By Audrey Niblo
Staff Reporter
Sacred Heart University senior, Tatenda Zenenga, has a lot keeping him busy these days. The president of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity is a double major, who also interns at a private equity firm, helps coach his high school football team, and works at the Easton Community center.
“I joined Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. mainly because I wanted to be a part of something new and different that could make a change here at Sacred Heart,” said Zenenga.
He also mentioned older fraternity brother, Evan Pittman, who recently passed away, as playing a critical role in his recruitment.
Pittman took on a big brother role and introduced Zenenga to college-life, and helped him understand the large opportunities that were in front of him. Zenenga also credits his roommates for encouraging him to join the fraternity.
According to their national website, one of their national service initiatives is the INROADS partnership, which aims to help persons of color receive the training and education necessary to make their way into the ranks of corporate America.
As a finance and business economics double major, Zenenga hopes to go on to earn his master’s degree in Finance and Investment Management at Sacred Heart.
As for what he wants to do after getting his master’s degree: he already has that planned.
“I hope to get my CFA charter,” said Zenenga. “I currently work as an intern for a private equity firm in Westport, Ct., so I’m really just taking the time to learn as much as I can, and gain the experience to hopefully become an associate in the future.”
Sacred Heart’s business program provides a multitude of opportunities for students to get involved and have hands-on experiences long before they graduate from the University.
These opportunities are important because they allow students to get a feel for what it’s like working in their particular field of interest.
Zenenga helps coach his high school football team at Archbishop Stepinac High School, in White Plains, NY. He also helps part-time at the Easton Community Center with the Fairfield Public Schools’ after-school program.
Zenenga stressed the importance of wanting to give back to kids both in his community at home, as well as in the Fairfield area by guiding kids to make the right decisions.
According to their website, mentoring is also an important part of one of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc.’s service initiatives.
The I.O.T.A Youth Alliance, mentors youth of color in the communities that are local to the Iota chapter.
Zenenga is a senior, and is very close to graduating. He remembers one of his very first visits to Sacred Heart, before he had enrolled as a student.
“When my mother and I did the required visit for admitted students, she fell in love with how beautiful the campus was,” said Zenenga.
Zenenga also added that it was important to him that he applied to a university that not only in close proximity to his home in New Rochelle, NY, but also close to New York City as well.
Sacred Heart offers a wide-variety of opportunities for its students to get involved, whether it be via their major, or through the means of a club or organization.
The location of school has given Zanenga the opportunity to be active on campus, the surrounding areas and even near his home
