Richard Schraeger ’13
We had the chance to connect with one of our outstanding alumni, Richard Schraeger ’13, to ask him what life has been like since college, and what Phi Psi has meant for him over the years.
What made you want to join Phi Psi?
The commitment to service, academics, and brotherhood.
What are some of your cherished Phi Psi memories? Three-time Songfest Champion, late night conversations with brothers, Valpo basketball games, and being selected as the Kyle Carson Fraternity Man of the Year in 2016.
How did your parents react to you joining Phi Psi?
My parents were surprised at first, but after explaining my reasons for wanting to join they saw the lifelong benefits provided by the Fraternity. Everyone understands the social benefits of being a member of a fraternity, but the academic, interpersonal, and professional opportunities are why people continue to support these organizations. Without Phi Psi, I wouldn’t have met my wife or achieved the level of success in my career; I owe a lot to this chapter and to the National Fraternity.
What surprised you about Phi Psi after you joined?
What shocked me the most, and still does to this day, is how 40 young men can rally around a core theme and stick to it. In my professional experience, it’s hard to get 10 people to stay on the same page and see a project through. With Phi Psi, we had a level of mutual respect that enabled us to get everyone to support an event, brother, or organization on campus without much effort. It’s a rare opportunity to experience and it’s something I look for in my career.
Since graduating, how have you stayed connected or involved with Phi Psi?
I recently became involved with the Chapter Advisor Team along with serving on the House Corporation. I look forward to expanding my involvement in the chapter in the future.
What would you say to a potential new member about Phi Psi?
The brothers are genuine and transparent on what they expect of new members. We expect a lot from our brothers because we strive to be the best and expect to be well-respected on campus. If you buy in and believe in our mission, the chapter will return that investment for the rest of your life.
Since graduating, what kind of work have you done?
I started my career as a Meteorologist for AccuWeather for Business in 2016. I moved into an Account Manager role in 2019 and was promoted to Senior Account Executive in 2020. In 2022, I was promoted into a sales strategy role, Sales Application Engineer, where I focused on sales and business process improvements, along with new hire training and strategic planning for the division. Recently, I accepted a Senior Project Manager position at Do it Best Corp., focusing on implementing IT innovations for our members and organization.
I also started my MBA at Purdue Fort Wayne in 2022 and plan on graduating with my degree in Data Analytics in the spring of 2024.
Would you like to be featured in a future issue of The Wolfcall? Or do you know a brother who should be featured? Email and let us know at lgf@pkpfoundation.org.