William Dennis
Bro. Dennis took some time out of his busy schedule to sit down with OUR CAUSE and discuss his experience at Penn State University.
OUR CAUSE (OC): You major in Energy, Business and Finance, with a minor in Mathematics. What are your plans after graduation, and what do you hope to do after completing your education?
William Dennis (WD): Upon graduation, in the Spring of 2010, I will be working for Accenture, as a Technology Consultant, working in the ITST Department. My role as a Technology Consultant will be to help companies align their IT strategies with the value of business.
OC: Who would you say has had the greatest influence on your life, and how have they played a role in molding the person you are today?
WD: The person that had the greatest influence on my life has been my mother, Monique Dennis. I grew up in a single parent household and Mom kept me and my brothers afloat, in order to make sure we didn’t go down the wrong path.
OC: What attracted you to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity?
WD: The thing that attracted me to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity was their ability to reach out to the general community. When I was a first year student, Phi Beta Sigma was known as “The Peoples Frat”. The brothers did not let the letters make them, but used the Fraternity as a vehicle to uplift the community. Chapter members were actively involved in other organizations as well, not just the Fraternity.
OC: Several of the Chapter’s programs focus on enriching the college experience of the campus community. What inspired you to work with the University to expand the college experience for fellow students?
WD: One of the greatest resources college students should utilize are those the University has to offer. We felt collaborating with University affiliated organizations was the best way to let students know about the resources available to them.
OC: You were chosen for the Order of Omega. How important was this selection to you?
WD: Being Chosen for Order of Omega is truly an honor to me because it shows that I have been able to be multidimensional and balance my co-curricular organizations and my grades.
OC: What has been your most rewarding experience as a member of the Lambda Lambda
Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma?
WD: The most rewarding experience while being in my chapter has been the interaction that I have had with my brothers. The chemistry that we have shows in our programming and among the community, as we are almost always together. I know that I can remain in communication with them years after I graduate.
OC: What other campus organizations/activities are you involved in?
WD: I am also affiliated with S-plan, which is a mentoring program for first year students in order to provide them with the support needed so that they can succeed in their first year of college. I am a member of the Penn State Lion Ambassadors, which is an organization that gives campus tours and also conducts many other programs within the University in order to promote Penn State pride. I am a member of the National Society of Black Engineers, whose purpose is to increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers, who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community. I am a member of United Soul Ensemble Gospel Choir and I am a Program Assistant in a residence hall here on campus.
OC: How has membership in Phi Beta Sigma impacted your life?
WD: Membership in PBS has impacted my life greatly. It has allowed me to realize my potential and
become a facet of the college community.
OC: What type of programming does Lambda Lambda Chapter have planned for the spring
2010 semester?
WD: In the Spring 2010 semester, we plan on continuing some of our annual programs and adding others. Our signature program of the Spring semester is “Stuff 4 Love”, which is our annual build-a- bear program in which participants stuff an animal of their choice with cotton (love) and can buy accessories for the animal in order to commemorate Valentines Day. Part of the proceeds go to the Penn State Dance Marathon. We are also going to be doing a program with the Darfur Coalition, educating the community about the genocide in Darfur. Another signature program that we are planning to do is entitled “The Black Wax Museum”. Students dress up as pioneers in African American history and serve as “wax” figures in order to educate the community during Black History Month
OC: What do you like to do when you have free time?
WD: I like to watch movies, write poetry and chill with my friends.
OC: Tell us about the last book you read. Would you recommend it to others, Why/Why not?
WD: The last book that I read that wasn’t for school was the Autobiography of Assata Shakur. I would definitely recommend it to others because it tells the story of a woman wrongly accused of a crime she didn’t commit.
OC: Where do you see yourself in 10 – 15 years?
WD: I see myself moving up further in the corporate ladder and giving back to my community.
T. Le Bon
