Kappa Delta Phi Brother and American Army Soldier, Geoffrey Carmichael.

This month’s Spotlight on a Kappa is on Geoffrey Carmichael. He is an alumni Brother of the Nu Chapter from Thomas College, Waterville, Maine. His hometown is in Sanford, Maine but now resides in Steilacoom, Washington with his wife Camilla of 1 year. He is a medical lab technician stationed at Fort Lewis with the 47th Combat Support Hospital. He also does church ministry and missionary work at McNeil Island Corrections Center on Sunday evenings. His wife, Camilla, is also in the Army and is a supply specialist and has been in Iraq since last September, but will be coming back within the month. Geoff is expecting to be heading out to Iraq in late 2008.

Geoffrey pledge in the fall of 2003 and was active until he graduated from Thomas College in May 2006. He believes that Kappa chose him because the brothers showed a lot of interest in him, seeing the potential leader he would blossom into being. They didn’t know who the real Geoffrey was until after the interview process. While he was active, he held the position of pledge master and the philanthropy chairman. Geoffrey was also on the Thomas College Lacrosse Team, the college republicans as well as several other organizations on campus. He hasn’t been to a convention yet, but did go to the President Treasurer’s Meeting in the fall of 2004.

Being in Kappa and going through pledging helped him get through basic training. He had two similar situations where a girlfriend broke up with him during pledging for Kappa Delta Phi and another girlfriend broke up with him during basic training. Geoffrey said, “The hardest part in training and pledging was just going through the process and the emotional attachment to someone. The hardships you go through and the bonds you make were most important and the trust that you build with the other comrades.” After Kappa, he had a really life changing experience at his job. It happened at his first autopsy and he realized the full value of life.

Some of the many Kappa past times that people have are just being with their brothers and sisters, Geoffrey loved late night Kappa chants before quiet hours at school and getting together with alumni such at Scott Cranston, Ken Holman and David Alberico. Many brothers and sisters have changed our lives in some way, even if they are a small way. David Alberico is one of those brothers that changed Geoffrey’s life. David met Geoffrey’s mother and made a great lasting impression of a classy gentleman. Cherry Drew is a sister that showed Geoffrey the meaning of having a good time with other Kappa Brothers. Geoffrey tries his best by staying in touch with the actives from Nu Chapter and helps them out if it is financial or even just some brotherly advice.

Something that most people don’t know about Geoffrey is that he is training for a marathon right now and has about 20 pairs of running shoes. I don’t know what obsessive is but that seems like a lot! He loves cookies, doesn’t drink any alcohol, doesn’t smoke and is also an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Saints. I asked Geoffrey what the top three things he wants to do before he got too old. He replied with running ten marathons; after he retires, he wants to go on a church mission with his wife because he didn’t get to do it because of the military and he is married; and to win the Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest by trying to eat 58 hot dogs.

Congratulations Geoffrey on being this month’s Spotlight on a Kappa!