Cornell

The New York Alpha chapter has been involved with the university’s Creating Chapters of Excellence program, which helps coordinate efforts among Greek organizations to help with all aspects of chapter life, from philanthropic events to member-education seminars. Eminent Archon Curtis Roddy, along with CCE’s liaison, has been assisting in planning a textbook-buyback program and a tree-planting project for the campus. In addition, Cornell has approved funding for New York Alpha to create outdoor-education events — one in the fall and two in the spring — to assist with member development. The men have also booked an alcohol-education speaker to have a session with new pledges about responsible drinking habits.

DePauw

Senior Carter Johnson has gone beyond planning for chapter events or getting the next philanthropic event off the ground — he went on a trip to Costa Rica and accomplished two goals in his own life. First, he helped install water-purification tanks for local villages, continuing his dedication to service. Then, in the mountains overlooking the villages where he worked, he proposed to his girlfriend. Johnson, who served Indiana Delta as philanthropy chair, has also participated in a trip to Mississippi during his freshman year to help with hurricane-relief efforts and a spring-break immersion in North Carolina, where he worked to provide housing for low-income families.

IUPUI

The men of Indiana Iota-Pi were recognized for their hard work and the establishment of their full charter by the Indiana state Senate on February 7, 2009. The men were treated to a reception with the legislature, accompanied by Karen Whitney, vice chancellor at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Pictured are (from left, front row) Bernie Reed, Derek Lee, Senator R. Michael Young, Whitney and Province Psi Archon Fred Fritz, and (from left, back row) Nick Sutton, Eminent Archon Steve Oetting, Trevor Ciboch, Jarrod Otter and chapter adviser Daniel Maxwell.

Duke

After a long absence, the men of North Carolina Nu have come back with some momentum. In just two weeks of recruitment, the colony offered 19 bids to freshmen and sophomores who will join the 13 upperclassmen Founding Fathers. The men have been outstanding on campus, with Eminent Deputy Archon Wey Ruetten receiving the William J. Maschke Jr. Memorial Award, which was given by the Inter-Fraternity Council for his efforts in coordinating the colony’s return to campus. While the Duke chapter was disbanded in 2001 after 70 years, the alumni network remains strong, with more than 1,500 members. For more information or to get involved with the North Carolina Nu colony, e-mail adviser John Stringfellow at jstringman@aol.com.

Emory

Georgia Epsilon won multiple awards from the Office of Sorority and Fraternity life for demonstrating superior leadership on campus. Each year, a team of judges comprised of members from various academic departments analyzes each fraternity and sorority for their successes in various categories. On April 22, 2009, Georgia Epsilon received awards for most improved GPA over the past academic year, as well as for having the best standards board and judicial process among the fraternities on campus. Mark Knapp, a sophomore, was named best representative for his role on the Inter-Fraternity Council.

Loyola

For the past four years, Illinois Alpha-Omega has organized and hosted a fundraiser for the St. Baldrick’s Day Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps combat various types of childhood cancer. The men aim to show their solidarity with children suffering from cancer, so participants shave their heads in order to raise money for the foundation. St. Baldrick’s Day 2009 featured Dr. Jim Wand, a hypnotist and member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Wand performed to a packed crowd as a finale to the event, which successfully raised $10,000. Approximately 70 students, faculty and other attendees shaved their heads, 30 being ªAEs. Throughout the day, different entertainment was offered to those attending, ranging from free food and drink, a balloon-pop contest for tickets to the Blue Man Group, a silent raffle for classes and books donated by Kaplan and even brief speeches by cancer survivors.

Miami (Florida)

For the fourth consecutive year, the men of Florida Alpha received the distinction of being named Outstanding IFC Chapter. In addition to receiving that top award, the chapter also took home more honors than any other organization, including ones for community service, campus involvement, alumni programming and new-member scholarship, as well as individual awards. Danny Casamayor was named IFC Fraternity Man of the Year and former True Gentleman of the Year Daniel Poterek was named IFC Fraternity Alumnus of the Year.

Millsaps

On February 28, 2009, the Mississippi Delta chapter held its 9th annual Chili Bowl to benefit the Lifeshare Foundation of Jackson, Mississippi. During the competition, 20 teams prepared chili made with anything from beef, barbecue sauce or even food coloring. When the event was completed, the men had raised $12,642 to help Mississippi children living in poverty, or those with mental and physical disabilities, to have the same chances as children in better circumstances. The chapter plans to continue its tradition next year, continuing to support Lifeshare, and looks toward an even more successful event.

Penn State

THON, a philanthropic dance event held by the student body of Penn State each year, has been assisted by the men of Pennsylvania Alpha-Zeta each year since 1972. Campuswide, the event now uses more than 15,000 student volunteers and 700 dancers while raising more than $52 million for Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. Together with the women of Pi Phi, the chapter raised more than $85,000 and sponsored a child named Aaron, whose cancer is now in remission.

Province Gamma

On April 3-4, 2009, Province Gamma hosted its first Ritual institute in Richmond, Virginia, on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. Nearly 200 brothers from Virginia, Washington, D.C., New York and Kentucky listed to explanations and seminars including Ritual history, traditional Rituals at chapters and in-depth explanations of secret meanings. As the final speaker, past Eminent Supreme Archon Mike Scarborough shared personal experiences on how to use the Ritual in everyday activities. During the event, several chapters received awards for outstanding performance in the 12 Core Areas of the True Gentleman Initiative. Virginia Zeta at Virginia Tech was named 2008 Outstanding Province Gamma Chapter and Thomas Lott at Virginia Commonwealth was recognized as the Outstanding Undergraduate of the Year for Province Gamma.

Simpson

On April 1, 1976, Sally Jenkins began her first day the house cook for the Iowa Sigma chapter. More than 32 years later, she’s still here making sure the men at Simpson are well-fed. In that time, she’s seen quite a few brothers pass through her dining hall and has created traditions that show how much the members mean to her — including remembering each and every birthday, fixing that brother’s favorite dessert to celebrate. Since she doesn’t live at the house, she stays active in her community, singing in the church choir and baking for her six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. To show their appreciation for her long tenure of service, the men of Iowa Sigma repainted her kitchen this past fall, adding her name to the wall in wooden letters.

Southern Cal

The California Gamma chapter recently sponsored a CPR-certification seminar for its newest pledge class – and extended the opportunity to the active members. The class offered hands-on training on how to revive an unconscious person as well as instruction in the use of a defibrillator. In bringing the course to the chapter, brothers demonstrated their commitments to better themselves as well their concern for others’ well-being. The event was such a success that California Gamma extended the training to all Greek men at the university.

Texas Tech

John DeWitt, the Eminent Archon of Texas Alpha, found himself in a unique position to help a man walking cross-country. Rory Fanning, who was in the middle of a 3,800-mile walk to honor his friend Pat Tillman, the NFL player and U.S. Army Ranger who died in Afghanistan in 2004. When Fanning’s route took him through Lubbock, Texas, DeWitt was contacted to help organize a student event around Fanning’s trip. But after meeting Fanning, DeWitt decided to go one step further, offering the traveler the use of his room. “He’s doing it for such a good cause. The least I can do is give up my room,” DeWitt said. Fanning, who said he slept outside for most of his trip, was incredibly gracious.

Washington State

On April 8, 2009, Kyle McKeeman was honored by the Center for Civic Engagement as the recipient of the 2009 Distinguished Service Learning Award. McKeeman received the award for his leadership as one of the chief organizers of the College Hill Association Adopt-a-Block program. He was nominated by Alison Rotolo, the association president. “He has made a difference in his fraternity,” she said, “which reflects positively on the entire Greek community and the WSU student community.” Each year the CCE recognizes one student, one faculty member and one community partner who display a commitment to learning through campus-community engagement.

Vanderbilt

At the 27th annual Chancellor Alexander Heard Greek Awards at Vanderbilt on April 6, 2009, Tennessee Nu was recognized for its outstanding faculty relations by the Inter-Fraternity Council and, in addition, was part of the IFC team that won an award for an outstanding collaborative program. Three brothers were listed in the event’s notes as having achieved a 4.0 semester GPA — among whom was Wyatt Smith, who was elected as student-government president for the coming year. Heard, the former Vanderbilt chancellor for whom the awards are named is a Tennessee Nu alumnus from 1938.

West Virginia

At the university’s recent Greek awards ceremony, the men of West Virginia Gamma were named as the top fraternity on the university campus. The men have been continuing their tradition of excellence, as the two most recent studentbody presidents have been members of the chapter. West Virginia Gamma also received the top awards for best scholarship and best recruitment. Pictured are (from left) Zach Zellner, chapter adviser Ed Cole, Eminent Recorder Jermey Hylton, Eminent Deputy Archon Aneesh Sompali, Eminent Archon Steve Seem, Ben Remo, Eminent Treasurer Mark Dodson, Ben Wiener and Jason Parsons.

Western Kentucky

To commemorate Autism Awareness Day, the men of Kentucky Beta helped Bowling Green’s new baseball team, the Hot Rods, kick off their first season and at the same time spread awareness of autism and research on treatment options. And their motivation comes from inside sources: Last fall, Michael Kelly, the son of the founders of the Kelly Autism Program, pledged the Fraternity. After learning about the program from Kelly, brothers revamped their philanthropy program, holding two events each year to benefit KAP. Between Paddy Murphy Week and a dodgeball event, the men raised more that $3,000, which was presented to the program at a Hot Rods game during the seventh-inning stretch.