Ben's App

Benjamin Edgar Close
Health Education (Community Health)
Tau Kappa Epsilon

1. Describe GSS and what the members mean to you?
Gamma Sigma Sigma is an amazing sorority. You Ladies give back so much to the community and everyone else. Through service you make the community better, through friendship you become strong and caring individuals, and through equality you treat everyone fairly and make everyone feel welcome. Members of Gamma Sigma Sigma are great individuals and it has been an honor to know you guys, and to even have a chance to be nominated to be a Sweetheart. When I was thinking about joining a Greek organization, many of you helped me make one of the best decisions of my life, joining Tau Kappa Epsilon. Without the Ladies of Gamma Sigma Sigma, I wouldn't be where I am today. Gamma Sigma Sigma is more than a sorority to me; it's a group of some of my greatest friends and a family away from home. I've had great memories with GSS and I look forward to more wonderful memories.

2. Why would you be a good GSS Sweetheart?
I believe that I could be a great Gamma Sigma Sigma Sweetheart, because you Ladies give back so much to everyone, the community, school, and each other, and I would love to be a part of that. The ideals of Tau Kappa Epsilon include love, charity, and esteem. I am a caring and loving individual, I give back to the community and I view everyone as equals, and I treat everyone with the respect that they deserve. The TKE mission is to aid men in their mental, moral, and social development for life; I believe that GSS can help me in this mission. The Ladies of GSS are so involved with everything and it would be amazing to be a part of that involvement and to be able to give along side of you. The individuals of GSS make up one of the greatest organizations on campus. You treat everyone fairly; you give so much, and make amazing friends. It would be an honor to stand by the Ladies of GSS and be able to do for everyone, what you do for me.

3. What types of service/community involvement are you currently associated with?

Currently I am involved with Grant School Extended Day program, where we tutor and play with the children until their parents pick them up. I also have participated in Up Till Dawn. I have been involved in Mentoring Mondays where I am paired up with a child and I tutor them and serve as a role model for them. I have been involved with Terrific Tuesdays and Thursdays where we put on a play for the school. I also have prepared a dinner for the members of the community that were involved with a powwow. I have been tutors in third and fourth grade classrooms. I have worked for the Ghost Ship and Walk-a-Thon.

4. How do you intend to uphold the ideals of service, friendship, and equality?
The ideals of service, friendship, and equality are something everyone should hold on high esteem. Service is something everyone one should be involved with. It is a very rewarding experience knowing that you can touch the lives of people just by taking some time out of your day. I enjoy doing service and it would be awesome to do it along side the Ladies of GSS with Unity in Service. As far as equality, I treat everyone with respect. It is important that equality is in everyone's life and should be a part of everyone's decision making. Working at a school as diverse as Grant Elementary where some of the kids aren't as privileged, you really learn we are all equals and we all deserve to be treated as such. Friendship is an ideal that brings a lot of meaning to someone's life, because there is nothing better than a great friend. Through my time at UMD I have made many great friends many of which are the Ladies of Gamma Sigma Sigma. I am very friendly and I will do anything for anyone. I get along with everybody. The ideals of friendship, service, and equality are things that the words Gamma Sigma Sigma bring to mind.

Additional Comments:
Getting to know the New Ladies, the future, of Gamma Sigma Sigma has been awesome. With each new pledge class they bring something new and special to an already great organization. Everyone in GSS is amazing and it has been an awesome experience getting to know everyone better. All in all the Ladies of Gamma Sigma Sigma, no matter what happens, will have a special place in my heart. Just wanted to say thank you so much for the nomination to be your 2006 Sig Sweetheart