THE BROTHERHOOD BLUEPRINT

THE BROTHERHOOD BLUEPRINT

Every lasting structure begins with a blueprint. Not just lines on a page but a vision, a foundation and a plan for something that will stand the test of time. 

For Pi Kappa Phi, that blueprint was drawn in 1904 when three friends at the College of Charleston refused to let their potential be limited by tradition or exclusion. Instead, they laid the foundation for a new kind of brotherhood, one built on purpose, leadership and character. And ever since, that original vision has continued to evolve, guiding us as we’ve grown, adapted and built a fraternity that now spans generations. 

This issue of the Star & Lamp is dedicated to that vision — the Brotherhood Blueprint — and to the ways it continues to shape who we are, how we lead and what we will build next. 

You’ll read about the foundation of resilience and empathy laid through The Ability Experience and how brothers like Adam Van Treese and Todd Gemmer found themselves better prepared for fatherhood and advocacy after summers spent riding across the country in support of people with disabilities. For these brothers, those rides didn’t just build memories; they built perspective. 

You’ll be inspired by David Morgan and the Extra Mile Scholarship, a program that has redefined what support and recognition can look like within our brotherhood and is now being replicated by chapters across the country. Through Morgan’s vision and the Beta Omicron blueprint, you’ll believe that every chapter of Pi Kappa Phi has the power to go the extra mile and change lives in the process. 

You’ll walk through the reimagined Eldred J. Harman Museum, where, after a hiatus during the transition into our current office space, our history is no longer hidden in boxes and archives but proudly on display. Through a chronological timeline of Pi Kappa Phi and numerous artifacts throughout, the museum tells the story of a brotherhood built with courage, expanded through service and sustained by leaders who added to the blueprint one decision at a time. 

You’ll be moved by stories of brothers who showed up in times of crisis. After Hurricanes Helene and Milton, when homes were destroyed and hope felt distant, Pi Kappa Phi brothers drove hours to help rebuild. Their actions remind us that the bonds we form in college aren’t just for the good times; they’re for the difficult times, too. In the moments in life when you need someone to show up, the brothers of Pi Kappa Phi will. 

You’ll reflect on how generational differences shape the college experience and how Pi Kappa Phi remains relevant because we’ve never stopped evolving. Our blueprint isn’t static; it grows with us, adapts with each generation and builds toward a stronger future. 

And in a world rediscovering the need for community, you’ll read about how fraternities have always been third places, those essential spaces between home and work where people feel known, welcomed and seen. At a time when isolation is rising and connection feels harder to come by, Pi Kappa Phi reminds young men that they are not alone, that they belong and that they are part of a brotherhood that was built to last. 

Because that’s what this Brotherhood Blueprint has always been about. 

Pi Kappa Phi is more than what happens inside a chapter house or over the course of four years — it’s about what comes after, what endures and what gets passed on. It’s about believing that brotherhood is a lifelong promise, one we each have the privilege and responsibility to uphold. 

So, as you flip through these pages, I invite you to reflect on your role in the Brotherhood Blueprint and think about what you will help build. How will you support the structure that is Pi Kappa Phi? And how will you ensure that the next generation inherits something stronger and even more enduring than what we found? 

In Pi Kappa Phi, 

Jake Henderson 

Chief Executive Officer