Theta Chi is one of Northwestern State University’s campus fraternities and part of the Interfraternity Council. While their philanthropy is the United Service Organizations, which helps veterans and their families, Theta Chi also focuses on helping various causes in the community, following the motto of “The Helping Hand.”
One of their other causes is Operation Christmas Child, a project put on by Samaritan’s Purse to send toys to children in need. Theta Chi’s Eta Omicron chapter has helped pack these boxes with First Baptist Church for several years.
Connor Benoit, a junior electrical engineering major and spring 2025 through fall 2025 secretary, claimed Operation Christmas Child as his favorite Theta Chi memory. “I think my favorite [memory] has to be the service work … Obviously, Operation Christmas Child is my favorite … we’ve been doing [it] for three or four years now,” Benoit said. “Essentially, we helped pack and send toys to low-income children around the world. That’s probably one of my favorite things that we do.”
Benoit believes one of the big things he’s learned from the fraternity is leadership skills. “I served as secretary, and whenever you manage a house full of animals, which is basically what they are, you learn a lot about leadership and getting people on the right track,” Benoit said.
Another major event for the Eta Omicron chapter is a trip to Indiana University’s Theta Chi chapter. James Shelton, a sophomore marketing major who served as the fall 2025 recruitment chairman and spring 2026 vice president, took part in this summer trip.
“I have a lot of good memories, [but] the most recent one would be this past summer, I [went] up to Indiana and we got to stay at the Theta Chi chapter house at Indiana University. It was a huge house with other brothers all across the nation, and it was a lot of fun,” Shelton said.
When it comes to joining Theta Chi, Shelton encouraged people to be interested. “Don’t be afraid to come say hi, come to any of our events, we do a lot of tabling events,” Shelton said.
Matthew Pickrell, a freshman theater major, was persuaded to join by Shelton. “I was not initially planning on joining a fraternity until I was stopped by James,” Pickrell said. “He was very kind and welcoming, and he was one of the main reasons I wanted a place in Theta Chi.” Pickrell now serves as the recruitment chairman for the spring 2026 through fall 2026 semesters.
Pickrell described Theta Chi as “kind and supportive” and encouraged students to talk to members. “We ensure no one gets left out. So if you see us tabling, or you happen to come across someone wearing our letters, don’t hesitate to come up and chat,” Pickrell said. “I’ve learned that fraternities aren’t all about partying and tailgating, they’re about trust and respect … we offer [the helping hand] to everyone on campus, no matter who they are.”
NSU’s Theta Chi chapter is all about helping others, whether that be on or off campus. Their brotherhood values service work and being there for everyone, encouraging others to join and see what they can do for themselves and for others.
