The Star & Lamp Of the Theta Kappa Chapter March 2021 Featured in this Issue Historian Introduction Alumni Support Virtual Pi Kappa Phi College Blood Drive Hand Sanitizer Initiative Alpha Eta Profile
Historian Introduction Hello everyone! My name is Christopher Elder and I was recently elected as the new Historian for the Theta Kappa chapter of Pi Kappa Phi. Being able to update you all about our chapter will be a privilege. I am a Junior from Southern California and have loved my time in Waco thanks to this chapter. My pledge class, Alpha Gamma, was initiated in the Spring of 2019. I am majoring in MIS and Marketing, driven towards a future career in technology sales. Back in high school, I was an active member in my church while playing football and basketball. Going to a Baptist university that also has competitive D1 sports has been a perfect match. Watching every Baylor game as a chapter is always one of the highlights of my week. The Theta Kappa chapter has continued to bond as brothers and work hard as individual scholars. The last three semesters have been a series of adjustments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but our chapter has been able to thrive nonetheless. - Christopher Elder, Historian
Alumni Support Our largest philanthropy event of the year, the annual War of the Roses, was cancelled last spring due to COVID-19. This was a huge letdown for our entire chapter and the sorority girls who enjoy participating each year. All of the proceeds from this week are donated directly to our fraternity philanthropy, the Ability Experience. Our Philanthropy Chair, Lucius Burch, has been organizing this year’s War of the Roses and is making sure we will be able to follow Baylor’s COVID-19 policies. The War of the Roses is set to take place from April 12th to April 17th. This week-long event consists of our 36-hour bike-a-thon, a field day at Fountain Mall, a car smash, and a flag-football tournament at McLane Stadium. Sororities compete throughout the week and raise money for the Ability Experience. Thanks to our chapter alumni and family support, we raised over $20,000 at this event in 2019! The Theta Kappa chapter was one of the highest fundraising Pi Kappa Phi chapters in the entire country. After missing out on the experience entirely last spring, our entire chapter is constantly looking forward to this year’s War of the Roses. This is a great cause, and we are currently looking for sponsors to make this event possible. List of Officers: Tyler Radigan, Archon CJ O’Donnell, Vice Archon Jorge Cantu, Treasurer Smith Brookhart V, Warden Landry Stravenhagen, Secretary Christopher Elder, Historian Jacob Kaites, Chaplain
If you have any questions about the War of the Roses, please reach out to our Head of Philanthropy at Lucius_Burch1@Baylor.edu. Also, check out this link for more information on how The War of the Roses campaign supports The Ability Experience https://give.classy.org/Baylor-Pi-Kappa-Phi-War-of-theRoses-2021.
Chapter Address
March 2021 | A newsletter from the Theta Kappa Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi | Page 2
Virtual Pi Kappa Phi College
Hand Sanitizer Initiative
In January of 2020, our executive council had the pleasure of attending the annual Pi Kappa Phi College Awards. As the Chaplain in 2020, I was able to attend. This event was hosted in Dallas, Texas and we had the chance to meet Pi Kappa Phi National representatives. Our chapter received five different awards for our various achievements in 2019.
Our chapter is very proud of our efforts to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic in our community. Perhaps our greatest accomplishment last semester was our hand sanitizer initiative. Rather than idly standing by during this pandemic, our chapter partnered with Baylor Scott & White to distribute an abundance of hand sanitizer to those in need. We came together as a chapter to donate over 21,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to the Waco community! Our members labeled and distributed the bottles to Baylor sororities, residence halls, and Waco-based businesses.
This year’s Pi Kappa Phi College was an unforgettable COVID-19 experience! To avoid any liabilities, the annual meeting was held entirely virtual. This consisted of individual officer courses that focused on how we can be better handle our executive positions. Our chapter has a bright future thanks to emerging young leaders throughout our latest pledge classes.
Chris DeNice, senior, is photographed here before donating blood at the Theta Kappa sponsored campus blood drive!
Blood Drive The Theta Kappa Chapter has always found ways to give back to our community. This year, our chapter assisted in the on-campus blood drive with Carter BloodCare. We had members volunteer their time, help find donors, and even donate their own blood to help support a great cause. The blood donated was used to help those in need throughout McLennan County. Through our own struggles during this pandemic, I am proud that our chapter has still found time and energy to help those around us. Our chapter plans to continue this partnership with Carter BloodCare next fall!
February 16th, 2020 ISSUE 25 Published by the Theta Kappa Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein. The Theta Kappa Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi, nor Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity is liable for errors or omissions. © 2013
Alpha Eta Profile We are excited to introduce the newest members of the Theta Kappa Chapter, the Alpha Eta pledge class! This is a terrific group of 20 young men who persevered through virtual rush and have shown great commitment to becoming gentlemen of Pi Kappa Phi! Chapter Address