09/15/2016
Senior Highlight
Matt Turner
President of ATO (2015 -2016)
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Joined Fall 2013
“When I came to UCSB I didn’t really know a whole lot about Greek Life. I had no clue what rush was, and especially didn’t understand what being in a fraternity or sorority was all about. To be honest, I never anticipated joining a fraternity. However, as I look back at the time that I have spent here at UCSB, I am tremendously thankful for the impact that being a member of ATO has had on my life. Being a member of ATO has provided me with countless opportunities and advantages that I think I would have had trouble finding had I not joined.
Personally, ATO has been the backbone of my time here at UCSB. Although I have enjoyed being a dedicated and involved member of the chapter, I have also been able to pursue my other interests around campus. In fact, my passion for school has been amplified through studying with older brothers in the house, as well as the other engineering majors in my own grade. I was fortunate enough to be a member of the Freshman Orientation Staff last summer, and this was largely due to the support and the influence of some of the older members of ATO.
While all of the aforementioned benefits of being in ATO were absolutely important to my college experience, I believe that the most didactic aspect of my membership stems from the opportunity I had to hold several leadership positions. My freshman and sophomore year I was the Risk Management Chair, which was a position that taught me a lot about responsibility, personal sacrifice, and communication. This position taught me so much that I wanted to continue to give back to the house, and the following year I became President. Being President of ATO was an experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. The lessons that I learned from one year of running this great fraternity have been incredibly valuable to me as I continue moving forward with my life, and I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.
This year is my senior year, and I am excited to be planning our signature philanthropic event, Rally, alongside another brother, Michael Palmer. I look forward to this opportunity to give back to the school, community, and the all the people that have given me so much these last three years. I assure you, the more you put into an organization like ATO, the more you will get out.
I am excited to welcome a new pledge class this fall, and cannot wait for all the good times that lay ahead in the final stretch of my college experience."
Best,
Matt Turner