Esteemed BH Alumni

Colton Gholson - Class of 2016

When Colton Gholson ’16, BH1126 first stepped foot on the Missouri University of Science and Technology’s campus, he had no interest in joining Greek life. However, after meeting his soon-to-be pledge brother, Colton’s journey with Beta Eta began. “After meeting the men in the Chapter House and learning about the benefits of joining Tau Kappa Epsilon, I knew it was something I wanted to do. Due to the relationships I’ve made with actives and alumni, it’s easy to want to stay and make Beta Eta Chapter as successful as possible.”

As one of the youngest Chapter presidents in Beta Eta’s history, Colton often relies on these relationships for support. “My brothers have been very supportive of me, and the older members and alumni have taught me many valuable lessons from their own experiences.”

From learning not rush decisions and to think about how each action will affect the Chapter long term, Colton is thankful for the enhanced perspective this position has awarded him. “I’m more motivated to do well in everything from academics to intramurals because I want to excel in everything I do.”

Beta Eta affords every member opportunities to grow and learn as both members of Tau Kappa Epsilon and for the future. “I’ve learned how to lead, manage, motivate, delegate, and many other traits necessary to being a good leader. Before joining Beta Eta, I never considered myself a leader. After spending two years as part of this fraternity, I’ve learned to do things that I never thought I could before.”

Knowing that Beta Eta comes from a legacy of excellence, Colton strives to uphold these standards daily. “I want my Chapter to be successful and I want to do everything I can to represent Beta Eta Chapter well. We have a long history of success on our campus and nationally. I want to continue that success for years to come.”

Only through the combined efforts of undergraduate members and alumni will this success remain possible. “Every member must be involved and motivated for a Chapter to succeed. Whether you attend brotherhood events or just stop by the Chapter House, being involved is a great way for members to spend time with others and build multi-generational relationships.”

Colton encourages alumni to reconnect because they are instrumental in guiding the future of Beta Eta and the current Fraters. “Tau Kappa Epsilon is a fraternity for life and being part of Beta Eta has shown me how much alumni support can lead to the success of the Chapter. This dedication makes me want to contribute even after I graduate. I hope to be involved in Beta Eta’s alumni association, donate, and continue our success.”

Colton resides in the new Chapter House and can be reached at ckgt2d@mst.edu.

Andrew During - Class of 2010

Entering college often signals a new chapter in life and brings exciting change. Andrew During ’10, BH1072 had a similar experience when he joined Beta Eta Chapter. “I joined Tau Kappa Epsilon as a way to meet new people, develop leadership experiences, strengthen my resumé, and network with alumni. After graduation I wanted to stay part of the brotherhood in order to give back to the fraternity that gave me so much during my college career.”

Most of Andrew’s favorite memories revolve around bonding with his pledge class. He is proud of the way Fraters were able to work toward a common goal to help one another develop, including representing Beta Eta at Conclave. “Everything from completing service and philanthropy projects to our random impromptu movie nights helped a group of complete strangers become lifelong friends. We always felt that the brotherhood in our little Chapter far exceeded any of the other bigger chapters on campus, which gave us an enormous sense of pride.”

As part of the Beta Eta brotherhood, Andrew learned the leadership skills necessary to survive in the real world. “Being a young engineer with managerial responsibilities can be tough, and the experience I gained leading the Chapter as an officer proved invaluable. After all, if you can manage to lead 30 men in their late teens and early 20s toward accomplishing common goals, you can lead anybody.”

Andrew advises undergraduate members that school can be tough, but there is no reason to rush to the finish line. “Taking fewer hours each semester will decrease your stress and give you more time to focus on the classes you are taking. The single most important skill you can learn in college is time management and to load up your resume now with as much leadership experience as possible.”

He encourages alumni to remember their time as undergraduates, but to also make new memories by reengaging with the Chapter. Andrew has kept this bond strong by serving as the treasurer for the Beta Eta Alumni Association and visits the Chapter House regularly. “With the new Chapter House, a resurging Chapter size, a few Top Teke awards under our belt, and an alumni presence that’s bigger than ever, there’s never been a better time to get back in touch with fraters you’ve lost contact with.”

By simply reconnecting, alumni ensure the strength of Beta Eta for future generations. “It’s important to stay involved after graduation because it has allowed me to give back to the Chapter that has given me so much in my life. Networking never stops once you get into the professional world, so staying in touch with our alumni base can offer numerous benefits.”

Andrew often looks to Tau Kappa Epsilon in his daily life. “Their mission statement ‘aided me in my mental, moral, and social development as I transitioned from a teenager to a man’. The skills I learned, the people I met, and the experiences I had at the old ??? Chapter House all contributed to making me who I am today.”

Andrew is the quality manager and field engineer for a heavy civil contractor and lives in Hazelwood, Mo. He can be reached at aldt6d@mst.edu.

Tim Quinn - Class of 2003

“My collegiate years, although I would not trade them for anything, are just a small amount of the benefit received through my active membership in the Beta Eta Chapter. TKE and my fellow Fraters taught me how to study, taught me how to handle difficult situations, gave me lifelong friends, gave me an opportunity to give back, and taught me the importance of being a good man. I will never forget how TKE molded me into who I am today, and will be forever thankful,” shared Tim Quinn ’03, BH1005.

It is because of these experiences that Tim was motivated to give to the capital campaign. He wanted to help provide others with a great college experience, one similar to his own, and have an opportunity to share in that brotherhood through continued involvement with TKE and its members. Inspired by his TKE membership, Tim uses the phrase “you can never do enough” to motivate himself on a regular basis.

He urges those who have not given yet to consider all that they have gained by being a member of TKE; the friends, personal growth, and career opportunities that have come from membership in TKE. When those things are considered, it is obvious that giving back is the right thing to do. “Regardless of your age, career, and/or your financial situation, TKE changed you for the better and any amount that you can give, should be given.”

Tim works for an engineering consulting firm based in Kansas City. He and his wife, Angie, and their three children, Kaylee, Caden, and Connor, live in St. Peters, Missouri. In his spare time, Tim keeps in touch with his pledge brothers and many other alumni through lunches, TKE events, and his pledge class’ annual trip. You can reach Tim at talkinbh1005@gmail.com.

Mark Downer - Class of 1979

When reminiscing on our memberships in Beta Eta, it’s easy to place all of the emphasis on our undergraduate years and living in the Chapter House. It’s not wrong to think this. The camaraderie developed while living in close quarters is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that bonds all Teke Fraters. But what about after school? Tau Kappa Epsilon is more than a four-year commitment; it’s a lifetime experience that provides true friendship while men have an opportunity to grow up and figure out what they want to do in life. “Beta Eta meant everything to me. It taught me many lessons and prepared me for life; not just in the business world, but in my personal life as well,” shared Mark Downer ’79, BH655.

Giving to the capital campaign was an important decision for Mark because he wants to guarantee that the TKE tradition lives on at MS&T. “For me, choosing to give to the campaign was easy. TKE is life. It’s always been that way and it always will be that way. I hope that my brothers can think about the times they had in their years and want to make sure new fellow TKEs can have the times that they had.”

When Mark was asked what his favorite memories from Beta Eta were, he shared that graduation day stood out the most. He remembers it was an accumulation of four and a half years of great times and success with his pledge brothers. Mark also recalled helping build the first-place cudgel in 1982 because it was a great achievement and got the whole Chapter working together.

“Life at TKE made me learn the ups and downs of friendships; you learned who you can count on, learned that there were people there that could help you, like when you were having a hard time at school. I also learned how to communicate in Chapter meetings, which really helped within business meetings.”

Mark and his wife, Vicki, live in St. Louis, Missouri. They have a son, a daughter, and four grandkids with one more on the way. He works at a small company providing SAT software implementation consulting. Mark attends two TKE golf events each year. He also sees Dave Kramp ’79, BH645, Ed Smith ’79, BH651, Jeff Nelson ’79, BH643, Greg Sedrick ’79, BH641, Chris Loeffelman ’79, BH663, and Ron Jansen ’79, BH573 on a regular basis. You can contact Mark by e-mailing him at mgdowner@ gmail.com.

John Eash - Class of 1975

When John Eash ’75, BH536 decided to join Tau Kappa Epsilon, he based his decision on the friends he made through weekly recruitment events, the Chapter’s history of success, and leadership roles Beta Eta held on campus. The friendships he formed throughout his undergraduate years still last today and served as motivation for him to contribute to the Chapter’s capital campaign.

“Donating is the single most important thing alumni can do to sustain the Chapter and give back to the organization that helped us,” he said. “I think about what the fraternity meant to me as an undergraduate and what donating can do for the future.”

Since graduating, John has stayed involved with Beta Eta on a fairly regular basis. He has served as president of the Miner Alumni Association, is president of the Academy of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineers, and works on campus at Missouri S&T. John is the executive director of corporate relations for the university and manages relationships between the institution and its corporate partners. He also serves as the one-stop shop to make it easy for companies to do business with the university.

“The social and leadership skills developed through TKE helped me understand that my career strengths were in leading people and teams versus a technical path,” he said.

During his undergraduate years, John’s favorite memories included winning Top TKE in 1979, making lifelong friends across campus, and contributing to the Chapter’s many successes, such as Greek Week, IFC Sing, and Homecoming. At the time, the Chapter House could hold 72 Fraters, and although the Chapter is smaller today, John see’s great potential in the current and future Chapter leadership.

“Academics are the top priority; we have lost too many brothers due to poor grades. Every member needs to take responsibility for the Chapter’s ongoing success—including active participation in Chapter events and projects, taking on leadership roles, and paying bills on time,” he said.

John is a part of one of Beta Eta’s most active alumni pledge classes. The Fraters regularly get together and participate in various alumni golf tournaments throughout the year. In his free time, he enjoys social events with Fraters, golfing, and fishing.

“Tau Kappa Epsilon helped me develop friendships and gave me an opportunity to develop my leadership skills,” he said. “But mostly it gave me lifelong friends who are there to support me through the good times and the bad.”

John and his wife, Marie, live in Rolla during the week and also maintain their home in Weldon Springs, Missouri. John can be reached at eashj@mst.edu.

Daniel Groteke - Class of 1951

For Daniel Groteke ’51, BH101, his time at Missouri School of Mines, now Missouri University of Science and Technology, became instrumental in developing his devotion to academic and exploration of all life’s opportunities. After arriving on campus, multiple fraternities sought to add Dan to their ranks. However, Beta Eta was the only one that made a lasting impression. “The Chapter was comprised of mature members who presented themselves well and with a great deal of integrity.”

Living in the Chapter House provided Dan with an opportunity to learn from all members and their individual experiences on a daily basis. This learning experience provided Dan with boundless opportunities. After he started working for the school newspaper, Dan quickly found himself promoted to a sports reporter and then editorin-chief. “Tekes gave me confidence in my own abilities, and without my ??? membership I doubt opportunities such as these would have presented themselves to me.”

Dan encourages undergraduate members to cherish the relationships and experiences they receive because they will support a successful academic and career path. The work ethic Dan exhibited while working several jobs in college served him well later in life. After a career in aluminum foundry management, he began his search for a new path.

With his experience at American Standard and as a metallurgist in multiple plants, Dan began forming ideas for new patents. It was then he found his calling as a consultant and inventor. With 16 U.S. patents and more than 60 publications and presentations given worldwide, Dan spread his knowledge and affinity for thinking outside the box. He even had the opportunity to become an ambassador for People to People, where he spent three weeks in China and Japan giving a wide variety of presentations.

Even still, Dan fondly recalls his days living in the Chapter House or attending dances hosted by the fraternity. “It’s where I learned to believe that the last four letters of my last name truly meant I was supposed to be a ?eke from birth. I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and every path it has offered me.”

Although he now considers himself a grounded pilot, Dan enjoys traveling around the world with his wife. “I have more than 50,000 hours of flight time with different flying clubs and own, partially and fully, two planes. I believe that being licensed in both Africa with safari trips and Australia was a good way to quit!” He still has many active patents, which can be viewed at www.qcdesignsinc.com. Dan lives in Saint Joseph, Mich., and can be reached at dgroteke@cs.com.

The Beta-Eta Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon at Missouri University of Science and Technology was installed as a chapter on March 8, 1947.

Since 1899, Tau Kappa Epsilon has never had an exclusionary clause for membership. TKE does not judge men on their wealth, rank or honor, but instead on their personal worth and character.

Our mission is to "to aid men in their mental, moral, and social development for life." In essence, we build Better Men for a Better World.