As the spring semester comes to a close at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the Nebraska Beta chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon is proud to celebrate the achievements of our graduating seniors. This week, we are shining the spotlight on Paul as he transitions from the undergraduate chapter into the ranks of our alumni network.

The Next Chapter: Engineering a Future

Following graduation, Paul is officially entering the permanent workforce, stepping into a role as a Water Engineer at JEO Consulting Inc. But before he tackles the challenges of engineering, he’s taking some well-deserved time to unwind.

“Before the transition, I’m zipping over to Seaside in Florida to lounge and enjoy some good food and fruity drinks,” Paul shared. “I also want to get some quality golf rounds in before life really picks up.”

Reflecting on his time in the heart of the city, Paul notes that UNO’s location played a major role in his experience. “Omaha is extremely close-knit. This stems from the general interconnectedness that many Omaha residents find themselves in all the time. I appreciated the adventures that being central to a large portion of the US provides… Omaha is a solid place to call home base.”

Reflecting on the SigEp Journey

Though his time in the undergraduate chapter was fast-paced, Paul made an immediate impact and a few lasting memories. His defining moment came during the spring Chapter Retreat, where he and fellow graduate Kyle teamed up to show the chapter how it’s done.

“The boys were not aware of the cornhole skills I have acquired being from a small town,” Paul joked. “Kyle and I spent a couple of hours cleaning house and winning the inaugural retreat cornhole tournament. This moment was super fun, and competition is always good.”

When he wasn’t dominant on the cornhole boards or studying at the Peter Kiewit Institute (PKI), you could usually find Paul at his favorite spot on campus: the Health & Kinesiology (H&K) Recreation Center basketball courts. “I met some of my closest college friends and spent days playing pickup basketball there,” he recalled.

Words of Wisdom & Looking to the Future

For the undergraduate brothers continuing their journey at Nebraska Beta, Paul leaves behind a powerful piece of advice: Just say “Yes.”

“Say yes to church groups and say yes to midnight Taco Bell, say yes to adventures and organizations,” Paul said. “Say yes to anything and everything so long as it stays within your means and morals.”

As for his own legacy, Paul views graduation not as an end, but as a beginning. “My impact in the undergrad chapter is just a small drop in the bucket I hope to fill in the coming years.” He is eagerly anticipating his new role as an alumnus, noting, “I will remain involved with the guys here this upcoming year and will have an opportunity to close the alumni gap. I look forward to integrating into the post-grad alumni group.”

The Lightning Round

To wrap things up, we threw a few quick questions at Paul about his favorite UNO staples and secrets to success:

• Go-To Campus Meal: 4 McChickens.
• The Pre-Exam Ritual: “Cafe Bustelo instant espresso before big exams in the morning. Columbia rocket fuel will get the thinker tickin.”
• Favorite Maverick Sport: “Nothing is going to beat cheering on the cheer squad or skating during hockey as Durango, but the most fun I’ve had was the student section during hockey games. A couple of brews and some good hockey always hits the spot.”
• The Secret to Success: “Communication. Communication skills and building meaningful relationships built on commonality are the keys to being part of a group like SigEp.”

You can learn more about Paul’s successes and future by connecting with him on LinkedIn.

Congratulations, Paul! Thank you for your dedication to Nebraska Beta, and we look forward to seeing your continued success in the alumni ranks. HFF!

Are you a Nebraska Beta alumnus looking to reconnect or mentor recent graduates like Paul? Visit our Alumni page to see how you can get involved today.