Alumni News

Lin Loring (photo courtesy of Indianapolis Star)

Hall of Fame Inductee

Lin Loring (Cal/Santa Barbara ’72) was recently inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Women’s Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame. Brother Loring is the former Indiana and UCSB head coach.

Brother Loring began his career at his alma mater before spending 40 years coaching the Indiana Hoosiers. He is the all-time win leader in women’s collegiate tennis. With his 846 career wins, he is the only Division I women’s tennis coach to amass more than 800 wins.

He was also recently inducted into the Indiana University Athletics Hall of Fame at the annual Hall of Fame dinner held on October 14. He and five others were recognized at halftime of the Indiana-Maryland football game the following day.

Brother Loring coached Indiana to 16 Big Ten titles and an AIAW National Championship. He was a two-time National Coach of the Year and coached 25 All-Americans while at Indiana. The team had a 104-match unbeaten streak against Big Ten opponents from 19791985, and a run of eight straight Big Ten titles from 1987-1994.

In 2000, he was honored with the ITA Meritorious Service Award for his monumental contributions to collegiate tennis.

Award Winner

Kirk Bell (Maryland ’88) has been honored with the Spirit of Maryland Award, presented by the University of Maryland. Each year, the university celebrates and honors the achievements of seven alumni at A Celebration of Terps: Featuring the Maryland Awards. The awards feature alumni who have risen to the highest levels of public service, launched successful companies, or made groundbreaking discoveries.

The Spirit of Maryland Award honors an alumnus or community member who reflects the best of the university spirit. This award celebrates those who embody and inspire Maryland pride. Brother Bell is a past President of the University of Maryland Alumni Association.

In 2021, he was also inducted as an honorary member of the M Club for his longtime dedication to Maryland athletics.

Al Shonk (Southern Cal ’54) recently had a special visit with Archer Jacobson. Archer’s parents, Scott (Cal Poly ’01) and Cuyapi were also there!

First-Time Author

Michael Kester-Haynes (Pitt State ’16) is passionate about advising undergraduate students. As a result, he created a series of books called the College Survival Guide, available through Amazon. The first in a series of five books, the first edition focuses on challenges commonly faced by first-year students. Many incoming freshmen are not fully prepared when entering college. Lack of preparation can lead to undue stress.

Chapters in this book include:

1. Preparing to Move Away 2. Move-In Day and Dorm Living 3. Social Life and Relationships 4. Financial Aid 5. Personal Finance 6. Mental and Physical Health 7. Academics 8. Joining Clubs and Being Involved 9. Athletics and Performing Arts

Former Executive Director Barry Caponi (Northern Illinois ’72) recently visited with two Phi Sig connections. In July (above), he traveled to North Carolina to visit with past Province President and Director of Chapter Development and Expansion Ron Crouch (North Carolina ’75). In September (right), he visited the International Headquarters to meet with Executive Director Joe Kern (Radford ’09). Brother Caponi was Executive Director from 1976 until 1979. “While attending an Ohio State football game for the first time with some friends, I checked to see if they had a Phi Sig Chapter. They did and I dropped by unannounced during their pre-gaming. An older guy, 70 now, UNC 1974 grad, from the Upsilon Deuteron Chapter, just walking up to a bunch of youngsters. These guys couldn’t have been more gracious and welcomed my whole group. The Chapter President personally showed us around the house. Phi Sigs — brothers forever!” — Brother Dan Boone

Alumni Club Voting at Convention Dependent on Sustaining Dues Members

The Sustaining Dues Program (Forever Phi Sig) was implemented in 1995 at the 55th General Convention, as a way of raising funds for both the Grand Chapter and local alumni clubs. Local groups use their funds in whatever manner they choose. Many use the money for improvements to the chapter house, alumni gatherings, alumni newsletters, etc. The Grand Chapter uses the money to offset the cost of printing The Signet and maintaining the Fraternity’s membership files. Alumni clubs solicit dues through newsletters and other direct mailings, as well as in person at Homecoming and Founders’ Day events. The recommended amount of dues is $25. The clubs then remit $5 for each alumnus who paid their dues to the Grand Chapter. Please keep in mind that payments toward sustaining dues are not tax-deductible, whereas gifts to the Foundation qualify. According to Article III, Section 4 of the Grand Chapter’s Constitution and Bylaws, “The voting privilege of the alumni clubs in good standing with the Grand Chapter and represented at the General Convention will be apportioned according to their number of sustaining members as paid to the Grand Chapter no later than the June 30th preceding the General Convention as follows: 0-25 members one vote 26 to 45 members two votes 46 to 65 members three votes 66 to 85 members four votes 86 or more members five votes

If you wish to have your alumni club properly represented at next summer’s 69th General Convention, please consider a sustaining dues payment prior to June 30. Dues can be paid online at phisigsustainingdues.org.