Alpha Sigma - Spring 2011

University of Tennessee – Pi Kappa Phi – Alumni Newsletter

Issue # 1, March 2011

ALPHA SIGMAN A New Look

Issue #1, March. 2011

A New Alpha Sigman

Inside this Edition Alumni Updates – Catch up with your long lost brothers. Send your updates to alphasigalum@gmail.com!

2 Journey of Hope Riders 2011 – Four more brothers make the commitment of the bike ride across the country to serve people with disabilities..

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You may notice an “Issue 1” in the upper right hand corner and wonder why. Although our chapter has distributed hundreds of newsletters over the years this is the first of the new alumni created Alpha Sigma newsletters. Working with the historians and archons the newsletter will now be a joint venture of the Board of Alumni Advisors and Housing Corporation. We believe this will allow more consistency in production and delivery. We hope you enjoy the new format. Send us suggestions at: alphasigalum@gmail.com.

Alumni Spotlight on Steve Evans.

Steve talks about his new role as the President of the University of Tennessee Young Alumni Association

3 Save the Date - April 16 – Alpha Sigma Alumni Tailgate for the Orange and White Game – Bring your family!

4 Leaders by Choice.

Letter from New Historian: Brandon Parrish remembered and relived by both alumni and active brothers.

It‟s a new year for all of us and just as many of us have personal goals for future, so does our chapter as it strives to improve itself.

This past year, we saw some incredible achievements for our fraternity. We initiated thirty-two new brothers, reopened a newly renovated house, and built our brotherhood through the qualities of leadership and dedication. It is truly an exciting time for Alpha Sigma chapter, but with development and progress comes the need to continue this new tradition of excellence. As our chapter‟s new historian, I am hoping to continue this tradition, expanding our alumni relations on top of the work that our Archon Keith Moore did as historian last year.

This chapter certainly has a rich history, and it deserves to be

Therefore, my primary goal for this semester is to increase the level of involvement and communication between actives and alumni. My hope is to have more alumni events, more turnout, and stronger relationships for our chapter as a whole. Moreover, whether you are a new alumnus who has just graduated, someone who has been away for ten years, or even retired, I would invite you to stay connected. My job here is make sure that we have a thriving network of brothers and the only way to do that is through communication. So, if you or any other alumnus that you know has any news, chapter related or just personal, please feel free to send it our way via e-mail or phone.

As historian, my door is always open.

Fraternally,

Alpha Sigman – University of Tennessee

Issue #1, March 2011

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Alumni Updates: Catching Up! Bob McKinney, Alpha Sig 478 After retiring from a career in Logistics, Bob began a second career in public education. He currently teaches AP World History and is the Director of the 10th Grade Academy at South Plantation High School in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He is an active scuba instructor and officiates high school and college and basketball. He has been married to his wife Kim for 8 years.

Nathan Ulewicz – Alpha Sig 886 Nathan is in his tenth year working for Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals as a Diabetic

Specialist Sales Representative.

He has three kids Blake (12), Brody(2) and Bradyn(2). He and his family live in Lawrenceburg, TN.

Byron Earnheart, Alpha Sig 1035

Byron currently lives in Memphis TN. Byron recently started Christian Interactive Solutions, an online venture to help increase church participation and enhanced disciplelship efforts. His wife Kelly works at ALSAC/St. Jude as a Sr. Representative in Acquisition and Development.

Their son, John Aubrey, was born on Aug. 9, 2010.

Send your updates to alphasigalum@gmail.com

Nathan and family on their Lawrenceburg, TN farm.

Byron, Kelly, and John Aubrey

Journey of Hope – Challenge of a Lifetime This summer four brothers of the Alpha Sigma Chapter will take on a challenge that will surely change their lives. Brothers Travis Baysingar, from Atoka, TN, Steven Szaroletta, from Memphis, TN, Justin Wallace, from Olney, MD and Bentley Plaskett, from Murfreesboro, TN, are signed up to take on the Journey of Hope 2011.

2009 Journey of Hope Alpha Sigma Alumni J.J. Bautista, Ryan Dodd, and Kyle Kuderewski

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The Journey of Hope is a cross-country bicycle trek beginning in San Francisco, CA and Seattle, WA and ending together with all the teams in Washington, DC. This event raises funds and awareness for people with disabilities. It annually raises $500,000 for Push America, our fraternity‟s philanthropy.

Continued on page 5

Alpha Sigman – University of Tennessee

Issue #1, March 2011

Alpha Sigma Alumni Jon Kennedy, Steve Evans, and Patrick Allen in Neyland Locker Room

Three Alums Serve on UT Young Alumni Council While most see graduation as an end to their campus and chapter service, several Pi Kappa Phi alums have continued to stay involved with UT post-graduation.

Brothers Patrick Allen, Chris Lookenott and Steve Evans are all alumni currently serving on UT‟s „Young Alumni Council,‟ working as appointed volunteers for the university to help keep young alums (graduates of the last 10 years) connected to UT. Allen and Lookenott are rounding out their first year on the council and Evans, who has been on the board for three years, will take over as Young Alumni Council President starting July of 2011.

Alumnus Spotlight: Steve Evans The University of Tennessee Young Alumni Council began in 2008 in order to connect young alumni of UT-Knoxville back to the university and each other. They have accomplished this through events across the country, communication initiatives, and two major events every year.

In his role as Philanthropy Chair, Steve was given the task of initiating, organizing, carrying out and the Spring Alumni Weekend in 2009. Through his planning 200 young alumni were given a behind the scenes tour of the UT athletic facilities, skybox seating for the Orange-White game, and a Q&A session with the Voice of Vols. In addition to showing these young alumni a good time, Steve raised thousands of dollars in order to create a permanently endowed scholarship for UTK young-

alumni applying to graduate school.

This past year, Steve has served as President-Elect, and will start his term in office this upcoming July. His goals as President are to solidify the new member process, help track the success of young alumni in a meaningful way, connect young alumni to larger UT initiatives, and establish more young alumni traditions.

Steve looks back to his undergraduate experience as practice field for his current leadership roles. “Joining Pi Kappa Phi helped provide me opportunities to lead, the chance to make some mistakes along the way, and the opportunity to really get connected with UT. Most importantly, it taught me the importance of giving back t something that is great and more important than myself.”

Although he looks by fondly on his undergraduate experience, Steve sees the college experience as ongoing. “I had a great time when I was at UT, but some of my best experiences with the University have come since graduation. UT has so much to offer for an entire lifetime and so many great opportunities to get involved. Whether it‟s the Young Alumni Council, volunteering with our chapter or housing corporation, getting involved with your local alumni chapter or simply helping out UT with a „recruitment night‟ at a local high school in your region, there are so many great opportunities to get involved and I would encourage all of our alumni to take advantage of them and give back.”

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Alpha Sigman – University of Tennessee

A NEW HOME

Issue #1, March 2011

Upcoming events

Orange & White Weekend Mark your calendars now!

BY: JASON DONALD, HOUSING CORPS COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Brothers, I hope this message finds you well. The fall semester has come and gone and the brand new Pi Kappa Phi house has survived its first semester, without any major repairs. I cannot stress the housing board‟s relief to write that sentence.

Many people are wondering what exactly is the Housing Corporation job?

Well, we do not have one job but have a wide array of jobs, such as but not limited to overseeing the day to day operations/maintenance of the house, to raise and maintain the necessary funds for maintain house, to plan alumni events/to keep the alumni informed, and to be a liaison to the University of Tennessee.

The Housing Corp is currently planning alumni events for the upcoming spring and fall semesters. We are finalizing the details for an event to take place after the Orange and White game on April 16, 2011. Once everything is finalized we will be getting in touch with everyone shortly. This fall will mark Alpha Sigma‟s 80th Anniversary at UT and the housing corp would like to hear your ideas on how we should celebrate this special occasion. Please feel free to submit your ideas to alphasigalum@gmail.com.

The Housing Corp would like to wish brother Rob Lynn the best of luck in the upcoming Gear Up Florida. Rob is the first active alumni from chapter to participate in this event.

If you have any stories, ideas, alumni updates, or an alumni spot light please feel free to submit any suggestions to alphasigalum@gmail.com. I look forward to seeing everybody at the Orange & White Game.

Fraternally, Jason P. Donald Alpha Sigma 1114

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The brothers of Pi Kappa Phi would like to invite you down for an Alpha Sigma Alumni tailgate before the Orange & White Game.

10 AM – 1:30 PM April 16, 2011

Contact Info The Alumni now have a new email address: alphasigalum@gmail.com Send us an email so we can add you to our distribution list.

Other contact info: Archon: Keith Moore kmoore27@utk.edu Historian: Brandon Parrish Bparris4@utk.edu

Alpha Sigman – University of Tennessee Journey of Hope (continued) In addition to riding an average of 75 miles a day student and alumni participants spend their afternoon and evening volunteering at philanthropies across the nation. The participants in the Journey of Hope must commit to raising $5,000 to participate and then commit their entire summer to riding and serving those with disabilities while they sleep on gym floors and in community centers around the nation. While it might sound like a sacrifice, it is an event that defines the spirit of Pi Kappa Phi. “Everyone I have seen ride since I have been a member of this chapter has come back with experience and stories about how the people they met and interacted with changed their lives,” says Senior Travis Baysinger, “I would like the opportunity to do the same.”

The Alpha Sigma chapter at the University of Tennessee has been tremendously involved in the Journey since its inception and has increased its involvement in the past 4 years. Alpha Sigma brothers Josh Greer (2007), C.J. Musta (2008), Tripp Plaskett (2008), J.J. Bautista (2009), Ryan Dodd(2009), Kyle Kuderewski (2009), and Houston Carbaugh (2010) are all recent Journey alumni.

Additionally, alumni Louis Fowler (2008) and Rob Linn (2011) have participated in Gear Up Florida, a Push America trip similar to the Journey of Hope

Issue #1, March 2011 where participants cycle across the state of Florida from Miami to Tallahassee.

The Alpha Sigma Chapter has become one of the leading Pi Kappa Phi chapters in the nation for sending members on Push America team events.

What it is really all about for these young men is service. “Push America‟s love for the handicapped is unparalleled. Working with Push over the summer, I will take part in an experience that truly unique and selfless,” says 2011 rider Steven Szaroletta.

Right now the brothers have two goals: Raising money and getting in shape.

“As the weather warms up I am riding a minimum of 25 miles a day with longer rides (4060 miles) on the weekends,” says Baysingar. “I intend to use a carefully thought out combination of plyometrics, distance running/cycling, and sprints to get there,” says Szaroletta. Throw the training on top of schoolwork and chapter commitments and it makes for a busy semester.

One thing is for sure. These men will have the experience of a lifetime. Through their service they will change the lives of countless others.

If you would like to help support any of these giving a tax-free donation to Push Can you identify the year and event? – brothers Email by alphasigalum@gmail.com America on their behalf please email alphasigalum@gmail.com .

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University of Tennessee – Pi Kappa Phi – Alumni Newsletter

Issue # 1, March 2011

Letter from the Archon: Keith Moore, Alpha Sig Brothers, First and foremost, I want to thank all of you for supporting me during my tenure as Historian and for fully helping our chapter begin to re-establish the link between current brothers and alumni. We made great progress this past year and are fully looking to pick up where we left off. Now, as Archon, it is my job to ensure that the chapter continues to flourish. I feel the best way to ensure that such progress happens is to create a chapter of men who valiantly strive to improve their value to society and to themselves. The fraternity experience cannot be considered of much worth if an individual does not better himself by being a part of it. For that reason, it is our goal to ensure that every brother graduates a better man.

As far as the Chapter is concerned, we have outlined three specific goals that will help us attain our ultimate goal of individual growth while also increasing our chapter’s standing at the University of Tennessee. Our first order of action is to improve our commitment to service throughout Knoxville. We are currently talking to multiple

organizations as to how we as a brotherhood could become involved and how we could have an impact upon the community. The second goal is that we are also working to improve our dedication to PUSH America, our national philanthropy. We are looking to give nearly $2,500 this semester, a sum that will finally put Alpha Sigma on the map at the national level. Finally, our third and final goal is to improve our sorority relations. While they are in no way bad, we feel that by improving our relations with prominent sororities, we would be cementing our status as a comeback chapter while also gaining access to certain rush tools that may not have otherwise been available.

In closing, thanks to all of you again for your support, and if you would ever like a way to get involved with our chapter, please do not hesitate to contact either Brandon Parrish or I at bparris4@utk.edu and kmoore27@utk.edu.

Sincerely, Keith Moore, Alpha Sigman 1231

“The fraternity experience cannot be considered of much worth if an individual does not better himself by being a part of it.”

Keith Moore, Alpha Sigma

“I believe the ideal chapter is made up of men, who are bound together in a common loyalty, whichKeith transcends any personal selfishness.”

Moore

Pi kappa phi 1828 Fraternity Park Drive Knoxville, TN 37916

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