Laurel
the
FALL 2010
OF PHI KAPP
PA
A TA
TAU
AU
CONVENTION IN REVIEW
LEADERSHIP ACADEMY RECAP
ADVERSITY
OVERCOMING
THREE PHI TAUS FACE TOUGH SITUATIONS AND COME OUT STRONGER ON THE OTHER SIDE
2
UNDERGRADUATE ADVISORY BOARD
PRESIDENT TREY PIPPIN, LOUISVILLE ’09,
TALKS WITH NATIONAL PRESIDENTELECT GREG HEILMEIER, BETHANY ’86,
AND NATIONAL COUNCILOR WES
FUGATE, CENTRE ’99, AFTER DINNER
IN BOULDER, COLO., AN EXCURSION
DURING
Learning. Leading. Serving.
PHI
NATIONAL
KAPPA
TAU’S
CONVENTION.
MORE ON PAGES 18-23.
59TH
LEARN
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
Contents
The Laurel
3
FALL 2010 VOL. 98, NO. 2
Editor-in-Chief
Lane Shetzer
Copy Editor
John Sayers, Bethany ’78
Graphic Designer
Stacey Castle
About The Laurel
The Laurel is the exoteric publication of the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation.
Published prior to 1919 as SIDELIGHTS, a journal devoted to topics
related to higher education involving college and alumni interests, The
Laurel is now published each year under the direction and authority of the
Board of Trustees of the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation.
The next issue of The Laurel will be Vol. 99, No. 1 and will be published
in the summer of 2011.
Printed in the USA | ISSN Number: 0023-8996
Printed by The Watkins Printing Company, Columbus, Ohio.
Address ChangeS
Visit www.phikappatau.org and choose “Update Your Information” or call
(800) PKT-1906 or mail changes to: Phi Kappa Tau, 5221 Morning Sun Road,
Oxford OH 45056 or e-mail Cindy Morgan at cmorgan@phikappatau.org
FEATURES
11
Overcoming Adversity
Three Phi Taus face tough situations and come out stronger on the other side.
18
Member
Fraternity Communications Association
Convention in Review
A look at the Fraternity’s historic 59th National Convention.
24
Leadership Academy Recap
A look at the Fraternity’s first annual Academy.
27
A True Man of Character
A Mu chapter alumnus selflessly enters Chapter Eternal.
DEPARTMENTS
4
Directory
5
Perspectives
6
Foundation Update
7
We Are PKT
26
Chapter Eternal
28
Our Chapters
30
Laurels
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
This Laurel is printed on 100-percent recycled paper and
fits the Forest Stewardship Council’s requirements for
environmentally mindful publications.
Learning. Leading. Serving.
Phi Kappa Tau
4
The mission of Phi Kappa Tau
is to champion a lifelong
commitment to brotherhood,
learning, ethical leadership and
exemplary character.
The vision of Phi Kappa Tau is to be
recognized as a leadership
organization that binds men together
and challenges them to improve their
campuses and the world.
FRATERNITY
NATIONAL COUNCIL
NATIONAL PRESIDENT
Gregory M Heilmeier, Bethany ’86
NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT
Stephan M Nelson, Southern Mississippi ’73
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
*Steve Hartman, Muskingum ’89
Joshua J Bleidt, Eastern Kentucky ’96
Michael D Dovilla, Baldwin-Wallace ’94
Wesley R Fugate, Centre ’99
J Kenneth Loewen Jr, Colorado ’80
Sean J McManus, East Carolina ’94
David A Ruckman, Ohio State ’62
Scott G Stewart, Nebraska-Kearney ’69
Cliff D Unger, Arizona ’98
UNDERGRADUATE
ADVISORY BOARD
PRESIDENT
Trey Pippin, Louisville ’09
Steven E Binzel, Case Western ’08
Michael Disotell, Westminster ’08
Philip Frandina, RIT ’08
Jason M Lustig, Cornell ’08
Matthew Marone, Florida State ’08
NATIONAL ADVISORS
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER/TREASURER: David N Bauer, Bethany ’83
CHIEF LEARNING OFFICER: Thomas A Jeswald, Ohio ’63
RECRUITMENT/RETENTION: Michael T Gabhart, Georgetown ’95
RITUALIST/CHAPLAIN: Fr. Nicholas R A Rachford, Cincinnati ’64
SERVICE: Matthew Parker, Evansville ’93
National Advisors are ex-officio, non-voting members of the
National Council.
Learning. Leading. Serving.
FOUNDATION
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
EXECUTIVE OFFICES STAFF
(800) PKT-1906
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Steve Hartman, Muskingum ’89
shartman@phikappatau.org
x239
FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
David Boggan
dboggan@phikappatau.org
x228
DIRECTOR OF CHAPTER SERVICES
Tim Hudson, Truman State ’97
thudson@phikappatau.org
x231
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES
Vinny Sandy, Ohio ’02
vsandy@phikappatau.org
x222
FINANCE COORDINATOR
Lisa Adams
ladams@phikappatau.org
x232
COMMUNICATION COORDINATOR
Lane Shetzer
lshetzer@phikappatau.org
x234
COORDINATOR OF VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT
Tyler Wash, Georgetown ’06
twash@phikappatau.org
x271
EXPANSION COORDINATOR
Mike CasaSanta, Tennessee ’03
mcasasanta@phikappatau.org
x240
EXPANSION CONSULTANT
Ray Sophie, Southern Illinois ’08
rsophie@phikappatau.org
x223
EXPANSION CONSULTANT
Alex Koehler, Mount Union ’07
akoehler@phikappatau.org
x233
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Cindy Morgan
cmorgan@phikappatau.org
x237
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT-CHAPTER SERVICES
Lori Foister
lfoister@phikappatau.org
x226
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT-FOUNDATION
Angie Van Winkle
avanwinkle@phikappatau.org
x224
To view a complete list of Fraternity leaders,
visit www.phikappatau.org
CHAIRMAN
David A Ruckman, Ohio State ’62
FIRST VICE CHAIRMAN
Scott G Stewart, Nebraska-Kearney ’69
SECOND VICE CHAIRMAN
Bill Fisher, Miami ’80
TREASURER
William G Braund, Westminster ’54
SECRETARY
James S Hamilton, Ohio State ’63
*David Boggan
Steve W Chaddick, Georgia Tech ’70
John M Green, Nebraska Wesleyan ’60
*Steve Hartman, Muskingum ’89
Reza Hashampour, Georgetown ’82
Joseph J McCann Jr, Spring Hill ’74
Richard F Michael, Michigan Tech ’70
Stephan M Nelson, Southern Mississippi ’73
Donald J Phillips II, Texas-Austin ’82
Ross E Roeder, Michigan State ’58
Joel S Rudy, Bethany ’60
Brent W Vickery, Texas-Austin ’81
*non-voting
DISTINGUISHED TRUSTEES
Jack L Bartholomew, Ohio State ’55
Raymond A Bichimer, Ohio State ’53
Mark M Boyd, Miami ’71
Norman W Brown, Ohio State ’50
Gerald G Carlton Jr, Ohio ’58
Melvin Dettra, Ohio State ’45
F Fred Fether, Bowling Green ’51
Lawrence L Fisher, Ohio State ’60
Hugh C Fowler, Colorado ’45
John D Good, Ohio ’47
Jim K Heilmeier, Kent State ’47
Theodore A Hendricks, Bowling Green ’59
Gregory M Hollen, Maryland ’75
Dan L Huffer, Ohio State ’57
David W Lawrence, Miami ’61
Robert Leatherman, Akron ’60
James C McAtee, Ohio ’65
F L Mac McKinley, Oklahoma State ’51
Frederick E Mills, Ohio State ’66
Fr. Nicholas R A Rachford, Cincinnati ’64
Timothy F Smith, Bowling Green ’62
Donald E Snyder Sr, Cornell ’49
Carl D Vance, Miami ’67
Graydon D Webb, Ohio State ’69
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
Perspectives
ATLANTA, FALL 2005: An owner of a small retail business, Bob Tobey, New Mexico State ’71, usually counts on 70
percent of his annual revenue to come during the holiday season. Tobey is accustomed to the hustle, and he doesn’t “have
time” to get sick. So, when he can’t shake a nagging sore throat, he begrudgingly calls his doctor to see if he can solve the
problem with a quick round of antibiotics. He needs to get well, and quick.
Six weeks later, Tobey awakes in great pain. He tries to speak, to even let out a yelp, but his vocal cords don’t respond.
He fixes his ears on the sound of deep breathing, like Darth Vader hiding behind the door. He fastens his eyes on his
surroundings—the room is stark and cold, there are IVs running into each
of his arms, and a feeding tube is snaked into his left nostril. He then fixes
Never, ever, NEVER, no matter how bad you
on the faces of his wife and three daughters standing around his hospital
bed, and then he hears the breathing again, that deep breathing, that Darth look or feel, acknowledge out loud the potential of
Vader breathing.
anything other than a positive result or outcome.
He then understands. He lays in recovery from “radical neck” surgery.
There will be plenty of folks around you who are
The reluctant recipient of a new tracheotomy, Tobey has left behind a few
all too willing to play the role of the fatalist. Let ’em,
muscles, several lymph nodes and one very stubborn malignant tumor.
“
but don’t be one of them. Love ’em, but don’t listen
to ’em. It takes no more effort to believe in and expect a positive result than a bad one.
—Rick Keltner, Sacramento State ’76
***
SACRAMENTO, FEBRUARY 2006: As Tobey plods through the
next steps of treatment—chemotherapy, radiation and rehabilitation—
2,000 miles away, Rick Keltner, Sacramento State ’76, prepares for another
normal, cool, crisp, winter day. As he shaves, Keltner’s razor opens a small
cut on the right side of his neck. Upon examination, he notices a lump.
OCTOBER 2006: Kelter lays on the surgeon’s table undergoing a similar procedure as Tobey’s. Their lives are now interwoven in a common experience.
Connecting through Tim Hudson, Truman State ’97, at the Phi Kappa Tau Executive Offices, and having met at the
2002 Phi Kappa Tau National Convention, Tobey and Kelter talk often as Keltner starts radiation therapy following surgery.
Knowing well the effect of three months of daily radiation treatments, Tobey prepares Keltner for the dry mouth, lack of
appetite and general “blahs” that he is about to experience.
”
***
THE PRESENT: “I am convinced that the key to getting through the entire course of the radiation therapy was Bob
helping me understand what was happening to me, to my body and, most importantly, what was going to happen next, and
Bob was NEVER wrong,” Keltner remembered.
Although both Tobey and Keltner still have some lingering effects of treatment, including damage to their saliva glands
and taste buds, their scans indicate that they have returned to life as “normal.”
“My cancer seems more like a bad dream than anything else,” Tobey said.
Perhaps it’s also “normal” that, in addition to their families, their Phi Tau family was able to provide support in times of crisis.
“When word began to circulate, I [received] a lot of calls from the brothers that I went to school with,” Tobey said. “It was
very comforting to know that they all cared.”
In this issue of The Laurel, you’ll meet several brothers who overcame adversity, just like Tobey and Keltner. Each set their
sights on positive outcomes, accepting that life’s detours can be worth the extra miles. As the holiday season gets underway, it
will be normal for most of us to give thanks for our blessings. Remember to count those trials-turned-blessings twice. ΦΚΤ
Steve Hartman, Muskingum ’89, is chief executive officer.
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
Learning. Leading. Serving.
5
Phi Kappa Tau Foundation
6
Why I Give
Jack Alvenus, St. John’s ’89
WAYS TO GIVE
There are many
reasons that alumni,
parents and friends
are motivated to
step forward and
support the young
men of Phi Kappa
Tau through a gift
to the Phi Kappa
Tau
Foundation.
Jack Alvenus, St.
John’s ’89, has two.
“First, there is an obligation,” said Alvenus, who
is program manager for Bridgewater Associates,
LLP, a hedge fund concern in Westport, Conn.
“I gained such joy and established so many
friendships through my association with Phi Tau
that I feel a very positive obligation to support
the organization in whatever way possible so
that others might experience those same joys
and lifelong friendships.”
Alvenus has been a member of the Ewing T.
Boles Society since 2003. The Boles Society
designation recognizes those individuals who
contribute $1,000 or more annually to support
the work of the Fraternity. Alvenus said he is
pleased to support Phi Kappa Tau at this level
and admited he is motivated in part by what he
receives in return.
“A second reason that I give to the Foundation
is that being able to be a part of affording others
the type of experiences I had—continuing to
help keep the undergraduate experience alive—
gives me the chance to relive my own personal
fraternity experiences.
“For example, every time I go to Convention,
I’m excited to go,” he said. “I’m a little depressed
when it is over. I see people I’ve known for years.
And I meet undergraduates who will come up
to me and start a conversation, and I’m really
impressed by who they are and the experiences
they enjoy as part of the Fraternity.”
Alvenus said he never imagined being a
fraternity man upon entering St. John’s years
ago. Today, however, he recalls the diverse group
Learning. Leading. Serving.
of people he was able to meet because of his
association—“people I never would have had
contact with otherwise”—and considers himself
fortunate to continue to be an active member of
the Fraternity today.
“It’s those little gems from the undergraduate
experience that come to mind every now and then
that make me glad I’m supporting the Fraternity
with my time and my financial resources,” he said.
Financial support from alumni, parents and
friends is crucial as the Foundation works to
provide resources for the burgeoning education
programs that Phi Kappa Tau makes available
to its undergraduate members.
“I would encourage every Phi Tau alumnus
to follow the example of Jack Alvenus and
other supporters of the Fraternity,” said
David Boggan, executive director of the Phi
Kappa Tau Foundation. “Jack examined what
was important to him in his life, came to an
understanding of how the Fraternity helped
shape his life, and then determined to help
make similar experiences available to another
generation of Phi Taus.”
The Phi Kappa Tau Foundation, Boggan
pointed out, is uniquely positioned to accept
charitable donations and invest those gifts
so that each dollar given helps strengthen
and expand the educational and leadershipdevelopment opportunities available to today’s
3,300 undergraduates.
“The time to step forward and add your strength
to the Phi Tau brotherhood has never been more
critical,” Boggan said. “Because the Fraternity
is adding additional members through new
chapters and because educational programs
are expanding to accommodate that growth,
funding from our alumni, parents and friends
is needed.
“As we approach the traditional season of
charitable giving, I encourage everyone who has
a stake in the future of Phi Kappa Tau to invest
in these young men by making a thoughtful,
proportionate gift to the Foundation.” ΦΚΤ
Visit www.phikappatau.org/donate
or call (800) PKT-1906
ONLINE
Donate securely, efficiently and
completely through the Foundation’s
online giving feature at
www.phikappatau.org/donate
CREDIT CARD
Phi Kappa Tau accepts VISA, American
Express and MasterCard.
Call (800) PKT-1906.
CHECK
Send all correspondence to:
Phi Kappa Tau Foundation
5221 Morning Sun Road
Oxford, Ohio 45056
AUTOMATIC
FUNDS TRANSFER
Regular monthly bank drafts
make giving more convenient and
might allow you to increase your
philanthropic goal.
Call (800) PKT-1906 to join.
ANNUAL FUND
The Foundation invests your
unrestricted gifts where the
opportunity is greatest. Restricted
gifts are also accepted.You join
thousands of Phi Taus in assuring that
education, leadership and service
priorities are well-funded.
CORPORATE MATCHING
GIFTS
Many companies match their
employee’s personal charitable
contributions. Ask your employer
if your company participates in a
matching gift program and make the
Phi Kappa Tau Foundation your
non-profit of choice.
PLANNED GIFTS
Through your will, trust or other
estate plan, your charitable gift
establishes a lasting legacy and
provides for future generations of
Phi Tau undergraduates.
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
OU R I D E N TITY
Three Phi Taus are making a name for
themselves, and they haven’t forgotten
their Fraternity roots.
Jason Sweet
“Cardinal Man” and Student,xxxx
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, Mich.
We
Are
ΦΚΤ
The Spirited Fan
Jason Sweet, Saginaw Valley State ’09, is
the kind of guy you want on your team.
One of Saginaw Valley State University’s
biggest fans, he serves the school as a
resident assistant (RA), tour guide for
prospective students, intramural sports
participant, model student and the
“Cardinal Man.” Oh, and he’s a founding
father of Zeta Beta chapter, what he says
kept him in school.
“When I started college, I got involved,
or over-involved looking back on it. I
threw myself into Saginaw Valley State
and did not put effort into school. I
knew I wanted to join Phi Kappa Tau
with Nu Lambda Nu, the local chapter
that became Phi Tau, but I couldn’t with
PHOTOGRAPH BY LUCY MANALD
my grades. With help from my brothers,
I turned around my college career. Had
it not been for my brothers’ guidance
and support, I would be at home, not
experiencing all that college has to offer.
“These days, you could probably call
me Saginaw Valley’s No. 1 fan. I’m at every
football game wearing my ‘red pride’ to
prove it. Thanks to Phi Tau, I know what
it means to be part of a team and take
pride in the little things. It’s how I live my
life every day, and I’m completely fulfilled
because of it. ΦΚΤ
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www.phikappatau.org
THE
Learning.
Learning.Leading.
Leading.Serving.
Serving.
77
We
8
Are
ΦΚΤ
Tom Hope
Writer, “Bonding For Life”
Rochester, N.Y.
The Storyteller
Tom Hope, Texas-El Paso ’41, has more
than a few stories to tell. In May 1942, he was
drafted in World War II and became an Army
sergeant and motion-picture cameraman with
the First Special Service Force. After threeand-a-half years with the service, he had plenty
of lifelong friends and enough memories to
write a book. So, he did.
Recently, Hope wrote “Bonding for Life,”
a post-war story about peacetime bonding
of Force veterans. Currently, he is completing
a second book on his Army experiences, “My
Tour of Duty.” He recounts thrilling stories,
like serving as photo officer and capturing
a famous picture of Gen. Patton after he
accidentally stepped on the general’s foot …
and the general apologized for getting his foot
in the way! Hope’s picture appeared in The
PHOTOGRAPH BY KEN RIEMER
New York Times and all across the country.
But, most importantly, his stories describe
the bond he and his comrades formed during
and after the years they spent defending the
country. More than 60 years after the war and
some major career changes, they still reunite,
proving that the bond of brotherhood can
endure the ages.
As the first chapter president of Alpha
Psi chapter, Hope gained some of his earliest
experiences with brotherhood and leadership—
and some of his first stories, too—with Phi
Kappa Tau.
Learning. Leading. Serving.
THE
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“One of the books that I read in high school
intrigued me, ‘The Americanization of Edward
Bok,’ about the long-time editor of the Saturday
Evening Post. He was Dutch, coming to this
country in 1870, and as he left Holland, his
grandmother’s parting words were, ‘Edward,
you must leave the world a little better than
you found it!’
“What sage advice. And, what a challenge
for me. I chose it for my life’s goal.
“I like to think that I started my challenge
at then-Texas College of Mines, when my
brothers and I helped Phi Kappa Tau become
the first national fraternity at the school. Roland
Maxwell, Southern California ’22, came to El
Paso to induct us, and we were all so pleased
with him.
“I went on to serve in the Army as a photo
officer and, using movies, helped change the
style of parachute landing in both the American
and Canadian armies. I also taught, and then
ran, the Army Motion Picture School in New
York City.
“Post-war, I served as an industrial film
producer at General Mills in Minneapolis and
helped move ‘The Lone Ranger’ from radio
to television. Then, I became a Marshall Plan
consultant in Paris, helping the French recover
after seven years of war. That led me to Eastman
Kodak as a film consultant in Rochester, where
I eventually started Hope Reports, a media
market research firm.
“While I’ve changed careers, certain things
in my life have been constant—my family and
my Army brothers. That goal of mine, to make
positive changes in the world, has only been
possible because of the people I’ve known
along the way. ‘Bonding’ was done as a labor
of love, describing the comradeship of soldiers
fighting together and continuing that intense
connection post-war. This relationship is often
stronger than between blood brothers.
“As I continue my storytelling and recount
my experiences, I think about that challenge I
set for myself back in high school. I hope I have
helped make this world a better place.” ΦΚΤ
THELAUREL
LAUREL| www.phikappatau.org
| www.phikappatau.org
THE
We
Are
ΦΚΤ
9
Tom Hope looks through
his photo albums.
Hope’s photo of Gen. Patton
(left) appeared in The New York
Times on Sept. 4, 1944.
Learning. Leading. Serving.
We
10
Are
ΦΚΤ
David Dodd
VP of Operations, Fantastic Fountains
Tampa, Fla.
The Passionate Leader
David Dodd, Tennessee ’79, started in the computerized
water feature craft at Sea World Park in Orlando. His business,
Fantastic Fountains, has since gone international with recent
projects—musical fountains, animated fountains and dancing
fountains, to name a few—completed at the Columbus Zoo in
Ohio and the Atlantic City Pier. Currently, he’s working on a
project in downtown Columbus (pictured) aimed to beautify
the city and bring more people downtown. He credits his time
as a Phi Kappa Tau undergraduate for giving him the leadership
skills necessary to create, maintain and grow a successful
business.
“Learning to grow the chapter in various officer roles and
expanding my involvement at National Convention were
invaluable to me and, I believe, a great benefit in my professional
life. Phi Kappa Tau gave me confidence to follow my passion and
start my own company, from which I still get satisfaction after
more than 20 years. It gave me other things, too: lifelong friends
and my wife, who I met playing interfraternity intramural sports.
By joining Phi Kappa Tau, I received wonderful opportunities to
serve others, lead the chapter and stretch my potential. I’m
still reaping the benefits.” ΦΚΤ
Learning. Leading. Serving.
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
ADVERSITY
OVERCOMING
IT’S
INEVITABLE.
It’s inevitable that life
will throw you curveballs,
and the only way to move past
those dark days is a whole heck of a lot
of resolve and mental toughness.
IT SOUNDS EASY . . . BUT IT’S NOT ALWAYS.
For three Phi Taus, toughness wasn’t a choice. When their worlds
got a little darker, they made up their minds to keep going, even when
it was incredibly hard. One learned a valuable lesson, one became a better
leader, and one found that the strength of brotherhood and the importance of
service can make all the difference.
IT’S NO SURPRISE.
It’s no surprise that a member of this Fraternity would come out stronger after an extremely bumpy
ride. That’s what Phi Taus do. They band together and resolve to use what they’ve experienced for
good. It may not be easy, but maybe that’s the point.
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
Learning. Leading. Serving.
11
11
OVERCOMING
ADVERSITY
12
t
c
A
g
n
i
c
Balan
By An d y Fr uth, S outher n I l linois ’08
the journey of Robbie Falkenrath, Southern Illinois ’08,
through college and Phi Kappa Tau has been anything but
normal. In his first year at Southern Illinois University, he
struggled and seemingly lost everything, only to come back
stronger and lead his chapter to success.
The transition from high school to college can be difficult for a young
person, and Falkenrath’s case was no exception. Living on your own, being your own boss, and making your own decisions for the first time can
be an overwhelming experience, regardless of whether you’re prepared or
not.
Throughout high school in Highland Park, Ill., a suburb of Chicago,
Falkenrath had a very structured routine as many involved students do.
He was on the swim team, captain of the water polo team and senior
patrol leader with Boy Scouts. He made Eagle Scout while serving as
president of venture crew, a part of the Boy Scouts program.
Falkenrath’s typical routine during sports season went something
like this: practice, school, practice, dinner, homework, sleep … and
work during any extra time. But along with his involvement came
coaches, advisors and, of course, his parents to keep him on track
academically.
After the first few weeks on SIU’s campus, Falkenrath joined the
Beta Chi colony of Phi Kappa Tau with the fall 2007 associate member class.
“I was drawn to Phi Tau immediately,” he said. “I clicked well with the
guys and thought by joining the colony that I could be a part of something special.”
T
While Falkenrath made a great new member, no one knew that he was
having difficulty adjusting to the newfound freedom college offered. He
struggled with attendance in his early morning classes, and that led him
to academic probation after his first semester.
“I basically went from structure to nothing,” Falkenrath said when
comparing his life in high school to his first semester in college.
His second semester started off better than the first. He was able to
rebound significantly, enough so that he was allowed to initiate when the
colony chartered.
Shortly after the chartering, however, things took a turn for the worse,
and Falkenrath found himself reverting back to where he was at first semester. He came to the realization that he might not be able to raise his
grades enough to come back to school the next fall. That fear was confirmed a few days before his dad came to pick him up for the summer.
“It came as a shock to me,” Guillermo Flores, Southern Illinois ’08,
said of Falkenrath’s news. “We used to eat lunch in the dining hall every
day and talk about classes and the Fraternity.”
To make things worse, his dad brought the family boat to SIU so
they could go fishing before they made the five-hour drive back home.
Falkenrath knew at the time that he wouldn’t be allowed to come back
to school in the fall but couldn’t bring himself to tell his father until a
couple days later.
“It was the most awkward fishing trip of my life,” Falkenrath said.
But home wasn’t any more comforting.
“When I got back home and my parents found out, everything
changed,” he said. “Their expectations of me were different from before.
I knew I wanted to work my way back to SIU but it became very clear
from talking to them that I would be on my own in this endeavor.”
Falkenrath had to pay his own tuition and fees, as well as the gas he
used for the hour-and-a-half daily commute to and from class at the local community college. He worked all summer and throughout the fall,
lifeguarding and teaching swimming lessons.
To get back to SIU, Falkenrath had to average a 3.4 GPA in 24 credit
hours. He took four classes that summer but said the big reality check
came in the fall when his friends returned to school.
“They were at school and I was living at home again,” he said. “That’s
when it really sunk in that I had to step it up.”
He, once again, took a full load during the fall semester, and even
made the dean’s list.
“When you are footing the bill it definitely provides a new incentive
Robbie Falkenrath (first row, middle) accepts his chapter’s Maxwell plaque at the
to do well in your classes,” Falkenrath said.
59th National Convention in Denver.
Learning. Leading. Serving.
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OVERCOMING
ADVERSITY
13
When the spring 2009 semester rolled around, he was able to return
to SIU. He felt he had to prove himself and wanted to show everyone—
his parents, the Fraternity and himself—that he had changed.
Falkenrath jumped back into Phi Tau immediately upon returning.
That semester, he moved into the chapter house, served as sergeant-atarms, and made a successful transition back to SIU.
That summer, he attended Leadership Academy 2009 in Oxford,
Ohio, and returned to campus in the fall as the chapter’s philanthropy
chair. Falkenrath performed so well in his position that his brothers
elected him chapter president that November.
He attended Phi Kappa Tau’s Presidents Academy before the start
of the spring semester, an experience he said helped him tremendously
with his duties.
“At Beta Chi, we always seemed to run on crisis mode, as if the sky
was falling, but after talking to other presidents at Presidents Academy,
I realized that although Beta Chi wasn’t [yet] an elite chapter, [we were
still doing something right],” he said.
Past Chapter President Derrick Wildes, Southern Illinois ’08, relates
Falkenrath’s growth to the chapter’s.
“I think the Fraternity was in a better place overall when Robbie came
back,” Wildes said. “He joined Phi Tau when we were a colony, still
struggling with finding an identity and recruiting quality men, and returned to lead a chapter that was motivated and had a shared vision for
its future.”
As president, Falkenrath has worked especially hard to delegate responsibilities to other officers, and then hold his executive board members accountable for their jobs.
“We have these other positions for a reason, and we all mutually depend on one another,” he said.
His efforts have paid off. With Falkenrath at the helm, Beta Chi
chapter was one of only 12 Maxwell chapters in 2009-10, the highest
chapter honor based on performance in the Borradaile Challenge.
Falkenrath has maintained at least a 3.0 GPA since returning to
school, but his overall GPA is still much lower as it reflects his poor performance freshman year, a very real reminder of what he’s still working
towards. Despite this, he is on track to graduate in December 2011 with
a bachelor’s in graphic design and minors in marketing and art history.
Falkenrath serves as a testament to Beta Chi’s new members. He is
always willing to talk about his experience and give perspective on what
could happen if they don’t take school seriously.
While Falkenrath said those semesters at home were some of the hardest of his life, he owes it to himself to look at how far he’s come. Learning
from his mistakes makes him resilient, and a great Phi Tau. ΦΚΤ
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
Robbie Falkenrath; his mother, Mary; father,
Randy; and brother, Chris, pose for a family photo.
Beta Chi chapter members celebrate their 2009-10 success at
Convention (Falkenrath pictured third from the left).
Beta Chi chapter members celebrate winning the large float
division in the school’s homecoming parade (Falkenrath
pictured in front).
Learning. Leading. Serving.
OVERCOMING
ADVERSITY
14
Racing for
BY SCOTT CONROE, CORNELL ’01
raig Hairston, New Mexico State ’72, does
not mind telling anyone about how rich his
life has been, even after suffering a spinal
cord injury that left him, as experts say, an incomplete
paraplegic.
He can walk with a cane but spends most of his
time in a wheelchair—that is, when he is not pursuing his passion for auto racing near his home outside
Columbia, S.C. With hand controls he designed and
built himself, Hairston has a drag-racing car with
his well-known emblem on the side: the traditional
handicapped symbol with a racing helmet on the figure’s head. He hoped to drive it for the first time in
December, after building the car slowly over the past
few years, adding pieces as he had the money and
mechanical help.
C
Learning. Leading. Serving.
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Before his own car was complete, Hairston raced Legends cars around Charlotte, N.C. The cars are replicas of
old-time race cars powered by motorcycle engines. He also
raced off-road dune buggies and mini sprint cars, and has
worked as a motorsports consultant for racing teams in the
South. Not only is Hairston’s life rich, it’s full.
It was a car accident that left him partly paralyzed in
1979, but he says that painful event actually helped him
become a better manager of time and people. So did his
days as a Phi Kappa Tau.
“You need to want to succeed badly, to learn how to
turn and race a vehicle in my situation, and some of that
comes from my college years,” Hairston said. “Our Phi
Tau chapter, like most, was a little of both partying and a
place where we did projects—community work, fundraising, house projects. I was a brother only my last two years,
so I was not an officer and I didn’t live in the house, but
I played intramurals … and took part in our community
projects. My jersey with our letters was … cool and represented something pretty good.”
The Fraternity provided him with friends to turn to
when classes or other aspects of his life were not going well.
All these years later, he remains friends with his big brother
and classmate, Bob Tobey, New Mexico State ’71.
“Craig was involved. He was always around our chapter,
and he would have made a fine chapter officer,” said Tobey,
One of his clients was Rob Bush, who owns a drag race
track and competes in motorcycle drag racing. He helped
Hairston build his drag racer after Hairston helped him
land corporate sponsors for his racing, although Hairston
calls them “marketing partners,” which casts them less as
bosses and more as part of a team.
“Craig has a can-do attitude,” Bush said. “He might
be a little limited in what he can do but that doesn’t stop
him. He wrote a plan that got me a $10,000 sponsorship
from American Suzuki. He put it together and got me
the backing.”
Hairston returned to racing a few years after adjusting to his new life in a wheelchair. He drove dune buggies in the desert. He liked the fact that, while there are
sports for handicapped athletes such as the Paralympics,
auto racing has no handicapped competition level; he
would not receive special treatment. Racing officials
were at first reluctant to let him on the course, but he
showed them how much control he had using just his
hands. He entered the Baja 1000, an off-road race in
California, and finished first in his racing class. That
boosted his confidence enormously.
Hairston’s voice becomes full of energy when he talks
about the drag racer he is finishing near his home. His goal
is to drive it at 200 mph.
“His car will be the quickest in the world when we’re
the chapter advisor at Alpha Rho chapter at Georgia Tech.
“He was a very good athlete … in intramural football and
softball. Just a great guy.”
Hairston has no doubt that Phi Tau played a role in his
life after he graduated in 1974 with a degree in math and a
concentration in computer science, what would be a computer science major these days. Post-college, he managed
programmers who were mapping solar energy resources at
Los Alamos National Laboratory. Hairston also raced motorcycles. He loves the smell of oil and engines, and spending time in garages, tinkering with any machine that could
go fast.
He had just become a supervisor of one of those Los
Alamos teams when he suffered his spinal cord injury, as
a passenger in a car that was involved in a terrible one-car
accident on the icy mountain roads of New Mexico. As he
slowly recovered, he said, he learned to delegate, to ask other
people to lend a hand. He held staff meetings from his hospital bed.
“I had to trust people and give them credit for their efforts,”
Hairston said. “I was perceived as a better leader after that.”
He went on to spend more than two decades in software management for gas companies in Texas, and product support and quality improvement for SIERRA Geophysics in Washington, a Halliburton company. His love
for conversation and people opened doors. Among other
things, he was master of ceremonies for an annual customer dinner at one company.
Hairston switched gears in 1994, becoming a consultant
for motorsports companies. His South Carolina firm offers
data analysis, teamwork training, customer-service training
and performance-improvement strategies for auto racers,
some of the people he loves best.
done,” Bush said.
When asked about the risks
of crashing, Bush said that is always the case with road racing.
“It’s a risk,” but it rarely happens on a drag course itself. He
said the adrenaline rush of racCraig Hairston’s drag racer
ing is “something you live for,”
so he understands its appeal for
Hairston.
“Craig really picked up the
pieces and moved forward,” Tobey
said. “He couldn’t race motorcycles
anymore but he found other ways
to race instead.”
Hairston has turned to teaching lately. He taught leadership
strategies and management courses at Midlands Technical College
in Columbia for a decade, and
spent the last four years developing an apprenticeship program for
facilities and housing workers at
the University of South Carolina.
He is looking for his next challenge beyond racing.
“There’s no doubt that some of what I was able to do
over the years came from my Phi Tau experiences,” Hairston said. “I learned to be part of a team and gained insight
into how to accomplish things. In the business world, people dig in and butt heads. In a fraternity, you’re thrust into
a situation where you must pull together. You learn to rally
your resources.” ΦΚΤ
OVERCOMING
ADVERSITY
15
Success
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
Hairston sits with the
drag racer he built himself.
Learning. Leading. Serving.
OVERCOMING
ADVERSITY
LeaningBrotherhood
16
on the Bond of
By I a n Andre ws , Mount Union ’01
t started
d with a phone call––the type of call in Fraternity attracted were perfect for him.
which the
th bearer of bad news tells the receiver to
Youtz’s sophomore year ended well.
first, sit
it down. For Andrew Youtz, Mount Union
“I had a girlfriend, was going to play football again,
’06
his news came across the line from nearly and things were going my way,” he said.
’06,, th
this
900 miles aaway. And it would forever change his life.
He was working out in anticipation of that summer’s
“He said
sai
aid my mom had cancer and that I needed football practices and had decided to major in sociology
tto fly h
t said,
id vividly
i idl remembering
b i
hi
ith a concentration
t ti iin criminal
i i l jjustice.
ti B
home,”” Y
Youtz
his with
Butt jjustt as hi
his
father’s call.
life was taking shape, he received the call.
Three days into a 10-day Florida vacation with his
His mother, Helen Youtz, was diagnosed with
then-girlfriend’s family, Youtz found himself searching pancreatic cancer on July 17, 2007. The aggressive
for a flight to return to his native
cancer was in a late stage—it
Ohio. The trip would be one of
had spread to her lymph nodes,
the last he’d take for pleasure
spinal cord and stomach—and
but marked the beginning of
doctors gave her seven to nine
the most difficult journey he’d
months to live.
ever known.
Informed one day after
Youtz grew up in Alliance,
the diagnosis, Youtz headed
Ohio, home to the University
home to see his family. During
of Mount Union. As a high
his trip, he thought about
school football center, Youtz was
the future. He didn’t want
recruited by several Division I
to abandon his pursuit of
collegiate teams, but the ties to
returning to football but was
his family and the chance to
torn by his love of family.
win a national championship at
“I was selfish,” he said.
a local college led him to attend
“I started thinking about
Jay, Andrew, Helen and Nick Youtz celebrate
Mount Union.
myself. I had worked hard
Entering his sophomore Andrew’s high school graduation.
[for football] but then it came
year, however, Youtz suffered an
crashing down.”
injury that kept him from playing. His friend Ryan
Youtz traveled straight to the hospital.The relationship
Shannon, Mount Union ’06, often invited him to the he had with his mother was special. Upon entering her
Epsilon chapter house, not with the explicit intention hospital room, she said, “Hey, baby.”
of recruiting but just to play video games or hang out.
“I lost it,” Youtz said. “My mom was my best friend.
With more time to socialize, Youtz found himself at I would tell her anything, and she was always there to
the Phi Tau house quite often.
get me through tough times.”
“I wasn’t interested [in joining] at first,” he said. But
Almost immediately, the family held an impromptu
after witnessing the chapter’s bond of brotherhood, he meeting.
realized that associating with Phi Kappa Tau might be
“She wanted to fight,” he said. “She said she was
a good idea. The atmosphere and type of people the going to beat this thing and would fight. She even
I
Learning. Leading. Serving.
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sent negative or sad people away. She didn’t want them
bringing her down.”
The family decided she should travel to Indianapolis
to receive treatment at Indiana University Cancer
Center, one of the leading cancer-treatment centers in
the country. Within five days, arrangements had been
made, and the family set off to Indiana.
“Her attitude was amazing,” Youtz recalled. “She was
an inspiration to the entire family.”
Youtz still wavered between his desire to play football
and allegiance to his family. His final decision required
a grueling schedule. He attended classes Monday
through Friday, then left for Indianapolis each week
after his last Friday class. On Sunday night, he’d return
to campus to start all over.
Earlier that summer, Youtz had called his Phi Tau
big brother, Shannon, to tell him the news. Shannon
said he was there for Youtz and would do all he could
to support him.
“He told me that I was going to get through this
[and that I wasn’t] going to go through this alone,”
Youtz said.
Shannon later informed the chapter about the Youtz
family crisis. Nearly every brother called or texted
Youtz, offering him everything from an ear to a place
to stay.
“[Andrew’s] strength gave us strength,” Shannon
said. “His pride became our pride. He inspired us not to
just be better, but be better Phi Taus. There is nothing
we wouldn’t do, nothing we wouldn’t try to overcome
for our friend, our brother.”
Once school resumed in August 2007, the chapter
didn’t forget its pledge to Youtz. The men assured him
that his family came first.
“If I missed a chapter meeting or another event
because I was traveling between Alliance and Indiana,
they understood,” Youtz said.
The chapter itself benefited from helping Youtz. It
survived reorganization in 2006 but was still suffering
from the effects of poor decisions made before many
of the current brothers had even begun their college
careers. A deep appreciation of what their brother was
going through helped guide chapter members and gave
them an immediate and renewed sense of purpose. For
Epsilon chapter, the 2007-08 academic year would
become Youtz’s year.
“Everyone was there to support Andrew, especially
Ryan Shannon and Alex Koehler [Mount Union ’07],”
Chapter Advisor Roy Clunk, Mount Union ’75, said.
The chapter helped Youtz through the situation “by
giving him the love and support he needed, being there
when he needed someone to talk or cry with.”
When an anonymous donor, or several donors, paid
his dues, Youtz knew the men surrounding him were
not only chapter brothers, but lifelong brothers.
“They wanted me in the chapter,” he said. “One of
the best things they did was to be there to sit and talk
with. You realize they actually do love and care about
you and will walk through hell with you.”
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
OVERCOMING
Shannon said it was easy to support Youtz.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more gracious and
inspiring human being,” Shannon said. “He was always
the quickest to be polite and thank anyone and everyone
for their condolences and all the help they offered.”
At the beginning of the 2008 spring semester, the
chapter arranged a surprise for Youtz. He was told when
to be at a local building, with not
many other details. When
he arrived, he found himself
in the middle of a spaghetti
dinner fundraiser, staged
by the chapter to support
the Youtz family. The entire
chapter was there and nearly
every fraternity and sorority
was
represented. Dozens
of students and community
members arrived throughout the
day to support the Youtz family,
as well as Epsilon’s effort on their
behalf.
’s
end Youtz
“Once I saw the guys wearing
er, Jay, att
th
fa
is
h
d
n
black T-shirts that read ‘Team Andrew Youtz a
Helen’ on the front and our senior banquet.
letters on the back, I lost it,” Youtz
said. “We all wore Team Helen
wristbands.”
Not long after the chapter’s fundraiser,
Helen passed away, despite doctors’ best
efforts. Although Youtz’s grades suffered
during this traumatic year, he rebounded
and graduated in May 2010. He still speaks
regularly with his Phi Tau brothers.
“Andrew’s dad has shared more
than once that it was the support and
friendship of the Phi Taus that got
Andrew through the harrowing ordeal
of seeing his mother suffer with cancer,”
Clunk said.
Most of all, Youtz remembers his
mother reinforcing that he never take life Epsilon chapter broth
ers show their Phi Tau and Mount
for granted, to live it to the fullest and Union spirit (Youtz pictured far left,
back row).
have fun.
“She told me, ‘Don’t be afraid to tell
people you love them,’ ” he said.
That’s how Youtz lives his life today.
And it’s the friendships, support and
dedication that he experienced with Epsilon chapter
that guides him to be a good, real friend to people. He
lives by a credo of “no regrets” and strives to always find
In the Summer 2010 Laurel,
time to listen to people.
we will feature brothers who
While Youtz’s hard season started with a phone
have served in other countries.
call, it ended with much more. Epsilon extended
Please e-mail
the hand of brotherhood, and a sad and difficult
laurel_editor@phikappatau.org
experience deepened that bond, bringing an entire
if you or someone you know
chapter together to support a brother at his lowest
has a related experience.
moment and galvanize members to move onward
from a troubled past. ΦΚΤ
ADVERSITY
Learning. Leading. Serving.
17
18
Undergraduates, alumni and
friends of Phi Tau traveled from
across the country to attend
the Fraternity’s 59th National
Convention July 14-18, 2010,
at The Westin Westminster in
Denver, Colo. More than 300
participants spent the week in
brotherhood,
strengthening
the Fraternity in its core ideals:
learning, leading and serving.
Business on the Convention
floor included electing national
officers, determining National
Constitution
and
Statues
changes and National Council
structural changes, and making
recommendations on the policies
and operation of the Fraternity.
Appointed committees, including
scholarship, technology, Borradaile
Challenge, service, housing, finance
and risk management, also gave
reports on the Convention floor.
The following Constitutional
amendments were discussed in
length, voted upon and passed on
the Convention floor:
• The Past National President
was removed as a member of
the National Council.
• Undergraduate
National
Councilors were removed
as members of the National
Council, and an inaugural
Undergraduate Advisory Board
was developed in its place.
• The Borradaile Challenge
reporting process was moved
from academic year to
calendar year.
In addition, delegates voted
to add Harvey C. Brill, the man
who had the most impact on
Phi Kappa Tau’s founding along
with the four founders, and the
Fraternity’s second National
President, to Phi Kappa Tau’s
official membership role.
Other Convention activities
included a dinner in Boulder,
Colo., Dave & Buster’s outing,
alumni excursion to Estes Park,
and service project in downtown
Denver, followed by an afternoon
at Elitch Gardens Theme Park. The
Fraternity’s accomplishments were
recognized during the Hole in the
Wall luncheon, Awards Banquet
and Brotherhood Banquet.
Convention pictures and video
are available under “Programs,”
“National Convention” on the
national website. ΦΚΤ
national
leadership
The following members were elected to, or changed
positions on, the National Council:
• Greg Heilmeier, Bethany ’86,
National President
• Steve Nelson, Southern Mississippi ’73,
National Vice President
• Mike Dovilla, Baldwin-Wallace ’94
• Josh Bleidt, Eastern Kentucky ’96
The following members completed their National
Council term:
• Bill Macak, Florida State ’73
• Rick Keltner, Sacramento State ’76
• Charlie Ball, Miami ’82
• Patrick Keal, Kentucky ’04
• Efrem Bycer, Cornell ’06
The following members volunteered their time at
this year’s Convention:
• Wes Fugate, Centre ’99, for banquet planning
Marshalls
• Chris Greenland, Georgia AM
• Parker Macak, Florida Gulf Coast AM
• Brian Quatch, San Jose AM
• Giovanni White, William Paterson AM
• Saron Woodworth, Charleston AM
The following members donated Convention items:
• Jim Hamilton, Ohio State ’63, for Recognition
Banquet favors
• Scott Stewart, Nebraska-Kearney ’69, for banner and poster decorations
• Greg Heilmeier, Bethany ’86, for snack giveaways
harvey C. Brill
No one is alive today who could
say why it happened (or didn’t).
Sometime between 1918 and
1920 a decision was made to assign consecutive badge numbers
to the men who were members of
the Non-Fraternity Association,
Phrenocon and Phi Kappa Tau
prior to 1916. For reasons forever unknown, the name of Harvey Clayton Brill, a member
of the organization from the start and the second president
of the Non-Fraternity Association, was omitted. Thus, since
the 1920s, Brill was not listed on the Fraternity’s member-
Learning. Leading. Serving.
By Bill Jenkins, Bowling Green ’57
ship roster.
Until July 17, 2010. On that date, at Phi Kappa Tau’s 59th
National Convention in Denver, a resolution was passed to
posthumously place Brill’s name on the Fraternity’s rolls.
Presented on the Convention floor by Past National
President Charlie Ball, Miami ’82, the resolution was fully
supported and endorsed by Past National Presidents Mel
Dettra, Ohio State ’45, and Ray Clarke, Bowling Green ’51;
past Phi Kappa Tau Executive Director Bill Jenkins, Bowling Green ’57; Coordinator of Volunteer Development Tyler
Wash, Georgetown ’06, and past Recruitment Coordinator
Charles Underwood, Eastern Kentucky ’03.
Not surprisingly, as one of the original 21 men who as-
sembled on Miami’s campus March 17, 1906, Brill was often
labeled the “fifth founder.” He graduated in 1908 and earned
his Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Michigan. As a
student at Michigan, he was recruited by and joined another
general fraternity (Phi Sigma Kappa).
Brill returned to Miami in 1911, played an integral advisory role for the men of Phrenocon, and ultimately served
as chairman of Miami’s chemistry department until his retirement in 1952. He died at age 90 and is buried in Oxford’s
cemetery, just a few yards from his lifelong friend and colleague Founder William (“Doc”) Shideler, Miami ’06.
For trivia buffs, Harvey Clayton Brill’s assigned member
number—after 104 years—is 88,333.
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
19
Q&A With
president heilmeier
Gregory M. Heilmeier,
Bethany ’86, took the
Fraternity’s helm July 17
in Denver, Colo., during Phi Kappa Tau’s 59th
National Convention. As
National President, he is
looking towards the future by
accomplishing operational goals today.
After graduating with a B.A. in politics and public
policy, Heilmeier quickly became involved with Phi
Kappa Tau as an alumnus, serving as a Domain Director, BOG member and Foundation Board of Trustees
member before serving on the National Council.
Here, Heilmeier shares a little about his personal,
professional and Fraternity life.
Profession: Co-owner of Tasty Pure Food Company, a wholesale food distributor serving Northeast
Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Family: Wife, Theresa; Father, Jim, a charter member of Beta Mu chapter at Kent State; brothers,
Kevin and Bill, members of Alpha Phi chapter
at Akron, and Dan; and two mini schnauzers,
Winston and Bosco.
Hobbies: Bowling and golf; finished the bowling
season with a 212 average, my highest ever. Let’s
not talk about the golf score.
Favorite sports team: Any Cleveland team; still waiting for the first championship season.
Favorite food: My wife’s homemade pasta sauce.
Most interesting place you’ve ever visited: Hawaii;
the diversity of climate and culture is incredible.
Most surprising thing about me: I’m a licensed pilot.
Person who has most influenced you: My father.
Best advice you’ve ever received: Nothing worth
achieving is easy.
Favorite Phi Tau memory: Initiation, and realizing
that my father was there to watch.
What do you consider Phi Kappa Tau’s biggest accomplishment in its 104.5 years? Initiating the great
men who have shaped our Fraternity, our country
and our world. We truly stand on the shoulders of
giants.
Where do you hope the Fraternity is in two years?
Stronger, in membership numbers, chapters,
programming, volunteer involvement, housing
and financially. Every facet of our operations will
be examined and areas of improvement will be
determined and the necessary changes will be
implemented. My main concern isn’t two years from
now, but really 25, 50, even 100 years from now.
Are we making a difference in young men’s lives?
How do we make a difference in our world?
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
Phi Kappa Tau Elects Inaugural
Undergraduate Advisory Board
• Jason Lustig, Cornell ’08
• Matt Marone, Florida State ’08
• Trey Pippin, Louisville ’09
Undergraduate and alumni
Convention delegates voted to
remove Undergraduate National
Councilors as members of the
National Council and develop an
Undergraduate Advisory Board
in its place. This push came from
Undergraduate National Councilors
Patrick Keal, Kentucky ’04, and
Efrem Bycer, Cornell ’06. The
advisory board does not have a vote
on the National Council, rather its
job is to advise the Council, but
will allow more undergraduates
to get involved at the national
level—six brothers were elected at
Convention and a few more will
be appointed in 2011. Members
will serve a two-year commitment.
The following brothers were
elected and took the oath of office
to the inaugural Undergraduate
Advisory Board to the National
Council at the Brotherhood Banquet
on July 17:
• Steven Binzel, Case Western ’08
• Mike Disotell, Westminster ’08
• Philip Frandina, RIT ’08
“I decided to
run for the
Undergraduate
Advisory
Board because
I saw a unique
opportunity
to be a part
TREY PIPPIN
of expanding
undergraduate involvement on
a national level. I appreciate the
opportunity to serve in this important
role. The confidence that has been
placed on me is humbling, and I’m
sure our efforts will help usher in new
representation for undergraduates.”
“The national
level is where
a lot of policy
decisions are
made that affect
the day-to-day
operations of the
STEVEN BINZEL chapters. I want
to get involved
in that process and give my input for
how these regulatory changes and
choices will have an effect on the
vitality and viability of our chapters.
We’ve been picked to be the voice
of the undergraduates. We need to
make sure that they know we’re here
and we want to know what their
concerns are.”
“I feel like it’s
important to get
involved at the
national level
because in many
ways, it is the
last step one can
MIKE DISOTELL take to fulfill
the true spirit of
brotherhood. Also, in many ways, it is
symbolic of a final destination for the
journey we all began when we became
associated with Phi Kappa Tau. With
a panoramic view, it is much easier
to appreciate everything Phi Tau
contributes to one’s life.”
“The national
level gives
young men the
chance to be
much stronger
leaders than at
a local level.
PHILIP FRANDINA Once I started
attending
national and even regional events,
I soon realized that Phi Kappa Tau
brings the greatest minds from the
entire country and gathers them as
one Fraternity. It was then when I
realized how great Phi Kappa Tau
truly is, and everything that the
Fraternity has stood for for over
100 years.”
“Many brothers
of the Fraternity
never get to
experience
the national
organization.
It’s a real
JASON LUSTIG shame that
these people
don’t get to realize that they are a
part of something that is so much
bigger than them. You walk onto
the Convention floor, you pause, and
you realize your jaw dropped and
your mouth is open: Wow, this is an
incredible thing I am a part of. ”
“Having made a
positive impact in
my own chapter,
I felt the need to
help the National
Fraternity in a
similar manner. I
MATT MARONE plan on helping
to identify
ways in which the Fraternity
can provide solutions to specific
problems individual chapters may be
encountering. I believe the strength
of Phi Kappa Tau begins with the
strength of each chapter and the
brothers who form it.”
At the group’s first meeting
with the National Council on July
18, Pippin was elected president of
the board.
The Undergraduate Advisory
Board met Sept. 24-26 in Cincinnati
with the National Council and
Foundation Board of Trustees. The
advisory board will meet with the
same group in February 2011. ΦΚΤ
Learning. Leading. Serving.
20
Maxwell trophy
National President-Elect
Greg Heilmeier presents
the Maxwell trophy to
past Chapter President
Joe Manalastas.
For the first time in Phi Kappa
Tau’s history, Delta Tau chapter at Cal
Poly-Pomona received the Fraternity’s
Maxwell Trophy during the 59th National
Convention Brotherhood Banquet on July
17. The Maxwell Trophy is Phi Kappa
Tau’s highest honor awarded to a chapter.
During the 2009-10 academic year,
Delta Tau chapter most exemplified the
Fraternity’s values in all aspects of operation
and programming. The chapter attained
Maxwell-level achievement in 13 of the
14 criteria of the Borradaile Challenge.
Out of the last 25 years, Delta Tau
chapter has won the top greek award on
Cal Poly’s campus 16 times, including in
2010. In the last year, the group averaged
more than 30 hours of community service
per member, raised more than $6,000 for
philanthropy and had the second highest
GPA within the school’s IFC.
Over the course of the year, the men
volunteered at local schools, the L.A.
Marathon, an MS Walk, local food and
toy drives, and Hole in the Wall Camps.
The men of Delta Tau chapter are
also dedicated to serving their school.
The majority of the leadership positions
within Cal Poly’s IFC, Greek Council,
orientation board and Associated Student
Government are held by Delta Tau chapter
members. In recommendation letters,
Learning. Leading. Serving.
numerous school officials expressed their
gratitude for the group’s leadership and
unwavering commitment to the university.
In addition to their commitment
to scholarship, leadership and service,
the men of Delta Tau are equally
dedicated to fostering brotherhood.
“With all they’ve accomplished, they’ve
worked as a team, as a family, and as a
true brotherhood,” said Chapter Advisor
Brian Smith, Cal Poly-Pomona ’91.
National President-Elect Greg
Heilmeier, Bethany ’86, presented the
Maxwell Trophy to the group. The award
memorializes Roland Maxwell, Southern
California ’22, National President
from 1934 to 1959, former president
of the North-American Interfraternity
Conference and winner of the NIC
Gold Medal for distinguished service.
Past Chapter President Joe Manalastas,
Cal Poly-Pomona ’08, Chapter President
Dan Moussavi, Cal Poly-Pomona ’08,
and VPAR Bryan Burns, Cal PolyPomona ’08, presented Delta Tau’s
Maxwell application to the awards
committee July 15. All three have been
friends since third grade and became
associate and initiate members together.
“Our chapter’s biggest strength
has always been trying to better
ourselves each year,” said Manalastas.
“But the key to our success is a strong
brotherhood and supportive alumni base.”
Delta Tau chapter is well-known
for consistently bringing the most
members to national events. This
Convention was no exception. More
than 30 undergraduates and alumni
were in attendance for the Maxwell
presentations and Brotherhood Banquet.
Each Delta Tau member’s memory
of the Brotherhood Banquet is a little
bit different, but everyone remembers
Heilmeier’s exact words, and the point
at which the celebrating began. Past
Chapter President Jeremy Botica, Cal
Poly-Pomona ’06, tells it like this:
“It took longer than I thought to
announce the winner, but as President
Heilmeier stated that the Maxwell winner
had met 13 out of the 14 metrics, I knew
we were at a 50-percent chance of winning.
And then he said it: ‘… and for the first
time in Phi Tau history, the Maxwell
Trophy goes to a chapter from the state of
Calif—’ We all erupted with excitement.”
otica
credited
the
chapter’s
values for keeping the group on
the right path year after year.
“We don’t worry about how others are
doing or what others are saying about us,
we just remember our brotherhood and do
as many events, outings and philanthropies
as we can get our hands on,” he said. “And
we do it because we get to do it together.”
After Convention, Smith sent
an e-mail to his chapter brothers to
describe the experience to those who
could not attend. An excerpt follows:
“From the moment that it was
announced that Delta Tau had won the
2010 Maxwell Award, I truly began to
believe that anything is possible. That
even when someone tells you something
is not possible, with perseverance,
dedication, leadership and balance, you
can make the impossible become possible.
That a group of men with a common
goal and a strong brotherhood can find
the right balance of fraternity, school,
work, family, leadership and service to
reach any goal that it sets out to achieve.”
ΦΚΤ
Delta Tau undergraduates and alumni
celebrate their Maxwell Trophy win.
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
21
palm
award
Greg Hollen, Maryland ’75, and
Dave Lapinski, Penn State ’74, were
named Palm Award winners at the
59th National Convention in Denver,
Colo. The Palm Award is one of the
Fraternity’s most prominent awards. It is
presented to alumni, after a nomination
and vote of the National Council, who
show outstanding service to the national
organization.
Both Hollen and Lapinski have
impressive résumés with Phi Kappa Tau.
During his tenure with the Fraternity,
Hollen has served on the Foundation,
National Council and countless
committees. He held the positions of
National Vice President and National
President, has established an endowed
scholarship with the Foundation, and
regularly attends Phi Tau events. Hollen
even has an award named after him—the
Greg Hollen Colony President Award.
Lapinski’s track record is equally
impressive. He served on the National
Council, as a Domain Director, national
housing advisor, and BOG chairman
and chapter advisor of his own chapter.
Lapinski, too, is a loyal Foundation
supporter and makes it a priority to
attend national, regional and local
Fraternity events.
Both recipients said they were
humbled to receive the Palm Award.
“The Palm Award is an honor that no
brother can really ever think he ‘deserves,’
rather it’s something one could hope to
receive someday,” Lapinski said.
Often times, alumni choose to serve
the national organization because their
undergraduate experience was lifechanging. For Hollen it was no different,
and he said he was hooked on working
with the Fraternity as a national entity
after his first Convention in 1977.
“My first job out of college was to
work on the Headquarters staff, and that
deepened my love for the organization
and my determination that I should help
it grow stronger and greater,” he said. I
realized that by surrounding yourself
with brothers, you always have someone
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
looking out for your business and
personal development.”
Lapinski believes that getting
involved at the national level helps you
fully understand what the Fraternity is
all about.
“No matter how good a brother’s
undergraduate experience may be or how
outstanding his chapter is, you cannot
truly grasp the significance and meaning
of what Phi Kappa Tau is called to be
until you experience it on a national level,”
he said. “The diversity and breath of our
brotherhood is both impressive and, in its
own way, challenging. The young men who
follow us need the mentoring and guidance
just as much, and perhaps even more today,
as we did at their age, and it is our duty to
provide it to them.” ΦΚΤ
Shideler award
Brian Browne, Case Western ’06, was
named the 2010 William H. Shideler
Award recipient as the Fraternity’s most
outstanding senior. First presented in
1938 and now awarded annually, the
honor memorializes Founder Shideler,
Miami ’06, and is the Fraternity’s highest
individual undergraduate award.
Browne served Alpha Delta chapter
in a number of roles. From his initial
responsibilities as secretary, philanthropy
chairman and vice president, he held
the position of membership orientation
officer during his last semester at Case.
“My Phi Tau experience was one of
the most rewarding and developmental
experiences of my undergraduate career,”
Browne said. “Through Phi Tau, I was able
to make lifelong friends, grow as a person,
develop as a leader, and learn how one
committed group of men can enhance and
improve the community around them.”
An avid participant in national, regional
and local Fraternity programs, Browne was
part of the chapter’s Maxwell presentation
team at Phi Kappa Tau’s Leadership
Academy 2007, where the group won the
Maxwell Trophy as the Fraternity’s most
outstanding chapter nationwide.
On campus, Browne took academics
seriously and graduated with a 3.91 GPA
with degrees in economics and political
science. He made the dean’s list seven
times during his undergraduate career and
is a two-time Phi Kappa Tau Foundation
scholarship recipient.
Browne said he was honored just to
apply for the award, but never expected to
be the recipient.
“Finding out I had won the Shideler
Award was pretty surreal. I couldn’t
believe it. Even accepting the award at
Convention and holding it in my hands, I
can still hardly believe it. It’s definitely a
very humbling and exciting opportunity.”
After being presented with the Shideler
Award, Browne spoke to Convention
attendees about not settling for “good
enough.”
“The mission of Phi Kappa Tau is
to champion a lifelong commitment to
brotherhood, learning, ethical leadership
and exemplary character,” Browne said.
“Leadership isn’t ‘good enough’ when you’re
a Phi Tau, it must also be ethical. Character
isn’t ‘good enough’ when you’re a Phi Tau, it
must also be exemplary. We aren’t striving
for these things, we are championing a
lifelong commitment to them, and by
no stretch of the imagination is this one
an easy calling to meet. Joining Phi Tau
isn’t like joining another group or finding
a new group of friends. Joining Phi Tau
is committing to adopt a philosophy on
life and committing to being a man of
character. It is swearing off and never
accepting ‘good enough.’ ” ΦΚΤ
National President Bill Macak presents
the Palm Award to Greg Hollen.
Dave Lapinski poses with his Palm Award.
Vice President-Elect and past Shideler Award winner Steve Nelson presents the
Shideler Award to Brian Browne.
Learning. Leading. Serving.
22
Awards
The Phi Kappa Tau Awards Committee
announced the recipients of the
2009-10 awards during the Fraternity’s
59th National Convention in Denver, Colo.
Chairman Les Fugate, Centre ’99, oversaw
the presentation ceremonies, which were
held during the Hole in the Wall Luncheon
and Recognition Banquet on July 15 and
Brotherhood Banquet on July 17.
Academic
Excellence
Presented to those chapters and colonies
that exhibit an outstanding record of
academic achievement. The chapter or
colony must be 0.1 above the all men’s
average GPA.
Delta, Centre; Epsilon, Mount
Union; Eta, Muhlenberg; Kappa,
Kentucky; Mu, Lawrence; Alpha
Delta, Case Western; Alpha Eta,
Florida; Alpha Pi, Washington;
Alpha Tau, Cornell; Alpha Upsilon,
Colgate; Alpha Phi, Akron; Beta
Theta, Kansas; Beta Iota, Florida
State; Beta Lambda, Indiana;
Beta Omicron, Maryland; Beta
Chi, Southern Illinois; Gamma
Tau, Old Dominion; Delta Theta,
Georgetown; Epsilon Gamma,
College of New Jersey; Epsilon Nu,
Clemson; Epsilon Sigma, Chapman;
Zeta Alpha, Belmont
Administrative
Excellence
Presented to those chapters and colonies
that exhibit an outstanding record
of compliance with administrative
reporting. The chapter or colony must
file 100 percent of required reports, 90
percent on time.
Delta, Centre; Theta, Transylvania;
Beta Epsilon, Southern Mississippi;
Beta Kappa, Oklahoma State;
Beta Lambda, Indiana; Beta Chi,
Southern Illinois; Beta Psi, Cal
State-Long Beach; Gamma Alpha,
Michigan Tech; Gamma Beta,
Cincinnati; Gamma Nu, RIT;
Gamma Xi, East Central Oklahoma;
Delta Theta, Georgetown; Zeta
Alpha, Belmont
JACK JAREO AWARD
Presented to Alpha Tau chapter at
Cornell by National President Bill Macak,
Florida State ’73 (Scott Conroe,
Cornell ’01, accepted the award)
DR. EDGAR EWING BRANDON AWARD
Presented to Roy Clunk, Mount Union ’75,
by Macak and Bob Leatherman, Akron ’60
(also pictured is Clunk’s wife, Lynne)
Borradaile
Undergraduate
Award
implements the best alumni relations
program.
Dan Moussavi, Cal Poly-Pomona ’08
Presented to the undergraduate who, by
his actions, has shown leadership and a
true understanding of brotherhood.
David Rodocker, Oklahoma State ’08
Harold E.
Angelo Award
Presented to the chapter that has shown
the greatest improvement compared to
its record the previous year.
Epsilon Rho, Indiana U of
Pennsylvania
Jack L. Anson
Award
Presented to a non-member for
outstanding lifelong contribution to
interfraternal spirit.
Thad Doyle, Kappa Alpha Order
Jack L. Anson
Undergraduate
Award
Presented to an undergraduate for
outstanding interfraternal service.
Andrew Lopez, Cal State-Fullerton ’08
Board of
Governors
Award
Presented to up to three BOGs for
outstanding contribution to their
chapters.
Gamma Omicron, Cal State-Fullerton
Borradaile
Alumnus Award Clinton D. Boyd
Vice President
Presented to up to three alumni for
outstanding achievement in their field of of Alumni
endeavor.
Relations Award
Cliff Shields, Mount Union ’41
Learning. Leading. Serving.
Presented to the undergraduate who
Dr. Edgar Ewing
Brandon Award
Presented to a chapter advisor who
has shown outstanding service to the
Fraternity.
Roy Clunk, Mount Union ’75
Community
Service Award
Presented to the chapters and colonies
that accumulate the most hours per
man, as well as the most cumulative
chapter hours. There are scrolls for the
two runners up for each category. All
chapters and colonies that average 20
or more hours per man are awarded
Maxwell status and a scroll. All chapters
and colonies that average between 10
and 20 hours per man are awarded
Order of the Star status and a scroll.
Hours per man
Delta, Centre—74 hours
Alpha Upsilon, Colgate—66 hours
Beta Kappa, Oklahoma State—60
hours
Total Hours
Delta, Centre—4,460 hours
Alpha Upsilon, Colgate—4,166 hours
Beta Kappa, Oklahoma State—3,484
hours
More than
20 hours per man
Epsilon, Mount Union; Alpha
Tau, Cornell; Beta Lambda,
Indiana; Beta Phi, Westminster;
Beta Chi, Southern Illinois; Beta
Omega, Cal State-Chico; Gamma
Beta, Cincinnati; Delta Theta,
GREG HOLLEN COLONY PRESIDENT AWARD
Presented to Saron Woodworth, Charleston AM,
by Macak and Greg Hollen, Maryland ’75
Georgetown; Delta Tau, Cal
Poly-Pomona; Epsilon Beta, West
Virginia Tech; Epsilon Gamma,
College of New Jersey; Epsilon
Delta, Virginia Wesleyan; Epsilon
Epsilon colony, William Paterson;
Zeta Alpha, Belmont
More than
15 hours per man
Kappa, Kentucky; Alpha Lambda,
Auburn; Beta Epsilon, Southern
Mississippi; Gamma Lambda, Central Michigan; Gamma Nu, RIT;
Delta Nu, Wright State; Epsilon
Rho, Indiana U of Pennsylvania
Dwight I.
Douglass President’s Award
Presented to up to three chapter
presidents who demonstrate general
administrative excellence.
Matthew Long, Baldwin-Wallace ’08
Jesse Green, Oklahoma State ’07
Frederick R.
Fletemeyer Prize
Presented to the Fraternity’s most outstanding colony.
Epsilon Epsilon colony, William
Paterson
Greg Hollen
Colony President
Award
Presented to the colony president who
demonstrates general administrative
excellence.
Saron Woodworth, Charleston AM
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Michigan Tech; Gamma Beta,
Cincinnati; Gamma Lambda, Central
Michigan; Gamma Nu, RIT; Gamma
Omicron, Cal State-Fullerton; Delta
Delta, Bryant; Delta Nu, Wright
State; Epsilon Rho, Indiana U of
Pennsylvania
Outstanding
Advisor to a
Chapter Award
FREDERICK R. FLETEMEYER PRIZE
Presented to Epsilon Epsilon colony at
William Paterson by Macak and Expansion
Coordinator Mike CasaSanta, Tennessee
’03 (Giovanni White, William Paterson AM,
accepted the award)
PAUL NEWMAN AWARD
Presented to Gamma Omicron chapter at
Cal State-Fullerton by National Service
Advisor Matt Parker, Evansville ’93 (Jesus
Ornelas, Cal State-Fullerton ’08, accepted
the award)
Presented to the most outstanding
chapter advisor who has served in the
role for a minimum of two years.
Matthew Della Mora, Cal StateFullerton ’03
Presented to those chapters that meet
Maxwell expectations within the
Borradaile Challenge and are selected to
present for the Roland Maxwell Trophy
as the Founders Four.
Delta, Centre; Alpha Tau, Cornell;
Delta Tau, Cal Poly-Pomona; Zeta
Alpha, Belmont
Presented to the most outstanding
colony advisor.
Sean Hopkins, William Paterson ’89
Outstanding
Jack Jareo Award Roland
Advisor to a
Presented in recognition of the most
Colony Award
Maxwell
Scrolls
outstanding alumni-produced newsletters
and alumni programming.
Alpha Tau, Cornell
Gamma Omicron, Cal State-Fullerton
William D. Jenkins
Interfraternity
Excellence Award
Presented to a non-member
undergraduate for their outstanding
contribution to the greek community.
Adam Hood, Alpha Tau Omega
(nominated by Epsilon chapter at
Mount Union)
Key Award
Presented to an alumnus for outstanding
service to a chapter other than one’s own.
Dr. David Smith, Louisville ’76
Richard
Massock Award
Presented to the chapter with the
most outstanding chapter-produced
newsletters and alumni programming.
Delta, Centre
Honorable
Mention
Gamma Tau, Old Dominion
Roland
Maxwell plaques
Presented to those chapters that meet
Maxwell expectations within the
Borradaile Challenge.
Epsilon, Mount Union; Alpha
Delta, Case Western; Beta Beta,
Louisville; Beta Kappa, Oklahoma
State; Beta Lambda, Indiana; Beta
Chi, Southern Illinois; Delta Theta,
Georgetown
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Roland
Maxwell Trophy
Presented to the most outstanding
chapter in the Fraternity.
Delta Tau, Cal Poly-Pomona
Monroe Moosnick
Scholarship
Trophy
Presented to the chapter that has the
highest cumulative GPA.
Alpha Tau, Cornell—3.4 GPA
Delta, Centre—3.25 GPA
Alpha Delta, Case Western—3.22 GPA
Paul Newman
Award
Presented to the chapter that raises the
highest dollar amount to benefit the
Hole in the Wall Camps.
Gamma Omicron, Cal StateFullerton—$6,500
Order of the
Star Chapters
Presented to those chapters that meet
Order of the Star expectations within the
Borradaile Challenge.
Theta, Transylvania; Kappa,
Kentucky; Alpha Lambda, Auburn;
Alpha Omega, Baldwin-Wallace;
Beta Phi, Westminster; Beta Omega,
Cal State-Chico; Gamma Alpha,
Outstanding
Greek Advisor
Award
Presented to a greek advisor in
recognition of their tremendous
contribution to our Fraternity and their
respective greek community.
Jennifer Adams, advisor to Delta Tau
chapter at Cal Poly-Pomona
Palm Award
Presented to alumni who show
outstanding service to the national
organization.
Greg Hollen, Maryland ’75
Dave Lapinski, Penn State ’74
Phi Award
Presented to an alumnus who shows
outstanding service to his own chapter.
Nicky Francis, East Carolina ’77
Philanthropy/
Hole in the
Wall Camp
Certificates
Presented to those chapters that raise
funds to assist both local philanthropic
causes and the Hole in the Wall Camps,
Phi Kappa Tau’s national philanthropy.
The following is in order of amount
donated ($2,000 minimum).
Omicron, Penn State ($54,294);
Alpha Phi, Akron ($19,842.87);
Gamma Omicron, Cal StateFullerton ($16,300); Delta, Centre
($16,110); Beta Chi, Southern Illinois ($11,020); Kappa,
Kentucky ($8,445); Epsilon, Mount
Union ($8,080); Delta Tau, Cal
Poly-Pomona ($6,310); Beta Beta,
Louisville ($6,255); Alpha Upsilon,
Colgate ($5,890); Beta Lambda,
Indiana ($4,390); Delta Nu, Wright
State ($4,300); Eta, Muhlenberg
($4,250); Alpha Tau, Cornell
($4,133.77); Epsilon Kappa, Rutgers
($4,075); Alpha Delta, Case Western
($3,827); Beta Kappa, Oklahoma
State ($3,614); Alpha Pi, Washington ($3,550); Beta Phi, Westminster
($3,222.73); Delta Delta, Bryant
($3,115); Zeta Alpha, Belmont
($2,556.59); Epsilon Rho, Indiana
U of Pennsylvania ($2,406); Zeta
Beta, Saginaw Valley State ($2,390);
Gamma Nu, RIT ($2,280); Epsilon
Nu, Clemson ($2,270); Beta Omega,
Cal State-Chico ($2,215); Delta
Beta, Evansville ($2,215)
Recruitment
Pacesetter
Award
Presented to those chapters that set the
pace for the largest recruitment classes in
the country.
Eta, Muhlenberg; Omicron, Penn
State; Beta Beta, Louisville; Beta
Kappa, Oklahoma State; Beta
Phi, Westminster; Beta Omega,
Cal State-Long Beach; Gamma
Mu, Bradley; Delta Delta, Bryant;
Epsilon Nu, Clemson; Epsilon
Sigma, Chapman
Sonny Strange
Recruitment
award
Presented to the chapter with the highest
recruitment and retention rate.
Beta Iota, Florida State
William H.
Shideler Award
Presented to the most outstanding
graduating senior in Phi Kappa Tau, this
is the Fraternity’s highest undergraduate
honor.
Brian Browne, Case Western ’06
Thomas L.
Stennis II Award
Presented to the Domain Director with
the most outstanding domain program.
David Ozag, East Carolina ’05
Learning. Leading. Serving.
23
Leadership Academy
24
By
Marty
D u n n i n g , Ke n t u c k y
’07
Recap
L e a d e r s h i p A c a d e m y 2 0 1 0 was ter and avoid the challenges other chapters may be facing,” said
a first in many regards: it was held away from Miami University at Sam Donets, Southern Illinois ’08, a graduate of both Leadership
Camp Rock Eagle in Eatonton, Ga., it was hosted as a smaller event Academy 2009 and 2010.
Highlights of Academy included the Association of Hole in the
to better serve participants, and it was held as an annual program,
instead of biennial. Nearly 30 undergraduates and eight leadership Wall Camps dinner, where attendees learned more about the camps
coaches attended the event, which will now be held every summer, and participated in a pudding-eating competition; the Brother-toBrother session, where participants talked to each other about what
targeting recent initiates and up-and-coming leaders.
Under the direction of Leadership Academy Dean Wes Fugate, they learned at Academy and how they plan to enact it within their
chapter, and an opportunity to develop a vision
Centre ’99, members participated in curriculum
statement for the future of their chapter and condesigned to highlight members’ strengths as a Volunteers &
way of developing values-based leadership skills.
Staff Members crete goals for enacting that vision.
One benefit of the event’s location was the
“Leadership Academy has been a great program
camp’s challenge course. Participants joined tofor more than two decades and has maintained a D e a n
gether to complete different exercises and, in
consistent focus on values and principles,” Fugate Wes Fugate, Centre ’99
turn, developed tight bonds.
said. “Over time, however, the needs of today’s
Lead
“The challenge course was a great addition
students and the organization have changed.
Leadership
because it allowed the men to develop a bond
Thus, Phi Kappa Tau spent time with some of
Coaches
faster than in past Academies,” said Jeff Steller,
the great minds within our Fraternity and from
Don Stansberry, Ohio ’87
Kentucky ’06, a leadership coach at this year’s
the interfraternal community to redevelop an
Jennifer Jones-Hall
Academy.
Academy that sets the Fraternity at the forefront
At the end of the last night, participants beof leadership development.”
Leadership
gan the traditional Candlelight Ceremony, only
Participants used results from an assessment C o a c h e s
to find that there was an addition—a Founder’s
called “StrengthsQuest” to learn their personal Jeff Brown, Bradley ’95
Walk. The four brothers representing founders
strengths, how to own their talents, and how to Thad Doyle
led the entire group along a path with only the
work with others using their assets, both in and Sarah Rochford
Jeff Steller, Kentucky ’06
light from brothers’ candles to guide them. The
out of their chapter.
ceremony then continued outside with all the
Members in attendance appreciated the Casey Stevens
brothers circled together.
changes to the program and felt that it better Cody Ward, Georgia ’09
The Commitment to Character Ceremony,
helped them tackle the issues they face in their S t a f f
or
Leadership Academy’s “graduation cerchapters.
Marty Dunning, Kentucky ’07
emony,” was held on the last day of the event.
“After attending my second Leadership Acad- Alex Koehler, Mount Union ’07
Participants committed to the Fraternity’s
emy, I feel the change to a smaller, more inti- Cindy Morgan
cardinal principals and being men of characmate location really [helped] the brothers to get
ter. ΦΚΤ
a grasp as to how they can change their chap-
Learning. Leading. Serving.
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
My Leadership
Academy Experience
By
Mikey
Kruszynski, Miami
’1 0
W
Brothers participate in the ropes course.
Brothers study and talk about values.
Participants have open conversation during the Brother-toBrother session.
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
hen I was presented the opportunity to attend Phi Kappa Tau’s 2010 Leadership Academy, I knew I could not
pass it up. I knew that attending Academy would not only help me
become a more prominent leader with my chapter, Alpha at Miami, but it would also allow me to develop important leadership and
managerial skills to be used in the future.
I had no expectations and no idea what I was in for. I knew:
1. That I would be going somewhere in Georgia for three nights
and four days.
2. There were going to be men from other chapters around the country looking to strengthen their leadership skills, as well.
But, that was all I knew. What I didn’t know was the impact these
four days would have on me as a leader.
When we arrived at Rock Eagle Camp in Eatonton, Ga., we
checked in, unpacked and started Academy with some simple icebreakers. These few icebreakers really set the tone for the rest of our
experience.
During my time at the Academy, I was asked to think about my vision for my chapter and decide on a mission statement. I learned how to
manage certain situations, as well as step up and take the lead in certain
circumstances. We broke into small groups for more intimate conversations about our personal and fraternal goals. We walked in the woods
and did a ropes course and team-building exercises. We had very honest
and real conversations with fellow brothers about problems we face, as
well as successes we’ve experienced.
It was amazing to hear so many different people talk about how they
ended up where they are today and why. Reflecting back on my experience, I feel that I learned more from my fellow brothers than anyone
else. Hearing personal stories about a struggle or success really gave me
huge respect for the brothers with which I was experiencing Academy.
A simple question seemed to turn into a deep, intimate and positive
conversation about whatever the topic was on hand.
Whenever I step out of my comfort zone, I always try to remain as
open-minded as possible. I make sure I give everything and everyone a
fair chance and tell myself that every experience has a purpose.
I believe that keeping this open-mindedness allowed me to have a
positive Academy experience. It goes back to that old cliché: You are
going to get out of the experience what you personally put into it. At
Academy, I participated as much as possible and always gave my honest opinion. I walked away from the experience with an appreciation
for other people’s life stories and a great respect for the brothers who
walked through Leadership Academy with me.
I didn’t know what to expect going in, and I think that made all
the difference. ΦΚΤ
Learning. Leading. Serving.
25
CHAPTER ETERNAL
THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE REPORTED DECEASED TO THE EXECUTIVE
OFFICES BETWEEN MAY 5 AND OCT 6, 2010.
26
AKRON
Roland H Swartzlander ’42
John W Reece ’53
BETHANY
Albert K Barth ’47
Richard J Meess ’48
CASE WESTERN
David L McDanels ’54
Norman H Gaber ’55
Richard W Noel Jr ’56
COE
Neal D Elkin ’52
COLORADO
James F Norling ’47
James Nakama ’88
COLORADO STATE
F Bing Johnson ’54
Roger L Serpan ’58
CONNECTICUT
Eugene W Martin ’62
CORNELL
Walter D Jennings ’39
Robert P Zabel ’39
FLORIDA
Walter F Price ’44
FRANKLIN & MARSHALL
Lester R Gery ’36
IDAHO STATE
James A Huff ’54
ILLINOIS
MUHLENBERG
KANSAS
NEBRASKA WESLEYAN
Raymond D Kanzleiter ’72
Richard H Wilson Sr ’04
KANSAS STATE
Robert Rychel ’29
Benjamin L Webb Jr ’70
KENT STATE
Larry M Dubravetz ’65
KENTUCKY
Donald L Staib ’70
LAWRENCE
Brian R Wood ’99
LOUISVILLE
Marshall W Sprigg Jr ’55
MIAMI
Robert E Netzley ’42
Donald L Petersen ’45
William M Howard ’51
Graham B Campbell ’54
MICHIGAN
Hillary J Everson ’35
Richard S Rhodes II ’67
MICHIGAN STATE
Max H Smith ’34
WALTER JENNINGS, Cornell ’39, died March
4, 2010, at age 90. A World War II Army veteran,
Jennings earned the Bronze Star, three Battle
Crosses and the New York State Conspicuous
Service Cross while serving. Post-war, he worked
with the Hartford Insurance Co. for 32 years.
Jennings was a scout master and a member of the
American Legion, Elks, and First Presbyterian
Church of Glen Falls.
JOHN CORNELL, Ohio ’41, died May 13,
2010, at age 87. During World War II, Cornell
served as an armored infantry commander with
the 7th Armored Division. He was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross, three Bronze Stars
and the Purple Heart. Cornell was a lifetime
member of the Disabled American Veterans. Prior
to retirement, he worked for Proctor & Gamble.
ROBERT NETZLEY, Miami ’42, died July 28,
2010, at age 87. An Ohio state representative for
Learning. Leading. Serving.
John W Missall Jr ’41
Donald Moses ’44
Bruce E Satterlee ’66
Richard Collister ’45
Oscar L Wisbey ’47
NEW MEXICO
Robert C Colgan ’48
Clinton D Parker ’52
NEW MEXICO STATE
Edgar R Garrett ’50
Charles A Steinmann ’55
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
Arnold C Hungerford ’61
OHIO STATE
William A Copley ’46
Leonard W Novick ’51
OHIO
John C Cornell ’41
William H Beck ’44
Daniel Clark ’66
Christopher Gilks ’87
OHIO WESLEYAN
Paul A Callender ’48
OLE MISS
Peter B Lauer ’69
40 years, Netzley’s tenure was the longest of any
member of the Ohio House. The Republican was
first elected in 1960, after serving in the Navy during
World War II. In 2006, Netzley was inducted into
the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.
NEAL ELKIN, Coe ’52, died June 22, 2010, at
age 77. He served in the Trieste United States
Troops, commanded by the Army, and later worked
for the Federal Reserve Bank and Harris Bank in
various cities. Once retired, Jennings volunteered at
Cantigny Big Red One War Museum.
BING JOHNSON, Colorado State ’54, died
Aug. 8, 2010, at age 75. After receiving a bachlor’s
in bacteriology, Johnson went to the University
of Colorado School of Medicine at Denver. He
interned at the University of Mississippi Medical
Center, where he received the Outstanding Intern
Award, and went on to complete his residency at
Colorado General Hospital in general radiology.
OREGON STATE
Richard B Atherton ’56
PENN STATE
Frederick N Wescott ’51
Richard A Puhala ’58
Gerald J Paddock ’71
PURDUE
Robert F Davis ’48
RENSSELAER
Gordon R Couchot ’54
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Edward C Cray ’25
Walter E Slike ’37
Robert L Crosby ’45
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Edwin C Vantrease ’54
ST. CLOUD
Allen S Cooper ’69
TEXAS-AUSTIN
George A McAlmon Jr ’47
Harry A Nass Jr ’52
TEXAS STATE-SAN MARCOS
Brian L Slade ’76
Mackey Houser ’82
TRANSYLVANIA
Embrey B Howson ’47
He was named chief resident after one year into
the program. A couple years later, Johnson rejoined
the University of Colorado School of Medicine
as chief of the division of radiation oncology and
associate professor of radiology. After retiring in
1986, Johnson started a radiation oncology practice
at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, Colo.,
where he served until his death.
PETER LAUER, Ole Miss ’69, died Feb. 24, 2010,
at age 62. A graduate of the Kellogg Graduate
School of Management at Northwestern University,
Lauer began his career with the American Medical
Association in 1977 and continued with the
organization in several key executive positions.
In 2003, he joined the Society of Interventional
Radiology as executive director. Lauer was a
member of the American Association of Medical
Society Executives and American Society of
Association Executives.
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
A TRUE MAN OF CHARACTER
MU CHAPTER ALUMNUS SELFLESSLY ENTERS CHAPTER ETERNAL
By Heath Gordon, Lawrence ’05
On Sept. 3, Brian Wood, Lawrence ’99, was
driving to a family home in Washington state
when a Chevy Blazer veered into his lane. With his
pregnant wife, Erin, in the passenger seat, Wood had
only seconds to react, hitting the brakes and steering
his Subaru Outback so that he took the full impact
of the crash.
Police said that this action saved his wife and
unborn child, and many in the media have called
it “The Ultimate Sacrifice.” Looking back on
Wood’s life and achievements, it’s easy to see that
this decision was not difficult, as his entire life was
defined by a striking depth of character.
Wood’s father, Ed Wood, described a man who
was, from a young age, “ethically centered” and
able to do the right thing, even when it came to
“tough decisions.” Singing played an important
role in Wood’s life, and he took voice lessons in
high school. One day, he witnessed his vocal coach
sexually molesting a fellow student. He confronted
his teacher and went to the police when the abuse
continued. Where others might have remained
silent out of fear or embarrassment, Wood did the
right, yet the most difficult, thing.
Wood was perseverant, too. He became an Eagle
Scout, the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts
program, before graduating high school, a feat he
achieved after leading a group of 25 men and boys
for a number of days to make a campsite handicap
accessible.
Wood showed the same confidence when joining
Phi Kappa Tau at Lawrence University. Mu chapter’s
member orientation officer at the time remembered
bidding Wood several times. Like many people,
Wood was uncertain about the whole “fraternity
thing,” and only joined after he knew he could take
the bonds of brotherhood seriously. His Phi Tau
brothers described Wood as a man who always filled
the room with good spirit and an imposing figure,
something that served him well when he played the
titular role in “Sweeny Todd.”
Erin said her husband had “fond memories” of
his undergraduate time in Mu chapter and that each
Thursday, he would make pizza for the house. The
bonds of brotherhood did not break at graduation;
he continued to keep in contact with many of his
brothers.
Wood’s passion drove him to the video gaming
industry, a notoriously competitive field. On
numerous occasions he could have given up and
taken a job that may not have been as fulfilling, but
Erin described him as “always pushing himself,”
never willing to “rest on his laurels.” And, he certainly
reaped the benefits of his hard work: He earned a
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
27
Wood, his wife, Erin, and
their dog, Trogdor, in North
Vancouver, British Columbia.
Wood and his parents, Ed and Janice, on Wood’s
wedding day.
pivotal role in the development of the “Company of
Heroes” franchise, as well as working on the games
“Axis and Allies” and “Kohan II: Kings of War.”
In addition to “living the dream” as a video-game
developer, Wood was intensely focused on improving
himself and others. Mentorship was very important
to him, and Wood felt a deep sense of satisfaction
from cultivating talent inside of and away from his
team at work. Although he learned a great deal from
his former bosses and mentors, Erin notes that he
“learned an equal amount from his adversaries.”
Wood was held in very high regard in the
gaming industry, which led to an unprecedented
show of support from the community when fellow
developers and enthusiasts learned of his passing. So
much so, in fact, that Erin wrote an open letter to the
community thanking everyone for their well wishes
during “the most difficult, dark days of [her] life.”
It is always a tragedy when someone is cut down
in the prime of their life, and there is an undeniable
senselessness to Wood’s car crash. The driver of the
Blazer was changing her sweater at the time, and
the passenger had taken the wheel but lost control.
Drugs were found littering the floor of the Blazer.
The driver and passenger will most likely face charges
of vehicular assault.
Anger is an obvious reaction to what happened that
night, but Wood’s family doesn’t have room for that.
The only thing they can do is try to come to grips with
the profound loss of someone who was overjoyed at
the prospect of being a father. Erin is doing everything
she can to preserve the story of what her husband did
for his daughter, Sierra Grace, who was born Oct. 28.
On a personal note: As a fellow graduate of
Mu chapter, it has been very hard. Our chapter is
very tight-knit, and we all feel like we have lost a
member of our extended family. Wood’s impact on
everything he touched was undeniable. He will be
deeply missed.
In both life and death, Wood exemplified all
the things that we, as men of Phi Tau, hold dear:
character of the highest degree and sacrifice for
others. In all cases, he led by example.
A memorial has been established to help
Erin and Sierra. Find out more at www.
brianwoodmemorialtrust.com. ΦΚΤ
Learning. Leading. Serving.
OUR CHAPTERS
A REVIEW OF CHAPTER NEWS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
VISIT WWW.PHIKAPPATAU.ORG TO READ MORE NEWS.
28
BETA CHI CHAPTER at
Southern Illinois hosted a tailgate
before the Southern IllinoisUniversity of Illinois football
game in September. More than
45 undergraduates, alumni and
friends participated in the event.
BETA OMEGA CHAPTER at
Cal State-Chico held a fundraiser
for the National Sept. 11
Memorial at ground zero in New
York City. A local fire captain,
pastor and university police
officers were invited to speak at
the event.
At a Louisville football pre-game tailgate, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Louisville ’61, and Retired U.S.Attorney for the Western
District of Kentucky Dave Huber, Louisville ’62, mingled with Fraternity undergraduates and showed their Phi Tau pride. [From left to right]
Huber, Evan Shepherd, Louisville AM, Trey Pippin, Louisville ’09, and McConnell.
ALPHA DELTA CHAPTER
at Case Western hosted a 10th
anniversary celebration of the
chapter’s re-chartering. The
weekend also commemorated the
85th anniversary of the chapter’s
original charter signing in 1925.
ALPHA TAU CHAPTER
at Cornell celebrated its 80year anniversary with nearly 60
undergraduates and alumni on
campus and at the chapter house.
BETA BETA CHAPTER
at Louisville teamed up with
the University of Louisville
Learning. Leading. Serving.
EPSILON DELTA CHAPTER
at Virginia Wesleyan volunteered
at the Jerry Lewis Labor Day
Telethon for the Muscular
Dystrophy Association in
memory of Jamie Labbe, Virginia
Wesleyan AM, a founding
men’s soccer team to host its
second annual philanthropy
benefiting Kick for Nick, a nonprofit organization that gathers
and distributes soccer balls to
Iraqi children. The two groups
collected nearly 500 balls, up
from 200 in 2009.
BETA THETA CHAPTER
at Kansas held a car demolition
fundraiser for the Hole in the
Wall Gang Camp in Ashford,
Conn. Participants paid $1-5
to take a swing at the car. The
group raised nearly $600.
Five Phi Taus met while volunteering at Double H Camp—a Hole in the Wall Camp in New
York—over the summer. [From left to right] Tim Weaver (camper), Matt Parker, Evansville ’93,
Phil Ruane, Maryland ’06, John Zamojski, Case Western ’05, and Alex Benninger (camper).
Dick Michael, Michigan Tech ’70, and Mike Disotell, Westminster ’08, not pictured.
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
29
father of the chapter who died
from complications of muscular
dystrophy. The group participates
every year.
Joe Manalastas, Cal Poly-Pomona ’08,
participated in the inaugural Camp
Challenge Ride at The Painted Turtle,
a Hole in the Wall Camp in California.
The cycling event, in 18-mile, 36mile and 62-mile ride options, was a
fundraiser for the camp.
EPSILON MU CHAPTER
at UNC-Pembroke hosted
“Climbing for Victory,” a 48hour event where brothers
alternated shifts sitting at the
school’s university center to raise
awareness and funds for Victory
Junction, a Hole in the Wall
Camp in Randleman, N.C.
EPSILON SIGMA CHAPTER
at Chapman hosted a seminar
on healthy relationships in
conjunction with Chapman
C.A.R.E.S, a student group
dedicated to creating a rape-free
Get involved!
Phi Kappa Tau’s volunteers are critical to the success of the Fraternity. To ensure that Phi Kappa
Tau continues to grow and prosper, the Fraternity must continue to expand its volunteer corp. Phi
Kappa Tau offers several volunteer opportunities
for its members to get re-engaged with the Fraternity and live out the mission of a LIFELONG
commitment to brotherhood, learning, ethical
leadership and exemplary character.
GET INVOLVED!
DOMAIN DIRECTORS
The following domains are currently in need of
directors:
Big Apple (New York City Area)
Bluegrass East (Kentucky Area)
Buckeye South (Southeast Ohio Area)
Cornhusker (Nebraska Area)
Deep South (Mississippi Area)
Great Lakes North
(Northern Michigan Area)
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
environment for students. Nearly
200 students attended the seminar,
Dating 101: Sexpectations, which
focused on how to spot signs of
an unhealthy relationship, how to
talk to partners about emotional
and physical needs, and where to
get help. After the presentation,
students explored the history of
Phi Kappa Tau and learned about
the Hole in the Wall Camps.
Zeta Alpha chapter at Belmont volunteered
with Extreme Makeover Home Edition,
rebuilding a school that was destroyed in
the Nashville floods. Also, Past Chapter
President Tim Harms, Belmont ’06, led
Belmont’s Students in Free Enterprise team
to first place in the U.S. competition and
third place in the world competition. SIFE is
an international non-profit organization that
works with leaders in business and higher
education to mobilize university students
to make a difference in their communities
while developing the skills to become
socially responsible business leaders.
Stay involved!
Great Plains (Kansas Area)
Hawkeye (Iowa Area)
Hoosier (Indiana Area)
Lone Star (Texas Area)
Ohio Valley (Southwest Ohio Area)
Patriot (New England Area)
Rio Grande (Arizona Area)
Rocky Mountain (Colorado Area)
Tar Heel (North Carolina Area)
Upstate (Northern New York Area)
BOARD OF
GOVERNORS VOLUNTEERS
The following chapter volunteer positions come
available regularly:
Board of Governors Chairman
Alumni Advisor
Chapter Advisor
Faculty Advisor
Financial Advisor
Recruitment Advisor
Risk Management Advisor
Scholarship Advisor
If you are interested in one of these
volunteer positions, please contact
Coordinator of Volunteer Development
Tyler Wash, Georgetown ’06, at
volunteer@phikappatau.org.
STAY INVOLVED!
VOLUNTEER
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
The Volunteer Certification Program was developed to provide the necessary training for Phi
Kappa Tau volunteers. Each certification program
includes three online modules and a survey that,
once complete and reviewed by the Executive Offices, certifies a volunteer in their position.
Participate in the program at
www.phikappatau.org, “Programs,” “Volunteer
Certification Program.”
For more information about volunteering,
including volunteer job descriptions, visit
www.phikappatau.org/volunteer.
Learning. Leading. Serving.
LAURELS
30
HONORING PHI KAPPA TAU ALUMNI IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
VISIT WWW.PHIKAPPATAU.ORG TO READ MORE NEWS.
DARRALL IMHOFF, UC
Berkeley ’58, and the late Pete
Newell, UC Berkeley ’58, were
part of the 2010 class inducted
into the Naismith Memorial
Basketball Hall of Fame. The
entire 1960 U.S. Men’s Olympic
Basketball Team, which Newell
coached and Imhoff played on,
was included for its gold-medal
success in Rome.
•
Jeremy Christ, Southern Mississippi ’93, participated in the 21st annual Fleur de Lis Regatta in Louisville, Ky. The two-day sailing event raised more
than $17,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Christ was part of the crew on “Room 4 Crew” [foreground].
•
1940 •
PAUL NEWMAN, Ohio ’43,
was posthumously inducted into
the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of
Fame for his work to improve the
lives of all Ohioans.
Phi Taus in the Dallas-Fort Worth area
volunteered with the East Dallas Community
Organization (EDCO)—Distinguished Foundation
Trustee Jerry Carlton, Ohio ’58, serves as
the organization’s president—to build a
playground in a nearby community. [From left
to right] Carlton, Travis Doyle, Oklahoma State
’97, Roger Toney, Muhlenberg ’63, and Dick
Hodges, Oklahoma State ’61.
CHARLES YENTSCH,
Louisville ’49, received the
2010 Jerlov Award from the
Oceanography Society for
his work on phytoplankton,
microscopic plant-like organisms,
which ultimately gave rise to
the field of ocean color remote
sensing. He was also recognized
for founding new oceanographic
institutions, nurturing future
leaders in the field and providing
a vibrant research environment
for the study of bio-optics.
•
1950 •
JIM FOUSS, Miami ’58, was
inducted into the Sidney City
Schools Hall of Honor. He
serves as the president of Fouss
Market Research, a lecturer
in the business management
department of Washington
College and community leader
in Chestertown, Md.
1960 •
DAVID SYMPSON, Kentucky
’60, was elected the 107th
president general of the National
Society of the Sons of the
American Revolution at the
society’s 120th Annual Congress
in Cleveland.
JIM RUTLEDGE, Louisville
’62, was inducted into the
Atherton High School Alumni
Association Hall of Fame.
He is the master distiller and
president at the Four Roses
Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Ky.
Eta chapter at Muhlenberg hosted the fourth annual Mules and Friends Golf Outing. More than
80 golfers attended the event that has raised thousands of dollars for charity since its inception.
Next year’s event will be held June 3, 2011. Contact Brad Fischer at bafish11@hotmail.com
for more information.
Learning. Leading. Serving.
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
31
Charles Whittington, Florida State ’03, [left]
served as a summer legal intern at Grant,
Fridkin, Pearson, Athan & Crown, P.A., Attorneys
at Law in Naples, Fla., where David Budd, Ohio
’56, is a shareholder. Whittington was later
offered and accepted a position at the firm.
DR. ROBERT STAMPS, Coe
’67, was elected an honorary
member of the Florida State
Horticultural Society. Stamps,
who works as a professor of
environmental horticulture at the
University of Florida/IFAS MidFlorida Research and Education
Center, was recognized for his
meritorious service to the society
and advancement of horticulture
in Florida.
•
1970 •
SCOTT ADAMS, Washington
State ’73, was recognized as
the Appraisal Institute’s May
“Volunteer of Distinction” for
Region 1. The Appraisal Institute
Staff Sergeants Steve Clark, Georgetown ’84, and
Mike Lona, Louisville ’95, of the Kentucky Army
National Guard recently completed a year-long
deployment with Task Force Aviation, Kosovo
Forces 12, in support of NATO peacekeeping
operations in the Balkans. Clark is a firefighter
and paramedic with Frankfort Fire/EMS and
Lona works with the U.S. Army Aviation Support
Facility in Frankfort.
is the nation’s largest organization
of real estate appraisers, and
Adams was praised for his
commitment to the institute, his
profession and his community.
•
1980 •
MARK LOGRIPPO, St. John’s
’88, participated in the sixth
annual Big Brothers Big Sisters
of New York City (BBBS of
Alumni members from Nu chapter at UC Berkeley reunited for a golf outing at Woodbridge Country
Club in Woodbridge, Calif. [From left to right] Dan Hernandez ’63, Bob Albright ’60, Nick Sokol
’62 and Elliott Adams ’61.
NYC) RBC Race for the Kids
that raises funds and awareness
for the organization’s mentoring
program. LoGrippo’s team raised
$18,000 for BBBS of NYC.
T.G. SHUCK, Georgetown ’88,
received a Regional Emmy award
in the 46th annual Ohio Valley
competition for the AnchorWeather-Composite category. He
is chief meteorologist at WKYTTV 27 in Lexington.
BILL SIMONITSCH, Florida
State ’89, was promoted to partner
at K&L Gates LLP, a global
law firm. He was also appointed
Southeast Regional Governor
for the National Asian Pacific
American Bar Association.
•
1990 •
NICK PEZZAROSSI,
Louisville ’95, was named a
human resources specialist for the
National Institute of Heath in
Bethesda, Md.
•
2000 •
ALLAN NACAPUY, Western
Michigan ’00, entered the
Chiquita Banana Sticker Design
Contest for graphic designers and
artists. His design was one of the
18 winners that will be featured
on Chiquita bananas nationwide
this November.
Alpha Phi chapter at Akron hosted its fourth annual Hole in the Wall Classic Charity Golf Scramble for Flying Horse Farms, a provisional member of the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps in
Mt. Gilead, Ohio. The event attracted 157 golfers to Sable Creek Golf Course in Hartville, Ohio, and raised $17,000 for the camp before camp founders matched the fundraising total at 50 percent,
making the contribution $25,500.
THE LAUREL | www.phikappatau.org
Learning. Leading. Serving.
Phi Kappa Tau Foundation
5221 Morning Sun Road
Oxford, OH 45056
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
COLUMBUS, OH
PERMIT # 4416
How Are
We Doing?
Phi Kappa Tau wants to
hear from you! In order
to continue to improve
the Fraternity and provide
members a quality fraternal experience, we need
your feedback—the good,
the bad and the ugly.
www.phikappatau.org/survey