FA L L 2 02 1 CHAIRMAN’S LETTER To say the past school year presented some new, never-before-seen challenges to our active chapter would be an understatement. This began with virtual recruitment but once again, Alpha Epsilon rose to the occasion by overcoming adversity and finishing another strong year in the 2020–2021 school year. We initiated 48 new brothers between the fall (38) and spring (10) with both classes in the top three on campus. Alpha Epsilon ranked fourth in the IFC with a chapter GPA of 3.46. Trevor Pope (AE 2566) served as student body President and Stephen Greep (AE 2619) led as IFC President. Both Trevor and Stephen were inducted into the UF Hall of Fame. Three additional Alpha Epsilons were tapped into Blue Key. Jacob Van De Car (AE 2702) was appointed as both senior class President. I, for one, cannot wait to see what the coming year will bring for the chapter. 109 actives return in the fall, and we are finalizing plans for three alumni tailgate events as well as our annual Founders’ Day meeting in February. We’re looking forward to a record turnout this year and would love to see each of you be a part of what I am sure will be another tremendous year. Fraternally, Mike Sullivan (AE 886), Alpha Epsilon Housing Corporation Chairman
(above) 2020 Legends of Alpha Epsilon Golf Tournament, left to right, Stephen Greep (AE 2619), Mike Hill (AE 815)
2022 FOUNDERS' DAY EVENTS FRIDAY, FEB. 18
SATURDAY, FEB. 19
proceeds support the Alpha Epsilon Gator Club
followed by lunch with the active collegiate chapter
Legends of Alpha Epsilon Golf Tournament (see pg. 2) 11 a.m., University of Florida Mark Bostic Golf Course Barbeque 5–8 p.m., chapter house
sponsored by the collegiate chapter
Annual Alumni Meeting and Awards Ceremony 10 a.m. Hilton Conf. Center Ballroom
Room block at the Hilton for $135/night
ALPHA EPSILON GATOR CLUB JOIN NOW PIKAPPGATOR.ORG
The Alpha Epsilon Gator Club is your organization–one that forms the core for maintaining alumni communications and outreach programs such as this newsletter, our scholarship program, Founders' Day activities, our Alumni Recognition Program, Alumni Tailgates, Executive Leadership Recognition, Chapter House upgrades and other worthy efforts. All funds generated by your membership directly benefit both the active and alumni chapters. There are NO frivolous administrative overhead costs siphon off your continuing Alpha Epsilon promise!
LEGENDS OF ALPHA EPSILON GOLF TOURNAMENT FEB. 18, 2022 // SHOTGUN START, 11 A.M. We are inviting the families of the active chapter to participate. We have raised over $8,000 for scholarships to aid the active Alpha Epsilon Chapter. The championship trophy is housed with the active chapter and has the winning team's names inscribed so you can relive your own legend (if only in your mind!). We are encouraging every active chapter member to invite family and friends to participate in this fun tournament and sponsor a hole. We have prizes for the winners and a raffle drawing will be held for some cool Pi Kapp gear as well. There is no fee for active brothers and a $110 fee for parents, alumni and others.
Membership runs from Aug. 1, 2021 through July 31, 2022. It’s not too late to contribute to the 2020/2021 drive. We have 229 promises, and we need yours! ANNUAL PROMISE $100 (feel free to contribute more or make memorial contributions for Chapter Eternal brothers) RECENT GRADUATES $50 (within two years of graduation; this also includes a post-graduate education period immediately following undergraduate work that exceeds two years) Cash or check payable to: AE Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi, Inc. c/o Brad Jensen 104 Marbella Way Georgetown, Texas 78633 If you are paying by check, select the website’s non-credit/debit card option so you can update your contact information in our database.
(above) 2020 Legends of Alpha Epsilon Golf Tournament
Alumni Tailgates at the house
ALABAMA Sept. 18 3:30 p.m.
VANDERBILT Oct. 9 time TBD
SAMFORD Nov. 13 time TBD
(above) 2020 Legends of Alpha Epsilon Golf Tournament, left to right, Bryce Jones (AE 2718), Christ Thomas (AE 1239), Eric VanHorn (AE 1311), Dave "Sku" Boden (AE 1337)
ALUMNUS STANDOUT RICH LEVY '93 (AE 1830) international presence
In this edition, we shine the spotlight on Brother Rich Levy. As an active member, Rich served as PUSH chairman, fall social chairman and designed his first T-shirt in room 13. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, he moved to New York City to pursue a post-graduate degree in graphic design from Parsons School of Design and a master’s degree in design management from Pratt Institute. During this time in 1998, Rich began a 10.5 year tenure with Major League Soccer as the league's first creative director when the men’s professional soccer league had just relocated from Los Angeles to New York City. Since then, Rich has worked in the professional soccer industry and founded ÉPICO Studios in New Jersey. He has consulted with top soccer brands like U.S. Soccer, FIFA, CONCACAF, Copa América Centenario and the Florida Cup. Rich followed it up by launching this summer’s Nations League. Today, Rich and his wife, Rachel, live and work in the Garden State with their two boys at Seton Hall Prep. The family plans to move back to Florida, but not yet. What is your fondest memory as a Pi Kapp at Florida? I remember it like yesterday when Randy Roberts ’92 (AE 1791) chose me as his little brother. I was the happiest Pi Kapp that night hanging out in room 6 at the old house. There were football Saturdays and learning the game of politics from the best—Randy, who was called to the Chapter Eternal in the 1990s (R.I.P.). Do you stay in contact with any of your fraternity brothers? Honestly, it was quite easy at the beginning since football weekends and golf outings were simple to coordinate. Once the weddings and families came along, it became more difficult as priorities change. That is the main reason I started the Alpha Epsilon Chapter Alumni Facebook page in June 2008 to stay connected with what has developed today into 834 members and counting. Do you have any advice for young men regarding joining fraternity life years ago versus today? Times, seasons and decades change, but what’s constant are the bonds and stories of Alpha Epsilon’s proud brotherhood along with the memories made during your college years. To this present day, I have an extended family, a new house and connections with older brothers from various decades, which is pretty cool. The choice is yours, and I hope you stay as active as you promised, even when you are an Alpha Epsilon alumnus that is regarded as the BEST in the country.
Scholarship awards pictured above
Ben Hill Griffin Scholarship Seth Longland (AE 2600) Ben Overton Scholarship Brandon Fallin (AE 2601) Dean Frank E. Maloney Scholarship Jacob Van de Car (AE 2702) “Mo” Cummins Scholarship Griffin Harris (AE 2606) James E. Suh Scholarship Samson Eagan (AE 2694)
Alpha Epsilon Scholarship Alex Parcell (AE 2695) Hill-Donovan Family Scholarship Connor Wells (AE 2741) Alpha Epsilon Scholarship Connor Murphy (AE 2736) Alpha Epsilon Veterans Scholarship John Hilton (AE 2750) Special Alpha Epsilon Scholarship Nico Baila (AE 2755)
COLLEGIATE STANDOUT STEPHEN GREEP (AE 2619) UF Hall of Fame inductee
FROM THE ARCHON
READY FOR A CRUISIN'?
SAVE THE YEAR AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF INTEREST Our Alpha Epsilon brothers have gone above and beyond this year. As the Archon, I have watched our chapter grow firsthand. Overall, we had a 3.46 GPA and initiated 10 associate members in the spring. We were tied for third for having most sign-ups to rush. •
Stephen Greep joined Brandon Fallin as a Reitz Scholar
•
Samson Eagen, Seth Longland, Brandon Fallin, Jacob Van De Car, Stephen Greep, Trevor Pope, Jack Coon and Austin Lima were all the active members of the Florida Blue Key.
•
Jacob Van De Car, Stephen Greep, Carlos Vela, Chase Duke, Alex Parcell, Nico Baila, Lane Outz and Jack Passero represented our chapter for Cicerones. Jack Passero was elected as the Financial Vice President of the Florida Cicerones.
•
•
Gabe Ahn is the Legal Affairs Executive Secretary for Student Government. Jacob Van De Car will serve as Senior Class President while Nico Baila and Tyler Greep were elected as Senators. Ben Allinder will chair The Big Event this upcoming year.
Additionally, we had the most successful philanthropy in recent history, where we raised over $5,000 for The Ability Experience. To cap it off, we won multiple sorority philanthropy honors. We are extremely excited to launch a new alumni mentorship program in the near future. This upcoming semester, our goal is to successfully recruit 35 new members as Alpha Epsilon is primed and ready to go for the fall 2021 semester. Yours in Pi Kappa Phi, Jacob Van de Car (AE 2702)
Calling all brothers from the 60s and 70s—let’s go cruising! Dick “Dickie Dimples” Santangelo and Mike “Streak” Hill are organizing a five-day, five-night cruise to the Caribbean. We are trying to determine interest in this adventure to renew friendships and reconnect. WHEN: projected February 2023 INDICATE INTEREST: January 2022; contact Dick or Mike DEPART: Port Everglades PORTS OF CALL: Georgetown, Grand Cayman and Falmouth, Jamaica CRUISE SHIP: Princess Cruise Lines Experience Princess Medallion Class with Michelin-star chef Curtis Stone; stroll the sea walk; enjoy the watercolor fantasy light show, musicals, magic shows and feature film; and of course, nightclubs that get your feet moving and grooving! Please contact either Dick Santangelo at rsantangelo@ appolloengsol.com (703.627.7161) or Mike Hill at mployerhill@ gmail.com (352.266.3318) no later than January 2022, if you are interested. This is very time sensitive!
CHAPTER ETERNAL Leonard “Lenny” Baird (AE 793) Frank Ferlita (AE 553) Thomas “Tom” Garo (AE 948) Robert “Bob” Gendron (Beta Kappa 48) , Teen Timer
THIRTY UNDER 30 Each year, the Fraternity recognizes individuals across all chapters who embody the continued commitment to the fraternal values of Pi Kappa Phi as well as their own distinguished achievements in their careers and communities. This year, Pi Kappa Phi has honored three individuals from the Alpha Epsilon Chapter. Please join us in congratulating these brothers! DENNIS HANSEN (AE 2440)
SAMYR QURESHI (AE 2452)
AUSTIN SELLERS (AE 2391)
PHASE III OF OUR BEAUTIFUL ALPHA EPSILON GATOR WALKWAY WILL OPEN SOON We will be taking orders starting at our Founders' Day weekend. Contact Rick Riisma at rriisma@gmail.com for additional information or to purchase your lasting legacy at our house!
ATTN: Alumni Engagement 2015 Arysley Town Blvd. Suite 200 Charlotte, NC 28073
ALPHA EPSILON VETERANS INITIATIVE The Alpha Epsilon Veterans Initiative team has chronicled over 160 brothers who have served their country in the Armed Forces. Since 1933, our brothers in the Armed Forces have served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. If you have served and are not yet included on our Wall of Honor, please contact Mike Hill (AE 815) or Rick Riisma (AE 1886) for more info. Since its inception as simply an idea, the committee has devoted countless hours on the Wall of Honor. In future issues, we will be highlighting the individual stories of our brothers in the military. Skip Finck (AE 811), involved with intramural and Rush and Homecoming Committees, Skip retired as a Colonel from the Marines after 25 years of service with tours of duty in Vietnam, Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Post retirement, Skip became the Director of Military Affairs for the state of South Carolina and the president of a defense industry systems engineering firm. He has been married for 47 years to his wife, Sam, and he has two adult sons and five grandchildren. Rick Riisma (AE 1886), involved with the active chapter as Vice Archon, Secretary and Chair of the Homecoming Committee, Rick retired as a pilot from the Navy, having served as Commander in P-3 Orion, S-3 Viking and C-26 Metroliner. He proudly served in Afghanistan and Japan. Rick was formerly a Captain with Silver Airlines and currently the First Officer with JetBlue. He is married with one child and is currently involved with the active chapter as the Chairman of the AE Veterans Initiative and the AE Gator Walkway.
NATIONAL AWARDS At the recent Summer Alumni Reunion in St. Louis, Alpha Epsilon Alumni Chapter received three prestigious awards: Excellence in Engagement: metric-based assessment of excellence in operations, engagement, and philanthropy Champion Master Alumni Chapters: top 10% of the qualifying Alumni Chapters Alumni Chapter of the Year: The top Champion Master Alumni Chapter, as determined by the Selection Committee. pictured above, left to right: Austin Sellers (AE 2391), Bob Perry (AE 1132), Bob Halcrow (AE 868), Mark E. Timmes (AE 1034), Jeff Wahlen (AE 1203)