Brandon Dill

Brandon Dill's Winthrop University career has been based around ideas: the idea of what a college experience could be; the idea of what a fraternity should be; and the idea that making a difference is about asking ‘Why can't I?'

The Easley resident participated in JROTC in high school and thought he would continue in a military career, so he originally didn't have Winthrop on his college list. But when a friend visited for a campus tour, Dill decided to come along.

“I walked around campus; I'd had an idea of what I pictured the scene of college to be, and that was Winthrop,” he said.

Between boot camps, training and classes, Dill, a computer science and information systems major, was exhausted and began to wonder what he really wanted to do. He turned to his strong faith in God for the answer and knew he had to do something.

He'll put those ideas into motion this summer, when he'll bike approximately 3,500 miles from California to Washington, D.C., to raise money and awareness for The Ability Experience, the philanthropy initiative owned and operated by his fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi. The non-profit creates experiences for people with disabilities, such as accessible playground/recreation equipment and summer camps, because “disability doesn't mean inability,” Dill explained. He has a personal connection to the story as well: his older sister was paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident.

For Journey of Hope, the cross-country bike ride that's one of The Ability Experience's largest fundraisers, Dill has spent most of his senior year training hard for the ride – working out in the West Center, biking outdoors, learning about nutrition and safety through webinars, working with Winthrop's athletic trainers and more. He's fundraised nearly $6,000, all of which goes to Journey of Hope.

“Winthrop's Pi Kappa Phi chapter changed my idea of a fraternity and how it can help people,” Dill said. “Winthrop's shown me so much support.”

That's not all he's doing to help others. He's studied abroad in Italy. He's served as an Orientation Leader, voting ambassador and Emerging Leader, and on the Interfraternity Council, Fraternal Conduct Board and Student Judicial Council. He's active in the RUF campus ministry group and within his fraternity.

During his time at Winthrop, he interned at SCE&G and at Accenture in Chicago. After graduation and Journey of Hope he'll start his job as a security consultant for Accenture's Charlotte location.

And after that?

“Wherever my heart and God take me,” Dill said.