Carnegie Mellon

On a weekend in mid-October, more than 30 alumni from the early 1960s revisited the chapter house for an informal reunion. This same group, which has been meeting approximately every five years during the school’s homecoming weekend, was able to enjoy the newly renovated house and to reconnect with the active members.

Charleston Alumni Association

The Charleston Alumni Association held a holiday social in early December at the home of its president, Athan Fokas (Charleston ’89), in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The event included members of the Phoenix colony at the College of Charleston. During the event, Fokas announced that a Founding Father Fund has been established to help the colony members toward their journey of becoming a full chapter. To assist, the association is asking each of its members to donate $100. Donors’ names will be placed on a plaque to be displayed in the chapter house. The goal of 60 members is within reach, as 30 have already pledged. To make a contribution, send donations to: SAE Founding Father, P.O. Box 13482, Charleston, SC 29422. For more information, contact Fokas at fokasa@bellsouth.net.

Furman

Richard Riley (’54), who served as the U.S. Secretary of Education from 1993 until 2001 under President Bill Clinton, has been named by Time magazine as one of the ten greatest Cabinet members in American history. According to the article, Riley “spearheaded initiatives to improve academic standards, made education more accessible for lower-income families and expanded college grants and loan programs.” He currently serves on Furman’s board of trustees and also served two terms as governor of South Carolina from 1978 to 1986. Furman’s Richard W. Riley Institute of Government, Politics and Public Leadership is named in his honor.

Idaho

On the first weekend in November, more than 350 alumni and friends celebrated the completion of Idaho Alpha’s $2.5-million project to rebuild its 76-year-old chapter house along with its 89th anniversary. Pledge classes from 1940 to 2008, past Violet Queens and Little Sisters of Minerva attended. The celebration began with a full-page announcement in the University of Idaho student paper thanking the general contractor and his subcontractors for the successful project and inviting the university community to visit the new chapter house any time.

Friday included chapter-house tours, campus tours and video interviews. A group of 20 alumni brothers commissioned at Idaho during the Korean and Vietnam Wars visited the Naval ROTC building for a tour led by the current commanding officer. Saturday included breakfast, a second open house and a formal banquet. Mike Hunter, emcee for the dinner program, current Eminent Archon Sam Larrando and the president of the university began the dinner by welcoming returning chapter alumni. Guests included four of the nine college deans, the Vice Provost of Students, the athletic director and Eminent Supreme Chronicler Steve Churchill. Frances Ellsworth, representing the 40-plus Violet Queens and Little Sisters of Minerva attending the dinner, spoke about her special memories as Violet Queen in the 1960s. Rick Carr then led brothers in singing “Violets” to honor all of Idaho Alpha’s Violet Queens and Little Sisters. Rich Allen (’72) was awarded the Merit Key for his dedication to the chapter and presented with a portrait that is displayed in the new chapter house. The dinner ended with singing “Friends.”

Iowa State

Christoper H. Moffitt (’87), the president of Moffitt’s Ford Lincoln Mercury, a car dealership in Boone, Iowa, was named Time magazine’s Dealer of the Year on January 24, 2009. The award, one of the nation’s most prestigious for new-car dealers, was given to Moffitt out of the more than 19,500 dealers nationwide. After his nomination, Moffitt was chosen as the winner from a group of 49 by a panel at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. His dealership is one of the oldest in the country, with more than 81 years of operation. Moffitt also acts as chairman of the board for the Boone County Family YMCA, which he has served since 2005.

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