Volunteer of the Year: Tommy Asuma

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The lead facilitator for this year's Charles R. Walgreen, Jr. TKE Leadership Academy, Frater Tommy Asuma (Rho-Sigma, Grand Valley State Univ.) has been selected as the 2007-2008 Volunteer of the Year. Frater Tommy has been a volunteer and mainstay in the program since he attended as a collegiate member in 2001. He believes that as a Teke there is an inherent need to be more than just a name on the chapter scroll.

"Volunteering for TKE is important so that we can provide support and guidance for our undergrads while helping the Fraternity as a whole continue to reach new heights," said Frater Tommy.

Frater John Deckard (Grand Chapter), Vice President of Fraternal Services, said his involvement has spanned four Leadership Academies and the recent 2007 Conclave in Las Vegas, Nev. He considers Frater Tommy to be a bridge-builder during a time of change.

"Frater Tommy is a product of the program and sees the Leadership Academy in a very unique way," said Frater John. "His leadership and wisdom are well beyond his years, cementing this year's Academy as one of the best yet."

A 2003 graduate with a degree in physical education (with athletic training and K-12 professional instruction emphases), he recently became a Performance Enhancement Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. This work enables him to have a strong foundation for working as a facilitator at the Academy.

"Everybody loves Tommy and his optimism is infectious," said Frater John. "He sees an unlimited potential in the power of this program and believes each Teke can be an amazing man with the right direction."

As a lead facilitator, he is transitioning from small group instruction to planning and executing the Academy for the largest class of participants (60) since it began in 1990. As a regular donor to the TKE Educational Foundation since his graduation, he has ensured that the program will live on past his volunteer involvement.

"Tommy lives by a moral code that the rest of us talk about," Frater John continued, "he instills the values of TKE in his daily life. He has a wonderful sense of building rapport with the audience we are serving in this program. He is an ideal volunteer and example of what we need to continue making TKE the biggest and best fraternity in the world."

Read more about Frater Tommy Asuma in the Summer 2008 edition of THE TEKE.

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