I first had the pleasure of meeting Justin Schneider ’25 at the 2023 Chapter Retreat in Moodus, CT. Justin, who is a rising senior studying Mechanical Engineering in UConn’s College of Engineering, recently succeeded Kellen Paparella ’25 to become CT Alpha’s latest chapter president. This summer he will be working at UConn in an engineering lab modeling propulsion and detonation. What follows is a transcript of our conversation that is lightly edited to ensure flow and accuracy.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Walpole, MA. My family includes my mom, dad and sister. I played a lot of baseball, golf and basketball growing up. I was always playing outside – not interested in a video games. I had a lot of friends growing up in the neighborhood who all loved sports, being active, being outside – it was a happy place.
How did your childhood influence your interest in engineering?
I did not originally enroll at UConn as an engineer. I enrolled as a chemistry major with a focus on forensic chemistry and was interested in becoming a teacher. One of my favorite classes in high school was forensic chemistry – I really liked the class and the teacher, and I also had some friends in the class.
My chemistry classes at UConn were fine, but I couldn’t figure out where it was leading me. So, upon further reflection I always had a passion for planes and jet engines and math. At the airport, I could identify the types of planes I saw and always loved flying. I could see the path of becoming a mechanical engineer in the space industry and working for NASA. So, I enrolled in the School of Engineering at the end of my third semester.
Why did you decide to go to UConn?
(Chuckle) UConn was not originally on my radar. During the spring of my junior year in high school, my mom and I took a road trip to look at colleges. We went all the way to PA to look at Penn State, Bucknell, and a bunch of other schools. On the way home my mom suggested we check out UConn. My impression before arriving on campus was that UConn was a big state school in the middle of nowhere. My mom, who was a professor of genetic counseling at Brandeis University, explained that it was only 1.5 hours from home.
As you know, the Storrs campus in the spring is gorgeous. Driving along Storrs Road I couldn’t help but think this was a hidden gem in the middle of nowhere, so this got UConn on my radar.
As it turns out, I got waitlisted at all the schools I applied to except UConn and Hofstra. When I visited Hofstra on Long Island, I knew it was not the right fit for me. So, when I finally decided on UConn my mom pulled a UConn sweatshirt from the closet and told me she already knew what I would say. Call it mom’s instincts. I still wear that sweatshirt today.
Any take-aways from these experiences?
Yes – everything I thought I would be doing after high school turned out to be the opposite. So, my lesson learned – while it is good to have a plan, you can’t predict what is going to happen in your life, so I try not to get upset over things that I can’t control.
What about SigEp caught your attention?
Initially, Kellen, Zack and I, who were all first semester freshman living in the same dorm, were bored and heard about the Greek Expo. It was there that I met Ethan Lovallo and Matt Gilbert and was struck by their completely different recruiting approach. It was about getting to know each other and not selling the fraternity. What came through was this idea of brotherhood and how welcoming the whole chapter was. I felt like I had known them for years, and I saw myself fitting in with people like that. It turns out all three of us – Kellen, Zack and me, joined.
(Laughing) You three remind me of the Three Musketeers the way all three of you are so committed to your friendship and the Fraternity.
Yea – putting the three of us together makes us all better – we all want to do more and give back – we push each other. The experience we had joining the Fraternity was amazing. We really felt that sense of brotherly love and knew we wanted to provide that same feeling to future underclassmen. From that initial spark we felt indebted to the chapter to become leaders, to keep people engaged and involved, and to share that same experience we had with others.
Describe an impactful experience you have had while being a SigEp?
The retreat – it is a very different type of activity then what I thought I would be doing when I joined the fraternity. Having that level of bonding and emotional vulnerability – I felt like it changed me. Everyone had more respect for each other – hearing stories of what brothers have been through. It made me step back and appreciate what I had – how fortunate I have been in my life. Everyone has their own story – the hardships, the struggles, the unique experiences – everyone deserves my respect even if I do not know them. Participating in the retreat made me realize this Fraternity is something special. I know I made the right choice joining SigEp, but after that first retreat – it took my college experience to a whole new level. I had formed deep connections with others before that – my family and friends, but it was the first time I had really heard what others have been through. It expanded how I look at people.
Has your view of Sig Ep changed since you first joined the Fraternity?
Yes – definitely. Freshman year it was the most fun place on earth. Now I view it as a place where people can improve themselves, become a better version of themselves. I now understand it is about building balanced men. My mom realized I was changing when I went home freshman year during Thanksgiving. She actually said, “What happened to you?” She saw a huge change in my personality – how I acted and talked. I was a completely different person. Looking back to who I was freshman year to today – it is like night and day. I’m giving back to the Fraternity now because of all it has given me.
Describe a good community service experience you have had and how it has impacted your thinking?
I don’t have one specific experience I can think of, but when I do community service – it is amazing how happy it makes me feel when I help others feel good. Seeing a big smile on their face – it does not take a big effort to make people happy. It makes me happy making other people happy. It is a main motivator in my life – I like lifting people up – making someone’s day a little better.
Has there been a particular person in your life who has inspired or mentored you?
That would be my dad. He is the youngest of 10 kids, and the most successful of his family. He made good choices and is extremely smart. He has a PhD. and is very hard working. He is always doing something. Seeing this as a kid was annoying – like when I wanted to go outside and play, but now it is amazing to see him keep going. That’s what I want to be when I grow up more – having that work ethic – that’s who I strive to be like.
How have these experiences / people influenced your leadership style?
My leadership style – well I don’t like the authoritarian style. Any person who I’ve ever followed – that is not how they acted. I don’t want people to respect me because they must. I won’t listen to that. I’ll listen to you because you are a good leader. I like to be a peer-based leader – leading by example. For example, sticking to commitments that I have made – not just saying things. If I want people to act a certain, then I have to show them myself. To me, hard work is everything, committing to bettering yourself – that is important to me – that is what SigEp and college has done for me. Also, being kind – being a good son, a good person, that makes a good leader.
What are the top 2-3 things do you most want to accomplish during your time as president of CT Alpha and why?
Number 1 – I want to keep the chapter’s high caliber operation going – not for the sake of the school or the Fraternity, but for the sake of the people. Giving back to the community, the chapter, I want to leave the chapter in a better place than when I found it. It’s hard to say exactly how I will do that. I just know that I loved the Fraternity immediately when I joined. So, if I can leave behind a better experience for someone to have in three years from now than I had – then that’s a job well done.
Another goal is to have a good chapter culture with a focus on brotherly love – that’s extremely important to me. It’s about understanding what our Fraternity is – that we operate differently than the typical fraternity. What’s different is how we treat each other – brotherly love is one of our core values. It’s love and it comes with respect for each other – having that type of environment makes it better – make people realize there is always a better version of ourselves, but also knowing nothing is perfect – there must be a nice middle ground.
What does the term “SigEp for Life” mean to you?
I honestly have no idea. Ever since I joined, I have wanted to give back to the chapter for the people that follow me. I don’t think that is going to end after I graduate. The Fraternity has been my whole life outside of the classroom, so it is not just going to end. I hope that I have the same level of emotional commitment to the chapter after I graduate – I want to see this happen for people that follow in my footsteps.
How would you most like to see CT Alpha alumni support the on-going success of the chapter?
The biggest gap right now that I see is the concept of professional development – it has fallen under the radar. Whether it is a brother putting on a presentation or a LinkedIn training or participating in a resume workshop. Whether our brothers are going onto grad school or getting a job, we need to offer more help. It would also be helpful to cover post-college life skills – real work post-graduation opportunities. Having tangible skills would be helpful – budgeting, tax prep, financing a car or house, knowing how to network. Having people who have gone through these experiences already would be helpful.