When Wes Schaub Toledo ’80 came to the largely commuter campus of the University of Toledo in 1979, he was eager to get involved in Greek life. Hailing from North Canton, Ohio, Schaub said he looked at other groups but felt most comfortable with the brothers of Phi Kappa Psi.

Schaub

“I held a variety of offices as an undergraduate, which ended up encouraging me to get involved in student government, the Interfraternal council, and other organizations on campus.”

After he graduated in 1984 with a degree in architectural history, he took what he calls “a hiatus” from his involvement with the Brotherhood. “I maintained some chapter friendships,” he says, “but I really didn’t think about doing anything beyond that.

Wes pursued a graduate degree in higher education and then served as Director of Greek Life at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). “In the mid-1990s, I was asked by Phi Psi to get involved in what was then the Woodrow Wilson Leadership School. By then, I felt it was my duty to give back. I volunteered for a couple of years, taking up the challenge of helping our younger brothers improve their life skills. That got me re-engaged at the national and local levels.”

Remembering when he received a Phi Psi National Scholarship during his Ohio Eta undergraduate days, Brother Schaub began making regular gifts to the Phi Kappa Psi Foundation. “Scholarships are important. I remember how much that support meant then. It’s still important.”

Brother Schaub credits Phi Kappa Psi for guiding him toward the fulfilling career he enjoys today. As a way of giving back, he recently included the Phi Psi Foundation in his will, joining the Foundation’s Summerfield Society and ensuring future generations of scholars benefit from his generosity.

“A Phi Psi email introduced me to the idea of creating a free will online. It’s something many people put off, but I’ve reached a point where I need to decide what happens to my legacy. Using the FreeWill program made the process simple. Without Phi Psi, I wouldn’t have found the career path that shaped my life. That’s why supporting the Foundation was an easy choice — it’s always been one of the organizations closest to my heart.”

Wes is adding to his Phi Psi legacy by leaving the Foundation his extensive collection of Greek memorabilia, including letters from Phi Psi founders and hand-painted steins. “I also have around 2,000 fraternity badges. Many are from Phi Psi, but there are also others. A most interesting item is a photo yearbook that belonged to a Phi Psi in the 1880s. It is filled with wallet-size photos the member collected from friends that year.”

In his current role as a chapter advisor at CWRU, Brother Schaub uses the Phi Psi Creed to encourage young men to think more deeply about their lives.

“Our founding principles are still relevant, still important. I often ask young brothers to reflect on what various lines from our Creed mean for them in their lives – loyalty to the brotherhood and to the University, for instance. I try to get them to translate those ideals into meaningful actions. I also try to help them realize that being part of any fraternity represents being part of ALL fraternities. Collectively, we have an obligation to present ourselves in ways that brings respect to our individual organizations and to the larger Greek world.”

How would he encourage fellow alumni to consider what their fraternal legacy will be? “I would say if you had a positive experience, one memorable enough to keep you involved, that giving back in this way is a good way to thank the organization for its influence in your life. When you join a fraternity, even if you don’t mean for it to influence who you are as a person, it still does.

“To acknowledge all you’ve gained by providing for its future existence is a good thing.”