Brother Matos Named "Xi Man" at YSU

Congratulations to Brother Sergio Matos of the Epsilon Delta Chapter for winning the Alpha Xi Delta Sorority "Xi Man Competition" at Youngstown State University.

According to the YSU Alpha Xi Delta facebook page, "Xi Man is a contest between male students from various student organizations at Youngstown State University. Contestants compete in three different categories and raise money for The Rich Center for Autism. The contestant who has the most points at the end of the competition will be crowned Xi Man 2010. This year, all proceeds from Xi Man will be benefitting The Rich Center for Autism at Youngstown State University.

If you look closely you can find Brother Matos amongst all those AZD's. Hat tip to alumnus advisor Bill Mays for this post.

Psi colony raises $15,500 for charity

On Feb. 20, 2010, Psi chapter alumni and undergraduate colony members held its philanthropy “Ski For Cancer” for the first time in over a decade at Tyrol Basin Ski and Snowboard Area in Mt. Horeb, Wisc. Through substantial alumni donations, concessions revenue, ticket sales, local sponsorships and a silent auction, Psi donated $15,500 to the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer (MACC) Fund.

MACC will send the proceeds to the UW Carbone Cancer Center, on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. The UW Carbone Cancer Center is the state of Wisconsin’s only comprehensive cancer center, and is on the leading edge of cancer research.

Psi chapter first ran Ski For Cancer in 1969. In its inaugural year, the brothers donated approximately $600. Over the next 15 years, Ski For Cancer raised more than $250,000, establishing itself as one of the premier philanthropic events on campus and in the Fraternity. Alumnus and undergraduate members of Psi are proud to continue the time-honored tradition of extending the helping hand, and are already looking forward to next year.

The next day, Psi officially recolonized with the help of alumni Jon Graan (’69), Dave Bunzel (’77), and Tom Farin (’69), among many others. Expansion at Wisconsin began in spring 2009 after Expansion Coordinators Phillip Burns and Corey Fischer traveled to Madison to restart the group. The Psi colony currently has more than 27 members.

Shown in photo, left to right:

Dr. Paul Sondel, MD. PhD Harvard Medical School, world renowned doctor in pediatric hematology and oncology
Brock Hensen, President of the Psi Chapter Colony
Parker Gabriel, Ski For Cancer Chairman, Psi Chapter Colony
John Cary, Executive Director of the MACC (Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer) Fund

Phi Chapter's Flood Control Efforts Recognized by City of Fargo

As you may be aware, the city of Fargo, ND was threatened again this year by rising flood waters.

After 17 days of sandbag filling operations, Theta Chi's Phi Chapter was one of the top five non-profit groups recognized by the City of Fargo in the "Denny's Bag of Bucks program." The program gives non-profits $75 for every 100 hours of sandbagging service.the

31 participating local organizations received a total of $7,700 in donations for 16,447 hours of volunteering. Organizations earned $75 for every 100 hours spent filling sandbags.

Corey Loveless, president of Theta Chi and a junior math education major from Grand Forks, N.D., said the money will be donated to the YWCA of Fargo.

"It's really cool to be a part of it. Fargo is our community, too, and we love to give back our fair share," said Loveless.

Brother Neumann Wins NIC Award of Distinction

For an amazing third year in a row, Theta Chi Fraternity's Reginald E. F. Colley Award recipient has also been named a recipient of the North American Interfraternity Conference's Undergraduate "Award of Distinction."

This year's winner is Brother Daniel C. Neumann, Beta Nu/Case Western University. Brother Neumann received the Reginald E. F. Colley Award at the Chapter Leadership Conference held at Villanova University last July.

The NIC's Award of Distinction seeks to recognize the fraternity man who has found in his experience an outlet for developing as both a leader and a better man. The award will be presented at the annual NIC meeting in Washington, DC on April 18th.

Brother Neumann has a Master of Science degree in Structural Engineering and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering, both from Case Western.

Brother Kevin Reilly, Tau/University of Florida was a 2009 recipient of the NIC Award of Distinction.

Brother Erik Lange, Zeta Kappa/Ohio Northern was a 2008 recipient of the NIC Award of Distinction.

Brother Mike Villine Recipient of Prestigious JFK Award

Brother Mike Villines, Beta Upsilon/Fresno State '90 has been named as one of four recipients of the "John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award" for 2010.

Brother Villines is California State Assembly Member. He was elected to the 29th Assembly District in 2004, a Central Valley seat that encompasses Fresno and Madera counties and has served as the Republican leader in the Assembly. He is currently a candidate for California Insurance Commissioner.

This year's "John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award" was given to four members of California’s legislative leadership who in 2009 led a bi-partisan effort in a bid to close the state’s devastating budget deficit.

“Faced with the most difficult choices and a budget crisis of unprecedented magnitude, these legislative leaders had the courage to negotiate a compromise that they felt was in the public’s best interest,” said Caroline Kennedy, President of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. “They did so knowing they would suffer the wrath of their constituents, powerful interest groups, and their own party members. The members of the Profile in Courage Award Committee chose to herald this story of political courage and bi-partisan compromise with the hope that it will inspire other elected officials facing similar challenges to stand up with courage, to cross party lines, and to do whatever is necessary to better serve the public interest.”

The prestigious award for political courage, announced on March 16th by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, will be presented by Caroline Kennedy at a ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston on Monday, May 24.

Hat tip to Brother David Baxter for the tip on this post!

Fire At Zeta Phi-Major Damage But No Injuries

The Zeta Phi Chapter at Cal Poly suffered a major fire around noon on Saturday, March 13th. Fortunately no one was injured.

The fire appears to have been accidental, possibly starting due to combustion of a paintbrush that had been cleaned and wrapped in a towel.

6 of the chapters 62 members lived in the house.

You can read more at the Cal Poly Mustang.

Beta Lambda Chapter Most Improved at Akron

The Beta Lambda Chapter at The University of Akron was honored on March 7, 2010 as the Most Improved Chapter on campus at the Greek Leadership Awards. The recipient of this award is the chapter that has shown the most significant improvement in the areas of chapter operations, Greek leadership, interfraternal participation, social and philanthropic planning over the Spring and Fall 2009 semesters.

Each member chapter of the Interfraternity Council may cast one vote for a chapter other than their own. The chapter receiving the most votes from their peers receives the honor of Most Improved Chapter.

In addition, the Beta Lambda Chapter was proud to have one of its alumnus members, Anthony J. Capozzi/'82, honored with The University of Akron's Distinguished Alumni Service Award. This award is presented to an alumni/ae who demonstrates a significant and consistent contribution to his/her chapter's positive improvement, the welfare of The University of Akron's Greek Community, and the support of his/her community through philanthropic/service efforts.

Brother Capozzi exemplifies these qualities through his work as the current Vice President of the Beta Lambda Alumni Association, a volunteer member of the University of Akron Greek Alumni Board and various volunteer positions in his community, including Board of Catholic Commission of the Cleveland Diocese, Board of Tri-County Independent Living and the North Hill Cluster Social Justice Committee.

Thanks to Regional Counselor Chris Conley for submitting the article and photo!