Meet the G.D. FIJIs
Class of 2026
Jeffery Ripka
Hometown: Schiller Park, IL
High School: East Lyden High School
Major: Economics
Why’d you join Fiji?: To become a part of something bigger than myself.
Jake Baker
Hometown: Lincoln, IL
High School: Lincoln Community High School
Major: Undecided
Why’d you join Fiji?: To become the best version of myself along with my brothers.
Joe Krantz
Hometown: Batavia, IL
High School: Batavia High School
Major: Secondary Education and History
Why’d you join Fiji?: I wanted to create lasting relationships that I could have throughout my life, not just through college.
Andrew Garrett
Hometown: Normal, IL
High School: Normal Community High School
Major: Business
Why’d you join Fiji?: I wanted to create relationships that would benefit me later in life and during my career.
Cesar Hernandez
Hometown: Lake Bluff, IL
High School: Lake Forest High School
Major: Business
Why’d you join Fiji?: I felt it would give me a great opportunity to have good connections for the future.
Cole Andrews
Hometown: Wheaton, IL
High School: Wheaton Academy
Major: Computer Science
Why’d you join Fiji?: I wanted to join an organization on campus that was not only focused on college, but one that focuses on life after college.
Joseph Williams
Hometown: Huntley, IL
High School: Huntley High School
Major: Biology
Why’d you join Fiji?: I wanted to join something larger than myself on campus.
Henry Scholes
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
High School: Etobicoke Collegiate Institute
Major: Political Science
Why’d you join Fiji?: I joined to make great memories at Knox and have friendships that will last forever.
Class of 2027
Josh Rosenberg
Hometown: Dayton, OH
High School: Oakwood High School
Major: Political Science and Secondary Education
Why’d you join Fiji?: I joined Fiji because I wanted to experience a brotherhood that supported each other, as well as providing opportunities to grow as a person and leader.
Ben Frericks
Hometown: Chillicothe, IL
High School: Illinois Valley Central High School
Major: Biology
Why’d you join Fiji?: I joined Fiji since it was another commitment to better prepare myself for my future.
Lucas Fujii
Hometown: Mercer Island, WA
High School: Mercer Island High School
Major: Neuroscience
Why’d you join Fiji?: I joined Fiji to make some life long connections with people who have similar values and goals.
Tyler Kemp
Hometown: Mount Vernon, IL
High School: Mount Vernon Township High School
Major: Business and Education
Why’d you join Fiji?: I joined Fiji because I wanted to get more involved and it gave a sense of belonging right away.
Parker Engel
Hometown: St. John, IN
High School: Marian Catholic High School
Major: Business
Why’d you join Fiji?: I joined Fiji because it gave me an opportunity to make lifelong friendships while also developing my leadership skills.
Sammy Garcia
Hometown: Chicago, IL
High School: Proviso Math and Science Academy
Major: English
Why’d you join Fiji?: I joined Fiji because it allowed me to get closer with my fellow baseball players as well as meeting new people.
Nicholas Nitti
Hometown: Elk Grove Village, IL
High School: James B. Conant High School
Major: Political Science
Why’d you join Fiji?: I joined Fiji because it was a great opportunity for me to get involved in something else and meet a lot of really great guys who share my lifelong values and encourage me to be better.
Zach Durick
Hometown: Haymarket, VA
High School: Osbourn Park High School
Major: Data Science
Why’d you join Fiji?: I joined Fiji to experience what it’s like to have older brothers.
Tyler Thiem
Hometown: Rock Island, IL
High School: Rockridge High School
Major: Biology
Why’d you join Fiji?: I joined Fiji to turn myself into a better man.
Alonzo Rodriguez
Hometown: Chicago, IL
High School: Morton West High School
Major: Business
Why’d you join Fiji?: I joined Fiji for the strong brotherhood and my own personal growth.
Class of 2028
Ryan Erdos
Hometown: Boerne, TX
High School: TMI Episcopal
Major: Business and Entrepreneurship
Why’d you join Fiji?: I joined Fiji for the discipline and dedication it takes to be a part of a fraternity each and every day.
Braedy Phelan
Hometown: Wales, WI
High School: Kettle Moraine High School
Major: Math
Why’d you join Fiji?: I joined Fiji to help better myself and create lifelong connections.
Hayden Derlein
Hometown: Brooklyn, WI
High School: Oregon High School
Major: Computer Science
Why’d you join Fiji?: I joined Fiji to be a part of a community and improve my character.
Vladimir Marinov
Hometown: Sofia, Bulgaria
High School: Anglo-American School of Sofia
Major: Sports Management
Why’d you join Fiji?: I joined Fiji because I wanted to be a part of something bigger at Knox and because I wanted to experience a way of life in college that is way different than in Europe.
Eli Johnstone
Hometown: Ashland City, TN
High School: Cheatham County Central High School
Major: Psychology
Why’d you join Fiji?: I joined Fiji due to the opportunity to build lasting connections with my chapter.
Clayton Rice
Hometown: Auburn, GA
High School: Winder-Barrow High School
Major: Biology
Why’d you join Fiji?: I joined Fiji to be a part of a community bigger than myself.
Jackson Phillips
Hometown: Rochester, IL
High School: Rochester High School
Major: Biology
Why’d you join Fiji?: I joined Fiji to be a part of something bigger than myself.
Class of 2029
Patrick Shannon
Hometown: Wauconda, Illinois
High School: Wauconda High School
Major: Business
Why’d You Join Fiji?: I joined Fiji to be a part of a community that shared my values and also create lasting connections.
Aiden Mersinger
Hometown: Naperville, Illinois
High School: Benet Academy
Major: Political Science
Why’d You Join Fiji?: To develop myself into a better person and build connections that will last a lifetime.
Miles Hoops
Hometown: Canton, Illinois
High School: Canton High School
Major: Biology
Why’d You Join Fiji?: I joined Fiji because it seemed like a good opportunity to make connections for later in life.
Cameron Vroman
Hometown: Moline, Illinois
High School: United Township High School
Major: Business
Why’d You Join Fiji?: I joined Fiji to meet new people and make new friends and to have good connections later in life
Joseph Flores
Hometown: Boerne, Texas
High School: Boerne-Samuel V. Champion High School
Major: Biochem
Why’d You Join Fiji?: I joined Fiji in order to create more opportunities within the field of work I am pursuing.
Anthony Soliz
Hometown: Greeley, Colorado
High School: Valley High School
Major: Physics
Why’d You Join Fiji?: I Joined Fiji because it was an opportunity to become a part of a community that will create connections to help me in life