THE STAR
AND
SWOOP
of the Theta Pi Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity at the University of Texas at Tyler
Featured in this Issue
Meet the Pi Associate Class Building wheelchair ramps Chapter adopts a highway Theta Pi chosen for leaders institute Alumni Spotlight Alumni Chapter President’s Report Student Chapter Archon’s Report Join the Alumni Chapter Pi Kapp brick purchased “Remember When?” photo
Pictured above with actives (from L to R): Front Row- Bradley Hudson, Gage Nippert, Gio Rodriguez, Sean Bahn. Middle Row- Aristeo Hernandez, Alex Schultz, Robert Doxey, Matthew Thrasher. Back Row- Dylan Hayes, Tristan Davantes, Kunal Patel, Angel Zetino. COB- Logan Waite, Jesse Spruiell, Zach Finch, Luis Nieto
Theta Pi Chapter welcomes 16 associate members to Pi Class These young men will embark on an 11 week journey that will teach them fraternity history, operations, aspects of brotherhood and selflessness, as well as leadership techniques. “Our main objective for these new members is to ensure that they maintain an excellent GPA while simultaneously teaching them the values and ideals of Pi Kappa Phi,” Warden Shane Conway said.
Pi Kapps construct wheelchair ramp for Smith Co. man
FALL 2015 | ISSUE ONE An annual newsletter Published by the Theta Pi Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein. The Theta Pi Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi, nor Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity is liable for errors or omissions © 2015
The final weekend before the start of the Fall semester at the University of Texas at Tyler was a time of service for members of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. Five members of the Theta Pi Chapter spent Saturday, August 22, 2015 volunteering with the Texas Ramp Project in Smith County. Shane Conway, Austin Doyle, John Patrick Pinon, Chase Miller, and Danny Diep helped construct a wheelchair ramp for an East Texan in need of improved access to their home. Much of the ramp was pre-fabricated at a wood shop east of Tyler, so the construction moved very quickly. The Pi Kapps have volunteered with the Texas Ramp Project several times in the last year and look forward to partnering on future projects to benefit East Texans in need. Chapter Address
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Pi Kapps adopt street for beautification, trash pickup The Theta Pi Chapter is doing their part to help keep Tyler beautiful. On Saturday, September 5, 2015, members spent the morning along Highway 110 (Troup Highway) to help beautify and maintain our portion of highway. Members and associates alike walked over the two mile expanse, clearing trash and debris from the roadside. In October of 2014, Jesus Maldonado, former philanthropy chair contacted the Texas Department of Transportation in the hope that our chapter could expand service opportunities in the community. The chapter adopted a two-mile stretch of the main thoroughfare between Tyler and the city of Whitehouse. The fraternity chose to adopt the street because of its high visibility to residents and its importance to the city of Tyler.
Theta Pi Alumni Spotlight: Daniel Granvold Mr. Daniel Granvold is the Alumni Spotlight for this first issue of The Star and Swoop. He came to The University of Texas at Tyler in 2008, and he was a member of the Beta Class of Theta Pi, which is still the largest initiated pledge class. Dan Gran was the Archon here at UT Tyler in 2011 and graduated in December of that year. After his tenure here, he went on to Charlotte School of Law where he received his law degree. In July of 2015, Daniel took the Texas Bar Exam and he will be working in the DFW area once he gets his results.
Theta Pi member chosen to attend selective Pi Kapp College for Emerging Leaders From June 7th to June 12th, Theta Pi chapter member Chase Miller and Chapter Advisor Lane Luckie attended the highly-selective Pi Kapp College for Emerging Leaders in Columbia, South Carolina on the campus of the University of South Carolina. For 6 days, Miller and 45 other Pi Kapp students from around the country participated in the most enduring leadership experience that the Fraternity has to offer. Miller was able to dive deep into the values of the Fraternity, which include: Common Loyalty, Personal Responsibility, Achievement, Accountability, Campus Involvement, Responsible Citizenship, Lifelong Commitment. Luckie served on the faculty for the emerging leaders institute, facilitating the curriculum for all of the undergraduate attendees. Both men were also given the opportunity to tour the Pi Kappa Phi HQ in Charlotte, NC as well as explore Charleston, SC; the birthplace of our Fraternity.
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Student Chapter Archon’s Report: Sean Reinertson This 2015 fall semester the Theta Pi chapter hit the ground running, starting off the semester pre-initiating 16 men, taking our total membership to 40. Only a month into school we have already helped build 4 wheelchair ramps collaborating with AMBUCS, as well as cleaning 2 miles of highway as a part of the Adopt-a-highway program. Theta Pi is determined to keep putting in the selfless effort to better our community as well as our chapter in order to make this one of the best years in chapter history. Much of the current success of the chapter is due to the alumni that laid the platform for our success, without you all this wouldn’t be a reality. The brothers before us started a tradition of excellence; we plan on preserving this tradition while simultaneously building bridges for the Pi Kapps after us.
Alumni Chapter President’s Report: Austin Castleberry I am proud to say that the alumni chapter is now in its second year of being an official organization. The alumni chapter has grown substantially since its founding last August and continues to develop in both organization and in size. We are currently focusing on updating contact information for all Theta Pi alum, building a financial foundation, and working on ways to help support the continuing success of the student organization. I cannot thank board members Dylan Groce, Justin Davenport, Josh White, Daniel Granvold, Jeff Chandler and Zach Intlehouse enough for their hard work and dedication to the alumni chapter as well as the official dues paying members in our organization. I look forward to the future success of both the alumni chapter and the student chapter and the growth of the brotherhood we all share. God bless Pi Kappa Phi!
Theta Pi chapter alumni purchase brick for UT Tyler Alumni House The University of Texas at Tyler has begun construction of a multi-purpose, two-story facility that will be the UT Tyler Alumni House – the central home for all UT Tyler alumni. When it opens, the Theta Pi Chapter of Pi Kappa Phil will have an engraved brick outside the house. Members of the board of directors for the Theta Pi Alumni Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity presented the student chapter with a check to purchase a brick. It will feature the inscription, “Theta Pi Chapter | Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity | Chartered 2007.” At almost 13,000 square feet, the UT Tyler Alumni House will serve not only UT Tyler alumni but also the university and Tyler community. “The UT Tyler Alumni House will serve as a beautiful and functional space for alumni, members of our campus community and Tyler community members to host a variety of events – both indoors and outdoors,” said Brittany Childs, UT Tyler alumni relations director. “Our vision is that the UT Tyler Alumni House will be a congregating place for potential and new students, a meeting place for campus and community organizations and a gathering place for our alumni when they come back to campus. “This project will be an excellent addition to our beautiful campus,” President Mabry said. “More than 31,000 students have graduated from UT Tyler, and that number is growing exponentially every year. We are glad to be celebrating a project designed to help our alumni stay connected to their alma mater. More and more, we are hearing from alumni who want to support and remain associated with this university, and the alumni house will give them an additional opportunity to do so.” The $2.8 million structure is expected to open early next year.
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Join the Theta Pi Alumni Chapter today! Your alumni dues help fund alumni mailings, events, and support the student chapter. Dues are $50 annually, however members are welcome to give beyond that amount. If you have not yet paid your dues for 2015, please print & detach this page and mail along with payment to: Theta Pi Alumni Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Attn: Alumni Dues, P.O. Box 131222, Tyler, TX 75713 CURRENT ALUMNI MEMBERS:
Austin Castleberry Justin Davenport David McAlpin Daniel Granvold Dylan Groce Marc Noble Brandon Swilley Austin O'Kelly Austin Fisher Joshua White Elijah Owens Todd Knowles Jeff Chandler Zach Intlehouse Justin Linnstaedter Bryan Okland Brandon Okland Logan Iffland Derek Nail Rene Hernandez Blake Bristow Charles Burroughs Martin McKown
FULL NAME: _________________________________________________________________ INITIATION NUMBER: ______________ ADDRESS: __________________________________________________________________ CITY: ________________________________
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E-MAIL: ____________________________________________________________________ TWITTER HANDLE: @___________________________ HOME PHONE: _______________________________ WORK PHONE: _______________________________ EMPLOYER: __________________________________________________________________ POSITION: ___________________________________________________________________ SPOUSE’S NAME: _____________________________________________________________
REMEMBER WHEN? Theta Pi intramural team, October 2010. Source: Theta Pi Chapter archives
THETA PI ALUMNI CHAPTER OF PI KAPPA PHI FRATERNITY President: Austin Castleberry Vice President: Dylan Groce Treasurer: Justin Davenport Secretary: Jeff Chandler Director of Alumni Events: Zach Intlehouse Director of Alumni Communications: Joshua White At-large Director: Daniel Granvold