Pledge Projects

Every pledge class is required to complete a pledge project. These projects allow pledges to demonstrate the Four Pillars of Chi Epsilon. First, pledges must draw on engineering principles learned in class to design their conceived project (Scholarship). Second, the project must be constructed with Practicality. Long hours are devoted to completing a pledge project, but pledges are reassured that their hard work will benefit the community (Character). Pledges must rely upon one another to ensure timely completion of the project. In the process, pledges have a chance to bond and practice Sociability. Past pledge projects not shown shown below include a bus stop shelter, stairs at the Keller parking lot, recycling bin, and various benches and picnic tables around Holmes Hall and on campus.

CE Room Shelf - Shelf 2.0

Pledge Class: Spring 2022

Location: University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Holmes 144

Scope of Work:

The transition from online to in-person classes during the spring 2022 semester brough on the need for improvements and refurbishments of existing classroom furniture. The pledge project for the spring semester of 2022 involved the design and fabrication of a new shelf for the CE room. The purpose of the project was to replace the previous Fall 2016 pledge project shelf. The shelf was improved upon from previously by designing for additional storage and organization. The design consisted of welded metal members for framing and wood sheets for shelving. Materials were provided courtesy of the steel bridge team. Fabrication of the shelf involved welding square-cross section metal members for the shelf’s bracing and framing, while the wooden sheets were sized and bolted within the frame. The final product can be seen here with a purple finish for Chi Epsilon theming.

Post Building - Bench 2.0

Pledge Class: Fall 2021

Location: University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Pacific Ocean Science and Technology Building

Scope of Work:

Previously, a bench was constructed and placed in the POST building by the Spring 2015 pledge class for students and faculty, but it no longer satisfies the ever-increasing need for resting areas. As the Covid-19 pandemic continues one and a half years since its discovery, the sanitation and hygiene requirements dramatically increased the workload for all the hardworking janitors. Following the footsteps of the previous pledge class, the pledge class of Fall 2021 decided to construct another wooden bench in the hallway for all the janitors who keep our campus clean and free of viruses. With this goal in mind, the pledges modified the previous design to reduce material usage, a more sustainable and economical approach than its predecessor.

Storm Drain Awareness Caps

Pledge Class: Fall 2019

Location: University of Hawaii at Mānoa

Scope of Work:

The Fall 2019 pledge class placed storm drain awareness caps on several of the catch basin drains on the upper campus of the University of Hawaii at Mānoa (UHM). The materials were acquired from the City and County of Honolulu to match with the city's standards and arrangements were made with the Maintenance and Facilities department of UHM to place the caps. The existing catch basins and their conditions were recorded with pictures and logged into a database for future use and possible updates.

XE Banner Stand

Pledge Class: Spring 2019

Location: University of Hawaii at Mānoa

Scope of Work:

The Spring 2019 pledge class repaired the display stand for the Chi Epsilon banner. The existing banner stand consisted of PVC members and joints. The pledges identified which parts of the stand were damaged or worn out, purchased the necessary PVC materials and tools, fabricated and replaced the appropriate parts, and finally spray painted the stand. The repaired, revitalized stand will be used to display the organization's banner at future banquets, conferences, and other club-related events. In addition to demonstrating the Four Pillars while completing the project, the pledges demonstrated the three components of the XE motto while completing their project: Conception (Chi), Design (Delta), and Construction (Chi). The finished result was a beautiful project and the entire organization will benefit from the work of the pledges for years to come.

Holmes Hall - CE Room Bookshelf

Pledge Class: Fall 2016

Location: University of Hawaii at Manoa, Holmes Hall 144

Scope of Work:

The fall 2016 pledge class decide to create shelf in the CE room (HH144) organize/clean the CE room. The Chi Epsilon book shelf was made using steel and wood. With a budget of $175, the pledges were able to buy enough steel and wood to make the shelf 7 feet tall, about 3 feet wide, and about 1 foot in thickness. This shelf gave Chi Epsilon a place to store the club supplies instead of the officers holding on to the items at home. The CE room clean up was very beneficial to the students that use the room. The CE room became less cluttered with more room for students to study while improving their CE room experience.

Across from POST Building - Infiltration Garden Plan & Design

Pledge Class: Spring 2016

Location: University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Between POST Building and Sakamaki Hall

Scope of Work:

Unlike recent pledge projects that developed a physical product, the Spring 2016 Pledge Class took on a different approach by creating a sustainable proposal. Since there were not many options to construct a valuable product, the fundamentals of geotechnical engineering and surveying were applied to develop an infiltration garden plan. A portion of the landscape between POST building and Sakamaki Hall is significantly inclined and runoff develops when there is heavy downpour in Mānoa. A location in the corner of the declined landscape was chosen to develop the sustainable infiltration garden. The plan drawing, plant options, maintenance, and other aspects of the proposal were all developed by the pledge class. The proposal was then revised, sent in for approval, then approved by UH officials. This plan allows the next pledge class of Chi Epsilon to construct the actual infiltration garden through a hands-on experience for their pledge project.

Holmes Hall - CE Room Shelves and Chi Epsilon Binder

Pledge Class: Fall 2015

Location: University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Holmes Hall

Scope of Work:

Like the other Chi Epsilon members who has preceded them, the new pledge class of every semester, upon completion of the pledge process formalize their membership to the Chi Epsilon Fraternity by signing their names in a guest book. However, after 25 years and 50 pledge classes, the guest book had reached its limits. Furthermore, while the guest book did serve its purpose, its physical appearance failed to reflect the rich history it truly held. The pledge class of Fall 2015 was, therefore, tasked to build a more permanent binder that would contain the legacy of the hundreds of members, past, present, and future.

In addition to the wooden binder, the Fall 2015 Pledge Class also constructed a wooden shelf that is now located in Holmes Hall 144. Designated as the “CE room,” it is often densely packed with students who use the room as a place to study, to hang out with friends, and to store their belongings in between classes. Because of its wide use, the fall pledge class envisioned to provide a space to be used as a “resource shelf” where students can exchange old textbooks and other class materials to one another. The shelves were constructed from repurposed wood.

POST Building - Bench

Pledge Class: Spring 2015

Location: University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Pacific Ocean Science and Technology Building

Scope of Work:

The first floor of the POST building becomes a gathering place before classes. As the hallways fill, students search for a place to briefly rest and socialize with their peers. Previously, the seating choices comprised of several worn out chairs from classrooms or offices. The Chi Epsilon pledge class of Spring 2015 decided that a more proper and aesthetically pleasing seating apparatus was needed. Their solution: a wooden bench. The pledges found a design for a bench off the internet, purchased the necessary supplies, and gathered at the structures lab to construct the project. The bench was designed to be more visually appealing and give the facility workers of POST a better lounge area. The result can be viewed across the hall from the vending machines. Look for the wooden bench with the XE insignia!

Holmes Hall - Bike Pump

Pledge Class: Fall 2014

Location: University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Holmes Hall

Scope of Work:

With the growing number of bicyclist on campus, the pledge class of Fall 2014 decided to purchase and install a bike pump that is easily accessible for students. Various bike pumps and brands were researched and the Dero Air Kit 2 was selected as it is industrial grade and made for public use. Once approval from the University was granted, Chi Epsilon then installed the bike pump adjacent to the bike racks on the ground level of Holmes Hall.

Children's Center - Sidewalk

Pledge Classes: Spring 2010, Fall 2009, and Spring 2009

Location: University of Hawaii at Mānoa Children's Center

Scope of Work:

XE identified the need for a new sidewalk at the UHM Children’s Center. The existing site consisted of a dirt path that crossed the grass area. It was a possible safety hazard since rain can cause the dirt path to become muddy and slippery.

The sidewalk extends across an existing slightly downhill open field. The new sidewalk is approximately 48' long, 4' wide, and 4" thick. XE was responsible for all aspects of the construction process: conception, design, and construction. 74.25 cubic feet of concrete were used for the new concrete sidewalk. Pledges were responsible for obtaining the necessary materials- wheelbarrows, shovels, trowels, lumber stake. The process took about two weekends.