Epsilon Lambda - Spring 2010

Pi Kappa Phi Epsilon Lambda Alumni Newsletter

2009

THE YUMA In Short...

Over the last few years Epsilon Lambda has been rock solid in everything we’ve done. Setting standards, expectations, and goals that are constantly challenging ourselves and others to soon follow in our footsteps. Making the most of Rush Week this year we are more than excited about semesters to come.

Rush was a huge hit Fall semester!

Justin Smith (EΛ 290) and Executive Grey Pittman (EΛ 299) worked Council above and beyond to give us huge Archon turn outs at our events, and the Malcolm Ford right events to pack fun and fordmj3@email.uscupstate.edu action in every day.

Vice Archon This being one of our more Blake Coffe recent Newsletters, we hope to coffeyrb@email.uscupstate.edu hear from all of you soon with Treasurer your input, and experiences.

Ajith Skariah ajskar@gmail.com

Secretary Gerald Gregory

Mystery Shot?

Do you know these men?

We would like to see who could name all the brothers in this picture.

Email Reid Mewborne at rmewborne@gmail.com if you can name anyone from this Picture.

gregoryg@email.uscupstate.edu

Warden Nick Wood

woodn@email.uscupstate.edu

Historian Reid Mewborne

rmewborne@me.com

Chaplain Brandon Hill

hillb@email.uscupstate.edu

Letter from the Archon – Jonathan A. Faulkenberry My brothers, Over the past two years I have thoroughly enjoyed serving our great chapter as Archon. It has been a tremendous pleasure to lead the great men that exist in our chapter today and continue to represent the great men that came before us. As brothers, I believe we can all reflect on our time in Pi Kappa Phi and feel a genuine sense of pride and accomplishment. It is here that we learned the importance of character, the importance of tradition, and the importance of responsibility. It is these three inalienable traits that we all share in our bond, and it is these traits which compose our great fraternity. As Epsilon Lambda continues to excel, we are developing new events which involve alumni and their families. It is my sincere hope that these events will provide our brotherhood and families with those three traits—character, tradition, and responsibility. Working together, I look forward to the upcoming years of Epsilon Lambda. And as my own graduation approaches, I am excited to join in the ever-growing efforts of our alumni. Until we meet again…

In the Star & Lamp, Jonathan A. Faulkenberry EΛ 285 Archon – Epsilon Lambda Chapter

Reaching Back

How can you touch Pi Kappa Phi? Contact Reid Mewborne, Email: rmewborne@gmail.com

What’s Happening PUSH this Summer

with numerous programs educating As you may or may not undergraduates, remember, Push America is alumni, and the national philanthropy of communities Pi Kappa Phi. It was about the abilities founded in 1977 with the of people with purpose of instilling disabilities. Push Alex Ma lifelong service in its han EΛ America has grown 287 members and enhancing the to focus on three main quality of life for people with areas to raise awareness; service, disabilities. Push America is still cycling, and construction. fulfilling the purpose it was Nationally, we have risen over intended for, but has grown into a $500,000 this year alone, which is nationwide organization

Alumni Spotlight Jerry Carroll EΛ 69 What do you remember most about your time in the chapter?

The friendships that I made and the good times we had.

If you had it to do over again, what would you do differently?

Study harder What did you learn as a member of the Fraternity that has benefited you since?

How to work together in a big group and how to handle different personalities within a large group.

What positions did you hold in the chapter?

Chapter Advisor What have you done with Pi Kappa Phi since you graduated?

Chapter Advisor What do you do for a living?

Director of Bookstore and Carolina Card at USC Upstate Would you tell me something about your family?

I have been married for 15 years and have two wonderful children.

Bryson 8 & Jaiden 3 Can I get some information for our records?

Contact me via email at jcarroll@uscupstate.edu or phone 864-503-5168

one of our best years yet.

Epsilon Lambda has made giant leaps in our dedication to Push America this year having raised over $8,000 and having two brothers of our own chapter involved in two national Push America events.

Evan Culp EΛ 286, a senior nursing major and Alex Mahan EΛ 287, a senior communications major single handedly raised $6.000 for children with disabilities and represented the chapter as not only team members but were given extra responsibilities as crew members on their respective trips this summer.

Brother Culp EΛ 286 represented Epsilon Lambda on the North route of the Journey of Hope, a cross-country bicycle trek that starts in San Francisco, CA and ends in Washington, D.C. The true impact of the Journey of Hope can be felt through its

Fall Rush Re-cap 2009 Monday was Game Night, we set up gaming systems in the CLC ballroom, and played NCAA, and Halo 3 on the big screen projectors. What a fun night!

Tuesday was Beach Night where we all went to Riverwind and made hamburgers, hot dogs, and chili burgers. We swam in the pool, and chilled in the hot tub.

Wednesday was Bowling Night and we all went to Paradise Lanes and bowled three games with the Rushees. After bowling we all went back to Justin, AJ, and Godino’s house and ate pizza and watched movies. Thursday was BBQ with Shawn Rabourn, who came and cooked 50 lbs of BBQ just for us. We also watched the Carolina vs. NC State game. And after everything was over, we knew we did it agin. programming across the nation.

After riding an average of 75 miles a day, you won't find team members napping or preparing for the next day's ride. They will be dancing at a friendship visit with a local group that supports people with disabilities, participating in a game of wheelchair basketball, performing puppet shows to educate children on the abilities of people with disabilities, and learning life lessons that will impact them for the rest of their lives. Brother Culp served on the team as a crew member

serving as the back bone of the team. He was responsible for keeping the team members safe as well as making sure that all duties of the team were completed.

Brother Mahan EΛ 287 represented Epsilon Lambda on Build America, a six week team event starting at the home of Rock 'n' Roll in Cleveland, OH and visiting many different camps and communities to improve the accessibility of areas for people with disabilities. The team members’ day does not stop when the construction stops, eating three meals a day with the campers, and programming at night. Before arriving in Washington, D.C. the team logged over 4,000 man hours, saved camps and communities $50,000 in labor costs and over $30,000 in materials expenses, and impacted the lives of thousands of people with disabilities. Brother Mahan served on the construction team as well as acted as the public relations coordinator serving as the liaison between the media and the team. Last year Epsilon Lambda also

showed its integrity and dedication to service on campus. We had numerous on campus events including a 24 hours bike ride, scaffold sits, and a sponsored event bringing a guest speaker, Matt Glowacki, to campus. Through our efforts we raised over $2,000 in donations from students placing us in the top three of the ten chapters in the state for annual amount raised for Push America. We have many new and exciting events planned for Push America this year including an empathy dinner, the annual 24 hours bike ride, and the possibility of a golf tournament. With our new philanthropy chair Grey Pittman EΛ 299, the amount of dedication and work the chapter will put forth is endless, and we look forward to your support and participation as well. Please refer to the calendar inside this publication for dates of upcoming events and if you have an interest in supporting Push America this year please visit the website at www.pushamerica.org or contact Grey Pittman from Epsilon Lambda chapter at 864-357-6689.

A View From the Your Side My name is Joshua DeYoung, Epsilon Lambda 271. I’m from Greer SC and was initiated in the fall of 2005. Let me tell you a little about my time as an active member and the impact it has made not only on me, but on the chapter as well.

When I came to USC Upstate as a transfer student my junior year, I found a group of guys in the theatre department that I grew to like. I later found out that these three individuals were part of a social fraternity named Pi Kappa Phi. I thought it was amazing that these three guys were able to be active in the community and school, keep their grades up, as well as active in the fraternity. So I decided to rush.

When I went into rush week and looked at all of the fraternities, Pi Kappa Phi was outnumbered by Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Kappa Sigma by members, but Pi Kapp had more quality than the others with the diversity of it’s members

and the values that the fraternity as a whole possessed. Before I initiated there were only 4 active brothers on the roster, so all of the duties and responsibilities’ of the leadership positions were spilt and handled by the four brothers. These responsibilities usually were split between 7 Executive positions along with numerous committees. I had to step in as an associate member to fill in as the secretary. Throughout my pledgeship I realized that the fraternity was striving to grow with such a small group of guys. As a brother in late 2005, I realized that t h e re c r u i t m e n t o f q u a l i t y, committed guys was the biggest goal of our active chapter. There is one thing that has stuck with me even after graduation. That one thing is a slogan that Pi Kapp stands behind and that is: Leaders by Choice. I chose to be a leader when I was initiated. I told myself that I would make a difference before I left

college. While an active brother, I watched the fraternity grow immensely. This growth was phenomenal! I watched more and more leaders choose to lead and not to follow. Things hit the ground running in about 4 years. As a former president and vice-president, I have seen the good side and bad side of being a leader. When I left the active chapter in December of 2008, the chapter was leading itself down a path of greatness. The leaders in the chapter have found the meaning of being leaders and what it means to be a Pi Kapp. In the fall of 2009, the chapter rushed a total of 13 new associate members. If 90 % of this associate class initiates, the chapter will be at a total of 25 active members, which has not been achieved since the beginning of the 2000’s. I am very excited in the way the chapter is going and still to this day living the oath that I made 5 years ago.

Mountain Weekend Date: Let us know when you want to have it!!

Location: Somewhere in the Blue Ridge Mountains Summary: A weekend of fun and relaxing time spent with brothers and guest. We want to know when you would like to join us on a Mountain Weekend Retreat. We will be looking at having our Mountain Weekend when we can have the most Alumni turn-out.

Alumni Our goal as a chapter is not to simply let you know what’s going on with the chapter, but it is to find out what is going on with YOU. Please email me with any stories, pictures, ideas, or whatever else you might feel the need to do to get your hand back into your chapter.

Once again, my email is rmewborne@me.com . I look forward to hearing from you soon.

-Historian Reid Mewborne EΛ 294

Associate Retreat We have been taking our new associates on a trip to Alpha Chapter to experience our history first hand. If you have any experiences, or trips like this from the past please send us your story. If you are interested in being involved in the Retreat contact the Warden, Nick Wood EΛ 311 woodn@email.uscupstate.edu

Rose Ball Keep an eye on your email! More information on the upcoming Rose Ball will keep you up to date. Also specific dates and prices will be in the next News Letter.