Matthew McKenzie
| Matthew M. McKenzie | |
 ENS Matthew McKenzie, United States Navy | |
| Name | Matthew M. McKenzie |
| Chapter | Gamma Epsilon University of Florida |
| Date Inducted | Spring 2003 |
| Roll Number | ΓΕ 423 |
| Alumni Chapter/Assoc | |
| Honorary Member | |
| Major | History |
| Birthdate | August 24, 1984 |
| Spouse | |
| Nicknames | Frodo, McAnal, Gone in 30 Seconds |
| Awards | Most Improved Brother, Fall 2004; Most Likely to Stick Foot in Mouth, Fall 2004 - Spring 2006 |
Matthew Michael McKenzie (born 24 August 1984 in West Palm Beach, Florida) is an Alumnus of Gamma Epsilon Chapter (ΓΕ 423) at University of Florida.
Contents
Academic and Collegiate Life
Matthew graduated from the International Baccalaureate Program at Allen D. Nease High School in St. Augustine, FL in May 2002. He attended the University of Florida, where he got a Bachelors of Arts in History. While there, he interned and volunteered at the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, where he originated and worked on a project on civil rights in St. Augustine. He was also a member of the Travel and Recreation Program, leading outdoor adventure trips. He graduated on May 6, 2006.
Brother at Gamma Epsilon Chapter
Matthew rushed Phi Sigma Pi in the Spring of 2003 at the urging of his friend, and did at the earliest possible chance he had. He was not a good initiate, barely showing up to events and barely getting his journals done. However, once a brother, he started coming around and became deeply involved, being elected Initiate Advisor and selected as Most Improved Brother after less than a semester as a brother.
He was Initiate Advisor for the Omicron and Pi classes. After his term, he volunteered to be a replacement Interchapter Relations Chair after the current chair resigned. As chair, he led a unprecedented marketing campaign to encourage people to attend GET SLAM'D, involving traveling to many chapters and an email advertising campaign that has be copied many times since. Because of this, the GET SLAM'D of Spring 2005 was the largest and most successful in the event's history to that time.
That same semester, he was elected President of the Chapter for the next academic year. He ran on a platform of focusing on what was best for the chapter, and forgetting the wants of the national office. His tenure as President was widely seen as an entirely mediocre experience for all involved.
Positions Held at the Gamma Epsilon Chapter
- Spring 2004 – Fall 2004 : Initiate Advisor
- Spring 2005: Interchapter Relations and GET SLAM'D Chair
- Fall 2005 – Spring 2006: President
National Involvement
Matt has been to the following national and inter-chapter events:
- Alpha Beta Volleyball: Spring '05, Spring '07
- GET SLAM'D: Spring '04, Spring '05, Spring '06, Spring '07
- Grand Chapter Summer '05 (Monroeville, not Pittsburgh)
- National Convention Fall '03 (Charlotte), Fall '04 (Memphis), Fall '05 (Atlanta) and Fall '06 (Washington DC)
- Combined Convention/Chapter: Summer '07 (New Orleans) and Summer '08 (Nashville)
He was delegate during the '05 GCs. Matt is also a big fan of roadtrips, and has traveled extensively to chapters throughout the Southeast. However, this was mostly due to following the Florida Gators as they went through the SEC.
Bigs and Littles
Robert Waxlax is Matt's Big.
Matt has 2 Little Brothers:
- Allison Jacobs, Alumna
- Jeff Schroeder, Alumnus
Post College Career
Matt spent the year after his graduation from the University of Florida working as a receptionist at the Office of Technology Licensing at the University of Florida. While there, he decided that his goal in life would be to become an officer in the United States Navy. Nine months after deciding on this goal, he became part of class 12-08 at the Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI on March 2nd, 2008. He graduated from the school on May 23rd of the same year and became an Ensign in the United States Navy.
Further Resources
Matt maintains a sporadically updated blog, called Gainesville Ramblings at http://gainesvillerambings.blogspot.com
Other Interesting Facts
- Matt is also a member of the Hash House Harriers, which is known as 'A Drinking Club With A Running Problem' and has the Hash name of 'Gone in 30 Seconds.'
