THE • PI • KAPPA • PHI • FRATERNITY
Omegalite JULY 2014
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
Omega grads serve as traveling consultants
The ability to share what they learned at Purdue inspired several alumni to serve the national fraternity. The tradition of Purdue alumni serving the national fraternity stretches across seven decades of Omega’s 92 years of existence. In the last 15 years alone, Omega has produced five leadership consultants – Kevin Ohaver (Omega 1438), Tom Harzula (1619), Eric Allen (1724), Ryan Nugent (1717) and Nick Prichodko (1761). Three of them even served with the national fraternity for two years. “I had an amazing undergraduate fraternity experience and I wanted to see what other brotherhoods were all about as well as help make their experience as positive as mine,” said Prichodko, a consultant from 2012-14. Prichodko, a management major at Purdue, also wanted to travel. During his two years on staff, he started several new chapters. His duties entailed starting a new chapter from scratch or re-establishing ones that had been dormant. “The expansions were amazing ways for me to give the opportunity to students who would not have normally been interested in fraternities to experience the leadership, social and personal development opportunities,” he said. His Purdue background, however, was the baseline for success. “I can’t explain how fortunate I am to have been a member of the Omega chapter,” he said. “I look back on my collegiate experience and appreciate now more than ever the amount of support we were given. We had the alumni support
that allowed us to operate in a way to have a positive and memorable fraternity and collegiate experience. In addition to the alumni support, the thing I most appreciate is how well rounded our members have been.” Prichodko, who recently left the national fraterniNick Prichodko stands outside the Georgia ty’s staff, has Southern chapter house when he served as a moved back to leadership consultant. hometown Carmel, IN, to undergraduates learn that fraternipursue job opportunities in the ty is more than social,” he said. area. “Sure, the social environment is Harzula, who was a consultant fantastic, but through the friendfrom 2007 to 2009, was a political ships and networking we build science student at Purdue. As a within the national fraternity, we consultant, he worked with more have the means to develop ourthan 50 chapters in 20 states. selves into leaders in any industry.” “I was looking for a job opportuniHarzula, like Prichodko, found ty that wouldn’t keep me behind a the Omega infrastructure is superidesk,” he said. “Traveling for the or to other chapters. fraternity gave me a chance to “Without a doubt I quickly travel as well as to help develop learned to appreciate our strong student leaders and connect more alumni and volunteer presence,” he people with Pi Kappa Phi.” said. “There are precious few chapHe valued the connection with ters who can boast about the sheer undergraduates and fellow staff number of involved and engaged during his tenure with the national alumni and their willingness to fraternity. help undergraduate brothers both “The relationships I built with Pi during and after their collegiate Kapps across the county remain days.” strong – especially the friendships Harzula entered a Methodist I have with other leadership conseminary following his national sultants that I worked with and fraternity experience. He was pastraveled with. “I hoped that I have helped Continued on Page 3
OMEGALITE Omega of Pi Kappa Phi, Inc. Housing Corporation P.O. Box 2700 West Lafayette, IN 47996-2700 Chapter Web address: http://www. purduepikapps.com Corporation Officers JAY SEEGER PRESIDENT 3817 Old Farm Road Lafayette, IN 47905 765/742-4529, work 765/474-1986, home jseeger@SeegerForbes. com
BRANDT HERSHMAN VICE PRESIDENT 6142 Maderia Lane Lafayette, IN 47905 574/581-2000, cell b.hershman@comcast.net
STEVE BOHNER TREASURER 194 Twin Springs Ct. Carmel, IN 46234 317/846-3008, home 317/844-2250, work 317/844-2296, fax steve@langdonand company.com PAT KUHNLE SECRETARY 720 Chelsea Road W. Lafayette, IN 47906 765/743-1111 ext. 205, work 765/743-6087, fax 765/743-1256, cell pkuhnle@gmail.com The Omegalite is published at least once a year by the Omega of Pi Kappa Phi Housing Corporation for its alumni. Address corrections should be mailed to us at the contact information listed at the top of this box.
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PURDUE UNIVERSITY
Thank you note touches fraternity
What might become lost in the chapter’s service successes in 2013-14, is the personal touch. A local choreographer’s recent thank you note to the national fraternity staff changed that. On June 26, 2014 the founder and president of SPIRIT! Theatre of Lafayette sent an email to the Push America and the national fraternity’s CEOs expressing her gratitude. She lauded the local A choreographer directs the six-member special Pi Kappa Phi chapter’s supneeds SPIRIT! troupe as it performs at the April port and specifically noted the 9, 2014, talent show portion of Pi Kappa Phi's efforts of chapter Push "War of Roses" in a packed Loeb Playhouse on America chairman Thomas the Purdue campus. Fisher (Omega 1896). SPIRIT! Theatre is in its second year of did a song and dance routine on the stage to help prepare them for an upcoming offering “meaningful opportunities for event. The crowd gave the group a standadults with intellectual and developmening ovation. tal disabilities.” Because the fraternity In her six-paragraph thank you note to supports the needs of disabled through its the national fraternity representatives, multifaceted academic year programming, Barb Osborn praised the Fisher and the Fisher offered the troupe a stage. chapter. During the spring semester, Pi Kappa “They were all a little nervous before Phi hosts a two-week “War of Roses.” The the production because they would be perannual event includes empathy training, forming in front of a large audience at the competition mimicking various disabilibiggest venue yet,” Osborn wrote in the ties and other activities leading up to a email. “I think that they amazed themtwo-hour talent show. On April 9, the talselves and were all in awe of the rounds ent competition featured 15 sorority of applause coupled with standing ovation teams – coached by Pi Kappa Phi memat the end of their portion of the enterbers – performing tainment. Their individual and collective in front of nearly self esteem grew, they now have a broader 600 people in Loeb vision of what their lives can involve and Playhouse on the are imagining other opportunities coming Purdue campus. the way of the Company. Between various “I just thought that you should know event categories what a great chapter, and in particular an fraternity members incredible brother, you have in Thomas explained the value Fisher,” Osborn wrote. “Thanks for all you of serving those do to support and bring increased respect with disabilities. for the developmentally disabled.” During a break, Chad Coltrane, Push America CEO, the SPIRIT! Group responded to Osborn’s email. performed excerpts “Thank you so much for taking the of an upcoming time to send us the fantastic note about production, Thomas and the Pi Kappa Phi men at “Dreams of Purdue,” Coltrane wrote in an email Broadway.” response. “They are a great group of men Six special and we are very proud of their efforts.” needs performers
OMEGALITE From Page 1 tor at several small southern Indiana parishes while he completed his ministerial studies. He’s now graduated and is senior pastor at Wesley United Methodist Church in Culver, IN. Harzula serves as regional governor for Indiana and supports chapters at Purdue, IU, Ball State and Indiana State. Eric Allen served as an LC for only one semester after a highly successful two-semester tenure as Omega recruitment chairman in 2009-10. “I chose to be an LC because of the opportunities it presented for me to give back to fraternity at a national level –for personal development and growth with a group of men whom I could trust, based on commonly held values,” he said. The Huntington Beach, CA, native found that his influence on a fledgling chapter at Northern Colorado was the most memorable. However, that influence came to fruition after he left the national fraternity. Allen’s job as an LC was with expansions. After he left the staff to
Omega alumnus John Lovell (center), an industrial psychologist and former traveling secretary, is shown in a recent photo with two of his four children.
JULY 2014 become an environmental engineer, he worked in Colorado. “Nearly a year after my last visit to UNC, the Iota Kappa chapter finally received its charter,” he said. “This made me realize the impact I, along with my LC colleagues and national staff, had with the founding fathers. It gave me a strong sense of fulfillment knowing that UNC would have the same brotherhood and experiences I had at Omega.” Allen is now an engineer for Sage Environment in Chicago. The first Omega alumnus who was to be a traveling consultant – called field secretaries at the time – was Richard Smith (Omega 478), but he never quite made it on the to job. The industrial recreation major from Utica, NY, took a job with the national fraternity in 1953, but the military had different plans for him. The Korean War was nearing its end and Smith was spending the summer lifeguarding, but he was drafted. “I was looking forward to it (working for the fraternity),” he said. “The main reason was the ability to meet a lot of great people and potential employers.” Smith, now 84, reported for a military physical and anticipated attending officer candidate school. Instead he was identified to serve in Japan to develop intelligence against the Chinese and Soviets for three years. He followed his older brother, the late Donald Smith (Omega 454), to Purdue and Pi Kappa Phi. The younger Smith spent his non-military career in sales, eventually retiring from being president of a John Deere industrial equipment dealership in update New York. The first alumnus to actually serve as a national consultant was John Lovell (Omega 751) in 196768. With Pi Kappa Phi being a southern-based national fraternity, Lovell became one of the first consultants from north of the MasonDixon line – an imaginary line that
PURDUE UNIVERSITY separated the North from the South. Lovell was one of two consultants at the time. Today, there are 13 traveling consultants for the national fraternity. Lovell said among his accomplishments was the establishment of a chapter at the University of Washington. “Being a field secretary (consultant) was among the most cherished developmental periods in my life,” he said. His interest in the position came while he attended the 1966 Supreme Chapter in Miami, FL. There he saw how powerful the Ritual of Initiation was for alumni. Furthermore, more than 150 undergraduates – including Lovell – traveled to Charleston, SC, from Miami to pay respects to Simon Fogerty. Fogerty, who died Feb. 23, 1966, was the last survivor of the original three founders. “I think I took more from being field secretary than I gave,” Lovell, an industrial psychologist, said. “Furthermore, Durward Owen (national executive director-emeritus) was one of my two major mentors in my life. The fraternity changed my life for the better.” Lovell, a psychology major at Purdue, ended his consultant days as he was drafted to serve in the military. Afterwards, he returned to Purdue to earn an MS and PhD. After receiving his doctorate, he started working for the Krannert School of Management teaching organizational behavior classes and assisting with counseling. He also consulted for corporations. Along the way, he served as Omega faculty advisor and later as an area governor. His professional career has led to being an industrial psychologist. One of his assignments was to conduct a pre-employment evaluation for Owen’s successor, current CEO Mark Timmes. “I told Mark as I was reviewing his credentials, it was ‘his job but Continued on Page 4
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From Page 3 my reputation’ at stake.” A handful of other alumni served as national consultants along the way, including Sonny O’Drobinak (Omega 882), David Smith (922) and Alvin Purdom (1065). It was another 20+ years before an Omega initiate worked for the national fraternity – Kevin Ohaver, son of Lovell contemporary Mike Ohaver (Omega 824) Ohaver thought his experiences
Photo of Pi Kapp chapter house at New Jersey Institute of Technology as it looked when visited by Kevin Ohaver.
2013-14 PURDUE STATISTICS Interfraternity Council (IFC) 2,725 Multicultural Greeks (MGC) 125 Natl Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) 82 Panhellenic Association (PHA) 2,431 Total Greek membership 6,219 22.5 percent of undergraduates Undergraduate enrollment Men Women Professional enrollment Graduate enrollment Grand total
27,619 15,696 11,923 933 7,957 36,509
Indiana resident enrollment Non-resident enrollment
17,894 18,615
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
in leadership positions while at Omega lent themselves well to being a consultant. He served the national fraternity from 1999 to 2001. His most memorable experience was helping to start at chapter at the University of Kansas. “We had no presence there at all,” he said. “It was a school with an extremely large Greek population, but we were able to recruit more than 60 high quality and motivated men to form an associate chapter that later became a highly successful chartered chapter.” During his two years of travel, Ohaver developed a deep appreciation for the Omega chapter. He said two things set Omega apart – a highly dedicated local alumni support group with the ability to mobilize other alumni as needed as well as “the abundance of quality and ongoing programming.” “Omega is a pioneer in creating new or improving existing programming, which has allowed the chapter to continuously improve even though it has established itself as the premier chapter on campus and nationally.” The men that Omega sent to the national fraternity have had an impact. Durward Owen, executive director of the national fraternity from 1959 to 1994, very much appreciated
Purdue graduates on the national staff. “My only problem was my inability to recruit more Omega staff members,” he said. “A prime example is (former national council member) David Lane (Omega 835). He was the type of man I wanted and so many of them I lost. However the ones who did come to us were much better prepared than most. They all seemed to already have an advance degree in human behavioral science. Owen was impressed with the Purdue chapter graduates’ work ethic and family background. “Most had a more than average previous work experience, which was critical to me. My greatest requirement was for self motivated staff with a great work ethic. The need for additional knowledge and training were minimal. I never met a bad egg at Omega so my opinion is somewhat prejudiced.” Owen’s successor since 1994, Mark Timmes, echoed the sentiment. “I have generally found the Omega brothers to be well prepared to serve as a Leadership Consultant,” he said. “The quality of the experience Omega provides helps them drive other chapters to leading status on their campus.”
UNDERGRADUATE ENROLLMENT BY PURDUE COLLEGE/SCHOOL Engineering Health and Human Sciences Technology Science Liberal Arts Management Exploratory studies Pharmacy Education Veterinary medicine Temporary
PURDUE AVERAGE IFC (40 chapters) MGC (11 chapters) NPHC (9 chapters) PHA (20 chapters)
All-Undergraduate GPA All-Men’s GPA All-Women’s GPA All-Fraternity & Sorority GPA All-Fraternity GPA
7,078 4,011 3,010 3,075 2,983 2,441 848 603 531 258 200 2.92 2.83 3.04 2.96 2.84
CHAPTER SIZE
68.1 11.4 9.1 121.6
HOW PI KAPPA PHI RANKS AT PURDUE Spring membership 152 No. 1 out of 40 chapters Philanthropy dollars $15,770 No. 1 out of 40 Average GPA 2.98 No. 10 out of 40 PI KAPPA PHI NATIONALLY 2013-14 No. 4 out of 184 chapters in size No. 3 in Push fund-raising No. 3 in all-time Pi Kappa Phi initiates
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Moms Day/Pi Kapp 100 sets records
A fun-filled, bright, warm spring day kept fraternity family members busy during the record-breaking Moms Day/Pi Kapp 100 on April 12, 2014. A crowd of nearly 280 people greeted the 24 Pi Kapp 100 riders and crew as they completed their Zionsville-toLafayette 100-kilometer bike ride that day. Riders were required to raise at least $150 and crew $75 toward the chapter’s annual fund-raising for Push America. The day’s activities included a luncheon, reception with appetizers, auction that raised funds for either Push or a house improvement project, and a moms social gathering late into the evening. The luncheon attendees also learned about the various ways the fraternity reaches out to the disabled. Push events during the 2013-14 school year included: the third annual 72-hour David R. Feltner (Omega 1738) Bike-a-Thon, seventh Annual War of Roses and 15th annual Pi Kapp 100 – all raising funds and awareness for Push. Furthermore, the chapter sends members each school day to the Lafayette Jefferson High School special needs classes and hosts the Arctoberfest, a Halloween costume party for clients of the Arc of Tippecanoe. Chapter alumni Kevin Ohaver (Omega 1438) and Andy Parker (Omega 1450), founders of the spring Pi Kapp 100 in 1999, reminisced about how the event Andy Parker got started. “When we started this, the chapter needed an event to get members involved and supporting Push America,” said Parker, a twotime Journey of Hope rider. “No solid, consistent program existed at the time and I worked alongside archon Ke v i n Ohaver and other chapter members to get something started. “Push has a lasting lifelong impact on fraternal life through its programs,” he said. “It’s really sharing selfless acts and understanding empathy with your new family members.”
The 2014 Pi Kapp 100 cyclists and crew are flanked by parents and guests at the annual Moms Day luncheon. Ohaver, a former leadership consul- $9,775. Of that, donors targeted Push America with $3,140 of the total tant for the fraternity, said he helped amount raised. Another of $3,325 was establish the Pi Kapp 100 in order to raised through the Pi Kapp 100 part. have a spring event. Furthermore, the chapter held its “We already had a fall event, so we War of Roses earlier in the week, needed some spring programming,” he which pitted 15 campus sororities said. “Biking was a key aspect of Pi competing in various activities incl u dKappa Phi already.” Ohaver said that in 1999-00, the ing an empathy dinner, a disability chapter had raised $21 for Push the race and a talent show. That programming grossed $5,112. Thus, the week whole school year. And by that time of April 9 grossed an excess of $11,000 had the chapter a total of four brothfor the chapter’s national outreach ers participate in the Journey of Hope program. in its history. By 2015, the Purdue The luncheon portion of the day chapter will have had 40 JOH riders – including six in 2013, four in 2014 and ended when president Kaleb Stephens (Omega 1879) surprised another six in 2015. “I was overwhelmed by not only the everyone by presenting a Pi Alpha trophy. The hardware recognized the 38 magnitude of the (Moms Day/Pi Kapp Purdue chapter members who had/will 100) event, but moreso by the caliber have ridden in the annual summer of men that make up Omega Chapter Journey of Hope, a summer Push today,” he said after the event. “I was America national fraternity crosstruly humbled to be standing there and continue to be as I reflect on the county cycling trip raising awareness and funds for the disabled. entire experience.” Parker and Ohaver lauded the chapter for making the Pi Kapp 100 grow over the years and were amazed by chapter Push programming today as well as the involvement of parents Archon Kaleb Stephens presents the Pi Alpha troat Moms Day. phy. Names of all current and former Journey of The evening Hope riders are inscribed, including those standauction raised ing behind him.
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Pi Kapp “Back Street Boys” hit big stage during BMOC
Pi Kappa Phi’s Caleb Shoup (Omega 1825) was among the 30 fraternity contestants competing for the crown of Big Man on Campus on Friday, March 7, 2014, in front an audience of more than 5,000. Shoup’s performance was near the end of the two-hour event held in the Elliott Hall of Music. In fact, he was No. 21. Seven chapter brothers participated as support cast for the “Pi Kapps presented the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s” routine. The opening was a guitar solo by Ryan Sanders playing the theme from “Top Gun.” Then the ‘70s opening por-
tion of the montage of sung songs was “Sweet Home Alabama,” with “You Give Love a Bad Name” from the ‘80s. The roughly two and one-halfminute show ended when four brothers, dressed as the Backstreet Boys, joined Shoup in singing, “I Want It That Way.” As the performance neared its climax two brothers in their aqua colored jackets on either side of Shoup, turned around to spell out B-M-O-C for the crowd. The singer/dancer accompaniers in the turnaround included Reece Kenney (Omega 1949), Kaleb Stephens (Omega 1879), Johnny Fullerton (Omega 1899) and Ben Hagen (Omega 1891). They were supported by Andrew Bohner (Omega 1903 guitar), Brant Fettig (Omega 1947) bass guitar) and Ryan Sanders (Omega 1827, guitar). The 20+ hours of preparation took place Reece Kenney, Kaleb Stephens, Caleb Shoup over several weeks leading up to the largest and Johnny Fullerton perform on stage.
Greek philanthropy effort of the school year. The Zeta Tau Alpha event raised more than $112,000 for breast cancer research. Nearly 100 Pi Kapps joined 50+ Sigma Kappa sorority members in their standing ovation for the performance. Although the Pi Kapp show did not take first-place in the event, Shoup was happy about the efforts. “For me, one of the best parts was being able to work on the performance with a few brothers and making our chapter proud,” Shoup said. “Working with the other contestants throughout the year was fun, but I had the most fun working on our performance with my brothers and performing in front of the Greek community.” There were numerous events leading up to the Friday night event. There were sheet signs to be hung, events to attend and skip-a-meals to be had (skip-a-meal is when a chapter skips dinner at its house and instead eat at a near-campus eatery with half the proceeds going toward a charity). Pi Kappa Phi won one of those events, the skip-a-meal at Hotbox Pizza.
Fraternity presents check
because the impact of the fraternity’s donation truly makes a difference in our community, the school and most of all my special needs students,” she said. One of the two special needs students who attended simply told the board, “Purdue guys rock!”
Pi Kappa Phi celebrated the start to its sixth year of assisting special needs students when it presented a ch e ck to the Lafayette School Board on Nov. 11, 2013. As a result of raising $10,464 in 2012-13 for its national philanthropy, Push America, the local chapter was able to present the school board a ch e ck for $2,616. That total represents a “Circle of Giving” grant from the national Push office in Charlotte,
Fall 2013 Push America chairman Luke Millen assists a special needs student.
which allocates one-fourth chapter fund-raising each year. Since 2009, the chapter has donated $18,747 to the Lafayette School Corp. with the grant. The school uses the money to fund class outings, to purchase iPads for non-verbal students, to buy lunch at local restaurants and to provide treats. “The donated money provides an excellent opportunity for all my students whose families would not normally be able to afford such outings or provisions,” Alyssa Montgomery, special education teacher told the school board. She lauded the fraternity for assisting in the classes each week of the school year. “Gentlemen, I sincerely admire what your fraternity has done t help me improve the lives of those in need. “I sincerely hope we continue to build on this marvelous partnership
Jarrod Wagner helps a special needs student locate items in a local grocery store.
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Purdue’s ‘Superfan’
Basketball fans know him even though they may not know his name. Those who watch him during Purdue basketball games think he’s a wild-ass super fan. In actuality, he’s mild-mannered and a former high school athlete himself who participated in golf, basketball and football. Pi Kappa Phi president Kaleb Stephens (Omega 1879) is the guy behind the make-up, wig and Purdue swag. “I’ve always loved the game of basketball,” Stephens said. “The passion that members of the Paint Crew had for the men’s basketball team my freshman year showed me that this was the perfect organization for me. I came to Purdue with the goal of making a difference and I knew this was the perfect opportunity to do just that.” As vice president of the Paint Crew this year, he leads one of the largest student sections in the Big Ten in cheers, jeers and sneers. It takes him about 45 minutes to put on his game face. Sometimes that happens at the fraternity – other times in a building nearby Mackey Arena. The black clothed Stephens, first paints the charcoal black Ben Nye make-up around his eyes – from covering his eye brows to the base of each nostril in an enlarged comma sorta way. Then the routine has him using a paintbrush with Aztec gold paint from his chin to his forehead and on his lips around the already blackedout eyes. With precision, he paints his face back and forth until the gold sparkles and skin tone vanishes. Then black mascara is smeared from his chin down his neck to inside his Paint Crew tshirt. With his face colored
from hair to chin, he dons a black and gold wig and hangs a gold chained Block P license place around his neck that parks on his chest. Long gold evening dress-type gloves go up his arms with black wrist bands on top of them. The finishing touch is a black Purdue headband and a Boilermakers placard as a belt. His feet are complete with calflength Boilermaker socks black shoes with gold laces. Then his game attire is complete. He makes an impression. “Every game, I have both children and adults seek me out to thank me for what I do and to take photos with me,” the senior management major says. “The appreciation they have for all the of the hard work that we put into running the organization is incredibly humbling.” Sometimes, he draws the ire of opposing players who sit 15 feet to the right of his front-row chamber, which is about six feet from the pep band. He’s been flipped off by players and joked with by officials. “I’ve had people from across the country reach out to me and tell me they see me on TV all the time and they love what I do,” Stephens says. “My social media interactions always spike during the season and it’s always fun to receive the ‘smack talk’ from Hoosier fans.” His admirers come in all forms. There’s even a member of the Izzone at Michigan State who now mimics Stephens’ attire, but with a green and white motif. His most memorable event in his four years in the Paint Crew was when the Big Ten Network dedicated a portion of its weekly documentary, “The Journey,” to the student section in 2012. Stephens was interviewed for, and broadcast on, the show. “It was a unique experience and one of the most memorable of my college career,” he said. The Paint Crew is not the only thing he does with Purdue. He’s also been a football manager.
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Omega chapter approaches 2,000th initiate
The chapter is approaching a milestone initiation in the coming years as Omega No. 2000 is somewhat near. The chapter has been recruiting between 40 and 50 men per year in recent times. The last initiate was Reece Kinney (Omega 1949), an exchange student from England.
Almanac DIED 159 Harold “Cap� Johnson 12/31/12 143 Bruce G. Morris 4/24/10 263 Rolund F. De Hoog* Died 6/4/11 272 Albert W. Hoppe 4/13/06 280 William H. Mundhenk 9/7/10 308 Guy J. Overman 2/13/11 338 Howard A. Bardwich 11/6/06
So, if recent trends continue, then we are looking at possibly a spring 2015 pledge who will be the milestone initiate. We Reece Kinney hope to make the Omega 1949 event memorable by
8/12/07 382 Robert F. Swantz 12/20/04 391 Philip G. Neff 1/29/08 395 James H. Knipp Died 2/28/11 403 Roger A. Lockhart 10/8/06 410 John C. Rouse* Died 12/9/12 425 Ted C. Michaud* Died 3/13/13 436 Richard H. Lowe 2/5/13 445 Ralph D. Ormsby 5/29/09 452 Stephen Szambel 11/29/12
353 Jon F. Lindley 8/21/06
458 Lawrence J. Acker 12/24/09
370 Frank E. Funke 11/14/07
463 William G. Henke 10/12/09
377 Paul K. Franklin
465 Richard B. Singer
having as many alumni who are interested attend the initiation. If you would like to be notified when we expect the 2,000th Omega initiate and might want to attend, let us know. Contact chapter advisor Pat Kuhnle. His contact information is listed on Page 2 of this Omegalite.
7/10/10 571 John L. Weaver 6/17/13 489 Charles S. McConnell 11/9/09
680 Chalres D. Horsman 4/26/11 715 Edward R. Bushaw 2/20/07
498 Joseph N. Masters 4/23/11
743 John H. Meyer 10/14/04
508 Walter F. Mutter 3/28/11
923 Donald C. Fillion 6/29/08
532 James J. Fastiggi 8/21/07
1087 Jon Kaye 3/11/14
565 Gilbert H. Urick 9/16/11
1167 Vivek Jacob 5/4/14
618 William G. Scheck 12/6/10 619 Richard J. Kovach 10/24/08 646 William E. McClellan 10/21/05 647 Joseph G. Prest 9/15/05 664 Michael F. Cornick 5/18/12
MARRIED Ian Bodkin (Omega 1639) and Megan Eisenhauer, June 29, 2012. Daryn Shapurji (Omega 1675) and Quinn Conway, May 10, 2014.
BIRTHS Will, son of Meredith and Matt Maczka (Omega 1543), July 8, 2012. Vivian daughter of
Josh (Omega 1573) and Niki Peter, April 2012 Owen Michael, son of Andrew and Rachel Rosner (Omega 1715), Aug. 5, 2012 Parker, son of Robert and Julie Curtis (Omega 1415), Dec. 12, 2012. Kieran Edward, son of Mark and Sarah McKay (Omega 1414), Sept. 1, 2013. Henry Charles Mosbey, son of Nichole and Kevin Mosbey (Omega 1549), Oct. 26, 2013 Maria Grace Damasius, daughter of Rosa and Nate Damasius (Omega 1459) June 16, 2014. If you have any death, marriage or birth announcements, send them to the Omegalite editor at: pkuhnle@gmail.com
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Chapter hosts ‘Arctoberfest’ Halloween event
Nearly 200 people enjoyed the generosity of the fraternity as it hosted the Third Annual “Arctoberfest” on Oct. 28, 2013. Pi Kappa Phi alongside the Arc of Tippecanoe held a Halloween costume party, carnival and dance for more than 100 clients in the parking lot and lawn of the fraternity. The Arc provides support for special needs adults of the age of 18 and older. A spokesperson from the Arc said it is the event that its clients look most forward to each year. During the two-hour event, f r a t e rnity members volunteered with nearly 25 sorority women in various activities that brought many smiles throughout the evening. Games included basketball, bags and ball toss through targets. Participants received various prizes along the way, too. Gatorade provided drinks throughout the evening. The fraternity supplied candy and baked goods for competitors, too. Luke Millen (Omega 1869), ch a pter Push America chairman, sees the Arc event as another thing members do to assist the disabled. “Arctoberfest helps us realize why we do the things we do,” he said. “It helps remind us that it’s not about how much money we might raise, but it’s for the people we serve. “It is also a great way to show Purdue's campus what Pi Kappa Phi
stands for in the community." Arctoberfest is not associated with Push America, but it serves the Arc’s clients who are disabled. It is not fund-raising in its nature, rather it is about service. At Arctoberfest’s completion, ch a pter members recognized three Arc clients’ attire and gave out a plastic pumpkin filled with snacks. The award included: • Most Creative: The Mad Hatter. • Most Original: The Scarecrow. • Scariest: The Werewolf. The fraternity was praised in a thank you note from the Arc of Tippecanoe’s representative Katy Dietrich. It read: “On behalf of the board of directors and all of the participating members of the Arc of Tippecanoe, I want to thank you and all of your brothers for another wonderful “Arctoberfest”. I heard so many great comments and the smiles were endless. We lucked out with perfect weather and with all the basketball and dancing, I don’t think anyone even noticed when the temperature started dropping. “The Pi Kapps once again welcomed our guests with open arms and we appreciate your hospitality. By hosting this event, your house allows the Arc to raise funds for our annual Holiday Dinner Dance next month. Last night was such a success that we might come close to our goal!”
Homecoming info
Steve and Candy Feltner finish the last five minutes of the 2013 David R. Feltner Memorial Bike a Thon. The 2014 72-hour event will conclude at homecoming. Alumni riders are welcome.
Tickets are now available for the Sept. 27 Homecoming game vs. Iowa. The game will start at noon. The housing corporation takes ticket orders until Sept. 1 for people who want to sit in the Pi Kappa Phi alumni group. Tickets are $65 each (Purdue charges $55 per ticket plus a $10 “legacy” fee). Tickets will be available for pickup at the house prior to the game. We do not mail the tickets to you. Alumni can purchase tickets on their own, but by doing so you will
not be sitting next to your alumni brothers. The Sept. 27 homecoming schedule includes: • 9 a.m. to noon, open house and ticket distribution, 330 N. Grant St. • 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. , pregame lunch in house basement. • N o o n, Purdue vs. Northern Illinois game in Ross-Ade Stadium. • 4 to 6 p.m. , open house at fraternity. • 5 p.m. , completion of Second Annual David R. Feltner Memorial Bike-a-Thon to benefit Push America at the chapter house.
OMEGALITE
JULY 2014
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
2013 Alumni Giving Report In 2013, alumni gave 59 gifts totaling $65,583.58 to assist the Omega chapter. Those donations were given to various projects or funds. There were two significant bequest gifts during the calendar year. Charles Lowe (Omega 436) left the Omega of Pi Kappa Phi Inc. Housing Corporation $50,000, which was deposited into a future building fund. Similarly, Harold “Cap” Johnson’s (Omega 159) estate left us $3,246.58. Alumni interested in learning more about leaving Omega in your will should contact housing corporation president Jay Seeger (Omega 897) at his contact information listed on Page 2 of this Omegalite. Twelve other alumni gave gifts totaling $2,075 toward the building fund, too. Since retiring the mortgage on the chapter house, the building fund was established to save money toward future major renovations and/or additions. Since retiring the mortgage in 2012, half the money that used to be spent for principal and interest is also set aside for yet-to-be-determined improvement projects. Outside the bequest and building fund, eight alumni contributed $3,050 toward the chapter’s CIF (Chapter Investment Fund) held by the national fraternity. That tax-deductible fund is set aside for Omega scholarship purposes. In the past, that fund has been used for recruitment scholarships and undergraduate tutors. It can also be used for a portion of undergraduate conference registration, too. As of Dec. 31, 2013, Omega’s CIF account stood
at $58,030.28, an increase of $7,959.39. The growth reflects donations as well as investment gains. The interest and additional funds up to 5 percent of the prinicipal can be spent annually on the chapter’s educational needs. For more information about donating to that account, contact chapter advisor Pat Kuhnle (Omega 1197–his contact information is on Page 2 of this Omegalite) or the director of advancement services for the Pi Kappa Phi Foundation at 980/318-5367. Other alumni donations include $5,175 unrestricted; 10 alumni gave $1,300 toward the chapter’s annual Push America fund-raising and 13 alumni gave $710 toward Omegalite printing costs. 436
$50,000 OR MORE Charles Lowe (bequest) $25,000 TO $49,999 None $10,000 TO $24,999 None
$2,500 TO $9,999 Harold Johnson (bequest) 1241 Chuck Smith
159
462
$1,000 TO $2,499 John Gaydos
722 842 1031 1034 1125 1366 1488
$500 TO $999 Jack Berlien Richard Widman Mark Higgins Tom Miller Michael Chereskin Jeff Tang Brent Wunderlich
$250 TO $499 852 Kim Tubergen 1370 Kurt Schulenburg 360 399
$100 TO $249 John Gumpper Eldon Knuth
Members pose on the steps of Hovde Hall prior to a formal chapter meeting. 461 464 509 520 528 540 630 632 660 672 683 706 707 740 819 835 1030 1191 1197 1272 1292 1418 1461 1481 1498 1594 1624 1657
John Putt Robert Rust Duane M. Davis Al Kirchner Lawrence Hines William Hounshell Ronald Eyer James O'Reilly Thomas Speaker Ronald Lema Andrew Kotulski Gerard Buente James Cridge John McDonald Jim Berlien David Lane Lars Kneller Steve Noth Pat Kuhnle Todd Spaulding Scot Swenberg Darron Damasius Kevin E. Johnson Jeff Hanson Tom Barclay Jon Majerksi Adam Poor James Miller
596 629 634 636 727 769 862 951 956 970 991 1210 1659 1712
$50 TO $99 Jerry Davee Edwin Gruwell David F. Davis Fred Lyijynen David R. Davis Jay Hackleman R. Michael Little Greg Linder Larry Metzler David Sterenfeld Bryan Freed Rich Prestholt Brian Heiwig Matt Morita
613
$25 TO $49 Donald R. Katter
Chapter Push America Giving History 1980-81 $1,500.96 1981-82 2,222.59 1982-83 3,004.73 1983-84 3,515.26 1984-85 2,813.22 1985-86 2,100.00 1986-87 2,521.40 1987-88 2,567.70 1988-89 4,000.01 1989-90 4,000.00 1990-91 2,300.00 1991-92 750.00 1992-93 5,235.60 1993-94 3,300.00 1994-95 1,454.00 1995-96 5,500.00 1996-97 4,450.00 1997-98 294.00 1998-99 5,001.61 1999-00 21.04 2000-01 2,330.88 2001-02 5,013.46 2002-03 5,139.10 2003-04 5,096.50 2004-05 6,000.00 2005-06 10,008.01 2006-07 8,494.16 2007-08 12,165.89 2008-09 7,453.77 2009-10 10,202.40 2010-11* 21,861.46 2011-12 12,841.94 2012-13 10,464.00 2013-14 15,770.00 Totals $189,393.69 In 2011-12, Push America was the preferred memorials for Ryan McHie (Omega 1160 and David Feltner (Omega 1738).