PURPLE LEGIONNAIRE REPORT
CHRIS
HUPE '94
As we prepare to gather for Pig Dinner, I reflect on the blessing of an incredible network of alumni brothers who selflessly serve and give to further the mission of Phi Gamma Delta
A foundation of our chapter's stable culture of excellence is anchored in the work of Fiji alumni who engage the chapter formally or informally And when supporting and advising our undergraduate men, we sometimes fool ourselves into thinking that once a concept is coached or a problem is fixed it will stay fixed for a while It’s a mental game we play, convincing ourselves that the investment of time, money, and energy will yield a lasting dividend. In some ways, it’s a survival mechanism our way of justifying the effort
That was a mindset I held foolishly and stubbornly through much of my first decade as an advisor.
And I do mean stubbornly, because that myth gets busted time and again Just when you think the engine is humming like a finely tuned machine, it makes a noise letting you know it needs attention well before the expected “maintenance interval ” So you listen, diagnose, open the proverbial toolbox, and get to work alongside the men of the chapter developing skills and helping re-tune the engine
Today, I see things differently
Nowhere else in the world except fraternity do we expect a complex organization to operate successfully under such conditions: comply with volumes of policies, meet an everexpanding list of expectations from IHQ, the university, and parents, maintain a strong culture, walk a narrow path while avoiding serious pitfalls, and make sound, grown-up decisions at 18–20 years old. All of this while turning over 25% of membership each year, immediately welcoming a new group of freshmen, onboarding them effectively, navigating complex human dynamics with little formal training and little to no experience, leading peers who may not always be aligned all while pursuing an academic degree as priority number one, and still finding a little time to have fun
All of the above is expected to occur with an undergraduate leadership team that turns over all positions to brand new leaders every 12 months
I have come to accept the challenges fraternities face are inherently repetitive. There is no “fix it once and move on” solution. In a recent conversation with 2025 Distinguished FIJI Award winner Mike Morris (K-State ’77), he shared stories from the challenges that built the men during his undergraduate days a specific storyline emerged recalling rebuilding the chapter from 18 members to 72 Mike, alongside fellow rush chairmen Mark Wilson, Mike Robson, and Greg Wilson, emphasized effort over time and the importance of strategic selection, telling the FIJI story well, and conveying to potential new members the opportunities they will have here to learn and develop
That conversation further reinforced the current mindset that I believe deeply: the repetitive challenges of fraternity life are not a flaw in the system they ARE the system
The things that need re-fixing are the very engine that drives member development and personal growth They create opportunities for our young men to develop resilience, leadership, judgment, communication, problem solving, and accountability Those who lean into these moments leave with a dynamic set of skills few college experiences can teach building courageous leaders who are prepared to serve the world with the best that is in them
Which brings me full circle
How do we survive year to year? We know these challenges will never be fully “fixed ” They are inherent to the model The only way this beautifully chaotic system works is through great undergraduates and even greater alumni who are willing to step in, guide, support, and invest So, I salute and thank you again brothers for making a meaningful difference in our chapter and the lives of these men.
I am mighty proud to be a FIJI, and I love all my brothers
Gasp.
SCHOLARSHIP
FUNDING UPDATE
BRAD MALONE '79
It is not often that an idea comes to you that everyone can agree on, but that’s exactly what happened in March 2025 when I attended the first FIJI Scholarship Luncheon The room was filled with enthusiastic FIJI undergrads, along with proud parents, grandparents and siblings. It quickly became a “no brainer” that we should establish a scholarship in honor of the one person who has become a constant presence in providing leadership and direction for our undergraduate chapter, while also keeping the House Corporation informed and connected to the needs of the men in the house
It is well recognized by everyone that Chris Hupe has dedicated thousands of hours to the fraternity over the last 18 years as Purple Legionnaire. The results of Chris’ constant efforts and the effectiveness of the BCA have helped transform what was once a cyclical GPA pattern into a consistently top-tier GPA over the last six to seven years It is a great thing when the Jim Kincaid Scholarship presentations have grown so much that they’ve become “too big” to accommodate during Pig Dinner.
While mixing at the 2025 Pig Dinner, every person that heard the idea of creating the Chris Hupe Family Scholarship was in agreement that it was a great idea With encouragement from the House Corp, emails were sent out in early 2026 to gauge brother support Within just six weeks, we exceeded our goal of $30,000 to fully fund the “Chris Hupe Family Scholarship”. It was announced, much to Chris’ surprise, at the 2 Annual Scholarship Luncheon on March 29, 2026. Chris and Randy Coble will collaborate to make the presentation of this new scholarship - The Chris Hupe Family Scholarship - at this year’s Pig Dinner. nd
SCHOLARSHIP UPDATE
RYAN KREISEL FALL 2024
The Fall 2025 semester was a tremendous achievement, with Chi Deuteron finishing 3 in the IFC Grade Report and earning an overall GPA of 3.544. To my knowledge, this is the highest ranking our chapter has ever achieved rd
The house recorded a total of fourteen 4 0 GPAs, with 50 brothers performing above the All Men’s Average This accomplishment would not have been possible without every brother’s dedication, hard work, and late nights of studying to finish the semester as strongly as we did.
The renovation of the Study Room this past year proved to be a tremendous asset in motivating the brothers in their pursuit of scholarship. The addition of monitors and the increased space to accommodate more brothers were especially beneficial and played a key role in supporting our success
Reflecting on this past semester, it has been incredibly rewarding to be part of the scholarship efforts and to witness each brother give their all and see that effort pay off. The brothers of Chi Deuteron remain focused on our academic goals and are determined to achieve even greater success in the Spring semester as we finish the year strong
Be sure to check out page 9 to see the incredible beforeand-after transformation of the Study Room The impact on our academic environment is undeniable - and it continues to set us apart, especially during recruitment with potential new members and their families.
One of Phi Gamma Delta’s proudest and most widely celebrated traditions, the Frank Norris Pig Dinner (or “Pig” for short) is celebrated by every Chapter in FIJI. It is also one of the longest known celebrated traditions that exist amongst all North American Fraternties!
We’re excited to welcome brothers from across FIJIland back to Manhattan to celebrate Chi Deuteron’s 58 Pig Dinner! Our Pig Dinner is consistently among the largest among all Phi Gamma Delta chapters internationally. th
SCHEDULE OF
2026 CHI DEUTER 2026 CHI DEUTER
Friday, April 24
7:00PM Kick-Off Reception (Berney Family Welcome Center, 705 N MLK Jr Drive)
Saturday, April 25
9:30AM Excellence Fund Update Meeting (Membership not required to attend)
K-State Alumni Center - 1720 Anderson Avenue, 3 Floor rd
10:30AM Manhattan FIJI Chapter House Corporation Update Meeting
K-State Alumni Center - 1720 Anderson Avenue, 3 Floor rd
12:00PM Lunch at Chapter House
FIJI Chapter House, 1919 Hunting Avenue
5:00PM Group Photos - West Memorial Stadium Steps
5:15PM Cocktail Hour - K-State Alumni Center - 1720 Anderson Avenue, 1st Floor
6:00PM 58th Frank Norris Pig Dinner - K-State Alumni Center - 1st Floor
Aggieville After Party
RON PIG DINNER RON PIG DINNER
Registration Deadline is Monday, April 20!!
As with previous years, all Pig Dinner activities are al a carte! While purchasing your Saturday night dinner ticket, you can add tickets for the Friday Evening Welcome Reception and the Saturday Lunch at the Chapter House. You can visit the Pig Dinner website any time before registration closes to add or change your registration and RSVPs
PARTNER HOTELS
Courtyard Manhattan - 715 N 12th Street (785) 587-1972
Holiday Inn at Campus - 1614 Anderson Ave (785) 539-7531
EVENT TICKETS
Saturday Evening Pig Dinner: $80
Friday Evening Welcome Reception: $25 (Brother Only) or $50 (Brother + Guest)
Saturday Chapter House Lunch: $25 (Brother Only) or $50 (Brother + Guest)
Late and Walk-up Registration is not Available
All events require a puchased ticket
RECRUITMENT UPDATE
MITCH KEATING ‘14
Recruitment has gone very well this semester. We are closing in on our goal of 20 members and expect to add one or two more, bringing the class to 21 or 22 It’s realistic that our class will be finalized by Pig Dinner
The recruitment team has done a great job positioning the house and competing for top candidates. It’s especially encouraging that many of our potential new members are also considering other top houses and ultimately choosing Chi Deuteron.
I’m most proud of the team’s ability to adapt throughout the semester - learning from setbacks, adjusting strategy, and consistently putting Chi Deuteron in a position to succeed The incoming class has a lot of potential and meaningful diversity, with members coming from across the state. We’re also excited to welcome several legacies as part of this group.
Carter Ferris
Omaha, NE
Tristan Adkins
Aidan Adkins
Shawnee, KS
Shawnee, KS
Major: Civil Engineering
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Koen Davis De Soto, KS
Major: Construction Science
Fun Fact: I’m a size 12 shoe size
Fun Fact: Has always loved dogs
Major: Business Economics
Fun Fact: I broke my nose playing i h Pl d Bowl
Stefan Jovanovic
Shawnee, KS
Fun Fact: I flipped a tractor
Luke Gregory Shawnee, KS
Major: Kinesiology/Pre-Med
Fun Fact: I’m third in National Beach Wrestling
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Fun Fact: I have 170 LinkedIn Connections
Eli Monrian Grain Valley, MO
Gavin McConnell
Overland Park, KS
Major: Finance
Major: Civil Engineering
Fun Fact: I play guitar
Landon Synder Wamego, KS
Alex Flores
Fort Worth, TX
Major: Accounting
Fun Fact: I have played 10 different sports
Max Herbst Shawnee, KS
Major: Civil Engineering
Fun Fact: I speak French
Fun Fact: I played High School Baseball
Brock Loritz
Logan Mitchell Wichita, KS
David Pietrzak
Chicago, IL
Major: Finance
Fun Fact: I like working out
Major: Accounting & Finance
Fun Fact: I’ve hiked a mountain
Overland Park, KS
Major: Accounting
Fun Fact: I can juggle
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Fun Fact: I shot trap and skeet for 3 years
Gavin Nelson Leawood, KS
Major: Finance
Fun Fact: I have a twin brother
Cole Prestwood Overland Park, KS
Major: Finance / Entrepreneurship
Fun Fact: I can play the piano
Kaiser Wymer Manhattan, KS
Major: Biosystems Engineering
Fun Fact: I swam in High School
Kayden Worthey Paolo, KS
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Fun Fact: I like the gym
LIVING ROOM UPDATE LIVING ROOM UPDATE
If you’ve visited the chapter house over the last few months, you’ve noticed the updated living room. We asked Aimee Heinisch (Brother Grant Heinisch’s mom) to provide background around her vision and all the great work that she put into this fantastic living space Thank you, Aimee, for all your hard work In Aimee’s own words
The living room area has been needing updating and improvements to provide better lighting, seating, storage and use for some time. When we started looking at this project, the direction became very clear that the guys were looking for a modern rusting design for the space.
Last summer, our focus was on new black steel lighting, a large ceiling fan, dark grey rustic tile hearth, warmer paint color for the walls, and painting the entire ceiling and its beams a soft white. The biggest challenge was a large, quarter-sawn hickory mantle that helped fill up the expansive stone wall. The pool table was also refurbished with a new top - cleaned and balanced.
During the school year, we have continued the project forward by purchasing a new sectional, coffee table, side tables, accent chairs, lamps, and comfortable study chairs for the existing round table The furniture started arriving in mid-February, and will continue to arrive into April, so the room will keep changing as we add pieces.
The goal was to allow different types of moveable seating around the room for different activities with task lighting available when they need it and don’t want to use the big overhead lights Hopefully during Spring break or at the end of March, a wood valance will be going up over the large expanse of windows to tie into the look they were wanting and coordinate with the fireplace. This is in the shop now being constructed and stained.
This summer, we are already on the books for the new carpet to be installed the first week of June which will put the finishing touch on this space
STUDY
The 2025 FIJI Tailgate was yet another reminder that Chi Deuteron truly is “Not For College Days Alone”. With more than 120 attendees - including graduate brothers, spouses, parents, sons & daughters and friends - the event brought together generations for an unforgettable day. While the Cats fell short against Army, the real victory was in the strength of our brotherhood, the lasting friendships and the shared commitment to keeping this tradition alive for years to come!
FIJI DAD’S WEEKEND
At this year’s annual FIJI Dad’s Weekend, the brothers welcomed their dads to campus for a memorable Homecoming weekend, highlighted by the Cat’s dominant win over TCU, the annual auction and plenty of time spent together in Aggieville.
The weekend kicked off Friday with daytime activities leading into the Homecoming Parade where brothers and their dads gathered to take in the festivities Following the parade, everyone returned to the house for the alwaysentertaining annual auction
Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Chi Deuteron dads, the chapter raised over $23,000 this year. These funds have already been put to use on house improvements, including new furrniture, repainting, and new carpeting. After the auction, the group headed back to Aggieville to continue the father-son celebrations.
Saturday began early at the Bill, where brothers and their dads enjoyed a tailgate complete with grilling, music, cornhole and more time to connect The weekend capped off with a strong Wildcat victory, making it a truly special experience for everyone involved.
Overall, Dad’s Weekend was a great success, giving the FIJI brothers a chance to spend quality time with their dads. The chapter is extremely grateful for their continued support and generosity
"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not: unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On!’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race”
Calvin Coolidge 1894
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Gradate Brothers, we want to feature you in a section of future newsletters titled “Where Are They Now?” This is a great opportunity to highlight what you’ve been up to since graduation and reconnect with your brothers.
We’re looking for a brief paragraph or two to include information such as: professional achievement and career milestones, personal updates, current location, and of course, favorite memories from your time at Chi Deuteron.
Please send your information along with a photo to Scott Wilson at scottwilson2387@gmail com
@fijiatksu
facebook.com/KStateFIJI ksufiji.com
@FIJIatKSU