Chi Deuteron Fall 2023 Newsletter (Volume 2 Issue 1)

FALL 2023

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1

FIJI at Kansas State CHI DEUTERON CHAPTER

IN THIS ISSUE 2

MESSAGE FROM OUR PURPLE LEGIONNAIRE

8

RESIDENT ADVISOR REPORT

3

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

8

INTRAMURALS UPDATE

4

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

9

COMMUNITY SERVICE UPDATE

5

2023/2024 CABINET

10-11 DAD’S WEEKEND

6

PHI GAMMA DELTA CHAPTER AWARDS

12

BEACH BASH PHILANTHROPY

7

PHI GAMMA DELTA INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

13

HOUSE CORP UPDATE

8

2023/2024 COMMITTEE CHAIRS

14-15

CHI DEUTERON TAILGATE RECAP

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PURPLE LEGIONNAIRE REPORT CHRIS HUPE '94 As we rapidly approach the end of this semester, I want to wish everyone a joyous holiday season. It has continued to be an incredibly busy year for our brothers as they focus on both our implementation of Phi Gamma Delta’s new onboarding / joining model and the University’s re-affiliation with the Greek System at Kansas State. Both of these changes have been significant and required much of our leaders and members, in additional time and energy to navigate the many changes associated with both of these initiatives.

Our semester has been full of additional required meetings and training, both from KSU and IHQ, on top of a very busy operational plan and full semester calendar. I am incredibly proud of our member’s persistence and efforts to date. As with anything new, there are some growing pains, and the outcomes of the changes remain to be seen. We must remain focused on doing the right things internally that have made Chi Deuteron strong and successful over the past few years. This is something we are attempting to evaluate as we move forward.

As we look to Spring Semester 2024, we will be kicking things off with FIJI Academy, followed by a Chapter Strategic Planning Retreat, Fall Recruiting, awards submissions, and all of the activities associated with the Spring semester. Our Chapter property continues to be in great competitive condition, and our members continue working to elevate in all areas. Thank you to our House Corporation volunteers, BCA volunteers, Excellence Club members and all alumni whether giving time, treasure or talent...you are awesome and your generosity is making a positive difference for our young men in our chapter every day at KSU. I am mighty proud to be a FIJI...

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LETTER FROM THE EDITORS MITCH LORENTZ (FALL ‘21) SCOTT WILSON ‘94

In this latest edition of the Chi Deuteron Newsletter, we are proud to share the many great things happening within our chapter. The Fall 2023 Semester started by welcoming 18 new members to Chi Deuteron (bios and fun facts on Page 3). Dad’s Weekend was a huge success with around $13,000 raised. Brother John Foust continues to build an annual tradition of the FIJI Grad Tailgate with the 2nd Annual Chi Deuteron Tailgate during the K-State - UCF Game. And, the Fraternity was certainly busy with Scholarship, the Beach Bash Philanthropy, Community Service Highway Clean-up and Intramurals.

In early October, we received the great news that Chi Deuteron had a strong showing with Chapter Achievement Awards in winning the Condon Cup and receiving 2nd Place for both the Owen Cup and the Brightman Trophy. Details for these awards can be found on Page 4. In addition, Chi Deuteron received the Academic Achievement Award, awarded to chapters which exceed the All Men’s Average GPA as well as the John Templeton McCarty Chapter Proficiency Award, which is awarded to chapters which demonstrate efficiency in operations, maintaining strong financial stability, adherence to Fraternity laws & promoting high standards at Phi Gamma Delta.

In addition to Chapter Awards, Indvidual Awards were announced. Chris Hupe ‘94 was recognized with Distinguished Service for the Durrance Award, awarded to the Most Outstanding Purple Legionnaire. Michael Arnold ‘23, received the Wilkinson Award, which is the presented to the Fraternity’s Most Outstanding Senior.

Congratulations to Brother Hupe and Brother Arnold for their recognition and thank you for your leadership at Phi Gamma Delta!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!

56TH ANNUAL PIG DINNER is April 26-27, 2024.

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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS OF CHI DEUTERON!!!

Tristan Adkins Benjaman Abraham Shawnee, KS Overland Park, KS Major: Civil Engineering Major: Finance Fun Fact: Has always loved Fundogs Fact: I’m a Canadian citizen

Drake Augustine Salina, KS Major: Mechanical Engineering Fun Fact: I hold a state track record Ashton Goering Parker, CO Major: Biology/Pre-Med Fun Fact: I fell off a 40ft cliff while skiing

Braden Beasley Wichita, KS Major: Mechanical Engineering Fun Fact: I can dunk a basketball

Colin Hirner Shawnee, KS Major: Mechanical Engineering Fun Fact: I’m allergic to avocados

Aiden Gose Abilene, KS Major: Pre-Med Fun Fact: I’m EMT certified Ethan Hunt Olathe, KS Major: Computer Science Fun Fact: I have the same name as a movie character

Alec Hupe Wamego, KS Major: Mechanical Engineering Fun Fact: I’m scuba certified

Henry Knutson Prairie Village, KS Major: Kinesiology/Pre-Med Fun Fact: I play 3 instruments

Carter Kemp Shawnee, KS Major: Finance Fun Fact: Everyone in my family has gone to K-State

Austin Lang Topeka, KS Major: Business Fun Fact: I play soccer

Drew Minnis Overland Park, KS Major: Finance Fun Fact: I play rugby

Ryan Pelzer Lee’s Summit, MO Major: Mechanical Engineering Fun Fact: There is nothing interesting about me

Ty Roshau Shawnee, KS Major: Chemical Engineering Fun Fact: I hang Christmas lights professionally Michael Spritzer Olathe, KS Major: Finance Fun Fact: I went to the same middle school as Darren Spoles

CJ Simonetti Seal Beach, CA Major: Finance Fun Fact: I can do a back flip

Ryan Welch Overland Park, KS Major: Business Fun Fact: I am fork lift certified

Jake Wright Leawood, KS Major: Construction Science Fun Fact: I can do oil paintings

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2023/2024 CHI DEUTERON CABINET

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PHI GAMMA DELTA

2022 A

NNUAL UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS

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PHI GAMMA DELTA

2022 AN

NUAL INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

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2023 - 2024 COMMITTEE CHAIRS

RESIDENT ADVISOR REPORT GREG NELSON '79 Fall ‘23 is off to a great start! New FIJI’s, tailgating, homecoming, graduate visits, Dad’s weekend...In addition to our returning upperclassmen, we have 18 outstanding new members at Chi Deuteron, and I have been spending time to get to know each of them. Not only do they come to us with proven high scholarship but also leadership qualities.

Bennett Schoenbeck (Fall ‘22) Social Wamego, KS

I’m continuing the tradition of awarding PGD dress ties to members I catch doing something “above and beyond” and use graduate donations to purchase these ties. “Rappin’ with the RA” is a new event (following Wednesday night chapter) where I invite a handful of FIJI’s to the apartment to share stories and build stronger relationships. Our first gathering was a big success with more to come!

Trevor Mead (Fall ‘22) Community Service Chapman, KS

I also provide advisory support to our Judicial Board.

JBoard handles member behavior problems and by-law infractions and with the transition away from pledges to immediate membership, JBoard now plays an even more critical role in ensuring that we adhere to our FIJI values. I couldn’t be more proud of our Chapter’s accomplishments, including Top 5 GPA ranking, and look forward to supporting Chi Deuteron as we strive for continued excellence!

Joel Bryan (Fall ‘22) House Manager Hiawatha, KS

Nathan Klump (Fall ‘22) Scholarship Overland Park, KS

INTRAMURALS UPDATE

JOEL BRYAN (FALL '22)

Triston Atkins (Fall ‘22) Philanthropy Shawnee, KS

The brothers of Chi Deuteron have been busy with intramural sports to start the Fall Semester. We participated in flag football and soccer to begin the year, and we were very competitive.

Games for each sport were once a week and involvement from brother was high - even while making sure to keep the focus on scholarship, philanthropy, community service and social (including Homecoming).

Volleyball has begun to finish out the Fall Semester and look forward to basketball and slow pitch softball in the Spring. We also make great efforts to participate in all sorority tournaments throughout the year. We look forward to continuing our successful year in intramurals as we head into 2024!

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COMMUNITY SERVICE UPDATE T R E V O R M E A D ( F A L L ' 2 2 ) The brothers of Chi Deuteron continued our commitment to the local community by giving back through our Community Service efforts. In September, 33 brothers drove to our section of Bill Snyder Highway in preparation to beautify this stretch of land.

Led by the Community Service Chair, Trevor Mead, the brothers split into 4 groups and spent the rest of the morning picking up trash alongside the highway. The brothers plan to repeat this event in the Spring and are proud that the Chi Deuteron section of the highway is once again clean.

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FIJI DAD‘S WEEKEND The men of Chi Deuteron welcomed their Dads to the House in late October for our annual FIJI Dad’s Weekend. To start the weekend off, a live auction was held at Manhattan Country Club. Brother Sam Wright led the auction, and the Chapter was able to raise around $13,000 and sold some awesome items. The Dads accepted the challenge this year and raised more money than the Moms did last year. But, we know the Moms will accept the challenge and do their part to raise even more during Moms Weekend this year.

The brothers also took in a football game during the weekend with their Dads and enjoyed watching the Cats take down the TCU Horned Frogs. It was a dominant win for the Wildcats in an electric night game environment. The brothers and their Dads capped off the night by hitting the “Ville and celebrating a Cats win.

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BEACH BASH PHILANTHROPY UPDATE

TRISTON ATKINS (FALL '22)

The FIJI’s partnered with the men of Delta Chi to host a volleyball tournament in late August. It was an extremely fun event with some great weather with full participation from all sororities on campus. Kappa Kappa Gamma was crowned champions of the tournament and received a $500 prize to donate to a philanthropic organization of their choice. Overall, it was a great success, and we hope to turn this event into an annual activity as we have already begun planning for next year.

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HOUSE CORP UPDATE

GARY WIETHARN ‘77

Brothers, I am proud to announce that we continue to make significant progress and improvements to the Chapter House. Work recently completed is listed below. I have shared as many pictures as I could in this newsletter, but if you are interested in seeing more, please let me know, and I can send them directly to you. Important Note: a year from now, all major projects on our list will have been completed at an investment of $500,000 over four summers. Thank you to all Graduate Brothers who have so graciously donated to the Chapter House Improvements!

3rd Floor HVAC replaced (all are new in last 5 years) New epoxy floor and painted walls in laundry room Third floor double showers added Renovated 1st & 2nd floor bathrooms & showers Putting Green installed with putters & purple sign Deep Clean of all House common areas Wall Extension, Turf Addition & Concrete Patio Replacement Windows on order for North facing rooms Full Kitchen Renovation approved for June 2024

FALL 2023

"Not For College Days Alone!"

The 2nd Annual FIJI Grad Tailgate was a tremendous success with over 80 Graduate Brothers and over 50 guests in attendance! The day kicked off with an abundance of Brotherhood catching up and was capped off by a thrilling Wildcat victory over UCF. Plans are already underway for next year as we are tentatively planning for Game 3 vs the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday, September 14, 2024. Feedback/Suggestions to improve next year’s tailgate are welcome. Please reach out directly to Brother Foust at (620) 262-7137.

This year’s tailgate would not have been possible without the generosity of our brothers.

Special thanks to the following brothers: John Foust '92 for coordinating all the details and working to make this an annual event Ron Buck '94 and Buck Roofing for sponsorship of the event to help keep the cost of the event to a minimum.

Chris Hupe '94 and Spirits of 76 Liquor Store Chris Johnson '95 and Infiniti Vodka Evan Grier '02 and One Egg Group Rob Gillespie ‘94 for coordinating and paying for the Wildcat Marching Band to stop at the Tailgate.

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"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

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

fijiatksu.com

Do you have an update to share with your Chi Deuteron Brothers?

@fijiatksu If so, we want to hear from you! Please submit your family updates, job updates, moves, career changes, career opportunities for undergraduates and more.

facebook.com/KStateFIJI

This is a great opportunity to personalize our communication and share updates with our brothers in our next newsletter! Please send to either Mitch Lorenz at mitch.lorenz1@gmail.com or Scott Wilson at scottwilson2387@gmail.com.

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