Every year, spring break brings the chance for brothers to take a pause from school and spend some time with friends, family, and even each other. This past March, the brothers of the Beta Mu chapter at Transylvania University took the chance not only to spend time together, but to make a positive impact. The brothers went to Asheville, North Carolina, to rebuild hiking trails around the area and work with the local Habitat for Humanity chapter.

“The service trip was a wonderful experience where our local chapter… was able to both bond together and be able to provide for the local community in Asheville & Montreat,” said Chapter Service Chair Eli Tyree ‘24. “It was an unforgettable experience that, while [the event] was a challenge to plan out, created memories that will carry on as a legacy.”

This is the second year in a row that the Beta Mu chapter has worked with Habitat for Humanity. In 2025, they stayed at Tidal Impact Missions Center in Kure Beach, NC, for their spring break and worked over the course of the week to build a shelter there. The impact they left was significant then, and it was just as important for them to do something meaningful again this year.

“The service trip was an amazing experience that put me on the front lines of community service,” said Nicholas Neagle ‘24, vice president of academics. “I was able to be ingrained in nature, help the environment, and do service with my brothers. I’m extremely proud of the work we did and the amount we could do in the short time we had.”

What the brothers did over their spring break went deeper than the work they put in. It was a chance for them to bond in a way they don’t often get to do, as well as get to know the actual people that they were helping.

“I love getting to help people and have fun with my friends, so this trip was a perfect fit for me,” said Nick Ruzzene ‘24. “Getting the opportunity to not only help build houses for people in need, but to meet and interact with the homeowners really showed me how hard work really pays off.”

Countless other brothers spoke fondly about not just the gratification of making a difference, but of the opportunity to spend purposeful time with one another. They recounted stories of getting to take apart a bridge with a sledgehammer, bonding with brothers they don’t often interact with, and working as a cohesive unit to provide assistance to hopeful new homeowners. They felt that tangibly impacting the lives of others was a great way to strengthen their bonds.

The Fraternity is proud of the Beta Mu chapter’s commitment to embracing service and using their strength as a group to enhance the lives of communities around them.