A New Shift
Hail Brothers,
It is always a pleasure to bring you the Spring edition of the Rocket Sinfonian Encore. There are a lot of things to cover, and I am excited to share with you all the progress of the chapter.
Alumni Relations Shift
It is good to be here again as the Epsilon Alpha Chapter Alumni Relations Officer. During this past year’s elections, I spent a lot of time reframing what Alumni Relations should look like for this chapter. After acknowledging my own shortcomings and evaluating the direction of the chapter, I decided it was time for a shift in how we operate.
First, the Alumni Monthly Newsletter will be shifting to a new format. Instead of monthly newsletters, we will now release four seasonal newsletters: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. These letters will still be rooted in stories and chapter updates, but they will focus more on the overarching journey of the chapter rather than consistent monthly reporting.
To supplement this change, the Facebook group will be used more frequently to communicate dates, chapter updates, and smaller milestones. These efforts are meant to create more consistent communication on both sides of our membership and help alumni stay connected to the collegiate chapter, no matter how far away they may be.
Chapter Updates
As always, the EA Chapter continues to change and grow with time. As we prepare for the new academic year, we have elected a new slate of officers. After a meeting filled with intentional presentations, questions, and deliberation, the following brothers were elected:
President: Brandon Esquivel
Vice President: Thomas Avalos
Secretary: Cale Wright
Treasurer: Luke Siefert
Fraternity Education Officer: Kevin Babcock
Brotherhood and Outreach Officer: Jack Hensley
Music Director: Eric Thomas
Alumni Relations Officer: Shundrick Parker
Historian: Evan Binette
Province Collegiate Representative: Aiden Combs
Ritual Director: Lawrence Mays
Warden: Brayden Lease
As we enter this next year, we are excited to follow their leadership and experience new things as a chapter. One of the first major changes is a new recruitment structure the chapter has chosen to explore.
With the creation of the national program Etudes, our chapter found it increasingly difficult to sustain two separate classes each year across both semesters. After considering several options, the chapter decided to explore a model of one class over two semesters.
Keep an eye out for early process information later in the Fall semester and additional process information during the Spring semester. We hope this structure will give both the chapter and future Probationary Members more time to breathe, grow, and develop as Sinfonians.
Here is a message from our newly elected FEO regarding the process:
Our new recruitment and probationary process is taking is an exciting new direction. A two-semester overlap has the potential to make recruitment more consistent while also allowing for even more meaningful experiences. Taking my own experiences as a brother into my new role as FEO, this change can help create an experience that strengthens our brotherhood, deepens the educational process, and creates a more seamless, intentional path towards collegiate membership. I am excited to try this new process next year!
- Kevin Babcock, 2026-2027 FEO
Finally, this year was incredibly transformative for the EA Chapter, and we are excited to share the growth we have experienced. We spent a great deal of time exploring campus involvement through music and service. We had the privilege of performing alongside the university choirs, volunteering and singing at various campus events, and even accomplishing two MMMs this semester.
Not only have we stayed productive, but we have also begun evaluating how we can move the chapter into its next phase. During our final meeting of the year, we discussed what we hope to see moving forward. Common themes included stronger brotherhood within our work, leadership development, and the continued growth of Sinfonians beyond the PMEP process.
Celebrating the past year
Every year, the chapter takes time to honor and celebrate the founding of our chapter on April 19th, 2009. This year, the chapter was able to hold its chapter day ceremony on April 19th and started at 4:19. With each year the chapter stands after our rechartering, I hope that you all take the time to reflect on the chapter and someday will be able to come back to Toledo for a chapter day celebration in the future.
We were also able to successfully initiate four new sinfonians into the chapter. After a long process through the spring, the Alpha Gamma class was initiated on April 12th. The chapter is thrilled to welcome these new sinfonians and shows appreciation for any and all alumni who came to support and help celebrate this occasion.
The chapter ended its year with the Graduating Brother Ceremony. The chapter was thrilled to celebrate 4 brothers stepping into alumni membership: DJ Loyer, Thomus Maples, Shundrick Parker, and Andrew Steele. The ceremony had all the typical EA traditions, but we also expanded and began providing our graduating seniors with chapter resolutions!
As they make this transition and join us in their time as alumni sinfonians. We welcome them to this family and hope that they find involvement and connection through Phi Mu Alpha wherever they find themselves.
Fraternal Reflections
Moving forward in our Alumni Newsletters, I would like to add some fraternal reflections from our collegaite brothers and alumni alike to continue to inspire us all through our journeys in the world outside of the confidences of our cloistral chapter.
Today, we hear from our Current ARO, Shundrick Parker.
I was initiated in the Fall of 2022 and served as FEO, VP, and ARO, being in my second term. Through all my experiences in this organization, I experienced a lot of change and growth, largely due to the honesty and care my brothers showed me. Even when the chapter jokingly was my biggest hater, I always felt the comfort of knowing that every brother cared about each other and wanted the best for each other. I think of every 2nd Degree Night 3 (Gold Night) and how brotherly I felt in that moment. The thing that always kept me in PMA and loving it was the sincerity I felt with everyone. Even as I step into my role as an alumnus of the chapter, I know this sincerity will be what keeps me involved and coming back.
As you continue to make an impact on the world and pursue your careers, I hope that this reminder of the sincerity of PMA resonates with you and you continue to showcase this to all those around you as Musicianly Men and Manly Musicians. Have a Great Summer, and we will convene again at the end of the summer.
OASAASLLS,