EVERYTHING’S BIGGER IN TEXAS Conclave 2020: Officer Academy • Operating Virtually During a Pandemic • Honoring Our Seniors • 2020 Annual Membership Survey • Our Heritage
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IN THIS ISSUE 8 Phi Sig Expands To Texas Tech The expansion team had a successful few months in Lubbock, associating the newest men into our Fraternity.
12 Operating Virtually During a Pandemic Hear from two Chapter Presidents in New York on their virtual operations in the midst of the pandemic.
14 Honoring Our Seniors We honor our graduating seniors who did not get the chance to achieve the Third Degree of Brotherhood in person.
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26 2020 Conclave: Officer Academy See what our brothers learned at the 2020 Conclave: Officer Academy.
30 Volunteer Spotlight Brother Joey Teeple (Valpo ‘13) walks through his Phi Sig experience.
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A Letter From COO Nick Zuniga and Grand President Chris Hoye BrothersWhat a journey it has been over this past spring. We don’t have to inundate you with what you already know, but we are thankful to have made it here!
Nick Zuniga Executive Director/COO
THE SIGNET PARENTS The Signet is being sent to your address while your student is an undergraduate. If your son is no longer in college or is no longer living at home, please send his new contact information to the email below. SUBMISSIONS
Since early March, all of our campuses’ who have local chapters have been closed to in-person classes and activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Brothers have learned and worked remotely and kept the Phi Sig spirit alive, moving Phi Sig Forward while staying healthy and well. It is important that we take a moment and recognize all that was lost—chapter events, philanthropy fundraisers, formals, graduation and senior celebrations. Additionally, most of our chapters have yet to initiate our associate members so they can fully experience what is Phi Sigma Kappa. As we begin to see businesses opening their doors and events taking place again around the country, we are now looking at a return to campus in the fall–including social distancing, of course! There is nothing more exciting than seeing our chapters come back to life with prosperity! During this time, International Headquarters (IHQ) professional staff completely shifted gears to re-think current resources and develop new initiatives to help our men through the pandemic: •
Personal Outreach Calls - Within two weeks of all of our campuses ending in-person classes, the Chapter Services team contacted each chapter individually to offer our support and guidance. This was a big undertaking and our chapters got the personalized attention they needed to continue operations.
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Virtual Shonk Undergraduate Leadership School - Brothers from across the country will gather this summer virtually to develop leadership skills, learn about recent Fraternity initiatives, and network with undergraduate and alumni brothers. The main focus of the 2020 Leadership School is educational programming for undergraduate brothers, providing intentional training in member recruitment and retention.
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Phi Chats - Phi Chats are our newest virtual initiative, conducted in partnership with Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, to help our members develop personally and professionally. This program includes a series of weekly webinars that are open to undergraduate and alumni members, covering a range of topics from mental health, stress and time management, networking and interview preparation, and building resilience. Best of all, these webinars are free!
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myPhiSig Revitalization - This technology was an underutilized resource that has now become a hub for all members. Members have access to our document library, which includes Executive Board and Chairmen position descriptions, branded materials and other resources. It also houses Phi Chats recordings and other member resources. Continued on page 6...
All materials for consideration of publication should be submitted to the address below. EMAIL Communications@phisigmakappa.org SPECIAL THANKS The Signet publication staff thanks the various contributing writers for the articles found within this volume. SIGNET PUBLISHING BOARD Chair Tom Wright (UW-Milwaukee ‘92) Board Members Albert D. Shonk, Jr. (Southern Cal ‘54) Tyler Rowland (Ohio State ‘12) Scott Jacobson (Cal Poly ‘01) Nicholas Zuniga (Ball State AI)
SIGNET STAFF Nicholas Zuniga (Ball State AI) Kathy Cannady (Alpha Gamma Delta) Joseph Kern (Radford ‘09) Daniel Kobren (Minnesota ‘17)
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FOLLOW PHI SIG ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
VOL. CXX, NO. 1 GRAND COUNCIL Grand President Christopher J. Hoye (Ferris State ‘91) Directors David Cohen (Union ‘88) Atif Elkadi (Cal Poly ‘01) Jeff Liesendahl (Northern Illinois ‘87) Sean McGreevey (Henderson State ‘97) Darald Stubbs (Stetson ‘88) Jonathan Taylor (RIT AI) FOUNDATION BOARD President John Sheehan (Northern Illinois ‘82) First Vice President Adam C. Carter (Hobart ‘90) Secretary Patrick Murphy (Northern Illinois ‘75) Assistant Secretary Javad M. Khazaeli (Illinois ‘98) Treasurer Thomas Grunwald (Ferris State ‘91) Assistant Treasurer Matt Waltz (Marian ‘02)
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@phisigmakappafraternity
Phi Sigma Kappa
WANT TO BE A CONTRIBUTING WRITER ON THE SIGNET?
EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS@ PHISIGMAKAPPA.ORG WITH YOUR STORY IDEA TO BE FEATURED IN THE FALL ISSUE!
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PROPERTIES BOARD President Shawn J. Shivnen (Eastern Michigan ‘00) Vice President Michael Palm (Indiana ‘04) Directors Peter J. Anderson (Michigan ‘87) Blaine Browning (Cal Poly ‘10) Jim W. McGuigan (Wisconsin/Milwaukee AI) Officers Brian Radke (Northern Illinois ‘05) Jonathan Lowrey (NW Missouri State‘07) Shane McIntosh (Ohio State ‘79) Jacob Defassio (Valparaiso ‘12) Leigh LaChine (Eastern Michigan ‘90) PROFESSIONAL HEADQUARTERS STAFF Executive Director/COO Nicholas Zuniga (Ball State AI) Associate Executive Director Kathy Cannady (Alpha Gamma Delta) Associate Executive Director Joseph Kern (Radford ‘09) Director of Chapter Services Grant Carpenter (Northern Arizona ‘13) Director of Education Leslie Pedigo (Delta Gamma) Director of Expansion Erik Silvola (Lambda Chi Alpha) Development Officer Augie Farwig (Ball State ‘17) Associate Director of Communications Daniel Kobren (Minnesota ‘17) Associate Director of Prevention & Wellness Drew Kerwood (Delta Chi) Financial Services Specialist Marsha Spears Administrative Assistant Karen Miller CHAPTER CONSULTANTS Chapter Consultant Trevor Hartley (Ferris State ‘19)
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Of course, we understand that the fall semester will be different than any other we have faced. Each of us will be required to take individual and collective responsibility to use our creativity and resourcefulness so local chapters can succeed in their endeavors and individual members can accomplish their educational goals.
Chris Hoye Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity Grand President
The Fraternity is bracing for a loss of members and potential associate members. As of publishing, that projected number hovers around 20 percent. The Grand Council will make hard decisions on how we operate with a loss of revenue and keep our organization alive and thriving. You can expect we will do everything possible to keep each of our chapters and our members engaged with the Fraternity. Now more than ever, our Cardinal Principles are being tested. But rest assured we will persevere! So what can you do? If you’re an undergraduate brother, start to recruit associate members and assist your chapter leadership with operations. If there is fat you can trim from your budget, do so now. And if you need resources, call IHQ—we’re here to help. If you’re an alumnus and can give some time to our men, contact our Chapter Services team and volunteer your resources. If you have financial resources, make a gift to the Phi Sigma Kappa Foundation as this year our educational endeavors need even more support. If you’re a parent, support your son all you can and encourage him to plan ahead and think with an open mind. In addition to the effect of the pandemic, the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and the many that came before them, and the issue of racial injustice in our country continues to trouble us deeply. The Grand Council developed a statement which we released in June. Since that time, a group of volunteers and staff have been working to develop communication and educational initiatives around diversity equity and inclusion for all members. These incidents remind us as brothers of Phi Sigma Kappa, we must acknowledge and denounce all forms of hate and intolerance. We do not condone violence in any form. Brothers, globally we are facing a new challenge but as a Phi Sig, you are equipped and capable to handle this challenge. Now is an opportunity to look to your brothers and have the discussions on how to build a better you and Phi Sig chapter. Take time to reflect and know you are not alone as the whole world is feeling the same as you. The Grand Council, the Phi Sigma Kappa Foundation Trustees and the Phi Sigma Kappa Properties Board are all here to support you in this time of need. We are Phi Sigma Kappa and we will prevail by demonstrating the principles and teachings in our rituals to others! Please know we are DAMN PROUD of each of you and look forward to seeing you in the future! Fraternally,
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CARDINAL PRINCIPLES To Promote Brotherhood
Connect with me on Facebook and Twitter to follow my travels. I look forward to this journey, with you by my side.
Nick Zuniga, Phi Sigma Kappa COO
To Stimulate Scholarship To Develop Character MISSION STATEMENT Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity is a lifelong brotherhood dedicated to the betterment of the individual, the university community, and our world, by giving its members opportunities to develop leadership skills, participate in service to others, achieve academic excellence, experience cultural diversity and practice personal integrity. CORE VALUES Demand Excellence Commit to Lifelong Learning Meet Challenges with Innovation Value Brotherhood Above Self OFFICIAL MOTTO Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You
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PHI SIG LANDS IN TEXAS: TEXAS TECH COLONY STARTS ITS JOURNEY INTO OUR BROTHERHOOD
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ix months after hundreds of Phi Sigs gathered in the heart of Texas for the 67th General Convention, one arrived more than 300 miles west of Dallas to lay the groundwork for the Fraternity’s newest expansion. Before the Fraternity’s expansion team hit the ground running on the campus of Texas Tech University, countless hours of prep work made Phi Sig’s project in Lubbock a reality. The expansion process began all the way back in December of 2018. Director of Expansion Erik Silvola contacted Texas Tech more than a year and half ago and established a relationship with the university. From there, Erik worked with the campus to establish a starting date for the project, a process that can take anywhere from a few months to more than two years. With the expansion date set, Erik and our Chapter Consultants worked with student organizations on campus to establish a list of potential new members, recruit an alumni adviser, and create a marketing plan. After all that was complete, Phi Sig’s expansion team began the most crucial part of the expansion process. Chapter Consultant Trevor Hartley (Ferris State ‘18) arrived in Lubbock in January, ready to find the next brothers of Phi Sigma Kappa. Brother Hartley, who visited dozens of chapters during the fall semester, admitted there was nothing quite like the environment in Lubbock. “When it came to the expansion project at Texas Tech, it was nothing like what I expected coming out of our expansion project at Cal State/Northridge,” he said. “Immediately I noticed the southern hospitality and a serious dialogue change with phrases like ‘y’all, yes sir and guns up’. After getting settled into my Airbnb, I made it my mission to immerse myself into the culture of becoming a die-hard Texas Tech fan. My first shopping trip I went to a local bookstore and picked up a shirt and polo both representing Tech and now I felt more ready than ever to dive into recruitment.” Once Brother Hartley got settled in and immersed himself into the Texas Tech culture, he was finally ready to dive into recruitment. In order to maximize his recruitment impact, he met with sororities around campus to continue to build a potential new member list. Then, he met with men on campus who were interested in joining Phi Sig.
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With all the prep work and much of the groundwork laid for this new group, three gentlemen became the first associate members of the Texas Tech expansion. Ethan McGee, Justin Garcia and Nate Limahad were associated into Phi Sigma Kappa on a dry, March afternoon. As those three men stood as associate members of Phi Sig, they could not help but reflect on the expansion process, and how proud they were of starting something from the ground up. “This experience has been different,” McGee, a freshman, said. “I was a little nervous going into this whole process. It’s rewarding how we get to build something from scratch. I love the guys that I have worked with. I don’t know if it will really hit me how special this whole process is.” Every new associate has a vision for what they want this new group to look like. Garcia, a sophomore, knows that association is just the beginning of his Phi Sig story, and wants this group to build an accepting culture. “Right now, we are in the stage where we can go anywhere,” he said. “I want to make us more diverse, so that we stand out from everybody. At the same time, we want to be approachable, not secluded from everyone else. We want to be something that has not been seen on campus before.” Lima, a freshman, wants to emphasize everlasting brotherhood in the new group. “I want it to have a Brotherhood like no other fraternity,” he said. “No hazing, I want a good reputation around campus.”
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THANK YOU TO OUR TEXAS TECH EXPANSION TEAM! Erik Silvola Director of Expansion
Brother Cody Lamana Chapter Consultant Northern Illinois ‘19
Andy Bremer Organizational Growth Coach Phired Up
Brother Trevor Hartley Chapter Consultant Ferris State ‘19
Before students left campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Texas Tech expansion was up to 11 associate members. Since then, associates are taking part in the first part of Cardinal Journey, Brotherhood in Phi Sigma Kappa, online. Though the circumstances are difficult, the associates and the expansion staff are ready to tackle anything that comes their way. “It’s always important for Phi Sigs to ‘meet challenges with innovation’ and now we must rely on that core value even more,” Director of Expansion Silvola said. “Amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, our plans at Texas Tech were cut short. We are now forging ahead with the core group of associate members while beginning Brotherhood in Phi Sigma Kappa in a virtual manner. So far, the sessions we have held with the associates have been great with a lot of great discussion. This is a very uncertain time and it is paramount for us to keep up the positive momentum with our newest colony. Brotherhood doesn’t stop during this time and the Texas Tech colony is proving it can still start amidst uncertainty.”
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OPERATING VIRTUALLY DURING A PANDEMIC 12
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Brotherhood does not stop in the toughest times. Phi Sigma Kappa always has, and always will, persist through wars, economic depressions, and now, a global pandemic. With life on campus coming to a physical stop, universities moved to online operations. Our brothers had to learn not only how to navigate online classes, but how to operate their chapters from a distance. This is especially difficult for two of our chapters in the epicenter of the pandemic, the Iota Chapter at Stevens Institute of Technology, and the Pi Tetarton Chapter at LIU/Post. Chapter Presidents Matthew Cohen (LIU/Post ‘22) and Devin Dragon (Stevens ‘20) worked diligently at the beginning of the pandemic to set their chapters up for success. The first thing on their minds was making sure the brothers were healthy, both mentally and physically. “We just hope that everybody is really safe and healthy at this time,” Cohen said. “I reach out to everybody once a week individually, just to make sure they are doing OK,” Dragon added. The two chapters still had business to attend to during the remainder of the semester, so they have familiarized themselves with the video calling service, Zoom. Each of them have at least one Zoom call every two weeks with all brothers in attendance. Both Devin and Matt hold frequent Executive Board meetings to outline what needs to be done in the week ahead. The Iota Chapter scheduled elections for the end of the semester, and they plan to follow through with that plan. “We are going to have our nominations period as normal,” Dragon said. “I have broken elections up into two weeks. So everyone knows ahead of time what date their election is going to be on. It’s going to be similar to how we run it at the house. After speeches, they are going to have to leave the chat so we can talk about each candidate over Zoom. We are going to make polls in Zoom. We are going to do anonymous votes through Zoom.” Even while conducting business, both brothers leave time for undergraduates to relax, catch up with each other, and joke around. “We are going to have a couple more hangouts but nothing too serious until we get to the end of the semester,” Dragon said. “Mainly, we have just been staying in touch over Zoom. We also have an open Zoom room that anyone can go to at any time if they want to hang out. It’s just an open link that we shared with the chapter.”
“We need to take this time to work on brotherhood and build on our relationships,” Cohen added. “It’s just simple things like reaching out to your brothers. I know from my perspective, I love it when people reach out to me. It makes you feel a little special.” For now, our brothers remain apart physically. But Iota and Pi Tetarton are prime examples of brotherhood continuing through these trying times.
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PLANNING BEGINS FOR THE 150TH CELEBRATION Scott Lyons (Alabama ’94), past Grand Council Director and Phi Sigma Kappa Foundation Trustee, has agreed to serve as chair of Phi Sigma Kappa’s 150th anniversary celebration, a.k.a. PSK150. This is the branding that will be used for the event, including for hashtags on social media. Other committee members are listed below. The committee has been in place for more than a year, and it has made outstanding progress toward planning a full year of events that will give appropriate recognition to the Fraternity’s history, and to its members who have made it so great. The committee is focused on making PSK150 a year of activities and events that all Phi Sigs will remember, just as much as the day brothers were offered a bid to join Phi Sigma Kappa! Over the course of the next couple of years, you will see reminders, updates, and general information items regarding PSK150. A website dedicated to PSK150 will be created, along with social media sites on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Periodic newsletters will also be sent. Some brothers may be wondering, “why so early?” Milestones matter; history matters; and your fraternity experience matters. Your time as an undergraduate Phi Sig and, hopefully, your time also as an alumnus, has contributed positively to your life. You learned about Promoting Brotherhood, Stimulating Scholarship, and Developing Character. You cultivated lifelong friendships. You made unforgettable memories…that you now recount by telling stories to your children or grandchildren, or when you get together with the guys with whom you initially made those memories. You may have met your significant other as a result of your membership in Phi Sig, or it may have led you into a certain job. The examples are virtually endless, but the point is clear. How different would life look if not for membership in Phi Sigma Kappa? That is what the Fraternity wants to celebrate – not just the storied history of Phi Sigma Kappa, but also the thousands of lives it has enriched and helped to shape. The 150th anniversary of Phi Sigma Kappa is a big deal, and the committee wants to do it proper justice by making it a big deal. The sesquicentennial year will be filled with alumni stories from all chapters (or as many as possible!), highlighting the major developments within Phi Sigma Kappa since the centennial anniversary in 1973, awarding special PSK150 scholarships to members who are still in school, and hosting regional receptions for alumni. There will also be plenty of lead time for everyone to prepare to attend the Phi Sigma Kappa 69th General Convention in 2023, where the culminating celebration will take place. No one will want to miss it! The official launch of the 150th anniversary will take place during the summer of 2022. That will kick off the year of celebration, which will encompass Founders’ Day 2023, Phi Sigma Kappa’s official 150th anniversary. The various activities and events listed above, such as alumni stories posted to our social media sites, awarding of scholarships, and regional alumni receptions will begin, and will continue until the 69th General Convention. The committee is planning a celebration that is unprecedented in the Fraternity’s history and the goal is to have the largest number of attendees of any convention. Brother Lyons welcomes questions, which can be sent to tscottlyons@gmail.com.
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PSK150 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Scott Lyons, Chair – Omicron Deuteron (Alabama ’94) Adam Carter – Psi Triton (Hobart ’90) Brett Champion – Tau Tetarton (Tennessee/Martin ’78) Jacob DeFassio – Phi Upsilon (Valparaiso ’12) Atif Elkadi – Eta Septaton (Cal Poly/SLO ’01) Michael Haynes – Beta Epsilon (Pittsburg State ’16) Tom Recker – Delta Deuteron (Michigan ’82) Al Shonk – Omega Deuteron (Southern Cal ’54) Todd Simpson – Epsilon Iota (Central Missouri ’86) Joey Teeple – Phi Upsilon (Valparaiso ’13) Matt Valleau – Sigma Epsilon (Ferris State ’11) Mark Viel – Sigma Epsilon (Ferris State ’73)
Ex officio members: Kathy Cannady – IHQ staff liaison Nick Zuniga – Chief Operating Officer
PSK150 Mission Statement: “Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity was founded on March 15, 1873 by William Penn Brooks, Joseph Francis Barrett, Fredrick George Campbell, Xenos Young Clark, Jabez William Clay, and Henry Hague at the Massachusetts Agricultural College. Since that time, Phi Sigma Kappa has persevered through cultural, political, and economic challenges, and indeed has continued to grow and thrive for nearly 150 years by remaining steadfast to our three Cardinal Principles: To Promote Brotherhood, to Stimulate Scholarship, and to Develop Character. In the spirit of these Cardinal Principles, with deference to our storied history, and with a dedication to our bright future, the mission of the sesquicentennial committee shall be to plan for a proper acknowledgement and celebration of our 150 years as a builder of young men and as a leader in the interfraternal world.”
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WHERE ARE CHAPTER REPORTS? Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, the Signet Publishing Board made the difficult decision to exclude chapter reports from this issue. Instead, we will be using this space to honor our 2020 senior brothers who did not get the chance to achieve the Third Degree of brotherhood in person. ADELPHI Phi Septaton Garden City, N.Y. Benjamin Begun Matthew Bustruc Matthew Dowling Marc Shulman Constantinos Kearney Christopher Lopez John Lloyd Aydogan Frankie Gotti Jake Vardaro Michael Drzewicki Kyle Capoziello Alden Licina Michael Mangia Francesco Labita John Heretakis AMERICAN Epsilon Triton Washington D.C. John Kilker Armand Yannone
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APPALACHIAN STATE Delta Octaton Boone, N.C. Nicholas Pattison Matt Garcia Aaron Gregg Caleb Hedgecock Ansen Gunawan Kirkland Sexton Thomas Robert Bel Scott Jobe Morgan Thrasher Jackson Widener Matthew Clawson Holland Bostrom Trey Ray Galliher III AUBURN Omega Septaton Auburn, Ala. Matthew Morgan John Grundhoefer Samuel Hicks Brandon Morell Jackson McCain Travis Crowell Christopher Kauffman Emmett Lynch Christian Brown Charles Payne Bryce Covert Kyle Merkle Jay Wieland
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Devin Pavlou Alan Pearson James Davidson Grant Lomelino Christopher Gilligan Skyler Pavlou Frank Parker Ty Pilkington Edward White Dustin Elston Liam O’Daniel Timothy Sears Corey Cureton Casey Cureton BALL STATE Epsilon Tau Muncie, Ind. Luke Spurlock Spencer Sharpe Brandon Matthew Faehr Simon Pachciarz Andrew Robert Smith Brian Jacob Conard Cesar Cholula Guadalupe Vega Peyton Matthew Sturgill Justin Michael Price Vladimir Castillo Jarrett Cohagan Jack Bies Mason Kumler Jacob Struble Grant Coil
Jon Elliott Fix Dakota Angle Elijah Kimmett Nathaniel Vuckovich Isaiah Rashan Billot Jerimiah Velazquez Mark Bila Ryan Adam Ruthrauff Dylan Chance Gavin Gage CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE Xi Pentaton Northridge, Calif. Jose Garcia Oscar Avelar CAL POLY Eta Septaton San Luis Obispo, Calif. Jared Calise Gabriel Worthington Matthew Atteberry Tim Bartolomei Luke O’Neill Dylan Gallagher Hernan Rodriguez Trevor Ryan Grayson Farnham Tyler Bradley Matt Harms Mark Majlessi Burke Kosaku Kennedy Schuyler Van Weele Justin Otus Ethan Gunnlaugsson Derek DeCesare Nick Lyon Nicholas Lynd Kevin Daniel Whalen Mark Ibrahim David Leal CAL STATE L.A. Omega Tetarton Los Angeles, Calif. Hector Banda Nick Jordan Amaya Aaron Fleming Alonso May Carlos Chavez Duarte Robert Jara E David Oranusi
Fei Yuan Joshua Gregorious Marco Argentieri CLEMSON Upsilon Septaton Clemson, S.C. Christopher James Jaeger Eli Friedman Trevor Michael Ulman Austin Stegall Jay W Vandiver Jonathan Caracappa Christopher George Beck William Wilson Keegan Ulber Andrew Ross Leonard Chace Daniel Alioto Luke Geraghty Brett Jenkinson Zach Roy Justin Ryan Wilcher Thomas Bennett Hayden Grooms Robert Wiglesworth Kemp DeWitt Kevin Joseph Mauro Tristan Michael Cromer Conor Ussery Jordan Harley Riley Thompson Kellen Bouvier CORNELL Gamma Ithaca, N.Y. Julian Krol Daniel Solinsky Aditya Rajan Aditya Rao Adeyemi Oyemade Gabriel Buffey Karan Sheth Shivansh Gupta Joseph Bean Christian Hal Matthew Pierce Jacob Sidd Niranjan Senthilkumar Johnny Maximillian Dominguez Patrick Gadallah Michael DeLuca Jakob Youngblood
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EASTERN MICHIGAN Epsilon Lambda Ypsilanti, Mich. Josh Kitchen Joe Michalakes Tyler Gidley Jose Gomez Solorzano Brandon Wade Clement EMPORIA STATE Alpha Epsilon Emporia, Kan. Dustin Lister FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON Upsilon Hexaton Teaneck, N.J. Tyler Schacher Nicholas Roberts FERRIS STATE Sigma Epsilon Big Rapids, Mich. Lane Stotler Gerico Johnson Grant Ringler Alex Leigh Higgs Connor Schrank Scott Gulette Hamilton Bazelais Jeremiah Hoover Mark Ledwell Gregory Brelsford Alec Goossen Brandon Watros Malik Kingsby Sam Sergei Fons William Kube GEORGE MASON Xi Septaton Fairfax, Va. Alen Dzaferagic Bryan Brito
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GEORGE WASHINGTON Lambda Washington D.C. Sean Zha Julian O’Neill Braden Nagata Ty Levy Dominick Petrosino GEORGIA TECH Kappa Deuteron Atlanta, Ga. John Tarasidis Nicholas Loprinzo Kevin Frank Dale Shober Gi Sung Zaeem Adamjee Dylan Fealtman Gueorgui Jeliazkov Alexander Chapman Dustin Johnson Matthew Miller Tyler Lochan Kyle Kaikkonen Junwoo Park John Jehle Matthew Dalton Brian Christopher D’Agostino Robert Kuramshin Marco Carlomusto Orlando GEORGIA SOUTHERN Chi Septaton Statesboro, Ga. George Emmett Wade Iv Victor Mcrae Andrew Johnson Brantley Williams Nicholas Anthony Robert McGuinty Jack Hamilton David Vaughn Garret Weeks Cody Wiliam Edwards Davis Baldwin Jonathan Young HENDERSON STATE Epsilon Rho Colony Arkadelphia, Ark.
HOPE Tau Septaton Holland, Mich. Paul Gomez Skylar De La Torre Brandon Kaleb Maurice Trevor Hile Daurel Tolbert Brennan McKee Joseph Cinal Nicholas Bazany Ronald Knapp Troy Van Hulle Brennan Davidson Arend Buitenhuis Edgar Samaniego INDIANA Sigma Triton Bloomington, Ind. Mike Donald Krueger Bryan Loebig Jackson Cooper Michael Walton Ryan Locicero Griffin Anderson Hickey William Hogan Michael Claussen Ryan Ogden Bryson Bokman Dylan Morgan Adam Frankowski Dan King Peter Lassale Ty Lindstrand Kerem Salih Steven Baxter Quinn White Trey Allan Hubbard Jeffrey Mehalek Christian Miller William Knight Daniel Holt Dolan Harris Silk Tyler Hughes Sam Petrakis Baker Harris Carl Roach Alex Crane Armaan Sawhney
Keifer Colgrove
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IUP Theta Pentaton Indiana, Pa. Nicholas Visco Gino Gabilel D’Andrea Noah Schwartz Eric Huet Tyler Bontrager Matthew Breno Eric Calhoun Adam Bartnicki Reed Grooman Steve M Rippe KENT STATE Beta Tetarton Kent, Ohio Zachary Williams Cody Michael Freeland Evan Eatmon Il Logan Michael Kocianic Tyler Dufour Matthew Slater Carlo Agostinelli Tristan McDonald Ian Fullerton Zach Gene Haines LEHIGH Nu Bethlehem, Penn. Thomas Bate Nick Owen Furgason Brandon Weinberg Gregory Makris Jason Wasserman Aaron Rose Daniel Browne Samuel Henry Alexander Rock Nicholas Kahler Brian Majka LIU POST Pi Tetarton Greenvale, N.Y. Andrew Teperdjian Steven Jose Rodriguez Francis Edwin Frost Michael Anthony Anzalone
MANSFIELD Phi Nu Mansfield, Pa. Dylan Baumbach Shane Wilson Humphrey Brendan Owens Devin MacGeorge Victor Brown Angelo Wrobleski Nicholas Wanczyk MIT Omicron Cambridge, Mass. Timothy Leplae-Arthur Adam Zhao Jared Tramontano Henri Champigneulle Tyler Moroso Wilbur Li Cole Legg Matt Johnston Sawyer Hart David Poberejsky Albert Go Brody West Robert Silvestri Theodoros Sechopoulos Ivan Jutamulia Eric Chen NJIT Alpha Octaton Newark, N.J.. Pat Michael Quinn Matt Schumacher Steven Patracuolla Michael Anthony Nichols Stephan Thomsen James Murphy Jon Wein Xavier Messado Christian Van Dyke Anthony Lotito NORTHEASTERN STATE Epsilon Epsilon Tahlequah, Okla. Damon Gay Noah Vansell Noah Thompson
NORTHERN ARIZONA Rho Hexaton Flagstaff, Ariz. Eric Vinole Clay Merrigan Derrick Williams Anthony Vega Brandon Limeres Hunter Applegate Joey Poon Matt Gladheim Brett Aaron Logan Ochoa Max Voehl Collin Michael Runyard Alex Garcia Richard Valdez NIU Pi Pentaton DeKalb, Ill. Sammy Salem Konrad Kieruzal Eric Guenther Jacob Woodyard Benjamin Moser Skylar Smith Jonathon Peters Charles Hudziak Kurtis Zeiger Bradley Kraft Lee Bell Michael Mandru Kyle Glotz OHIO STATE Pi Deuteron Columbus, Ohio. Cody Free Todd Westover Kevin Gregory Wirfel Philip Lenos Adam Schrepferman Keith Sanders Matthew Murley Cameron Finley Jared Frees Gary Payne Jonah Marger Dirk Dooley
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PENN STATE Kappa State College, Pa. Derek Kim Ethan Philip Kudler Charles Samuelsohn Paul Trongone Matthew Zimmer Brett Adam Sass Jack Medzorian Patrick Johnson Bailey Stritzinger Ethan Stas Jared Brener Ford Carlson Peter Spiotta Brandon Singer John Staropoli John Gratiano Josh Dougherty Kyle Andersen Trevor Talkowski Adam Phillip Donmoyer James Stenger Ethan Doughty Christopher Vaglica Paul Donohue Ryan Pertuset Zachary Ruvo Sean Klavans PITTSBURG STATE Beta Epsilon Pittsburg, Kan. Cal David Siebenmark Sam Thomas Chadwick James Baird Jamison Lange Ethan Daniel Jewel Andrew Reineke PURDUE Delta Triton West Lafayette, Ind. Case Quinlan Wright William Baioni Peter Schulz Sean Cassidy Joseph Peeters Chase Nelson Christopher Sorensen Spencer Hamm Pat Fortunato Braxton Minkey
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Patrick O’Donovan Zachary Varmette Renato Bazan-Garay Matthew Fitzgerald RADFORD Mu Hexaton Radford, Va. Kierin Gould James Kearns Robert Blankenship Michael Mack Samuel Blackwell Zachary Underwood Jaquan Logan Collin Szelc Richard Lockhart Joshua Garcia RENSSELAER Gamma Tetarton Troy, N.Y. Willem Wheeler Daniel Joseph Schnoll Christopher Bacallao Julian Casanova ROBERT MORRIS Gamma Hexaton Moon, Pa. Dominic Mine Christopher Gediohn Daniel Cox Andrew Widmer Luke Benedik Matthew Colosimo Michael Tremel Jake Matthew King RIT Upsilon Tetarton Rochester, N.Y. Stephen Giardina James Oakes Wolfgang Wentzell Kyle McGraw Mckenzie Callahan Colton Colton Keenan Peter Jarvis Aaron Chou Joel Abreu Kyle Fasanella
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RUTGERS Nu Tetarton Newark, N.J.. Juan Lourenco Paul Stanik Faton Alili Suhail Kapoor Christopher Goodwin Konstantin Pribylov Igor Lupinski Mitchell Toran Isiah Palovitz Zev Rosenbaum Bryan Wong Urbens Jean-Baptiste Kyle Uhlich SHIPPENSBURG Phi Theta Shippensburg, Pa. Joshua Stevens Jake Devine Mitchell Robert Taylor Neal Jake Harkins Justin Chapuis Chance Bryant Witmer Grayson N Umbenhaur Austin Yetter Adam Doyle STETSON Kappa Hexaton DeLand, Fla. Walker Richards Thomas Lanford Jack Borowski Eddie Montano Turner Grass Nicholas Michael Van Nostrand David Royal Quintin Burkhamer Thomas Wasman Drew Hoppen Joseph Sarracino Julius Covert Jed Pancza
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STEVENS Iota Hoboken, N.J.. Colby Chaffin Jared Davi Alex Supkay Anthony Baglino Derek Schwoyer CJ John Attisani Emilio Domenech Timothy Werder Matthew Roleke Peter Oline John Banya Gregory Milani Angelo Margiolas Aristide Muscariello Patrick Song William Kraemer Kiran Joseph Lucas Payette Devin Dragon Kit Touch-Phong Cosmo Michael Gallaro TOWSON Phi Hexaton Towson, Md. Russell Levering Skyler MacAneney Joshua Tesfaye Spencer Denk Antony Marios Shafransky Kyle Williams Philip Zippo Andrew Mcilquham Matthew Levy Dylan Salmon Jacob Brightbill Nicholas Scherr TRUMAN STATE Gamma Epsilon Kirksville, Mo.. Ryan Jensen David Blanck Mark Nagel Gabriel Schneider Ben Marciano Fry Hudson Taylor
AKRON Eta Triton Akron, Ohio Americo Barilaro Stephen Cagaric Emmanuel Dela Cerna Michael McClafferty Logan Mackulin Andrew Slaven ALABAMA Omicron Deuteron Tuscaloosa, Ala. Bryce Adams Justin Alexandre Christopher Colangelo Liam Flynn Zachery Goforth Jake Hicks Grant Honaker Sean Meier Zach Micklin Vincent Murphy Hudson Nicholson Clay William Rosica Samuel Rudman Brandon Westerfeld Robert Picariello Justin Cenname Carter Gould Grayson Guttmann Oden Anthony Rosenberg David Gulbin Marcus Maynard Nicholas Scrivens Lucas Delgado Malik Dukes Chris Tolomeo Ethan Pippin Christopher Belden Reid Bowman Patrick Burg Garrett Foster Nicholas Giardina Trevor Glantz Peyton Little Christopher Mathis Craig Augustus Nolan William Prewitt Cole Teuber Stephen Thouvenot Nicholas Chen Treston Daugherty Luke Kmiotek Christian Grazzini
CENTRAL ARKANSAS Epsilon Mu Conway, Ark. Garrett Foster Nicholas Giardina Trevor Glantz Peyton Little Christopher Mathis Craig Augustus Nolan William Prewitt Cole Teuber Stephen Thouvenot Nicholas Chen Treston Daugherty Luke Kmiotek Christian Grazzini Christian Ewing Callum Dootson CENTRAL MISSOURI Epsilon Iota Warrensburg, Mo. Kaleb Brooks Nicholas Plumlee Tyler Chaney Jacob Ross Dalton Chisholm Austin Kelleher CINCINNATI Epsilon Octaton Cincinnati, Ohio Derek Lee Scoggin Alex Sean David Stephen Dunker Tim Sullivan Walsh Bryce Hardin Jace Matthew Bovenzi Cameron Richards Kyle Fenton Nick John D’Agostino Jakob Snyder Dylan Lambert Kyle Burns Bradley Bendel Benjamin Wise Nicholas Daly Max Ward Noah Ehrman Mitchell Lichtinger Ian Nyberg Nate Gregory Evans Caleb Neuhaus Jake Allen Hart
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Aidan Proudfit Evan Boose Spencer Ranft DAYTON Eta Hexaton Dayton, Ohio Andrew Coe Tray Cashman Michael Peters Daniel Corrigan William Sorrell Shane Burke Patrick Nelson Will Gorenz Colton Hammans Brian Doyle William Sweeney William Tabor Camden Ives Pat Rabbitt Zachary Johnson Christopher Couture Del Valle Colin Maddock Ryan Kelly Zachary Nerney Bradley Nowak Joshua Schmellenkamp Ryan Massie Nicholas Raffety Charles Cheatham Joshua Zegel Samuel Ruhlmann Brendan Walsh Dillon Halleran Anthony Mulherin David Bonilla Patrick Doherty McLean Walsh Ray James Rigney Ryan Schmidt Jonathon Desiderio Nicholas Metzger Austin Clemens Dylan Kertzie Charles Pontiff Justin Bauer Brendan Crowe Jarod Snyder
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ILLINOIS Alpha Deuteron Champaign, Ill. Chris Michael Fox Joseph Chmura Diego Frausto Alex Wang Salvador Ruiz David Buller Christopher Pelcastre Liam Joseph Roth Collin Schmidt Ahmed Gadim Adrian Metcalf Aaron Lichtman Ahmad Abdel-Motaleb Ryan Yapp KENTUCKY Phi Deuteron Lexington, Ky. Preston Smiley Matthew Schildt Carlos Henry Beasley Tyler Horton Trevor Courtney Michael Miller Caleb Schweinsberg Nicholas Eubanks Jack Neltner Blake Heimbrock Evan Enerlich Parker Jared Root Colton Thompson Owen Workman Daniel Lee Williams Bennett Sheets David Jenkins Jacob Beavin John Young Trevor Armstrong Joseph Steinhauer Walter Goggin William Rogers Matty George Dietrich Cameron Kantola Chandler Parks Dominic Ciafardini Jacob Diana Michael Shaffer Luke Robert Brady Rob Stewart Bradley Mack Wilson Matthew Rhodes Damaso Tinocao
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MARYLAND Eta College Park, Md. Justin Frankle Ryan Scott Kyle Chojnacki Naveenkumar Paranthaman Nick Soussa Abbott Thomas Deliso Duncan Woodward Matt Samuel Shein Leonardo Furoiani Benjamin Jolley Xavier Jennings James Corley Liam Fulling Dylan Redfield Brady Osterman Dylan Fox Tony Shu Nolan McNeill Jacob Boyer Jack Schemmel Mackenzie Morgan Ethan Winters Javed Akthar Shaik Kris Franz Collins Zackery Miller John Tano Fabio Tocaj MASSACHUSETTS Alpha Amherst, Mass. Anders Salmonsen Jack Meaney Jamie Desjourdy Joe Rizzo Omar Staubli Omer Sade Maxwell Teitleman Alan Tabares Chris James Grant Brendan Powers David Murphy Dylan Riley Cameron Bornstein Devonte Texeira Ethan Packer Jack Dienes Kobi Hudson Luke Bresnahan Luke Stillman Pat Ryan-Sebastian Vachon Thomas McGee
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Weston Milbury Akper Huseynli James Mahoney Matthew Johnson Ben Girzon Isaac Klein Thomas Cothern Daniel Choi Thomas Evans IV MICHIGAN Delta Deuteron Ann Arbor, Mich. Apollo Alan Schafer Kenton Hoffmann Michael Salciccioli Saptarshi Chakraborty MINNESOTA Beta Deuteron Minneapolis, Minn. Michael Bjork Yash Narayan Elijah Uecker Alec Ferris Ethan Peppin Garrett Caddes Thomas Procter David Herrera Rigoberto Amaya Colin Atkinson Thomas Le Calvin Arthur Moon Forbes Gefre Anton Naber SOUTH CAROLINA Gamma Triton Columbia, S.C. John Richard Cromer Austin Laws Tazewell Carrington Jacob Arnold Ryan Campbell Nicholas Tentilucci Phillip Parker Freeman James Pine Andrew Sypawka Andrew Powers Timothy Wolff Devin Bradley Jake Weggeland Joey Caputo Nicholas Stevens
Samuel Strother Colin Kremer Brendan Drew Kyle Caccavale James Dunlea Nicholas D’Ambrosio Christopher Reilly Carter Moreau Jake Mezzanotte Spencer Dietrich Jack Barry USC Omega Deuteron Los Angeles, Calif. Alejandro Garcia Ethan Wagner Gage Wook Autry Connor Cabanban Fausto Max Studer Evan Siegal Jon Singleton Alex Yoshida Shivam Bajaj Nicholas Collins Will Squires Michael Guenoun Carter Piccillo Jacob Land Andrew Lefebvre Charles Sybert Malcolm Roediger Jake Vincent Northrup Jacob Dunn Mark Marsenovic Andrew Strike Dylan Moss Kyle Siegal Andre Pineda Brayden Faulkner VIRGINIA Psi Charlottesville, Va. Tim Gray Lasley Ian Fraser Christopher Lee Gabriel Popescu Raghava Pamula
UW MILWAUKEE Epsilon Phi Milwaukee, Wisc. Joseph Kornkven Paris Miller Jackson Koprowski Dakotah Kane Kordell Sulamoyo Emire Sewell Beau Reeves Martin Wayne Petersen Andrew Mark Chavez Toby Reed Zellmer Ronald Kilgore Mitchell Dua Yash Patel Jonathan Olson Patrick Calhoun Michal C. Bravos Mitchell Lesiecki Connor Reese Tim Lane Jensen III Kamari Clayton Christian Mueller VALDOSTA STATE Psi Septaton Valdosta, Ga. Anthony Joseph Siva Braxton Shaw Jack Steven O’Donnell Patrick Barrett Jonathan Williams Taylor Fiorello Hudson Glenn Durden Andrew Taormina Anthony Head Richard Ray Calvin Dowell Jared Moore Joseph Cornett William Mann Geoffrey Davidson Cole Friend Lee Joseph VALPARAISO Phi Upsilon Valparaiso, Ind.
Justin Mann Evan Michel Matthew Casey Landon Bradley Fisher Jake Wislek Brian Davis Brian Vidal Samuel Markovich Zachary Krueger Tyler Faughnder Matthew Rudek Colin Coburn Nicholas Karris Xiangrui Li Nathaniel Lemke VILLANOVA Omicron Septaton Villanova, Pa. Peter Zeuschner Marc Trotta Christopher Applegate John O’Toole Joseph McCarthy Luke Irons Benjamin Sernas Thomas Riley John Murdter Stephen Naab Mike Maffuid Matthew Mahoney Brendan O’Connor Kevin Whiteman Collin Brunnock Ryan Bulger George Clark Daniel Cozzi Zachary Johnson Henry Lorenzini Shawn Zimmermann John Farrell John Persichilli Cole Van Gelder Joseph Desimone Matthew Gerard Erich Hohenleitner Cameron Acito Matthew Innocenzo Matthew Babich
William Bodlak Eric Chibe Justin Gatz Ethan Babcock Lucas Lavendusky
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VIRGINIA TECH Epsilon Hexaton Blacksburg, Va. William Detterman Brandon Robles Jack Shepherd Alex Jacob Gomez Josh Kaplan Connor Mullin Brendan Kaplan Kevin Miller Jared Barton Bowen Schechter Brian Madl Ryan Kuper Hall Stephen Husak Pearson Ives Matthew Stromberg Matthew Wetzel Kevin Yang Michael Blood Josh Meador Edward Micka Harlan Pounders Avi Silberman Brady Ingham Christopher Thomas Christopher Rathje Quinlan Lavey Jeff Shelton Timothy Ferguson John Kelly Thomas Anderson Kevin Conner Riley Parsons Benjamin Giovanni Paschina Joseph Dominic Provenzano Rishi K Devulapalli Liam Sment Nicholas Romanias Landon Chase DeHart
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WASHINGTON ST. Chi Deuteron Pullman, Wash. Zachary Harris Issaya Saleumsay Sam Jonsson Anthon Beck Liam McDonnell Kyle Osborne William Keys Austin Rockafield Jake Kildall Rudy Flores Cornell Smith Connor Sloan WEST VIRGINIA Delta Morgantown, W.V. Vincent Trapasso Matt Dombrowski Chris Philip Hummel Jr Devin Henriquez William Smallwood Matthew McClure Christian Breitsameter Stephen DeCarolis WESTERN MICHIGAN Chi Tetarton Kalamazoo, Mich. Andrew Martin Matthew Jablonski Nathaniel Hicks Orion Cargill Ryan Boynton Eduardo Perez Anthony Rastigue James Stewart Jeremy Dillon Thompson Simon Matthew Limback Austin Mabry Casey John Schlitts Jeremale Johnson Scott Opal Oliver Joy
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WORCESTER Epsilon Deuteron Worcester, Mass. Hamayel Qureshi Alexander Jeffrey Fair Yohanes Limasalle Quincy Rhodes Jack Edward Moore Tristan Arnold Rory Cuerdon Chongyuan Feng Thar Min Htet Jordan Hollands YOUNG HARRIS Gamma Octaton Young Harris, Ga. Ryan Bates Rayquise Underwood Sam Klingenberg Conner Sims Daniel Felner Jake Richardson Christian Paniccia Sam Alexander Vindas Morgan Lowe Robert Moser
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE
GIVE TO THE PHI SIGMA KAPPA FOUNDATION FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, VISIT PHISIGMAKAPPA.ORG THE SIGNET
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2020 CO OFFICER A Phi Sigma Kappa held its second annual national Conclave: Officer Academy this past January in Chicago, Illinois. Last year, the Fraternity decided to merge all former Regional Conclaves into one national Conclave, geared toward Chapter Presidents and Chapter Advisers. Officers and advisers greatly appreciated the hands-on logistical training, opportunity to network with others in similar roles, and meet International Headquarters (IHQ) professional staff and Phi Sig volunteers. As a result of the success from 2019, the Fraternity decided to hold a similar event in 2020, this time expanding to allow local chapters the option to send their Inductor. About 30 chapters took advantage of this opportunity, establishing three different tracks for the Conclave. Each track focused on a mix of leadership and mentorship training, as well as overviewing expectations and the “nuts and bolts” of their individual roles. More than 80 undergraduate representatives, a mix of Chapter Presidents and Inductors, attended the event to learn more about how to succeed as a representative of the Fraternity and as a leader on their campus. In addition, eight Chapter Advisers and Alumni Advisory Board (AAB) members joined their undergraduate advisees to learn information being shared with the officers, as well as participate in Chapter Adviser-specific training. The weekend featured a variety of session types including general sessions for all participants, small group meetings with officers of similar chapters, and a brotherhood event. General sessions were led by a mix of volunteers and IHQ professional staff. The Fraternity is thankful for its member and non-member volunteer facilitators for the weekend: •
Haley Atwell, member of Alpha Gamma Delta, employed by Purdue University;
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Brother John “Chip” Davenport, initiate of Epsilon Tau Chapter at Ball State University;
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Clare Denhollem, member of Zeta Tau Alpha, employed by Stephen F. Austin State University;
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Renee Dubois, member of Gamma Phi Beta, employed by Stetson University;
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Brother Ed Kovacs, initiate of the Gamma Septaton Chapter at Bowling Green State University, employed by Harcum College;
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Shauna Prentice, member of Kappa Delta, employed by the University of Cincinnati;
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Brother Mark Rowland, initiate of Epsilon Tau Chapter at Ball State University, employed by Ernst and Young;
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Corry Smith, member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., employed by Indiana State University;
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Nolan Spaenhower, member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, employed by Southern Illinois UniversityEdwardsville;
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Brother Christian Williams, initiate of Lambda Septaton Chapter at Florida International University, employed by the University of Delaware
The agenda for the weekend was jam-packed with a mix of Phi Sig-specific training and skillbuilding in areas that can transcend the Fraternity experience. On Friday evening, Grand President Chris Hoye and COO/Executive Director Nicholas Zuniga welcomed everyone to the event. Brothers met other participants during large group networking and got to know their small groups for the weekend through a variety of teambuilders. The evening concluded with sessions focused on more self-awareness through the CliftonStrengths™ assessment and how participants can best utilize those strengths to lead and mentor effectively in their respective Phi Sigma Kappa role.
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N C L AV E : ACAD E M Y Saturday morning provided tangible takeaways for officers and advisers alike, sharing best practices for fulfilling the expectations of the Grand Chapter, handling issues that arise related to risk management, and representing their chapter on campus and within the Fraternity. Inductors were trained in the Brotherhood in Phi Sigma Kappa program, the new associate member program launched in the summer of 2019 at the 67th General Convention. In the afternoon, all participants were invited to have an honest conversation about their chapter’s culture and holding members accountable. Later in the evening, participants continued this conversation with a keynote from Dr. Gentry McCreary, CEO of Dyad Strategies. Dyad Strategies is a fraternity and sorority research firm that has partnered with Phi Sigma Kappa to develop educational programming and conduct the Annual Membership Survey (AMS). Each chapter delegation at Conclave received their chapter’s AMS report that provided a summary of data from their members regarding Phi Sigma Kappa values, strength of brotherhood, and overall commitment to the Fraternity. On Saturday afternoon, Presidents gathered in their small groups to put all they learned to practice in a multi-part case study. The case study had them think through challenges on conflict management, chapter public relations, and handling an incident with their campus. Afterwards, undergraduate participants brainstormed ideas on how to fight apathy within their chapter—a common issue that occurs with all undergraduate fraternities. During this time, advisers discussed how to best work with today’s undergraduate students and learned about the Fraternity’s initiative to build Alumni Advisory Boards for each local undergraduate chapter. They discussed ideas on how to recruit additional volunteer advisers, train alumni brothers on their adviser roles, and retain them for years to come. Meanwhile, Inductors participated in case studies related to hazing as well as discussed changing their chapter’s culture related to integrating associate members into the chapter. A brotherhood event on Saturday evening allowed all attendees to play casino-style games with play money, courtesy of a local entertainment company. The three top-earning players earned prizes consisting of gift cards to the online Phi Sig Store. After a busy weekend, the Conclave concluded Sunday morning when officers and advisers focused on action planning and set goals to implement when they returned to campus. The 2020 Conclave: Officer Academy saw great success in that participants felt more confident in their roles, built stronger relationships with the Grand Chapter and International Headquarters professional staff, and gained a better understanding of the expectations of them as officers and advisers. One of the major takeaways for all participants was networking with other brothers from all over the country to share ideas from those who come from similar chapters. “The biggest takeaway from the small group sessions was that I got to learn how other Chapter Presidents handle certain situations that I may face in the future that they have experienced already,” one participant said. “All of the chapters [in our small group], in terms of size, were nearly the same which I felt was very valuable to the experience as we all could relate to the positives and negatives of having smaller chapters.” The Grand Chapter hopes to continue to provide educational opportunities and resources for the leaders in our organization. Future initiatives include creating more online materials to be available throughout the year and providing opportunities for officers and advisers to engage electronically, especially with the coronavirus pandemic causing more interactions to become virtual. With new challenges for fraternities and sororities presenting themselves on an almost-daily basis, it is necessary for Phi Sigma Kappa to change and evolve to remain a leader in the fraternal industry. We hope the continued focus on leadership and educational opportunities for all members will best equip our leaders to succeed in their chapters, on their campuses, and in their professions.
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2020 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP SURVEY Phi Sigma Kappa has committed to be a data-driven organization by using information from our members and research among all national fraternities and sororities to make decisions that will best serve our membership. To fulfill this commitment, the Fraternity has partnered with Dyad Strategies, a fraternity and sorority research and assessment firm to conduct the Annual Membership Survey (AMS). This survey, which is distributed each spring semester, allows the Fraternity to better understand what its undergraduate members are gaining from their Phi Sig experience and the overall strengths and areas of improvement of its 70 local chapters. The survey measures a variety of aspects of the undergraduate and chapter experience: Phi Sig values, areas of brotherhood, health and safety, and overall commitment to the Fraternity. This initiative started in 2019, when Phi Sigma Kappa participated in a pilot version of the survey that provided information related to the new associate member program, Brotherhood in Phi Sigma Kappa, the first phase in Cardinal Journey. Twenty chapters were selected to participate in the survey, five chapters who served as pilot chapters for the new program in the fall of 2018 and spring of 2019, and an additional three comparison chapters for each of the five pilot chapters. This data allowed the Fraternity to compare the pilot chapters to their peers and identify differences that may be a result of the new program. The information gathered during this pilot inspired Phi Sigma Kappa to continue assessing its chapters to see how it can best serve them, and how leaders of the chapter can best achieve their goals. In the fall of 2019, International Headquarters (IHQ) launched the same pilot survey to the rest of the chapters (about 50) who did not participate in the spring pilot survey to provide a full data set on all chapters. At the same time, the Grand Council decided to continue partnering with Dyad for the next four years as a longitudinal initiative, so that the Fraternity can compare its members from year-to-year. The first area measured are the eight Core Values, derived from the Phi Sigma Kappa Creed and Cardinal Principles, and determined by the Fraternity’s Education Committee. The 2019-2021 Education Committee is comprised of the following individuals: Brothers Sean McGreevey (Henderson State ‘97), Darald Stubbs (Stetson ’88), Matt Gregory (Southern Illinois ’95), Ed Kovacs (Bowling Green ’00), Tom Recker (Michigan ’82), Ryan Cole (Ball State ’13), and Christian Williams (Florida International ’12). The Core Values that are measured on this survey are the following:
Love Purpose Teamwork Helping/Empathy Character Self-Awareness Lifelong Learning Persistence/Grit
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The next area the survey measures are the four areas of brotherhood, as defined by Dyad Strategies: solidarity, shared social experience, belonging and accountability. •
SOLIDARITY is a sense of connection based on a commitment to mutual assistance. While altruistic in theory, this can be problematic if it is the sole focus of the brotherhood, as that suggests brothers are so unified they’re unwilling to hold each other accountable for wrongdoing.
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SHARED SOCIAL EXPERIENCE is where the Fraternity is seen primarily as a social outlet. Similar to solidarity, chapters should aim to find a balance between this and the other areas of brotherhood. Fraternities should have fun together, but it shouldn’t be the main purpose of their brotherhood.
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BELONGING is where members view brothers as family and see the Fraternity as a “home away from home.” Chapters achieve this by creating an environment where chapter members feel as if they can be themselves. Chapters should aim for this score to be as high as possible.
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ACCOUNTABILITY is found when brothers are held accountable to group standards and expectations. This can be done through formal processes like judicial boards and informal processes through confronting brothers when they did something wrong. Chapters should aim to find a health balance between this area of brotherhood and solidarity and shared social experience.
The 2019 AMS saw a 50% completion rate across the entire undergraduate population, which was a huge success in its first year. The data provided the following highlights of the national Fraternity compared to other national men’s fraternities who use Dyad Strategies. •
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Phi Sigma Kappa was higher in all areas of brotherhood than their peers. •
This is a positive finding for areas of brotherhood based on belonging and accountability.
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This is an area of improvement for the Grand Chapter to focus on encouraging local chapters to lessen the brotherhood focused on social experiences and forced bonding.
Additionally, Phi Sigma Kappa was significantly higher than its peers in commitment to the Fraternity. •
There are two types of commitment: affective (emotional) commitment and normative (obligatory) commitment.
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Dyad indicated that Phi Sig had some of the highest scores among all men’s fraternities ever seen in this area, which is a major pride point for our organization.
For the 2020 Annual Membership Survey, Phi Sig experienced an increase in participation, landing at a 57% national completion rate. Several measures were even added to the survey, specifically focused on health and safety of members. This section allows chapter members to answer questions regarding their beliefs and attitudes toward hazing, alcohol, sexual assault and mental health. For these areas, it is important to note that the purpose of the questions is not to identify if chapters or individual members are engaging in illegal or harmful practices. Data collected is solely quantitative and no open-ended questions are asked. IHQ professional staff and Phi Sig volunteers who review this data also look at aggregate information at the local chapter or national level, and not at individual responses. Overall, the Grand Chapter hopes to utilize this information to inform chapter servicing and educational programming at the national level, while also helping local chapters improve the experience they are providing for their members. During their annual and mid-year meetings, the Grand Council discusses the data from the AMS. Chapter representatives can expect to receive their local chapter’s AMS report at national events. Additionally, the professional staff intends to continue communicating to all brothers the results from this annual survey and hopes that undergraduate members and alumni both can see the value this information can provide to continue to push Phi Sig Forward.
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: JOEY TEEPLE WHY PHI SIG? I joined Phi Sigma Kappa during my sophomore year at Valparaiso University (“Valpo”) in Fall 2010. My college career was off to a strong start; however, as a shy (and admittedly, awkward) introvert, I was eager to push beyond my “comfort zone” and challenge myself socially. At the time, Valpo hosted eight fraternities and many of the University’s most prominent student leaders hailed from a Greek organization; thus, Greek Life presented a great opportunity for me. During my freshman year I developed great relationships with various Phi Sig brothers. Their chapter was small, but I admired the camaraderie and support network. If a brother were participating in an athletic event or musical ensemble, you could count on the rest of the chapter to be present and cheering him on. I returned to campus my sophomore year with an open mind; however, deep down I knew Phi Sigma Kappa was where I belonged.
WHAT WAYS ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH PHI SIG? I am one of those college alumni that stuck around town following graduation, so I have not really missed a beat with staying involved with my local chapter. I had the pleasure of joining our Chapter Adviser Brother Jacob Defassio’s (’12) Alumni Advisory Board where I worked with chapter leaders to modify the Associate Member process to ensure its compliance with campus and International Headquarters. In 2016 I became chapter adviser for the Phi Upsilon Chapter, and in 2019, I was elected President of our Phi Upsilon Alumni Association. I had the pleasure of joining the Phi Sigma Kappa Foundation last year, where I serve as an Associate Trustee.
WHY DO YOU STAY INVOLVED WITH PHI SIG? I am forever indebted to Phi Sigma Kappa for what it has given me: lifelong friends lessons in leadership, professional opportunities, and greater self-confidence – just to name a few! As Chapter Adviser and alumni association president, I have the great joy of watching young men at Valpo take advantage of some of the same opportunities I was given as an active member. As an Associate Trustee, I enjoy leveraging my experience in fundraising as well as connecting with other brothers to grow and improve Phi Sig nationwide.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PHI SIG MEMORY? My favorite Phi Sig memory was attending the 63rd General Convention in New Orleans, LA as an undergraduate in 2011. It was a surreal experience to enter a room and be surrounded by brothers from across the country who cherished the same history and ritual. It was also inspiring to see so many older alumni, proudly wearing their letters and connecting with friends. It really drove home the message that Phi Sig is a lifelong membership!
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CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE? I actually majored in secondary education and history while at Valpo; however, I was unable to find a social studies teaching position after graduation. A fraternity brother recruited me to work with him in lease advisory services at RSM US LLP in Chicago, IL. After four years in the industry, I had enough of corporate America and found an opportunity at my alma mater’s Advancement Department. Since 2017 I have actively fundraised for Valparaiso University’s unrestricted annual fund. My position allows me to travel throughout the country and meet with fellow alumni. Much like Phi Sigma Kappa, Valparaiso University has also provided ample opportunities for me, and I genuinely enjoy securing financial resources to secure its future for prospective scholars.
HOW HAS PHI SIG IMPACTED YOUR LIFE? To put it simply: I am not the man I am today without Phi Sig. When I was initiated, I was a shy and awkward kid, uncertain of my talents and capabilities. As active Chapter President, I gained much-needed confidence and leadership experience. I gained a network of friends and professional relationships which led me to my first job and ultimately my career in higher education fundraising. If someone would have told me ten years ago that my job would entail traveling to unfamiliar locations, meeting unfamiliar people, and soliciting them for money, I never would have believed you! However, because of the relationships forged and skills learned through Phi Sigma Kappa, I have the career I enjoy today.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PHI SIG.
VOLUNTEER Email joe@phisigmakappa.org for more information on how to get involved.
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DIFFICULT TIMES: NOW AND IN THE PAST By Brother Albert D. Shonk, Former Grand President and Historian The COVID-19 virus has greatly challenged the entire world. Most schools have closed for the remainder of the school year. College students are completing the term on virtual platforms. Graduation ceremonies have been delayed. My wife and I are grandparents to three college students. One young man is a senior at Cal/Berkeley, another a junior at the University of Southern California and the third is a young woman and a sophomore at Santa Clara University. All three usually live on campus and the young men belong to fraternities. They have all moved home to complete the school year. We also have two in high school and they are also studying at home. It is too bad that our undergraduate Phi Sig brothers are missing out on this year of their student experience .
We congratulate those that are graduating and hope they will be able to have a real celebration in the near future. This is not the first time that Phi Sig and all fraternities have been affected by a national emergency. Between 1917 and 1918 the country was engaged in World War I, and college life was greatly curtailed. The Interfraternity Conference reported in November, 1917 that it was estimated that more than one-fourth of the university and college student body had enlisted in the country’s fighting forces, and another 25 percent were in the process of enlisting. Campus life, along with fraternity activities, were largely curtailed due to the war footing of the country. With the closing of the spring semester, fraternity life in most institutions had ceased to exist. In the fall when the younger men came back to campus, they joined the Students’ Army Training Corps or the Students’ Naval Training Corps and became part of the military. Many chapter houses became barracks or were rented for the duration of the war. The only chapter to thrive during the war was Lambda Chapter at George Washington University in DC. There were many Phi Sigs stationed in Washington, and they took advantage of Lambda’s hospitality. The chapter initiated 44 men during the war. The war ended November 11, 1918. Even though fraternity life was completely disorganized during the war, fortunately recovery came fast. Many of the chapter houses that served as barracks had to undergo extensive repairs, which was paid for by the government, before the chapter could move in. The 19th General Convention was scheduled for Chicago in 1918, but was indefinitely postponed. It wasn’t held until 1920.
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During the Great Depression, which started in 1929, many of our chapters struggled to stay alive. Each undergraduate was asked to donate 25 cents per month to help those chapters in trouble. Despite the great efforts of the Grand Council to save chapters, we lost several. Fraternity life did continue during the depression. At the 29th General Convention which was held in Boston in 1940, the delegates were concerned with the possible U.S. entrance into the war which had started in Europe in 1939. Legislation was passed which stated, “In case of a national emergency officially proclaimed by the President of the United States, the Council may by unanimous vote waive the convening of a General Convention; subject to the approval by a majority of the active chapters. Chapters may vote by mail or telegram, each active chapter being entitled to one vote.” The Grand President elected in 1940 would serve throughout the War until 1946. The military draft was in effect when the Council met in August, 1941, and was already affecting college enrollment. Of the Council members elected at the 1940 Convention three went into the military in 1941. Pearl Harbor occurred on December 7, 1941 and the U.S. entered World War II. No Convention was held during the summer of 1942, but a Convention was scheduled in Philadelphia for December 31, 1942 to January 1, 1943. At this Convention 28 of the chapters were represented. Legislation passed made it possible for the Council, if necessary, to suspend Bylaws in order to manage the affairs of the Fraternity. The next regular Convention wasn’t held until 1948. The Council met every year during the war. At the end of the war in September, 1945, we only had six active chapters. Most of the chapters which closed during the war reopened and a rapid period of expansion took place. Since we are now living in a time of a national emergency, our fraternity leadership will be called upon to make difficult decisions for the benefit of Phi Sigma Kappa and our future, as did our leadership during past emergencies.
THOUGH WE FACE ADVERSITY WHEREVER WE MAY ROAM, IT IS ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER BOYS WHEN THE PHI SIGS COME BACK HOME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME, BROTHERS.
WE WILL BE TOGETHER AGAIN SOON. THE SIGNET
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CHAPTER ETERNAL Arizona State University Paul N Messer ‘89
Rider University Eugene Shalayda ‘64
Ball State University Jack F Burson ‘51
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Hans W Ehrnstrom ‘63
Emporia State University Harry Ferguson ‘87
Swarthmore College John K Lawrence ‘50 Lawrence W Yearke ‘46
Franklin & Marshall College Paul H Ripple ‘44
Union College Harold E Buck Jr ‘60
Georgia Institute of Technology Eric R Daugherty ‘89
University of Akron Carl J Fiocca ‘72 Paul D George ‘76
Hobart and William Smith College Malcolm P Strohson ‘58
University of Alabama Frank J Tortorici ‘60
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Norman J. Moriber PE ‘69 Midwestern State University William S Madsen Jr ‘92
University of California/Davis Burrows Hamilton ‘50 Robert B Walker Jr ‘70
Montana State University William B Madsen ‘70
University of Central Missouri William S Harlan ‘57
Northeastern University David Gordon ‘63 David B McLaughlin ‘69
University of Houston Alfred G Leal ‘66 University of Illinois Gary N Cole ‘71 Roger L. Morrison ‘72
Northwest Missouri State University Richard Leet ‘48 Oregon State University Jack R Ingram ‘50
University of Maryland Arthur C Farnham ‘43 Oscar L Reksten ‘73 Wayne I Robertson ‘63
Pennsylvania State University Brian M Pierce ‘91
University of Massachusetts Charles M Goller ‘51
Purdue University Lcdr. Charles E Warnell ‘56
INFORMATION AS OF MAY 29, 2020
The Signet publishes Chapter Eternal to recognize and honor the passing of members. The Grand Chapter relies on our members for the deceased notices and obituaries. Please help to honor these brothers. We have recently begun a sweeping update to our database via the Lost Alumni Updater. Some of these brothers may have passed
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at an earlier date. If you would like more information you can contact the headquarters staff to request how we learned about the above brothers. Also due to this circumstance, some of the data above may be held over from issue to issue to inform our Brotherhood. Some information may have also been excluded at the request
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CHAPTER ETERNAL
University of North Carolina Joseph L White Jr ‘73 University of Rhode Island William R Ferrigno ‘50 David B. Lea Jr. ‘59 University of Southern California James M Schlecht ‘51 Edward W Stavert ‘55 University of Texas, Austin Jack T Ingram ‘52 Virginia Polytechnic Institute William L Goodman Jr ‘97 Wagner College Kenneth W Johnson ‘59 West Virginia University Gordon J Hall ‘53 Williams College Frank W Darrow ‘61 William DeWitt ‘61 R M Goff ‘62 Winona State University Bruce Blixt ‘70 Youngstown State University Woods R Brown ‘64 Adam C Johnson ‘62
REMEMBERING BROTHER FRANK TORTORICI Brother Frank Tortorici (Alabama ’60). is a graduate of the University of Alabama, and held countless offices within Phi Sigma Kappa both nationally and locally, including District Governor, Alumni Club President, and Regional Adviser. In 2010, he was appointed to serve as the Brotherhood’s Chaplain. That year he was also the recipient of the Medallion of Merit, Phi Sigma Kappa’s highest honor. His life outside Phi Sig was just as remarkable; he served his country during the Vietnam War in the Army Special Forces, where he was a decorated with a Purple Heart as well as other significant honors. He held his Ph.D. in Chemistry, and his professional career as a chemist at Kodak results in more than 75 patents attributed to his name. The positive influence and mentorship he provided to countless men through his Phi Sig work cannot be measured. Please keep Brother Tortorici’s family in your prayers.
of the family. You can also check and provide information on brothers through our website at www.phisigmakappa. org, where you can report “Lost Alumni”.
Please send notices by email or mail to: Kathy Cannady at Kathy@phisigmakappa.org Phi Sigma Kappa Headquarters Attn: Kathy Cannady 2925 E. 96th St., Indianapolis, IN 46240
THE SIGNET
SPRING 2020
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