Scott E. Bleggi ‘78 ([email protected]) says that he decided to join Lambda Chi Alpha because of the brotherhood. “It was similarly priced to apartments, and there were a few Elk County guys already there.”
It was a place set apart by “Location, location, location,” he says. “It was a great group from all over the state (and elsewhere), with a wide variety of majors.”
He says that his best memories are of “pickup basketball at Sunset Park, and of course “jammies” with live music in the house.”
Bleggi says that Lambda Chi impacted his life long after graduation. “It taught me about leadership and getting along with others who come from different backgrounds with opinions different from mine.”
He says that giving back is critical for him. “Every undergrad needs to realize that they are making life-long friendships. Decades can pass when you’re busy with career and family and out of touch, but when the going gets tough, brothers drop back into your life when you need their support most. This is the “bond” of brotherhood.”
He knows the value of that lifelong bond of brotherhood first-hand. “My involvement with the chapter expanded at a low point in my life when I lost both a daughter and a mate of nearly 40 years. During my grieving, a handful of what I call “lifelines” — mostly from Lambda Chi brothers – dropped out of nowhere when I needed them most. They pulled me back from what Thomas Merton calls the ‘abyss of despair.’ I can only hope that someday I can reciprocate, in some way, the love that was shown to me.”
Without Lambda Chi Alpha, I would not have so many life-long friendships, a constant connection to campus, and a little piece of Penn State to call my own.