THE OMICRON CLASS
OF OMEGA ALPHA
INITIATED MAY 12, 2002
ERIC BURNS
#88 BROTHER AIL
My name is Eric Joseph Burns. I was born at North Shore University Hospital in Glen Cove, New York on March 18, 1983. My parents are Joseph and Patricia Burns. I have one older sister Sarah, she is a student at Hofstra University in Hempstead, Long Island where she is studying Elementary Education.
In high school I was never motivated to go and make new friends. In a way I was sort of a loner, most of my free time was spent practicing culinary arts. I was never really good at sports and never really into all the academic stuff. However, as long as I can remember I wanted to be a chef. So in tenth grade my counselor gave me the option if I could pull my grade up to passing that I could enroll in the vocational program. Seeing that this is what I really wanted. I broke down and spent the rest of the year getting extra help and asking family and friends to help me in raising my grades. I got every grade up but my math. I was worried that I was not going to be allowed to get into the program. Once again my counselor gave me the extra push I needed. We had a talk with the vocational principle and I was allowed to enter the program on probation. I had thirty days to get my grades up. I did, and I spent the next two years in the program as a junior I was one of four to make the national vocational technical honor society and a member of the schools medal winning culinary team. When I returned as a senior I was named co-captain of the culinary team, I represented the school in competitions on the regional, state, and also national level. Being able to represent my school was one of my greatest honors; I was inducted in the honor society again as a senior posting one of the highest grade point averages in the culinary program.
After graduating I had a few offers from different schools to come to their school. After carefully reviewing what each school had to offer I chose Johnson & Wales. Not because they offered the most money but for the simple fact that I felt I would get the most out of them for my money. Upon entering Johnson and Wales I came at the opportunity full force to get the best culinary education I could and have as much fun in the process currently I have a 3.25 GPA. I became active in V.I.C.A., the special functions club and am also a junior member of ACF back home.
I had a few friends back home who I worked with that have graduated from college and most joined a fraternity, all of them told me that joining a fraternity was one of the best choices they made in college. So naturally upon getting to college I became interested in Greek life. I did some research on the different fraternities on campus and never really found one that I felt I would fit into like a glove. Until one night Corey invited a few friends and me up to the TEP house and we were welcomed with open arms and treated as if we were life long friends. Since that day I knew I wanted to become a part of Tau Epsilon Phi Fraternity.
MATTHEW FINE
#89 BROTHER GIFFORD
My name is Matthew Fine. I was born in Long Island Jewish Hospital. I was born on September 7 1982. I am 19 years old. My parents are Robert and Donna Fine. I have one younger brother named Rich. I have one dog and three cats; their names are Chase, Toby, Capi, and Izzy. I am all about family; they are the most important people to me and I will do anything for them. I went to Hauppauge High School where I was a member of the class of 2001. I also attended Islip Tech and have a two-year Culinary Certificate from there.
I choose Johnson & Wales University because of their Hospitality program. That is the major that I’m currently in now. I am good with people and love to make them happy and you can do this in my industry. It’s also like working on vacation everyday because of the places and people you will see.
I have many hobbies one of these include dancing. Another thing I like to do is battle against other dancers that I find at parties clubs or even some bars. My other favorite thing to do is make people laugh. I love to be the center of attention and see a smile on other people’s faces that I might have put there. I have a section of really close friends here and back at home that I love to go party chill or just sit and hangout with. These friends are Keith, Nick, Daryl, Adam, and Pete to name a few. One thing that I love is a car, everything about them from the engine to the model to the modifications that I can do to it. My favorite types of music are rap, techno and punk. But I can listen to anything some puts on with a beet to it.
My friend Keith told me about Tau Epsilon Phi. I was always interested in it and wanted to see what it was about. When I was brought to meet all the brothers I really felt at home with the way they treated me. So I want to thank Keith and the other brother for giving me the opportunity to join this great organization.
TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF OUR PREVIOUS PLEDGE CLASSES
SELECT FROM THE MENU TO ENTER INTO THE PORTALS OF TAU EPSILON PHI