NORMAN, OK— For many, college is a time of self-discovery. For Hayden Chilcote, it became the place where he found something far greater than independence.

Growing up, Hayden never set foot in a church. His father, a lifelong atheist, followed a path rooted in science and reason, while his mother, though a Methodist, chose to keep faith a private matter. Because of this, conversations about Jesus or the gospel were absent from his childhood.

“I have nothing but love and gratitude for my parents,” he said. “They raised me to be a good person, to love others, and to work hard. But faith was never part of the equation.”

It wasn’t until he attended Pine Cove, a Christian summer camp, that he had his first exposure to the gospel. At the time, faith was just another part of camp life—something he observed but never internalized. But the seeds were planted.

Years later, as Hayden began touring colleges, his perspective on faith was about to shift in a way he never expected.

On the day he visited the University of Oklahoma, he was paired with Chad Kuwitzky, a junior who would serve as his personal tour guide. The two bonded over common interests like golf, video games, and their intended major. But the most profound connection came when Chad asked whether he planned to rush a fraternity.

“Without hesitation, I said, ‘No way.’ The typical fraternity scene—partying, drinking, all of that—just wasn’t for me,” Hayden recalled.

Instead of letting the conversation end there, Chad introduced Hayden to Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX), a Christian fraternity founded on faith, brotherhood, and accountability—without the toxic culture of partying. And Chad didn’t just extend an invitation to BYX; he shared the gospel, explaining what a relationship with Christ meant to him.

That conversation changed everything.

“For the first time, I wasn’t just hearing about Jesus—I was seeing what it looked like to truly follow Him,” Hayden said.

For the rest of his high school senior year, Chilcote began exploring faith on his own. He started reading the Bible, watching church services online, and cautiously engaging with Christianity from a distance.

That summer, he took another step forward. He attended Encounter, a Christian experience specifically designed for incoming freshmen. There, he met more members of BYX and formed friendships that would soon become the foundation of his faith community at OU.

By the time he arrived on campus, he knew one thing for certain: he wanted to be part of BYX.

“A brotherhood of Christian men was something I had unknowingly longed for my whole life,” Hayden said.

He rushed BYX, received a bid, and poured himself into the pledging process. But more importantly, through BYX, he gave his life to Christ.

Since joining BYX, Hayden said that his faith has grown in ways he never imagined. He has been baptized, strengthened by a group of brothers who challenge and encourage him in his walk with Christ.

“These men hold me accountable, guide me in my faith, and remind me to keep my eyes on the Lord when I begin to drift,” he said. “I don’t know where I would be without BYX. But because of this fraternity, I feel confident in the man I am becoming.”

For anyone questioning whether God’s grace is truly available to all, Hayden offers a simple answer: “Look no further than the doors of Beta Upsilon Chi.”

Hayden Chilcote is a BYX man.