Service to others is one of the core lifelong values Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life at Purdue (FSCL) instills in Boilermakers. During their time as students, members of the FSCL community participate in events and programs that provide philanthropic support to the university, Greater Lafayette community and beyond. FSCL members often embody these ideals in their extracurricular endeavors.
Two such members of the FSCL community at Purdue are Kevin Boes and Noah Scott, each of whom served as the student trustee on the Purdue University Board of Trustees, and continue to provide service to the university community. Boes currently serves as the student trustee while pursuing a doctorate in mechanical engineering, while Scott served as the student trustee from 2019-21. Both Boes and Scott embody the Boilermaker spirit through their dedication to servant leadership.
Seeking such a role wasn’t new for Boes, who came to Purdue with a background in athletics and a desire to find productive ways to spend his time outside the classroom. His entry to leadership in FSCL came after a conversation with Brandon Cutler, associate dean and director of Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life, inspired him to get involved. He went on to serve as president of the Interfraternity Council and his own fraternity chapter. These experiences taught him the principles of leadership and how to make a meaningful impact on the community.
“From a personal and professional development standpoint, I think the fraternity experience got me to understand myself at a different level, which is important as I step into different leadership roles,” Boes says. “It gave me the self-awareness and the emotional intelligence needed to contribute at a high level.”
Scott, on the other hand, didn’t expect to become involved in FSCL prior to attending Purdue. Scott hails from a small town and says he came to college with a negative perception of fraternities due in part to stereotypes seen in media, but his perception changed thanks to the quality of the people in fraternities he formed friendships with. These connections led him to join Sigma Tau Gamma.
It wasn’t until his junior year, however, that Scott grew into a leadership role. A student employment position in the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR) gave him some exposure to working on reports with FSCL organizations such as the IFC. At the recommendation of professional staff in OSRR, he successfully applied for and obtained a role as the vice president of administration with the IFC. In this role, Scott conducted the judicial process for the IFC – a critical role when considering the organization’s status as a self-governing body. He excelled in the role and was recognized with the Interfraternity Council’s John Wooden Award in 2020. Due to these experiences, Scott is now more willing to take on leadership roles that fit his skill set.
“Being the VP of administration for IFC showed me that I could raise my hand for something I was particularly adapted for or good at,” Scott says. “If someone else is chosen, that’s fine. I don’t want to be the person who holds a position for the sake of holding the position. I want to be there because I’m the best for the job and I have a responsibility to do that, particularly when no one else will.”
