NEW YORK CITY (September 12, 2015) – Yesterday marked the 14th anniversary of September 11, 2001, which will be forever etched into history as a day of shock and tragedy.
Three brothers of Alpha Kappa Psi were lost during the attacks on September 11th, Thomas E. Burnett, Minnesota ’85, Jayceryll M. de Chavez, Rutgers ’98-Life and David H. Winton, Fordham ’91.
| Burnett graduated from the University of Minnesota’s School of Management in 1985 where he joined the Alpha Eta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi, giving back to his classmates and community. At 38 years of age, Burnett grew to become an accomplished business leader as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Thoratec Corporation. Due to his position, he travelled often. Eager to return home to his family after completing a business trip in New York City, he changed his reservation to an earlier flight which ultimately led him to be a passenger of Flight 93. Deena Burnett, his wife, recalls the final moments of Flight 93 during an NBC interview with Maria Shriver, “Tom and the people of Flight 93 came very close to saving the plane. And of course we live with that every day, thinking ‘what if?’” Though their lives were lost, the courage and bravery of the passengers stopped what could have been another terrible tragedy.
The Thomas E. Burnett Jr. Foundation was created in his memory by his family to help empower the youth in becoming the leaders of tomorrow. The Alpha Eta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi holds an annual golf charity event to contribute toward the Tom Burnett Jr. Scholarship Fund. |
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De Chavez was just 24 years-old when Tower Two of the World Trade Center was hit. Graduating from Rutgers University in 1999, de Chavez had recently passed the first level examination to become a financial analyst. He was climbing the ladder of success and dedicatedly worked on the 96th floor of the World Trade Center. “He was so proud when he got that job. We were all very proud because it was his dream to work there,” said his sister Aizza de Chavez in an article published by The Star-Ledger. He was incredibly ambitious, making his plans well known of seeing his dreams come true by becoming a CEO of a prominent company one day.
AKPsi members and the de Chavez family pulled together to develop a scholarship fund with Alpha Kappa Psi’s Foundation. The Jayceryll de Chavez Memorial Scholarship is AKPsi Foundation’s third largest chapter scholarship. |
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Winton, a 1994 graduate from Fordham University’s business school, was not only active in AKPsi during his undergraduate career, but was also an honor student, a member of the Globe Program and chief executive officer of the student-run Fordham Federal Credit Union. On a CNN memorial webpage, Mark A. Boyle, a childhood friend, recalls Winton as “a person of principle and impeccable moral character.” His sentiment echoes countless family and friends who remember Winton’s humble personality and noticeable leadership abilities. As a 29 year-old, David served as vice president at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods on the 89th floor in Tower Two of the World Trade Center and planned to wed his fiancée, Amy Elizabeth Lane later that November.
The David H. Winton Foundation is a non-profit organization established by Winton’s family and friends. The scholarship benefits graduating high school seniors. The foundation hosts an annual memorial golf tournament and dinner reception to help with the scholarship fund. |
Though these remarkable members were taken too soon, their legacy continues to live on. Everyone touched by the memories of these men remembers them as “driven”, “motivated”, and “living life through faith, honor and integrity”. These individuals truly emulate what it means to be a member of Alpha Kappa Psi, pursuing one’s passion and keeping true to the fraternity’s core values: brotherhood, knowledge, integrity, service and unity.
