Felix Wilson, C’23

Religious studies major, history minor, Interfraternity Council Vice President for Community Service, member and former community service chair of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, member and former president of Cambiata a cappella group, Monteagle-Sewanee Rotary Club member

I’ve been around Sewanee my whole life. My parents are both alumni, and we have our family restaurant the Blue Chair in town. Since COVID hit in 2020, I’ve basically lived here full time. Working at the Blue Chair early in the pandemic had a lot to do with why I got into service. I was seeing and interacting with people in our community in a different way, and it felt like it was a time of so much loss and there were so many needs that weren’t being met. I felt like I had to do something. So I started seeking out opportunities to give back and get involved both on campus with my fraternity and in the community with the Monteagle-Sewanee Rotary.

In my role with the Interfraternity Council (IFC), I’ve tried to help connect Sewanee’s Greek organizations to local service opportunities. Many of the chapters have affiliations with national philanthropic organizations, which is great—we want them to keep up that work. But we also want to encourage involvement with the community in our immediate area. One successful partnership this semester was with the South Pittsburg chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit that makes beds from donated materials for children who may not have a bed of their own or even a bed at all where they can sleep. In September, we had guys from several different fraternities come out for an event to help assemble the bed parts. We’re already looking ahead to an even bigger event in January.  

Part of why I became a religious studies major was my curiosity about the world around me and other people’s perspectives. These ongoing service projects have been a great way to explore those ideas in an immediate way. I’ve met so many great local people—including mentors—who I otherwise would not have gotten to know, and it’s deepened my understanding of this community and how interconnected we all are. I’ve always known Sewanee, but now I’ve found a new place for myself here. And it’s a place of purpose. My goal is to normalize that experience for my peers in Greek life and at Sewanee in general. There are so many people up here who care about the community around them and want to help—so let’s get out there and do it.