Jon Peavey is a Foodservice Manager at the Pioneer Student Center and an advisor/Renaissance Brother for the WI-Theta Undergraduate chapter. He has also been recognized as a Volunteer of the Year by the WI-Theta Alumni and Volunteer Corporation for the outstanding contributions he has made to the chapter. A big reason this interview was conducted with Jon is because of the SAVEDOOGIE campaign that he is currently running. As members past and present can tell you, Jon and his dogs have become important members of the WI-Theta family. One of his dogs, Doogie, was diagnosed with a liver shunt that will take his life if not corrected. Please go to https://www.savedoogie.com and read about his story. All donations will help Jon reach his goal.
Austin: “Tell us about your journey to the University”
Jon Peavey: “I am one of those lucky people who always knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I achieved my dream of attending the best cooking school in the world and set forth on a path through lots of different kinds of restaurants, hotels and resorts, eventually landing on the campus of the University in Platteville, Wisconsin. It was a completely different and exciting environment from what I had experienced before. I found the energy and activity very inspiring.”
Austin: “So how did you become involved with the Sig Eps on campus?”
Jon Peavey: “My father graduated from Dartmouth college in 1951 and I always felt like I had missed out on the traditional college experience. When I started meeting different students through my work in Dining services, I got to know some members of a fraternity and I became fascinated by the whole idea of it, the brotherhood, the interactions, the social events. Finally, one of them told me that If I really wanted to join, I could and this started my involvement with the Sig Eps. I was surprised by the whole idea that it was even a possibility to become a member of a college fraternity and I jumped in with both feet.”
Austin: “What kind of events do you do with the undergrads?”
Jon Peavey: “The first events I participated in, were, naturally food-related. I had learned early in my life that food is a great way to meet people and make friends. I would come to the house with a pot of chili and a big box of cupcakes, or I would come over and make dinner just from ingredients in their fridge. We started doing cooking classes, contests and tastings and every chance there was to have food become a part of an event, I was there. I always told the guys that they could brag that Sigma Phi Epsilon was the only fraternity on campus with its own chef.”
“As time went on, the events including food grew in frequency. Our etiquette dinner is always an event everyone loves to attend. Fall banquet off campus became a fun happening. We even did online live cooking classes during the COVID shutdown. Most recently, I started hosting all the guys at my home on Friday nights for dinner once a month. This has become a very fun social event. Plus everyone gets to interact with my family of dogs.”
Austin: “One of the well known events that we host is the lamb roast. How did that come about?”
Jon Peavey: “At some point in all my friendships, I got asked what my favorite meal would be and when the guys asked me I told them that I had always wanted to roast a whole lamb for myself for my birthday. Next thing I knew, the event was being planned and now it has become a memorable annual event as part of homecoming. One year, in the middle of the meal, everyone started singing Happy Birthday and I realized that my dream had been realized. What a thrill that was!”
Austin: “What about SigEp drew you in?”
Jon Peavey: “Beyond my involvement of making friends through food, I have gained a very deep appreciation for the bigger picture of this amazing group of people. They are about so much more. These gentlemen are very serious about their academics and strive, achieve and will not settle for less than excellence. I am constantly impressed by how studious they are, focused, helping each other succeed and grow. For some odd reason, one night I was at work until midnight on a Saturday and on a whim, dropped by the house to find them all studying! How refreshing to see, and just another way that these gentlemen are shattering the nostalgic misconceptions of fraternity life.”
“All of the goals of the organization are worthy virtues that everyone should be reminded of. Social skills, networking, respect, focus, civic mindedness. The paths are being set before them to give them all the best possible chances for success in every aspect of their lives. I admire and respect all of them and I am honored that they let me be a part of this great fraternity. They are doing everything right and stand as the model for every other campus organization. The only negative I can name is the part where they graduate.”