The Laurel Spring 2020

THE

OF PHI KAPPA TAU | VOL. 106 ISSUE 1 | APRIL 2020

Dads of

DISTINCTION

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

P. 5

P. 14

P. 20

BETTER THAN YOU LEFT IT

LEGACY CAMPING TRIP

CHAPTER PERFORMANCE REPORTS

John Barron, Pan American ’79, and his wife of over 30 years are the parents of a big, loving family of four boys and one girl.

Out of all his children, his daughter is the only one to have joined a Greek organization.

Carolina has been super involved since she was in high school: she played soccer, she was student body president, a Girl Scout Gold Award recipient, and an excellent student. She has always been dedicated to serving her community, so when she was a freshman at the University of Houston she joined Delta Gamma and served as their president for two years.

For Barron, it was fun to see his daughter join a sorority and share his love of the Greek system.

“There’s a connection over being involved in a system like that,” he says.

“It’s good to have a group of friends with a common purpose.” Barron, who is still friends with some of his chapter brothers today, knows first-hand the bond fraternities and sororities create. “It’s something I experienced, and I think if you stick with it, and see it all the way through, you can build lifelong friends.”

This edition of The Laurel celebrates Phi Tau fathers, the bonds they share with their children, and the way this brotherhood has molded their experience as dads. Read about 10 dads and their unique paths to fatherhood ahead.

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good and loyal citizen. I shall try always to discharge the obligation to others which arises from the fact that I am a fraternity man.

Phi Kappa Tau, by admitting me to membership, has conferred upon me a mark of distinction in which I take just pride. I believe in the spirit of brotherhood for which it stands. I shall strive to attain its ideals, and by so doing to bring to it honor and credit. I shall be loyal to my college and my chapter and shall keep strong my ties to them that I may ever retain the spirit of youth. I shall be a good and loyal citizen. I shall try always to discharge the obligation to others which arises from the fact that I am a fraternity man.

Phi Kappa Tau, by admitting me to membership, has conferred upon me a mark of distinction in which I take just pride. I believe in the spirit of brotherhood for which it stands. I shall strive to attain its ideals, and by so doing to bring to it honor and credit. I shall be loyal to my college and my chapter and shall keep strong my ties to them that I may ever retain the spirit of youth. I shall be a good and loyal citizen. I shall try always to discharge the obligation to others which arises from the fact that I am a fraternity man.

16

DADS OF DISTINCTION Johnathan Gay, Eastern Kentucky ’98, (pictured with family) and four other alumni share their unique journeys to become dads, their struggles and triumphs, and how fatherhood has changed their life.

FEATURES 5 PERSPECTIVES Phi Tau plays an active role in his life, so of course it is already playing an active role in his son’s life. Tyler Wash, Georgetown ’06, reflects a year after his son’s birth on how Phi Tau has impacted him as a father.

12 LEGACY CAMPING TRIP Brian Smith, Cal Poly-Pomona ’91, and his Delta Tau chapter brothers will celebrate their fourth annual dads-kids camping trip this summer. Read about their trip and their bestpractice tips to plan your own outing in this feature.

14 5 MINUTES WITH: LES FUGATE Les Fugate, Centre ’99, has begun a new role with one of the preeminent wine and spirit companies in the country. He talks about his new job, career history, and prioritizing his daughter.

DEPARTMENTS 4 | COO’s Letter 6 | E xpanding Our Mission 15 | B y the Numbers 28 | Chapter Eternal 30 | Sidelights

On the cover: Illustrations by Logan Lukacs, Baldwin Wallace ’10

20 CHAPTER PERFORMANCE REPORTS The 2019 chapter performance reports show membership, philanthropic dollars, graduation rate, and more from our 87 active chapters and colonies.

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COO’S LETTER

MAILBOX THE LAUREL IS INTENDED TO START A CONVERSATION with brothers and friends.

Content is carefully selected to engage and excite our readers. It is our hope that stories you read start a conversation with those in your life. Any comments are appreciated. You can submit your feedback— positive or negative, we want it all—to phikapptau.org/ laurelfeedback. ~

SIDELIGHTS Phi Kappa Tau has launched a new monthly newsletter, Sidelights.

Releasing on the 15th of each month, Sidelights is a compilation of stories and updates for Phi Kappa Tau alumni and undergraduates to gain some insight into the ongoings to the Fraternity and Foundation.

If you are not receiving Sidelights and would like to sign up, visit phikappatau. org/update-info to be added to the mailing list.

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A WORD FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES

BETTER THAN YOU LEFT IT

O

ne of the things I respect the most about my own father is that despite his circumstances, he took ownership of a less-than-ideal situation in an effort to make life better for himself. He was the youngest boy in a large family and, as a kid, took up a newspaper route and shined shoes to make pocket money. He didn’t have the opportunity to go to college; instead, he went to Vietnam, and came home to begin his career at an electric company. He was very involved in everything he did – his union, school board and coaching sports. He was the dad who never missed a thing. I think all of that was in an effort to say, ‘I didn’t have that growing up, and I missed out on it, so I’m going to do better for my kids.’ That’s one of the things I admire most about him.

Both of my parents had a great sense of community. Whether it was in school or a club, their interest was never just in my brothers or myself, it was always about the entire team or class. Because they did such a good job of showing me the benefits of community, I didn’t have to reinvent the wheel with my kids – I have always taken the same approach. Whether I’m coaching Little League or soccer, I want my kids to know that their role within the group supersedes their own playing time. It’s all about learning how to be a part of a team and working towards a common goal.

Today, I’m lucky to have opportunities my father did not. He didn’t go to college, but the opportunity to further my education has given me access to resources that I’m now able to share with my kids. Hockey, rock climbing,

4-H, coding club – none of these things were available to me. My wife and I try to expose our kids to as much as possible, so hopefully they find something that will spark within them and set them on a path to develop hobbies, a profession, or wherever that passion leads them.

I want to push my kids to follow their dreams and have even more opportunity, but to stay grounded in the values I learned from my dad like hard work and integrity.

We are recipients of this great gift of Fraternity and we must take our responsibility of being good stewards of this gift seriously. To me, at the core of what you sign up for when you join Phi Tau is agreeing to leave the room better than you found it. That can mean a lot of different things: growth in membership, providing a healthy membership orientation program, or focus on academics, or service, or philanthropy. But it all goes back to our vision of being a leadership organization that binds men together to make a difference in their community and the world.

Just like the lesson I learned from my father; we have to push ourselves to be a little bit better than the generation before.

We hope you enjoy this celebration of Phi Tau fatherhood.

Go Far!

TRAVIS ROBINSON CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Above: Travis and his father at his First Communion; Donald Robinson in Vietnam

PERSPECTIVES

TYLER WASH, GEORGETOWN ’06

THE LAUREL OF PHI KAPPA TAU

BROTHERHOOD AND MY SON

APRIL 2020 VOL. 106 ISSUE 1

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lilly Steger

Tyler Wash, Georgetown ’06, is the Executive Vice President for the Delta Sigma Pi Leadership Foundation.

He served as Executive Director of the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation for four years. He and his wife, Kellsey, welcomed their first son, Wyatt, in February 2019.

T

he first few hours of being a father is an amazing experience that is hard to describe. A friend and mentor advised me to write down my thoughts and experiences each night because everything goes by so fast. I took his advice, and I am glad he shared this valuable idea.

Looking back at my notes, one thing is clear – Phi Taus played a meaningful role in Wyatt’s life from minute one. From chapter brothers, to Oxford locals, to brothers who live across the country, the Fraternity’s support and bond was present from my first day as a father.

Phi Taus played an active part in the earliest moments of my son’s life. A Phi Tau picked my mother up from the airport in the early morning hours to drive her to the hospital. Phi Taus were among the first to receive a photo of the 5-minute old. Phi Taus were the first to visit, send cards, and call. A Phi Tau took my call at 4 a.m. when I had questions that could not wait. There are too many actions and too many brothers to list everything and everyone. There is a good chance that not a week has gone by since Wyatt was born that he did not spend time with a Phi Tau brother, but one gesture showed me the spirit of brotherhood like I have never experienced before.

COPY EDITOR Travis Robinson, Eastern Kentucky ’98

A few days after bringing Wyatt home from the hospital, a small package arrived. As I pulled out the card from National Councilor Bob Ragsdale, Georgia ’66, and his wife Eleanor, a new Phi Kappa Tau associate badge fell into my hand. Written in the note was an invitation of membership for Wyatt in the Beta Xi chapter at the University of Georgia. Tears came to my eyes, not just for the close friendship I share with Bob, but the realization that the bonds of this Fraternity are universal.

2037 will by my son’s freshman year of college.

Will he join a fraternity? Will he join Phi Kappa Tau? Will he take Bob up on his offer? Who knows, but I do know that I hope Wyatt will find lasting friendships, have wonderful experiences, and be a part of something bigger than himself – all key tendencies of a quality Phi Kappa Tau experience.

Phi Kappa Tau is woven into my life’s story, and it is only natural that the Fraternity is already a part of my son’s life.

CONTRIBUTORS Tim Hudson, Truman State ’97 Tyler Wash, Georgetown ‘06 Brian Smith, Cal Poly-Pomona ‘91

UPCOMING EDITIONS Phi Kappa Tau publishes The Laurel three times a year. Each edition focuses on an aspect of the Phi Kappa Tau experience.

The schedule below identifies upcoming delivery dates.

August 2020; November 2020 ADDRESS CHANGES Visit phikappatau.org/update-info to update your current mailing information.

LAUREL ARCHIVES Past Laurel publications can be found online at phikappatau.org/laurel. Individuals can browse and view all past editions that are available.

Fraternally,

Tyler Wash

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EXPANDING OUR MISSION

CHARTERINGS

DK

CURRENT EXPANSIONS

MUHLENBERG COLLEGE EXISTING COLONIES

OMICRON COLONY* Pennsylvania State University PI COLONY University of Southern California TAU COLONY University of Michigan OMEGA COLONY University of Wisconsin-Madison

BETA THETA COLONY University of Kansas DELTA RHO COLONY Eastern Kentucky University DELTA UPSILON University of Tennessee-Martin

If you know a young man attending one of the institutions, recommend him to Phi Kappa Tau by visiting phikappatau.org/join.

ALPHA GAMMA University of Delaware

If you would like to volunteer with one of Phi Kappa Tau’s colonies, visit phikappatau.org/expansion.

ALPHA RHO COLONY* Georgia Institute of Technology

*Approved to charter Spring 2020

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DELTA KAPPA CHAPTER University of Tennessee-Knoxville

CLOSINGS

Beta Iota Chapter, Florida State University Phi Kappa Tau is committed to offering all of its members a healthy and productive environment to become exemplary members of society and provide and outstanding presence on their campus communities. If a chapter falls below the values and standards of the organization, it is our responsibility to take action. The above chapter was found in violation of our risk management policies.

Mu Chapter, Lawrence University Due to a decline in recruitment and retention, the Mu chapter has closed its doors. The Fraternity and the chapter’s Graduate Council are in communication with college administration to determine the best timeline for our return.

UNDERGRADUATE OF DISTINCTION

TRAVIS GEBERT, TEXAS STATE ’20 SAN MARCOS, TEXAS 100,000TH BROTHER Travis Gebert, Texas State ’20, became the 100,000th brother of Phi Kappa Tau at the Gamma Psi initiation in January. Travis, a sophomore marketing major, is from a small-town southeast of Austin. He was drawn to Phi Tau by the chapter’s brotherly environment, along with its determination to represent a good fraternity.

“The idea that 99,999 men came before me in this process is mind blowing and the pride I feel is beyond measure,” he said. “Coming from a smaller chapter in Texas, it’s pretty special to carry this distinction. I’m looking forward to holding other positions within my chapter and experiencing its growth.”

Phi Tau began tracking “milestone” initiations in 1953 with the 20,000th member. Six years later in 1959 was the 25,000th, then the 50,000th in 1979, and finally the 75,000th in 1996.

Between 1996-2020, this Fraternity has initiated more members than in our first 47 years. More than half our members have been initiated since 1979 – just 41 years out of nearly a century of history. This reminds us that in many ways, we are still a young organization, and the best is yet to come.

Welcome to Phi Tau, Travis!

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register today at phikappatau.org/convention [8] THE LAUREL || APRIL 2020

FEATURE

ALUMNI OF DISTINCTION

HUNTER WHITFIELD, GEORGIA ’13 AND SWAIN WHITFIELD, GEORGIA ’85 ATHENS, GEORGIA Hunter Whitfield, Georgia ’13, is the most recent of the Whitfield men to attend University of Georgia. His father, Swain Whitfield, Georgia ’85, also attended, as did his grandfather. “I grew up going to Georgia football games with my dad, so far back I can’t remember,” Hunter says. Tailgates are a tradition for Beta Xi chapter and this early exposure to Phi Tau is a big part of his connection to the chapter. “For as long as I can remember we would always stop by there and it would be all of my dad’s friends from the Fraternity.”

When Hunter went off to Georgia, he knew he wanted to join a fraternity but wasn’t sure about joining Phi Tau until he ran into two alumni leaving a housing corporation meeting who were a part of the tailgate group. Hunter felt instantly at home. “It’s so impressive that after 30-35 years, these guys still come back to Athens for games, Fraternity events and trips. That’s really what brought me to the Fraternity is seeing that aspect of it. Like they say it’s not just four years, it’s a lifetime.”

Today he has his own group of chapter brothers that tailgate, right next to his dad’s group. “It’s really cool to have two generations of guys tailgating together; guys in their 50s and guys in their 20s.” Phi Tau has been a part of Hunter’s life for many years and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

T

he 1995 edition of The Laurel “Dads Who Diaper” focused similarly on Phi Tau dads. It highlighted ten fathers and concentrated on the changing landscape of parenthood through the new opportunities presented by the accessibility of the internet and how the increase of women in the workforce was shifting traditional family dynamics.

Dads in this feature discuss taking on more parenting responsibility, working from home, and how fatherhood changes with age. Read this excerpt on Don Maston, Ohio ’84, and his experience as a primary caregiver to the right:

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CHAPTER OF DISTINCTION

Jake Elling, Illinois ’18, with his dad at the game.

ZETA CHAPTER UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN Every fall “Dad's Weekend” is an event sponsored by the Univer-

They had bonfires, smores, and a cookout while the dads

sity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It’s an opportunity for dads

settled in and caught up. Saturday morning, they woke up to

to come to campus, get a tour, attend a football game, and hang

serve breakfast before heading to the game. The 2019 Dad’s

out with their kids in their new phase of life. The university has

Weekend was held the same weekend as the Illinois vs. Rutgers

great events like a tailgate and brunch, but it’s up to individuals

game, which ended in a home team victory. Those who did not

and groups to make the weekend special. The Zeta chapter at

have tickets to the game stayed at the house and cooked again,

the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign teamed up with

toured campus, or attended other university-sponsored events.

Alpha Omicron Pi and Alpha Epsilon Phi sororities last Novem-

Saturday evening, they returned to the chapter house to play

ber to host a memorable weekend for the dads.

games and hang out before saying farewell Sunday morning.

On Friday night most students go out to eat with their dads,

Well done to Zeta chapter for making your dads feel so

but the Zeta house organized a dinner for those who do not.

welcome on campus.

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FEATURE

PHI TAU LEGACY CAMPING TRIP DELTA TAU’S ANNUAL FATHER-CHILD TRIP

B

rian Smith, Cal Poly Pomona ’91, has always loved camping, so when his sons were born, he knew it was an experience he wanted to share with them.

The idea for an alumni camping trip came in 2017. Smith had taken both his sons camping before, his older son twice and his younger son once, and thought that if it was such a valuable experience for them, surely it would be for other members as well. A few alumni had chatted about the idea before, and since 2017 was the 60th anniversary of Delta Tau’s founding, the timing was perfect.

Planning began in February and the first weekend in August was selected as a date. From mountains, to deserts, to beaches, Southern California has no shortage of beautiful camping spots, but the planning committee quickly

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learned that state beaches booked up too fast, and the desert was ruled out for a summer trip. One brother suggested Malibu Beach RV Park, a privately-owned location with campsites overlooking the Pacific Ocean. They booked it for the first year, and the location has proven to be so great they will be returning for the fourth time this August.

The name, “The Annual Phi Tau Legacy Camping Trip,” was chosen so it was clear this is an experience to share with legacies, but daughters would always be included. The trip is dads-only, but Smith shares that this has become a popular “weekend off” for the moms and wives, many of whom take it as an opportunity to go on their own girls-trip.

Once the camping spots are booked,

Smith sends an email to the chapter to promote the trip and list who has already committed to attending. The first trip had eight dads and 14 kids; last year they were up to 13 dads and 23 kids.

This year they hope for an even bigger turnout. For some, this is their only opportunity to reconnect with chapter brothers. Many alumni live too far away or are too busy to attend Founders Day or Brotherhood Night (another Delta Tau tradition, held around Christmas), but they can plan on attending the summer trip. They have members from the 1991 initiate class attend all the way through the mid-2000s. They ask dads to only bring their kids once they are old enough, so some dads of 1 and 2-year-olds are chomping at the bit until they can attend.

13 TIPS TO PLAN A PHI TAU TRIP

1. Plan early and get the word out early and often.

2. I f it’s an annual event, pick a weekend and stick to it so everyone knows when it will be (ex: first week of August).

3. F ind three-to-five key guys you know will commit and get it booked. Then send out announcements about who has already committed. This shows people that it’s more than just an idea – it’s actually going to happen.

4. M essage your group at least once a month leading up to the event to keep generating interest.

The kids play while Delta Tau dads set up camp.

5. U se a Google Drive Spreadsheet for listing attendees, kids’ ages, and other planning info. Share this link with your attendees in follow-up emails so they have access to the details.

6. A s it gets closer, figure out with those who have already committed if you’re planning meals individually or as a group, and who needs to bring what.

Guests arrive Friday afternoon and dads set up camp while their kids play.

There’s lots to do – cornhole, frisbee, and pushing each other around in wheelbarrows. For dinner Friday, they plan a huge, family-style meal, where everyone sits down and enjoys being present with each other. The rest of the time they cook hot dogs, burgers, barbeque, and sandwiches.

Saturday is beach day. Kids build sandcastles, play in the water, boogie board, and play frisbee and football.

When the kids are exhausted and hit the tents, the dads reminisce about their chapter days and talk about their kids interests. “It’s a great time to catch up and have fun,” Smith says. “When we’re there, at some point we talk to our kids about why this group is togeth-

er, so they’ll start to understand what the Fraternity is, what it means to have ‘brothers’ for life, and why it’s important to have those people in your life. My two sons really look forward to the trip each year.”

Sunday, they pack up and clean the camp site before saying goodbye.

Planning an annual event with so many moving parts is no easy feat, but Smith and the Delta Tau’s have got a good grip on it. They’re already looking forward to next year’s camping trip and this wonderful tradition of brotherhood and family.

Content submitted by Brian Smith, Cal Poly-Pomona ‘91

7. M ake sure the kids get to know each other by bringing games or toys they can enjoy as a group. Cornhole is a great option because you can play it with the other dads too.

8. Take lots of pictures.

9. Bring sunscreen.

10. T alk to your kids about why you’re all together, what a Fraternity is, and what it means to have friends or “brothers” for life. Answer any questions they may have.

11. D uring your trip, start to chat about next year’s trip. Get input on locations and firm up the date, even if that means keeping everything the same.

12. H onor any curfews the campsite has and clean up when you leave.

13. After the trip send a recap email or message to all members, not just those who attended. This helps people feel connected and generate excitement for future trips. If you know the date of the next trip, announce it then.

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FIVE MINUTES WITH...

LES FUGATE

L

es Fugate, Centre ’99, has started a new role as Vice President and Director, State and Local Government Relations at Brown-Forman, one of the largest American-owned spirits and wine companies.

Fugate comes to this role after years in public relations and shares with us his background, as well as how his relationship with his daughter, Kensington, has changed his life.

• Tell us about your career: I started my career as the Director of Alumni and Annual Giving for the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program. In that position I met Trey Grayson. A year and a half later Trey was elected Secretary of State for Kentucky and asked if I would be his communications director.

Following my time there, I took a position as the Executive Vice President and COO of the Center for Rural Development in Somerset, KY. After that, I created Fugate Strategic Affairs, a consulting firm.

My latest opportunity came about when my old mentor called me to ask if I would be interested in the position at Brown-Forman. After an extensive process, I was lucky enough to be chosen.

• What are you most excited about in your new role? This company is family controlled and you can feel it in the way they behave. For instance, the company has an employee resource

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group for individuals who do not drink.

It’s incredible a wine and spirits company would make non-consumers of their product feel so welcome. It speaks volumes about them and makes me excited to go out and represent this company.

• How has your time with Phi Tau influenced your life professionally and personally? Phi Tau was incredibly meaningful for me as an undergraduate, many important leadership experiences were taught within the Delta chapter. My big brother used to say the chapter was a “microcosm of the real world” – he couldn’t have been more correct. Navigating issues within the chapter made me a much stronger leader today. To this day, my best friends are Phi Taus.

The example of how I expect men to behave both personally and professionally are set by Phi Taus, that is important to me now with an 8-year old daughter.

• How has fatherhood changed your life? My work life is designed around being a part of her life. I schedule myself so that we can ride to school together and I go into the office early. Everyone knows that I will shut things down so that I can pick her up, eat with her, and work on homework. Of course, I get back on the phone and computer after all of that, but I have more balance thanks to her.

Role modeling is much more important to me now. That is why Phi Tau is so important, Phi Tau developed some incredible men who I believe are worthy to be in my child’s life. That is not something I take lightly.

• What aspects of fatherhood were surprising or unexpected? I’m surprised how much I want to be in her life all of the time. I am smitten with her.

She is my best buddy and she has given me great perspective. Kensington has made me a better person to be around because I am not working constantly.

• Has fatherhood had a role or impact on your professional life?

I approach things different as a father.

I look at social responsibility in such a different way. Additionally, I pay much more attention to the challenges that women face in the workplace thanks to my daughter. I want her to be judged on her intellect and ability and nothing else.

I see the world from her eyes more than just my own.

Thank you, Les, for sharing with us!

BY THE NUMBERS

428,000

BY THE NUMBERS: FATHERHOOD

16%

OF CHILDREN LIVE IN “BLENDED HOMES” – HOUSES WITH A STEPPARENT, STEPSIBLING, OR HALF-SIBLING

23%

OF CHILDREN LIVE WITH A SINGLE MOTHER

MORE THAN

60%

OF CHILDREN SPEND 2-5 YEARS IN THE SYSTEM BEFORE BEING ADOPTED

CHILDREN ARE IN THE FOSTER SYSTEM IN THE U.S.

KIDS PARTICIPATING IN

Big Brothers Big

Sisters

135,000 CHILDREN ARE ADOPTED EACH YEAR IN THE U.S.

ARE 46% LESS LIKELY TO START USING DRUGS AND 27% LESS LIKELY TO START DRINKING. THEY ARE ALSO 52% LESS LIKELY TO SKIP SCHOOL.

Information sourced from the Pew Research Center, “The American Family Today” (2015), Fatherhood.gov, adoptionnetwork.com, bbbs.org and census.gov.

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FEATURE

Dads of LILLY STEGER

The following four profiles feature men who were kind enough to share their personal stories of fatherhood with Phi Tau for this issue. Their unique journeys, their struggles and triumphs, and their core belief in serving an obligation to others is part of their story as Men of Distinction.

JOHNATHAN GAY, EASTERN KENTUCKY ’98 Johnathan Gay’s journey to fatherhood began typically enough.

Gay was in his 30s and married when he had his first son in 2004. “I always wanted a son, so that was a real blessing,” he shares. Subsequently, Gay and his first wife divorced, so he had the experience of raising a son both in a marriage that was struggling and later as a single dad.

When Gay remarried a few years later, he and his wife Julia wanted to expand their family, but after trying for some time and a devastating miscarriage they turned their sights towards fostering.

By December of 2014, they were approved to foster and received a call saying that there was a baby girl who had been removed from her home and the agency was looking for a long-term placement, with an eye for adoption.

“We went in and we saw this little shriveled up, high-needs, beautiful little girl sitting in the social workers office,” Gay gushes.

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The couple was instantly smitten. “We took that child home and we were in love with her instantly.”

A few months in, the Gays were feeling confident that the adoption process would go smoothly, until they received a call saying that McKayla’s father had been located and there was a chance she may be removed to go live with him. The pain of that uncertainty was terrible. “It was excruciating. We spent the next 13-months worrying that child was going to leave our home,” Gay says. “We kept her, we loved her, we took her to her visits even though they ripped our hearts out.” They prayed a lot and worried a lot, but in February of the following year they found out that her father would not be eligible for adoption and she would be staying with them. Time proved that to be true and in December of 2018, McKayla’s adoption was finalized.

While all this was happening, six months into McKayla’s fostering they received a call about a second foster child. Another girl, Maya had been removed from her home due to hunger issues.

This time the social worker brought her to the house and Johnathan came home to a beautiful little brown-eyed baby.

With the addition of Maya, the family felt full. “We’re like, ‘That’s it, we’re good, no more kids!’ Then, three or four months later, we get a call from a social worker saying, ‘Hey, that little girl you just got, she’s got a sibling on the way and we like to keep siblings together. So, no pressure, but we’d love for you to take her, and if you don’t there’s a chance we might remove her to be with her brother. But, no pressure.’”

They did deliberate, but talking to Gay it seems they could never have said ‘no.’ They agreed to take the child and watched from afar as the mother went through her pregnancy and delivered a baby boy. For two days after he was born they lived in the dark, uncertain if he was still going to be removed. Finally, they got a call: come get him. They went to pick up “John Boy,” feeling as though their family was finally complete.

“So, we’re like, ‘That’s it, they’re definitely not giving another baby to us.’ Well, my wife starts maternity leave for John, and a few weeks in she starts feeling sick. A couple days later she found out she was pregnant.” Their youngest, Mason, was born nine months later. “We joke that my wife has the distinction of being the only teacher who’s taken two different maternity leaves in the same calendar year.”

With the addition of Mason, their family was finally, truly whole. Maya and John’s adoptions were finalized in January of 2020, legally formalizing the tie they had to their babies from the beginning. Now they have a five, four, three, and two-yearold running around the house, along with a 15-year-old.

Gay’s love for his children, as well as his passion for fostering and adoption, is so evident it’s hard to envision that anyone could ever question the validity of this system. Still, he shares, people can struggle to understand it. “People occasionally say, ‘I don’t know if I could love a non-biological child the way I love my biological children.’ I will tell you there’s no difference, whatsoever,” he says. “The bond can be different based on circumstances, but the love is always there.”

IAN FUCHS, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS ’08 In the case of Ian Fuchs, fatherhood hit him sooner than he expected.

Fuchs was just 19 when his life was shaken by the news he was going to become a father. “Honestly, it was scary. I had all kinds of different plans and ideas for what I wanted to do, and I wasn’t sure if I was still going to be able to do them,” he says. Fuchs had to re-evaluate his life. He had to examine his goals and shift his focus from the things he wanted to do, to things he had to do. “That was really when my life started to become more than just me.”

Fuchs initiated as a freshman, so by the time he heard the news as a sophomore he already had a solid network to turn to. “I remember going to my chapter president and just crying to him like, ‘I don’t know what to do, I don’t know how to handle this.’ He was so calm and reassuring.” The president and the chapter at large were incredibly supportive. “Their belief really made all the difference.” That summer his son was born, and his life was changed for the better. Beta Chi chapter continued to be as supportive and welcoming as ever. They invited the new dad to events, even if they knew he was too busy, checked in on him, and remained close friends. That constant invitation and welcome is something Fuchs remains grateful for. “Some of them probably don’t know how much that meant to me at the time, but it really was everything to

still feel included. I was lucky to be a part of a really incredible chapter who accepted every part of me and my kids.”

Fuchs was fortunate to have grown up just 15 minutes from the Southern Illinois campus, as did his son’s mother, so they had a large family support system as well. “Despite all the fears, we had so much support. It would have been a lot harder if we didn’t have our families,” he says. Fuchs finished his degree and found a job.

Once he started his career, he even went back to school to finish his masters, taking classes and studying at night while his son slept.

Today, Fuchs is married with three kids– his eldest son, now eight, his stepson, four, and his daughter, three. He works for a large healthcare nonprofit, has found more stability, and life is less chaotic. “When I was in school, I was very dedicated to achieving my goals and the thought process was that I needed to get into a career, I needed to get set up financially, I needed stability. Now, I think my focus is on how to be a better dad and help them reach their goals. It’s more about being present, being there in the moment is worth more than anything else.”

Fuchs values teaching them to be curious and passionate about learning, something his parents instilled in him. “I really do feel like being smart and compassionate and kind will take you furthest in life,” he says. “I think one of the most rewarding things is when you see a lightbulb click and they really get something.”

Fuchs had to make sacrifices during the first years of adulthood, but what he got out of it was a beautiful addition to his family and a more purposeful life. “When you become a parent giving up isn’t an option. You have people that depend on you every single day and I think that changes the way you think about things, your career, your goals, where you want to live, really everything. Life becomes a lot more purposeful.”

ROY CLUNK, MOUNT UNION ’75 For Roy Clunk, becoming a member of Mount Union’s Epsilon chapter was part of a much bigger family tradition, even if he didn’t plan on it.

Clunk comes from a line of Epsilon alumni and Purple Raiders.

THE LAUREL || PHIKAPPATAU.ORG [17]

FEATURE

His father, Robert R. Clunk, Mount Union ’48, was a longtime advisor to the chapter and his grandfather, Roy H. Clunk, Mount Union ’19, who joined only four years after the chapter was founded in 1915, was instrumental in buying the Epsilon house in the 40s.

Clunk’s association with the chapter began tediously – with mowing the grass. “During the summer my dad would say, ‘Nobody’s at that house and the yard looks terrible, go mow it for me!’

We had a little garden tractor and I remember driving that down the street probably a mile and a half to mow the lawn. And it was a big lawn!” he exclaims.

When he started college, Clunk wasn’t necessarily looking to join a Fraternity. But he met a few friends playing football, and they invited him to the house. It was their brotherhood, rather than his legacy status, that was the catalyst for him to join. “Those guys were my best friends, they attracted me to Phi Tau, I wasn’t even thinking, ‘Oh my dad was a Phi Tau, so was grandpa.’ That wasn’t on my mind, it was the guys who were my friends.”

Clunk remained close with his Phi Tau brothers – a Phi Tau was best man at his wedding and godfather to his children – but it was his daughter attending Mount Union in the early-2000s that got him re-engaged with the chapter. Years after her graduation, he’s still an active member on the Board of Governors.

These mentorships he has with the Epsilon chapter have become some of the most meaningful relationships in his life.

“I tell these guys all the time,” he says, “You don’t see it now, but trust me, these will be your best friends and brothers for life.”

Clunk goes to weddings all the time, like his own, that are filled with Phi Taus. He has seen chapter brothers remain close for the rest of their lives, become godparents, and true family in every sense. “I have three daughters and I don’t have any sons, but I always tell people I have 30-40 sons because all these guys are my pseudo-sons. I’ve helped mentor so many of them and been there if they have questions or need to talk.” Mentoring for the next generation and ensuring that Phi Tau is in the hands of strong

[18] THE LAUREL || APRIL 2020

leaders is important to Roy, which is why he values his relationship with the chapter so much.

Roy had the added experience of welcoming a new brother to both his biological and Phi Tau family. After graduation, his daughter married her husband, Matt Tesrake, who attended Baldwin-Wallace University. Tesrake had not joined a fraternity, but watched his new father-in-law engage passionately with the chapter and benefit from the lifelong friendships of his brothers. When Epsilon chapter was planning their centennial in 2015, they decided to honorary initiate him. The idea originally came from Alex Koehler, Mount Union ’07, a Phi Tau with whom Clunk shares an especially close bond. “I love Alex, he’s like my son, I feel like he was one Phi Tau who was truly my closest.” Koehler suggested initiating Tesrake to give him the experience he didn’t have in college and now he’s a Phi Tau, welcomed into the Clunk family in two unique ways.

The relationships crafted by the bonds of fraternity are certainly as valuable as the ones we are born into. These friendships that begin in college follow members through the most important parts of their lives. “My Phi Tau brothers, they’re my best friends today,” Clunk says enthusiastically. “I see and talk to several of them every week, I mean they are my best friends in life.” The role of male mentorship and friendship is so critical in forming a sense of belonging and purpose, something to which Keith Kelly can attest.

KEITH KELLY, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS ’08 Keith Kelly did not grow up with an active father. He was fifth of six children to a single mother, who all lived in a small house in an unsafe neighborhood. “My mom did a good job of trying to raise us all, but you figure if you’re trying to raise six kids by yourself, it’s tough.

We grew up on public assistance, there wasn’t a drive for us to do more than just the bare minimum in school,” he explains.

“Luckily for me, I had a very positive male role model in my life who helped shape and steer me in a different direction, to know that the situation I’m in, the neighborhood I’m in, there’s more out there that I can strive for.” Kelly met his mentor at church. He was a pastor in charge of the youth group Bible studies and outings. “I valued that time because it felt like a break to me.

There were seven of us in one house, so anytime I got to get away it seemed less hectic, less chaotic. It was my source of peace.” He helped Kelly with school and with setting goals, helped to craft him into the man he is today. “It turned into me asking him questions and him sharing life lessons with me. That’s pretty

much how I learned, ‘Look, if you want these things this is what you need to do.’”

Kelly and his mentor remain close today. Because of his hard work and the experience of his mentorship, Kelly is the only one of his siblings to gradate college and the first in his family to buy a house. He’s been married for nearly seven years and they have two children, a six-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter. “I think all those lessons carried into my life now. I help my son with homework, we all play games together,” he says. But Kelly felt a draw towards helping a larger cause, to serving an obligation to others. He wanted to continue that legacy, so he began mentoring with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Kelly’s been with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pittsburg for nearly three years. Kelly’s little, Nassonie, was on the waiting list for four months trying to find a Big Brother. When Kelly signed up, they were matched within a week. “It’s odd how it all worked out,” he explains, “The kid’s the spitting image of me growing up.”

Nassonie’s dad is not in the picture, and he also lives in a single-mother house with other kids.

It took some time for them to bond. “At first, I didn’t really know what to expect, it’s more of a formalized process than what I had with my mentor. It took three or four months for us to get into a nice groove where he actually felt like he could trust in me and open up to me, and I could start showing him some direction,” he says. Now, “Just in a practical sense, I feel like I’ve made a friend for life.”

This relationship has had huge, real-world and an immediacy practical influence on Nassonie. He didn’t know how to use a lawnmower, so Kelly taught him. There were a pair of shoes and a game that Nassonie wanted, “I told him no one is going to just give you those, you’ve got to try and earn them.” Kelly gifted an old lawnmower to Nassonie and he started walking around the neighborhood cutting grass.

“He finally gets the money, and he decides he doesn’t want the shoes or the game anymore,” Kelly laughs. “It’s just little

things like that. In his situation I don’t know if he ever would have had that type of experience from anyone else.”

But more than the practical skills is the emotional connection they have forged. Kelly shares a story from a few years ago, when he, Nassonie, and his son were watching TV. “It was time for my son to take a nap, and I was like, ‘Nassonie, you can take a nap too,’ and he said, ‘No, I’m not tired, I want to stay up.’ Within a couple of minutes, he was out cold.” What might not appear a big deal was a very profound moment for the two. “It seems very little, but he told me on the way home my house is quiet and it’s peaceful, so it’s almost like a safe haven for him.”

This relationship to Nassonie is powerful and incredibly meaningful to Kelly, it’s part of a bigger picture, an obligation to give back to something more meaningful. “I see there’s such a need for what I had growing up,” he says. “It’s really up to us to shape the next generation.” The idea of giving back is something he’s instilling in his children as well. “With the position I’m in at work and the area of Pittsburg I live in now, we’re very privileged, and that’s part of a lesson I’m teaching to my son. I don’t want him to take that for granted, I want him to work for everything he has.” Kelly’s son volunteers with him a lot – he and Nassonie are close – as part of the key belief in building a better generation for the future. “I figure to me, fatherhood isn’t just taking care of my kids, it’s teaching that to the younger generation.”

Fatherhood, both biological and not, is something we all benefit from. There’s a need for positive male role models; men who can set a standard for hard work, integrity, and compassion for the next generation. For many, Clunk and Kelly included, fatherhood extends into a bigger picture, passing wisdom and teaching into the next generation in the form of mentorship. For others, such as Fuchs and Gay, it’s embracing the unexpected and creating a welcoming home for children to grow and thrive. These men alongside so many other Phi Tau dads show us that fathers have the capability to shape lives and change generations. Go Far!

THE LAUREL || PHIKAPPATAU.ORG [19]

PERFORMANCE REPORTS

KEY

MEMBERSHIP

TOTAL PHILANTHROPY $ RAISED

TOTAL SERVICE HOURS

GRADUATION RATE

GPA

# OF INITIATED ALUMNI

# OF CURRENT LIVING DONORS

CEG BALANCE

B

OHIO

82

$2,900.00

290

93%

2.755

2029

43

$7,976.48

G

OHIO STATE

66

$23,717.66

2506.5

62%

3.135

1828

49

$2,912.37

D

CENTRE

24

$2,952.00

914.75

88%

3.2345

946

14

$1,576.24

E

MOUNT UNION

51

$6,629.00

1987.75

94%

3.115

1428

33

$36,216.98

Z

ILLINOIS

56

$3,835.00

1583

N/A

3.01

1371

22

$6,032.64

Q

TRANSYLVANIA

34

$650.00

224.5

81%

3.27

1160

15

$2,343.38

I

COE

28

$1,002.00

346

67%

2.92

925

14

$2,308.80

K

KENTUCKY

75

$18,890.00

260

77%

2.93

1531

25

$1,766.63

L

PURDUE

31

$110.00

1381

95%

3.155

1529

29

$60,777.14

N

UC BERKELEY

69

$1,025.00

137

95%

3.3

1281

21

$3,561.92

X

FRANKLIN & MARSHALL

36

$1,310.00

884

100%

3.1

1434

11

$376.82

O COLONY

PENN STATE

47

$1,646.17

733

94%

3.189

1406

16

$-

[20] THE LAUREL || APRIL 2020

P COLONY

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

21

$1,809.00

914

N/A

0

1162

42

$7,477.92

U

NEBRASKA WESLEYAN

50

$4,462.77

2485

72%

3.505

1680

59

$9,173.87

F

BETHANY

31

$1,221.00

568.5

100%

2.75

916

26

$2,846.41

C

NORTH CAROLINA STATE

84

$1,016.64

2004

N/A

2.977065

1083

24

$1,571.13

Y

COLORADO

134

$1,737.00

2424

64%

2.95

1677

28

$10,857.92

W COLONY

WISCONSIN-MADISON

29

$-

0

N/A

0

358

1

$2,235.21

AA

MICHIGAN STATE

67

$-

0

N/A

2.855

1343

17

$7,153.91

AD

CASE WESTERN RESERVE

11

$403.00

0

75%

3.5765

1084

25

$838.58

AH

FLORIDA

97

$25,350.00

25

61%

0

1942

29

$10,992.40

AK

WASHINGTON STATE

87

$750.00

552

96%

3.0325

1260

14

$1,082.14

AL

AUBURN

148

$8,989.00

2115

95%

2.99

1696

26

$29,592.67

AP

WASHINGTON

29

$-

144

100%

3.215

720

5

$2,697.63

AR COLONY

GEORGIA TECH

27

$1,800.48

54.5

100%

1.5

999

22

$2,974.85

AS

COLORADO STATE

29

$1,090.00

833

N/A

3.055

1226

16

$1,545.72

AT

CORNELL

49

$3,840.00

765

78%

3.48

1018

14

$24,494.15

AU

COLGATE

59

$3,263.00

0

100%

3.3

808

3

$534.06

AF

AKRON

36

$1,611.00

418.5

50%

2.94

1216

29

$1,663.78

AC

MISSISSIPPI STATE

59

$2,270.00

3191

N/A

2.685

821

48

$-

AW

BALDWIN WALLACE

25

$1,135.00

161

72%

2.9365

1137

15

$11,686.20

BA

TEXAS

28

$2,113.00

91.5

73%

0

613

16

$40,035.57

THE LAUREL || PHIKAPPATAU.ORG [21]

PERFORMANCE REPORTS

BB

LOUISVILLE

96

$17,655.00

4614

95%

2.945

1495

41

$276.33

BG

IDAHO

36

$281.00

424.5

100%

2.995

659

7

$158.25

BE

SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI

40

$7,700.00

514

75%

2.812

1121

14

BQ COLONY

KANSAS

28

$-

0

100%

0

569

7

BK

OKLAHOMA STATE

55

$1,160.00

207.25

90%

2.96

1088

28

$1,084.39

BL

INDIANA

79

$11,500.00

0

96%

2.6697

712

12

$23,618.88

BM

KENT STATE

28

$3,405.00

500

100%

2.965

642

19

$1,191.02

BX

GEORGIA

78

$15,090.00

1453

61%

3.29

1016

17

$1,820.62

BO

MARYLAND

51

$14,077.42

1494

83%

3.016

765

20

$11,618.99

BF

WESTMINSTER

14

$345.86

200

100%

3.0195

1051

15

$4,662.06

BC

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

51

$1,209.00

620

63%

1.4065

696

18

$6,891.16

BY

CAL STATE-LONG BEACH

74

$1,802.10

122

N/A

2.75

754

16

$204.17

BW

CAL STATE-CHICO

73

$300.00

741

100%

2.733

1199

10

$202.33

GA

MICHIGAN TECH

34

$-

699.5

100%

3.1415

844

32

$244,584.85

GB

CINCINNATI

30

$1,806.35

668

50%

2.796

559

26

$3,636.23

GI

SACRAMENTO STATE

16

$508.81

425

N/A

2.756

270

8

$6,397.50

GM

BRADLEY

65

$712.60

78

N/A

3.21

913

14

$1,058.39

GX

EAST CENTRAL OK

22

$1,600.00

272

75%

3.035

522

7

$2,012.27

GT

OLD DOMINION

63

$3,073.00

1495.5

50%

2.82

230

14

$7,317.51

GY

TEXAS STATE

34

$-

170

N/A

2.695

377

8

$4,017.25

[22] THE LAUREL || APRIL 2020

$5,303.13

$879.73

DB

EVANSVILLE

20

$937.50

221

67%

3.25

573

10

$11,529.98

DG

OLE MISS

98

$-

0

N/A

2.93

963

11

$51,823.96

DE

ST. CLOUD

10

$-

8.5

56%

2.825

323

7

$382.09

DK

TENNESSEE

52

$5,588.00

0

N/A

3.035

342

8

$2,818.53

DL

MUSKINGUM

16

$181.00

364

N/A

3.0335

593

10

DP

MURRAY STATE

20

$425.00

504

86%

2.755

189

1

$4,952.02

DR COLONY

EASTERN KENTUCKY

18

$-

531.5

N/A

3.09

361

21

$11,773.85

DT

CAL POLY-POMONA

56

$11,000.00

1002

100%

2.675

453

9

$2,242.93

DC

ROCHESTER

27

$388.00

223

100%

3.415

360

1

$427.96

DW

TRUMAN STATE

15

$-

0

88%

2.38

412

5

$4,025.88

ED

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN

14

$74.46

35.75

75%

1.15

227

0

$2,368.31

EE

WILLIAM PATERSON

27

$4,324.56

838

100%

2.7595

278

5

$380.62

EQ

SAN FRANCISCO STATE

33

$900.00

289

63%

2.535

266

0

$2,043.85

EK

RUTGERS

34

$15,244.00

671

88%

3.2465

315

5

$9,924.70

EL

LONGWOOD

20

$60.00

0

100%

0

309

2

$451.29

EM

UNC-PEMBROKE

30

$860.62

225

100%

2.681

195

2

$356.76

ER

INDIANA U OF PENNSYLVANIA

17

$537.00

0

N/A

2.625

168

0

$61.13

ES

CHAPMAN

74

$3,109.69

0

75%

1.562

289

4

$1,919.48

ET

ARIZONA

65

$-

0

100%

2.81

173

4

$1,589.76

EC

VIRGINIA TECH

36

$1,504.00

202

100%

3.114

212

2

$40.27

$561.08

THE LAUREL || PHIKAPPATAU.ORG [23]

PERFORMANCE REPORTS

EW

SHEPHERD

14

$262.00

0

100%

0

87

0

$660.29

ZA

BELMONT

47

$1,312.00

844

91%

3.2955

210

1

$4,816.12

ZB

SAGINAW VALLEY STATE

11

$50.00

144.5

100%

2.52795

85

6

$398.30

ZG

SAN JOSE

16

$1,600.00

287

N/A

2.65

66

0

$984.58

ZE

LYNCHBURG

23

$6,476.50

1322

N/A

3.095

47

1

$163.35

ZZ

ILLINOIS-SPRINGFIELD

26

$1,537.15

931.5

100%

3.1165

51

3

$403.66

ZH

ALABAMA

68

$1,470.00

297

N/A

3

41

0

$1,168.77

ZQ

NORTH TEXAS

31

$200.00

0

100%

2.82

45

2

$1,206.71

ZK

KENYON

21

$8,617.00

553

N/A

3.48

34

0

$158.23

ZL

MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE

41

$5,981.30

740

N/A

2.88

60

2

$219.10

ZN

MINNESOTA DULUTH

18

$419.38

558

N/A

2.69

16

0

$107.57

ZX

SOUTH CAROLINA

84

$8,544.30

1724

N/A

3.145

43

0

$630.10

ZO

ARIZONA STATE

86

$11,156.75

817

N/A

2.844

23

0

$411.60

ZP

BOSTON

36

$1,726.30

244

N/A

3.155

19

1

$1,141.28

ZR

COLUMBUS STATE

15

$10,829.82

453

N/A

2.8

2

0

$507.25

[24] THE LAUREL || APRIL 2020

LAURELS

LAURELS

~ JOHN BARRASSO, RENSSELAER ’68, traveled to Afghanistan during thanksgiving to visit deployed troops.

Senator Barrasso served the troops a meal before pausing to take this photo with the Wyoming National Guard.

[1968] John Shirey, Purdue, has been inducted into the USA Track & Field Officials Hall of Fame. Shirey is a master level official and has officiated track & field meets since 1973, including 10 NCAA Championships, 29 USATF National Championships, seven Olympic Team Trials, and the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

[1987] Chris Elser, Muhlenberg, has been inducted to the Muhlenberg Athletics Hall of Fame. Elser, a

three-year starting quarterback on the football team, compiled a 21-9 record for the school to take the 1986 CC championship. At the time of his graduation he held records for completions (383), yards (4,549), and passing touchdowns (42) in a career as well as yards, (1,899) and passing touchdowns (19) in a season.

Thomas Kurt Fuchel, Cincinnati ’71, as Pennsylvania Governor.

George Manahan, Bethany ’80, worked as an Associate Producer.

[1987] Cody Knotts, Bethany, wrote and directed the film Kecksburg, which premiered to a sold-out theater in Pennsylvania. The film starred

[1993] Scott Nass, Bradley, MD, MPA, FAAFP, AAHIVS, has been elected GLMA President. Nass is the first family practice physician in

[1988] Scott Brown, Tennessee, has started a new position as Senior Director, Industry and Data Strategy at 1WordlySync.

THE LAUREL || PHIKAPPATAU.ORG [25]

LAURELS

nearly two decades to serve as President. Founded in 1981, GLMA is the world’s largest and oldest LGBT association of healthcare professionals.

JB OSBORNE, CORNELL ’01, has been named to Inc.’s “Most Important Entrepreneurs of the Decade” list.

Osborne is the CEO of Red Antler, a Brooklyn-based marketing firm he co-founded in 2007.

It is one of the most sought-after brand-building companies in the country.

Red Antler has worked with clients like Allbirds, Casper, and Brandless.

[1994] Mike Dovilla, Baldwin Wallace, a former National President, has been named on the 2020 list of Presidential Leadership Scholars.

Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) is an organization founded six years ago that brings leaders together to learn through the presidential experiences of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson.

[1999] Les Fugate, Centre, has taken a new position as Vice President and Director, State and Local Government Relations at BrownForman, a spirit and wine company in Louisville.

[1999] Wes Fugate, Centre, the current Chairman of the Foundation, has been appointed the President

of Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Fugate comes to Wilson College after eight years at Randolph College, where he served most recently as Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students.

[2002] Aaron Harris, Colorado State, received the BizWest 40 Under 40 recognizing individuals who are shaping the future of Colorado. Harris is the Senior Recreation Supervisor for the City of Fort Collins and improves the city by planning community events like the Fourth of July parade, Hogwarts Halloween, and the Father’s Day 5k, all of which are either free to the public or benefit non-profits. Harris is a 2016 recipient of the Phi Award, presented to an alumnus for outstanding service to his chapter.

~

[2001] JJ Lewis, Central Michigan, West Coast Domain Director, has received the inaugural Rising Aztec Award for accomplishments in public education and commitment

[26] THE LAUREL || APRIL 2020

to San Diego State University.

Lewis is the Superintendent & CEO of Compass Charter School in Thousand Oaks, CA. He has been noted for his advocacy of public charter schools, school choice, and leadership at Compass.

[2006] Brian Browne, Case Western Reserve, has started a new position as Senior Director of Alumni Engagement and Stewardship at the College of Arts and Sciences at Case Western Reserve University.

[2007] Alex Koehler, Mount Union, completed a 45-mile bike ride with Peltonia, an organization that raises money for life-saving cancer research. This was Koehler’s

first-time riding with the organization and he raised nearly $2,000.

[2009] Brandon Wojtasik, Baldwin Wallace, married his fiancée, Steph, in December.

[2009] Tyler Vienot, Saginaw Valley State, has started a new position as Senior Program Manager at Quality Metalcraft, Inc.

ment department. This includes zoning, code enforcement, building review, inspections, and assessing business attraction.

[2015] Drew Cooper, Ohio State, former Shideler Winner, married his fiancée Nikki in February.

~ CJ DONALD, CENTRE ’12, has been elected to the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers 2020 Board of Directors. A 2012 graduate of Centre, Donald graduated from Vanderbilt University’s law school in 2017 and is now an LLP Associate of Hayes and Boone.

[2010] Mike Green, Central Michigan, has been appointed Assistant City Manager and Community Development Director of Saline, Michigan. Green will now be responsible for planning, organizing, and directing activities within the community develop-

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CHAPTER ETERNAL

CHAPTER ETERNAL The following members were reported deceased to the Executive Offices between November 12, 2019 and February 13th, 2020.

MIAMI Allen Bergman, ’57 Dave Stebner, ’59 William Negron, ’60

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Brett Nelson, ’77 RENSSELAER

OHIO David Brizius, ’53 David Liggitt, ’62 Terry Pelton, ’64 MOUNT UNION Gene Allison, ’50 Dean Hooker, ’56 MUHLENBERG Dick Beach, ’52 Herman Zieger, ’54 Richard Reimet, ’58 Thomas Stauffer, ’72 KENTUCKY John Anson, ’58 LAWRENCE Robert Ewald, ’46 UC BERKELEY Gerald Gillespie, ’53 PENN STATE Russel Ruhf, ’48 Philip Marrie, ’62 Chip Marrie, III, ’87

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FLORIDA Fred McNeely, ’43 Frank Dunaway, Jr, ’50 Charles Nash, ’50 Gene Downs, ’56

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS Phil Shapiro, ’63

DELAWARE Thomas Runk, ’47

IDAHO Kevin Madsen, ’79

BALDWIN WALLACE Louis Cesaratto, ’55

FLORIDA STATE Tim Gray, ’72

GEORIGA TECH Tom Hendricks, Sr, ’61 Terry Delph, ’64

OKLAHOMA STATE Douglas Campbell, 66

SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI Don Zodun, ’83

Parker Hornbeck, ’53 MICHIGAN Eugene Levering, ’51 Larry Carr, ’61 TRANSYLVANIA Garey White, ’46 Willmott McChord, ’59 NEBRASKA WESLEYAN James Hughes, ’47 FRANKLIN & MARSHALL Barry Schloss, ’64 MISSISSIPPI STATE William Bush, ’60 Chris Perry, ’86 CASE WESTERN RESERVE Chester Brian, ’54 Albert Chopey, ’55 KANSAS STATE Ray Huebner, ’58

COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY John Woods, ’91 UNC-PEMBROKE Matthew Miller ’08

CORNELL Edward Lynch, ’51 Roland Lieber, ’58 COLGATE Otis Hutchins, ’51 Carl Straub, ’55 Bill Laslett, ’56 LOUISVILLE Bob McFadden, ’49 William Conger, ’56 Terry Sullivan, ’56 Jim Burgess, ’59 Talbott Allen, Jr, ’67 Steve Lesmeister, ’71

INDIANA Donald Rosenow, ’49 Earl Henson, ’59 BOWLING GREEN Carl Peschel, ’57 Jerry Murphy, ’58 Brian Phillips, ’63 Thomas St Meyers, ’65 NEW MEXICO STATE F. Daniels, Jr, ’55 TENNESSEE-MARTIN Bill Pinner, ’89

CINCINNATI Ronald Martin, ’77 DELTA STATE John Clark, ’72 BRADLEY Bruce Hoag, ’65 RIT David Noyes, ’82 CAL STATE-FULLERTON Fred Arevalos, ’66

WHY I GIVE

Foundation

S

ebastian Warnes is not a Phi Tau, but he has been giving steadily to the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation for two years.

The Warnes family lives in California, but their son is at school halfway across the country, so for Matias Warnes, Purdue ’17, the Lambda chapter has given him a meaningful home-awayfrom-home. “We live in California, he grew up in California and he lives in Indiana, so he’s far away by himself,” Warnes shared. Lambda has given him a support group and a brotherhood to lean on with his family 2,000 miles away.

The Warnes’ are proud of their son for attending Purdue, as well as his on-campus involvement. For them, any group that

helps their son grow as an individual and further his career is worth supporting. “Groups that support his career, as well as provide emotional support, are worth donating to. We are happy to help him, that’s why we donated,” Warnes says.

Gifts from parents are a meaningful way to support the Fraternity. Funds from parents go towards program costs, scholarships, and leadership education, as well as operational support for an organization that has enhanced your son’s life.

Thank you to the Warnes family and the rest of our friends of Phi Tau donors!

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SIDELIGHTS

SIDELIGHTS LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

Phi Kappa Tau 2020: Focusing Our Vision is Phi Kappa Tau’s strategic plan.

Created by the National Council and Executive Offices staff, the plan was ratified in 2016 by the 62nd National Convention in Sacramento, Calif. The plan focuses the organization on five strategic imperatives.

GOVERNANCE RECRUITMENT/RETENTION EDUCATION LEADERSHIP SERVICE Giving back to Phi Kappa Tau is one of the finest traditions of our Fraternity. With strong strategic plans in place for both the Fraternity and Foundation, it is an exciting time to be a Phi Tau. Support the mission, vision and strategic direction of our Fraternity by donating today. You will be glad you did!

phikappatau.org/give

A LONG WAY FROM THE HEART

“Y

ou’ll be alright, it’s a long way from your heart,” is a quote my brother Scott and I heard countless times from our father growing up. As a veterinarian with an active clinic on the farm, Dad usually uttered the phrase as he finished treatment for our malady (cuts, bruises, scrapes) achieved by energentic young boys. It was usually followed by a cautious “be careful.”

For Scott and I, we came to understand that Dad was sharing his reassurance that we would be okay. Years later, my nephew and niece receive the same treatment and accompanying phrase. But whenever anyone in the family isn’t feeling well, has a minor scrape, or even needs stiches we all turn to my Dad as a person to help, treat, comfort or give support. We have learned over the years that while his statement may sound it, he is anything but heartless. In fact, when it comes to his children (and now his grandchildren) he is all heart, and we know it.

From learning a skill, to interacting with others, to viewing the world around us, to providing the feelings of protection and love, dads teach so many valuable lessons. While we, at times, didn’t want to hear the message or follow the advice, reflection often proves that wisdom came in the form of words from our fathers.

I converse with Phi Tau dads and granddads on a daily basis, whether it’s with current or past staff members, brethren from my chapter, or any variety of interactions with alumni members around the country – I am blessed to see examples of truly great Phi Tau dads!

When I interact with them in groups, it is remarkable to see the way in which they encourage, share advice, find humor and generally provide support to each other. That is yet another example of the powerful bond our brotherhood delivers. To each member of our Fraternity who is or has provided valuable lessons to their sons and daughters – thank you for the best and never-ending job you perform – that of being a dad!

Go Far,

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WM. TIM HUDSON CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Above: Tim Hudson, right, with his father, brother, niece, and nephew at the Illinois State Fair.

DIRECTORY NATIONAL PRESIDENT Bill Brasch Louisville ’67 bbrasch@phikappatau.org

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT Dale Holland Kent State ’87 dholland@phikappatau.org FOUNDATION CHAIRMAN Wes Fugate Centre ’99 wfugate@phikappatau.org FOUNDATION VICE CHAIRMAN Buzz Green Ole Miss ’66 bgreen@phikappatau.org West Coast Regional Conference at the University of Southern California

UPCOMING DATES Leadership Academy Session I Camp Kern, OH [May 28 - May 31]

Leadership Academy Session II University of Denver, CO [July 25 – July 28]

64th National Convention Hilton Fort Worth, TX [July 15 – July 19]

Leadership Academy Session III Camp Rock Eagle, GA July 30 – August 2]

If your chapter is hosting an anniversary celebration, alumni event, or other major event, submit the event to communications@phikappatau.org for publication in The Laurel or on social media.

CEO Tim Hudson Truman State ’97 thudson@phikappatau.org COO Travis Robinson Eastern Kentucky ’98 trobinson@phikappatau.org EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lilly Steger lsteger@phikappatau.org

Additional contact information for the Executive Office staff, Fraternity National Council, Foundation Board of Trustees, National Advisors, Domain Directors, and Educational Deans can be found at phikappatau.org/contact.

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PHI KAPPA TAU FOUNDATION Ewing T. Boles Executive Offices 5221 Morning Sun Road Oxford, OH 45056 Change Service Requested

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID OXFORD, OH PERMIT # 13

The Parents Fund is a great way for Phi Tau parents and non-members to support the experience that has had a positive impact on your child.

The Parents Fund provides funding for leadership programs and enables the Foundation to grant at least two academic scholarships each year.

Visit PHIKAPPATAU.ORG/ GIVE to find out more.