2011-2012

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    Leaders by Choice

     

     

     

        “Leaders by Choice” is the second century vision of the national fraternity, but it can easily be used to describe the expectation of the Purdue Pi Kappa Phi chapter, too.

    For us, fraternity is part of, but not all of, your college experience. We believe that scholastics, fraternity and leadership are keenly intertwined as are building social skills. Accordingly, we expect our members to be leaders not only in the chapter, but also on campus. Each member needs to be involved in at least one on- or off-campus group.

        For example, Pi Kappa Phi members have been leaders in three of the highest profile groups on campus – Boiler Gold Rush, Old Masters and Purdue University Dance Marathon.

    Most freshmen are familiar with BGR, the largest new student orientation program in the nation. Pi Kappa Phi consistently has multiple team leaders. However, what is not commonly known is that we have had members in leadership roles such as team supervisors and even the eight-member Student Orientation Committee (SOC), an overarching organizer of the weeklong event.

    Alex Prichodko, a senior in mechanical engineering, was on the SOC during 2010-11. He worked with the student initiatives committee, specializing in diversity training for student leaders as well as the specific transfer student orientation program.

    He worked with BGR for three years.

        “I learned more about being a peer leader than I could have expected,” Prichodko said. “(I got to be) comfortable in front of large crowds, being approachable for others to ask advice and being a mentor.”

        Within Pi Kappa Phi, Prichodko has held the positions of chaplain, new member educator and now, president.

         Other chapter members involved in BGR at some point during their college careers include: Rob Lampert, Tyler Julian, Chris Mascaro, Nathan Plag, Mike Lolkus, Nick Prichodko, Keagan Dunville, Marshall Drew, Dylan Lisec, Alex Faulkner and Chad James.

        Old Masters is a 60+ year Purdue tradition that brings distinguished professionals to campus to share their stories and to inspire students.

        Chris Mascaro, a senior in communication, is one of 12 students on the Old Master Central Committee. As such, he is responsible for selecting students who serve as hosts and hostesses, participating in indentifying Old Masters and executing the campus-wide program. During his first two years he has also been a host.

        “Being part of Old Masters has helped develop my leadership skills,” Mascaro said. “Beyond that, I have worked with a group of leaders on campus. So, I have learned to incorporate many great ideas along the way to develop planning skills.”

    At the chapter level, Chris has been new member educator, assistant new member educator and now, vice president. Furthermore, he has been a team leader in BGR and on the Greek Promotions Team for PUDM.

        Pi Kappa Phi also has Alex Prichodko, Will Volpe, Mike Lolkus and Nathan Plag involved in Old Masters.

        The Purdue University Dance Marathon (PUDM) is a major fund-raiser for Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. In fact, the 2011 the 18-hour event raised more than $300,000.

    Brian Vanneman, a junior in acoustical engineering, is the operations chairman for the executive board. As such, he is in charge of set-up, communication and delegation for thousands at the event. During his four years involved with PUDM, Vanneman has been on the morale committee (twice), morale committee co-chairman and in charge of Greek relations.

        “PUDM helps me put my life into perspective – from school to my personal life and everything in between,” he said. “It brings on a sense of accomplishment and selflessness.

    “It has helped me learn and experience leadership on a larger scale. Making a difference in such a large organization and Riley kids’ lives makes every moment memorable.”

    Other fraternity members involved in PUDM include Austen Burkholder, Ricky Rivelli and Chris Elliott.

        Being leaders in campus groups have augmented the development of chapter members, and in turn, benefitted the fraternity.

        “It helps with Greek relations because you work with other leaders in the Greek community,” Mascaro said. “It’s a good resume builder and you can develop networking with people with similar interests.”

        It helps build character, too.

        “Involvement outside the chapter allows you to become a more well-rounded individual,” Vanneman said. “Taking a leap from the safety of your chapter brothers will help you succeed after graduation and can only add to your college career. It also allows you to share ideas and meet new people.”

        For Prichodko, campus leadership is an extension of being a fraternity leader.

    “I think this university has so many opportunities and members would just be slighting themselves if they did not purse opportunities outside the chapter,” he said. “I’ve grown so much from being a leader of Pi Kapps, but I have grown as much through other organizations.

    BGR, Old Masters and PUDM are only a few organizations that Pi Kappa Phi members participate in.

        For example, Peter Bassick and Keagan Dunville volunteer with Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Kyle Smith belongs to the Bass Fishing Club. Brian Allemeier is on the Triathlon Club.

    Additionally, Michael Schmierer is a campus tour guide. Branden Sowers and Marshall Drew belong to Eta Sigma Delta, a professional hospitality and tourism fraternity.

    And that’s only a sampling of organizations Pi Kappa Phi supports.

     

     

     

     


     

      Pi Kappa Phi was recognized for excellence in a variety of areas at the January 2012 Mid-Year Leadership Conference. Among the awards was being named the best in the nation for Chapter Operations and Volunteer Relationship awards.

     

     

     

    Fraternity recieves recognition

     

        The Purdue Pi Kappa Phi chapter continues to rank among the nation’s elite, as noted by the national fraternity in January.

     

        At the Jan. 6-7, 2012, St. Louis Pi Kappa Phi Mid-Year Leadership Conference, the local fraternity was recognized numerous times. Pi Kapp chapters are rated on three levels in the Seven Objectives of Chapter Excellence. Purdue was recognized in top tier in five of the seven judging categories. Furthermore, it won the overall Sound Chapter Operations Award. That means it is considered the best in the nation among the 150+ chapters nationwide.

     

    Among the categories it was named as a Level III chapter, include:

     

    • Recruitment Excellence,

     

    • Superior Member Education,

     

    • Sound Chapter Operations

     

    • Living the Ritual, and

     

    • Commitment to Service.

     

    There were individual chapter awards won by Purdue as well. They included:

     

    • Commitment to Continued Growth,

     

    • Alumni Newsletter of the Year, and

     

    • Legacy Recruitment.

     

    Push America, the fraternity’s national outreach program to assist the disabled nationwide, honored the fraternity, too. Those awards included:

     

    • Top 5, recognizing it for being among the top 5 chapters in fund-raising during 2010-11, having raised $21,648 during 2010-11.

     

    • Gold Star, for raising more than $10,000.

     

    • Star of Hope for “most outstanding and comprehensive use of Push America programming on its campus.”

     

    • Volunteer Relationship, considered the best chapter in the nation for working with agencies on a local level.

     

        During the summer when personal awards were given out, Peter Bassick was named the Philanthropist of the Year. He received that award due to his execution of a fund-raising and an awareness effort on behalf of brother David Feltner. The Purdue and Greek communities helped the chapter raise $13,000 to fund a special needs dog for Feltner, who died June 5, 2011. The money has since been used to assist others in need of dogs and to assist families who have children with cancer.

     

    In April, the fraternity received unprecedented recognition on campus as well. It was named the R.B. Stewart Award winner recognizing it as Purdue’s best fraternity. Pi Kappa Phi has now won the award in 2011, ’10, ’09 and ’08 – a feat never done four consecutive times in Purdue Greek history.

     

     

     

    Chapter members play big role in ’12 cycling trip

     


     

         The 2012 Journey of Hope will include five Purdue undergraduate members and one alumnus participating in the milestone summer event.

    The Push America Journey of Hope is a cross-country cycling trip from various locations along the West Coast to Washington, DC, which raises money and awareness for the disabled.  Last year, the ride raised more than $580,000 and interacted with hundreds with various disabilities.  In 2012, the ride will begin June 3 and conclude on Aug. 5, at the biannual Supreme Chapter, which returns to DC to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the event. Nearly 100 riders and crew are expected to participate in three teams cycling nearly 70 days and 4,000 miles.

                    All participants riding in the Journey of Hope are asked to raise $5,500 or more for Push America while crew members are asked to raise $2,500.  Purdue chapter members Peter Bassick (Omega 1805) Eric Miller (Omega 1816), Nick Eckstein (Omega 1817) and Brett Poncsak (Omega 1846) will be the chapter’s rider.  Erik Moeller (Omega 1848) will be the crew member. Fraternity alumnus David Stinnette (Omega 1689), a Journey of Hope alumnus as a student, is one of two project managers selected thus far for the 2012 team.

                    The four riders will make it 18 riders from Purdue who have make the trek since its inception in 1987.  Moeller will be the third crew member. Additionally, five men from the Purdue chapter have ridden in Gear Up Florida, an 800-mile, 17-day trip across the Sunshine State in May that is a mini version of the Journey of Hope.

    You can find more information and ways of financially supporting team members on the Journey of Hope at PushAmerica.org.  

     

     

     

    Chapter puts on Christmas light show

     

        Men of the Purdue chapter of Pi Kappa Phi put on a Christmas light show at the Chapter house.  On Wednesday, December 7th, members put the show on for others on Purdue's campus.  Members also sold hot chocolate to raise money for Push America, Pi Kappa Phi's National Philanthropy.  Over 50 Purdue students and members of the community came out for the light show.  Below are links to Youtube videos for three of the five songs that are a part of the show.  

     

    Little Drummer Boy

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZy19lCvWA0&feature=related

     

    Jingle Bells

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbr4wu1_GkM&feature=related

     

    Boiler Up!-Song written and performed by Mirror Men, a band made up of all Pi Kapp men.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBqfNcNbU1U

     

     

    A Purdue undergraduate has been honored by the National Fraternity as its top philanthropist


    Peter Bassick rides in the Spring 2011 Bike-a-Thon to raise funds for a special needs dog. Bassick, due to his efforts to help a fallen brother, was named the 2011 Philanthropist of the Year by the national fraternity.

     

        Peter Bassick (Omega 1805), was named the 2010-11 Philanthropist of the Year primarily for his efforts with an April event.  Bassick conceptualized and planned a fund-raiser to help defray costs associated with a special needs dog for chapter brother David Feltner. 

                    Feltner (Omega 1738) who was diagnosed at the age of 17 with a fast-growing soft-tissue cancer, had surgery in January to remove his right eye.  Multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation had adversely affected his coordination and balance, nesseceting a $5000 assist dog.   Pi Kappa Phi teamed with Purdue University Dance Marathon (PUDM) in organizing the fundraiser that would pay for the dog and benefit Riley Children’s Hospital.  The chapter set a $5,000 goal, but raised $13,000.

                    Unfortunately, Feltner died on June 5.  The proceeds were used to fund a special needs dog for someone else and Riley’s Hospital. 

    The Bassick award was one of seven that the chapter received from the National Fraternity during the summer of 2011.  Leading the way was the Champion Master Chapter Award.  The National Fraternity recognizes chapters that achieve a Level III status in each of the 7 Objectives of Chapter Excellence. 

                   

    Other awards include;

    • Commitment to Continued Growth (one out of 30 chapters nationally to win this award)
    • Recruitment Excellence Award (one of 40)
    • Retention Excellence Award (one of 64)
    • Legacy Recruitment Award (one of 16)
    • Alumni Chapter Newsletter of the Year ( second consecutive year)
    • Top-5 fundraising for Push America
    • Thomas Sayre Society – at least $150 fundraising per man

     

     

    Pi Kapps participate in record-setting event

     

    The vast majority of the 22 Pi Kappa Phi members who participated in the 2011 Purdue Dance Marathon pose on the floor of the Armory.

     

        Twenty-two Pi Kappa Phi members were among the 1,200 who participated in a record-setting event at Purdue on Nov. 19-20, 2011.

        The Purdue University Dance Marathon (PUDM), established in 2005, raises money for cancer research at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. The fund-raiser that involves Greek and non-Greek students alike, raised a record $303,563.82 nearly double what it did last year.

        Participants paid a fee of $100. In the event’s inaugural dance six years ago, approximately 100 students participated. It raised $1,500. This year, the participant total exceeded 1,200 and fund-raising blasted through the $250,000 ambitious goal.

        The 22 Pi Kappa Phi members raised more than $5,000 collectively toward the fund-raising effort.

    Brian Vanneman, the morale chairman and on the PUDM executive board, was the highest ranking fraternity member in the organization. Numerous times during the 18-hour event he took the stage to announce speakers, groups of performers or new dance steps.

        Assisting Vanneman with morale were Rob Lambert, Tyler Julian, Alex Prichodko, Ricky Rivelli and Alex Drennan. Pi Kappa Phi’s Chris Elliott was involved in PUDM’s Greek relations outreach, too.

    Rivelli also took the stage during the two-day event, teaching the audience various dance steps. The campus band, “Mirror Men” which is comprised of all Pi Kapps, performed at 4 a.m. on Nov. 20 for the crowd. Members of that band include: Vanneman, Julian, Alex Prichodko and Chris Ruff.

        Other chapter members to participate included: Nathan Plag, Austen Burkholder, Kenny Lambert, Doug Breuckman, Eric Miller, Alex Faulkner, Brett Poncsak, Erik Moeller, Nick Prichodko, Cam Skwarcan, Collin Aker, Nick Herhusky, Mike Kessler and Tripper Carter.

     

    Photos of Pi Kappa Phi members and the event itself can be found at:

    https://purduepikapps.celect.org/site/albums/31712

    Also, Carter and Herhusky were both interviewed in a video produced by The Purdue Exponent. That video can be seen at:

    http://www.purdueexponent.org/campus/youtube_e1647166-1936-11e1-a068-001a4bcf6878.html

     


    Erik Moeller (front) and Eric Miller show their moves during the 2011 Purdue Dance Marathon on Nov. 19-20, 2011.

  • Fraternity presents check to school board


    Eight Pi Kappa Phi members, pose with Lafayette Jefferson High School special needs students and teachers alongside superintendent Ed Eiler on Nov. 15, 2011.

     

        A celebratory mood infiltrated the Oct. 15, 2011, Lafayette School Board as the fraternity shared its Push America fund-raising success from last school year.

    The fraternity presented the school board a record $5,412 for special needs classes at Lafayette Jefferson High School. It was the fourth year the chapter has shared money with the school. It has donated $12,866 over the last four years.

        Push America, the national philanthropy of Pi Kappa Phi, allows chapters to share 25 percent with a local partnership. The Purdue fraternity raised a record $21,648 last school year. A large contributing factor in the fund-raising were memorial gifts for two fraternity members who died during 2010-11.

        Undergraduate David Feltner died June 5, 2011, after a long battle with childhood cancer. Donors gave $8,000 in his memory. Also, Ryan McHie, a former undergraduate who died Nov. 21, 2010, in a car accident. His memorial gifts raised nearly $2,000.

        Nine fraternity members were joined by six special needs students to commemorate the donation that wowed the school board members.

        Fraternity alumnus Steve Beeler coordinates the special needs classes at the high school.

        “I am the proud to stand before you tonight to recognize the achievements of your wonderful staff who fully support our volunteer relationship in the Lafayette Jefferson High school special needs classes,” Branden Sowers, Pi Kappa Phi’s Push America chairman told the board.

    Sowers also recognized the impending retirement of Ed Eiler, who will end his role as school superintendent next spring.

        “Dr. Eiler, thank you for recognizing our efforts in the classroom,” Sowers said. “Thank you for recognizing us and the tremendous work done by your staff in the special needs area.”

    Sowers then presented Eiler with a Push America t-shirt emblazed with the motto, “Change the world,” as well as the core values of – Abilities, Teamwork, Empathy and Integrity.

    Janelle, a special needs student, read from a prepared statement to audience that included members of the media, fellow special needs students and their parents, school board, school administrators and chapter members.

        “The guys hang out with us and they play games with all of us,” Janelle said. “Sometimes they help us on schoolwork. They also help us at the library and sometimes they go bowling with us. We also enjoy hangout with them. I think that they should come back again next year because we enjoy their company.

        She described how the “Purdue guys” help her and her classmates with reading, homework and community activities such as bowling, shopping and going to the public library. She gave a heartfelt thank you to Pi Kappa Phi members that was echoed by the classroom teacher.

        Alyssa Jenkins, the coordinating special needs teacher, said she could always tell when the  fraternity members are approaching as the students’ eyes light up.

        “When you approach the classroom I usually hear their excited response. ‘The Purdue Guys!’, Jenkins told the chapter members at the board meeting. “Gentlemen, on behalf of the students and staff in my low incidence classroom we thank each one of you for taking time out of your busy schedules to help a group with a small voice in this large community express themselves.”

    Eiler thanked the fraternity members repeatedly. He said he saw the “spirit of David within fraternity members.”

        Feltner participated in the first year of the partnership in 2007, and hoped to be part of the national fraternity’s Journey of Hope in 2012.

         “Being in front of the school board gave me a sense of accomplishment,” Sowers said. “I know the students were excited to be there and it was nice to see that. The experience was a very real way of giving back to the community.”

        The donation will help with various projects that the school cannot fund, such as Indianapolis Indians games, trips to the Indianapolis Zoo and the Purdue Musical Organization events.

        “Gentlemen, the impact of donating such a gift to my classroom was most impressive,” Jenkins said. “Your leadership and support is most generous of which I am immensely grateful.”

    Click here to see photos of Pi Kappa Phi members in the classroom:

    https://purduepikapps.celect.org/site/albums/31615

    Click here to see photos from the Nov. 15, 2011, Lafayette School Board meeting:

    https://purduepikapps.celect.org/site/albums/31709

    Pi Kappa Phi's Matt McKee (left) and Brett Poncsak pose with one of the special needs students at Lafayette Jeff High School on Nov. 10, 2011. Fraternity members assist in the classroom each school day on a rotating basis.

  • Fraternity to donate money to school board


    Members of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity pose with students and staff for the Lafayette Jefferson High School special needs classes on Nov. 10, 2011. On Nov. 15, the Purdue fraternity will be presenting the Lafayette School Board a check for $5,412 as its local share of Push America fund-raising from 2010-11.

      

        At its Tuesday, Nov. 15 meeting, the Lafayette School Board will accept a donation check from Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity to assist programming in the special needs classes at Lafayette Jefferson High School.

     

       Members of the Purdue fraternity will present a check for $5,412 for the low-incidence classes to fund various programs such as field trips, community outings and classroom supplies. It is the largest donation the fraternity has given in the four years of doing such.

     

       The donation represents one-quarter of the fraternity’s annual fund-raising for Push America, the Pi Kappa Phi national outreach program to assist the disabled. The local chapter raised a record $21,648 during 2010-11 academic year.

     

        A large contributing factor to the increased donation in 2010-11, is that a chapter member who previously participated in the partnership, died on June 5. The David Feltner family, of Noblesville, named Push America as its preferred memorial. Mourners donated $8,000 in Feltner’s memory and a quarter of it – $2,000 – directly benefits the special needs classes.

     

        The fraternity started working with the disabled at Jeff in 2007, and continues doing so today. This school year, more than 20 fraternity members have rotated through the classes up to five days a week. In 2011, the fraternity expanded the volunteer relationship to include sorority members participating in their empathy training and fund-raising on-campus spring event, “War of Roses.”

     

        Including the most recent donation, Pi Kappa Phi has given $12,866 for the special needs classes spanning four years.

     

        “Any organization can raise funds for those in need,” said Branden Sowers, the fraternity’s Push America chairman. “We experience first-hand how our money and time can impact lives directly. On the surface, we are there to assist them, but in reality we are the ones richer for this experience.”

     


    Candy and Steve Feltner bike the last five minutes of the 72-hour Bike-a-Thon in memory of their late son, David Feltner.

     

    Cycling, Halloween events end 3 days of service

        A little more than six months earlier, it was their son who donned a bicycle to ride the last five minutes of a 72-hour bike-a-thon fund-raiser. This time, the parents did it to honor the memory of their late son.

        On Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011, Candy and Steve Feltner wore t-shirts bearing the theme, “Biking for David,” on stationary bicycles to assist Pi Kappa Phi in remembering their son, David, who died June 5, from cancer. The fraternity, alongside a Purdue student organization, raised funds for the disabled locally and nationally by sponsoring the event.

        In April, the fraternity did another 72-hour bike-a-thon to raise money for those with special needs and families suffering from cancer. The intent was to fund a $5,000 special needs dog that would assist David in daily activities since his sense of smell, balance and sometimes his vision that were compromised from five-years of on- and off-again chemo and radiation treatments alongside surgeries. He was being treated for rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare soft-tissue cancer.

        “Thank you for keeping David’s memory alive,” Candy Feltner told a gathering of fraternity, alumni and family members who had gathering on the lawn next to the fraternity house, 330 N. Grant St.

    Visitors to the bike-a-thon, included the nurse to assist David with his first chemotherapy, five years prior.

        The event had more than 100 riders and raised more than $1,000 toward Push America, The Arc of Tippecanoe County, and Midwest Assistance Dogs. The last group was the one that provided David Feltner a special needs dog. That dog, which David never got to use, was donated to another needy family after David’s death.

        The end of the bike-a-thon also kicked off a Halloween celebration for those with special needs – a cause that David Feltner contributed to during his Purdue and fraternity days.

    Nearly 100 clients of the Arc of Tippecanoe County and special needs classes of Lafayette Jefferson High School celebrated, “Arctoberbest,” alongside fraternity and Special Olympics College at Purdue members. The campus band, “Mirror Men,” sang songs and many danced for nearly two hours under a makeshift tent.

        The cycling event and special needs party spanned 76 hours of continuous community service organized by fraternity members.



    Fraternity members dance in a circle with those with special needs at "Arctoberfest," sponsored by Pi Kappa Phi and the Special Olympics College at Purdue.

     

     

    Final 24 hours unlike the first 48

        The final 24 hours of a David Feltner memorial bike-a-thon kicked off in stark contrast to the first 48 – with a bright sun-soaked Friday afternoon.

        At 4 p.m., Friday, Oct. 21, 2011, the Pi Kappa Phi-Special Olympics College at Purdue 72-hour bike-a-thon marked the end of its second day. The cycling event start on Wednesday afternoon was wrought with wind, rain and unusually cold temperatures. What started off at 46 degrees on Wednesday afternoon, dropped to near the freezing point then gave way to a beautiful 55-degree Friday afternoon.

         The fraternity and the student organization are honoring the late Feltner, who died of cancer on June 5, with a fund-raising event to benefit the disabled locally, regionally and nationally.

    The ride will conclude at 4 p.m., Saturday, shortly after the Illinois at Purdue homecoming football game. The final two riders are scheduled to be Candy and Steve Feltner, parents of David.

    Friday’s end to the ride will kick off a community social event – “Arctoberfest – a Halloween party for clients of The Arc of Tippecanoe County and special needs classes at Lafayette Jefferson High School. The social will include the campus band, “Mirror Men,” playing along with various games where fraternity and the Special Olympics group interact with the disabled. The event open to the public will conclude at 8 p.m. Friday at the fraternity house, 330 N. Grant St.

        As of 4 p.m. Friday, the bike-a-thon had raised more than $1,000 and had nearly 75 riders. Delta Zeta has been a significant contributor to the cause by having all their pledges commit to riding or sitting at a donation table.

        Donations to the “Biking for David” event can be made on-site until Friday night, or by mailing checks to: PKP Bike-a-Thon; PO Box 2700; West Lafayette, IN 47996.

     

     

    Pi Kappa Phi's Brett Poncsak visits with Delta Zeta's Olivia Cheung and Oakley Campbell during the final minutes of the first 24 hours of "Biking for David."

     

    Second day of bike-a-thon begins

     

        The second day of the 72-hour David Feltner memorial bike-a-thon, kicked off in much the same manner as the first – under a rain-soaked tent on an overcast day and with a sense of mission.

     A total of 53 riders have pedaled one of two stationary bikes in the lot just north of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, 330 N. Grant St., West Lafayette. The fraternity with co-sponsor Special Olympics College at Purdue are raising money and awareness for three agencies that serve the disabled.

    The event kicked off at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19 and will continue until 4 p.m. Saturday.  The “Biking for David” cycling event is in memory of Pi Kappa Phi’s Feltner, 22, who died on June 5 after battling a soft-tissue cancer for nearly five years.

        Following the completion of the bike ride, Pi Kappa Phi alongside the Special Olympics College will host special needs clients of the Arc of Tippecanoe for a Halloween dance, which will conclude at 8 p.m. Nearly 100 special needs youth and their families are expected to attend.

    Various media outlets have covered the first day of the event. The stories can be found at:

    http://www.purdueexponent.org/campus/article_1d650cec-eb7f-59fb-9a1f-4d329d288ec8.html

    http://www.jconline.com/article/20111020/NEWS/110200314/-1/7daysarchives/Bike-thon-Purdue-heartfelt-several-levels

     

     

     

     

    Kelly Hupp, of Delta Zeta, is the first rider in the 72-hour David R. Feltner memorial fund-raiser that kicked off on Wednesday, Oct. 19. The Pi Kappa Phi-Special Olympics College at Purdue 72-hour bike-a-thon will run through Saturday's Purdue Homecoming on the lot north of the fraternity, 330 N. Grant St., West Lafayette.

     

    Fraternity kicks off memorial fund-raiser

        The Pi Kappa Phi-Special Olympics College at Purdue 72-hour memorial bike-a-thon kicked off at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, amid drizzle, cold and wind, but with tremendous optimism.

        The fraternity alongside another student organization committed to assisting those with special needs are doing a fund-raiser in memory of Pi Kappa Phi member, David R. Feltner, who died on June 5 from cancer. The beneficiaries of the ride are four groups that assist those with special needs locally, regionally and nationally.

        The first rider was Kelly Hupp of Delta Zeta. She will ride the first hour and the last hour rider at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 is to be Candy Feltner, David’s mother.

     

     

     

     

     

    David Feltner

     

    Chapter to host 72-hour Bike-a-Thon

     

     Pi Kappa Phi, in partnership with another student organization – both of which are advocates for people with disabilities – are teaming up to raise money for those with special needs in memory of a chapter member who died in June.

     Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity is teaming with Special Olympics College at Purdue for a fund-raising cycling event and a community night during Purdue’s Homecoming week. “Biking for David” will be a 72-hour cycling event that starts at 4 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 19 and ends at 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 22. The bike-a-thon will conclude with “Arctoberfest.”

     At “Arctoberfest,” the organizations will be hosting The Arc County of Tippecanoe County’s Halloween Dance alongside karaoke and a variety of games. A campus band made of all Pi Kappa Phi members, “Mirror Men,” will perform live as well.  This event will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. (at the fraternity house), will be open to the public. Donations will be accepted.

    Both the bike-a-thon and Arctoberfest will be held in the vacant lot just north of Pi Kappa Phi, 330 N. Grant St., at the corner of Northwestern Avenue and North Grant Street in West Lafayette. This space is being generously provided by the Purdue University while the site is awaiting the construction of the new Ralph and Bettye Bailey Hall.

     The bike-a-thon event is in memory of David R. Feltner, 22, who died of a rare form of cancer on June 5, 2011. Feltner, a member of Pi Kappa Phi was involved with special needs organizations while he was a Purdue student from 2007-11.

     Three groups will benefit from the fundraising efforts- Push America, the Arc County of Tippecanoe and Midwest Assistance Dogs, Inc. – all of which serve those with special needs and disabilities.  Push America is the national philanthropic effort of the Pi Kappa Phi national fraternity. It assists those with disabilities across the country, including special needs classes at Lafayette Jefferson High School.  The Arc County of Tippecanoe County is committed to assisting those with developmental disabilities by offering advocacy and social opportunities, empowering their families through education and raising awareness in their communities. Midwest Assistance Dogs, Inc., provides trained canine companions to those with special needs.

     Three bikes will be set up for the memorial bike-a-thon. One will be continually ridden by members of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity or Special Olympics College at Purdue. The second and third bikes will be open for anyone wishing to join in the fundraising event. They will be available for the public to walk up and ride for either an hour or half hour time period and give a donation.

     “It is exciting to unite the Purdue community and the Lafayette community in this way,” said Corrin Chlebowy, president and founder of Special Olympics College at Purdue.  “We want to encourage a culture of inclusion and to let everyone, regardless of ability, know that they are a welcomed part of the Purdue community.”

     Branden Sowers, Push America chairman at Pi Kappa Phi, said: “It’s an honor for us to remember David in this way,” “David had a very active role with our partnership with Lafayette Jefferson High School.

     

    Fall recruitment wraps up

      The Fall Recruitment period wrapped up last week after having over 300 prospective members though the door.  The Brothers of the Purdue Chapter are pleased to welcome 25 new associate members to Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity.

       On Sept. 23, the new pledge class travelled to Camp Buffalo (Buffalo, Ind.) for an overnight retreat. It hosted alumni Matt Clark and Jon Dora who talked about their experiences from their undergraduate days.  Pris Gerde, former national president of Kappa Kappa Gamma, also addressed the pledges. She spoke about image in the Greek system.

     Pledge Class Educator Chris Mascaro looks forward to working with 25-man class over the next 15 weeks learning information about current members, history about Purdue, history about our Chapter and the National Organization.  During their induction period new members will participate in campus, community and chapter house projects.