THE PHI GAMMA DELTA VOL. 137 NO. 1 FALL 2015 Dan Lowe (Kansas 1985) Supports IMMORTAL PHI GAM Find out why, p. 24 The PHI GAMMA DELTA Fall 2015 Volume 137, Number 1 EDITOR William A. Martin III (Mississippi State 1975) [email protected] DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Erica M. Carlson [email protected] CONTRIBUTOR Melanie Musick CIRCULATION 108,216 181,735 men have been initiated into the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta since 1848. Founded at Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, on May 1, 1848, by John Templeton McCarty, Samuel Beatty Wilson, James Elliott, Ellis Bailey Gregg, Daniel Webster Crofts, and Naaman Fletcher. Phi Gamma Delta Web Site www.phigam.org For all the latest information, updates, and anything you need to know about Phi Gamma Delta. Change of Address Send any address changes to the International Headquarters by email to [email protected], by phone at (859) 255-1848, by fax at (859) 253-0779 or by mail to P.O. Box 4599, Lex- ington, KY 40504-4599. The Phi Gamma Delta is published by The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta, 1201 Red Mile Road, P. O. Box 4599, Lexington, KY 40544-4599, (859) 255-1848. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta P. O. Box 4599, Lexington, KY, 40544-4599. Publications Mail Agreement No. 41752521 ON THE COVER ABOVE MISSION OF PHI GAMMA DELTA Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Dan Lowe (Kansas 1985) with his wife, Peggy, Brothers from the National Capital Fijis Grad- Phi Gamma Delta exists to promote lifelong friendships, to reaffirm high ethical PO Box 875, Station A and daughters, Kate (14) and Libby (5), in the uate Chapter gathered at Nationals Park to standards and values, and to foster personal development in the pursuit of excellence. Windsor, ON N9A 6P2 US Virgin Islands, during fall 2014. Dan is alive celebrate Calvin Coolidge bobblehead night. Phi Gamma Delta is committed to providing opportunities for each brother to because of four liver transplants. The Nationals recently introduced Calvin develop responsibility, leadership, scholarship, and social skills in order to become Coolidge as the latest Racing President. a fully contributing member of society. Member of the North American Member of the Fraternity Interfraternity Conference Communications Association 2 THE PHI GAMMA DELTA www.phigam.org Friendship, the Sweetest Influence COVER STORY Immortal Phi Gam Brothers Can Save Lives 24 Annual Awards Our Outstanding Chapters & Brothers 29 FEATURES 22 Expansions and Colonizations 26 Chartering at Sam Houston 27 Chartering at Oklahoma City 28 Chartering at Austin Peay DEPARTMENTS 4 President’s Message 5 GammaGram 7 On Campus 32 Graduate Almanac 37 Spotlight 39 Foundation Focus MISSION OF PHI GAMMA DELTA Phi Gamma Delta exists to promote lifelong friendships, to reaffirm high ethical 44 Ad Astra standards and values, and to foster personal development in the pursuit of excellence. Phi Gamma Delta is committed to providing opportunities for each brother to 47 Fraternally Speaking develop responsibility, leadership, scholarship, and social skills in order to become a fully contributing member of society. Connect with Phi Gamma Delta Not for College Days Alone FALL 2015 THE PHI GAMMA DELTA 3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE The Mission of Phi Gamma Delta states: over $900,000 raised for charities and over 144,000 hours provided in direct “Phi Gamma Delta exists to promote lifelong friendships, service. Take time to read through to reaffirm high ethical standards and values, and to foster the “On Campus” section in this issue personal development in the pursuit of excellence. Phi of the magazine. You will see numer- Gamma Delta is committed to provide opportunities for ous stories of our undergraduates each brother to develop responsibility, leadership, scholar- serving a wide variety of communi- ship, and social skills in order to become a fully contribut- ties, organizations and people. Many ing member of society.” chapters have annual projects that Archon President Phi Gamma Delta also has five core values that are critical have become part of their identity. Michael A. Lucas to the fulfillment of our mission: Friend- For several years, the (Bradley 1983) ship, Knowledge, Service, Morality and International Frater- Excellence. These values are the heart of nity has encouraged chapters and colonies our mission of developing men of integrity, “Service is one to conduct at least one project each year character and courage . developing men way we return in support of both the USO and the Red who will be “fully contributing members of and spread the Cross. More recently, Phi Gamma Delta society.” Four of the values are exclusively gains, benefits and also has partnered with Donate Life to or largely focused internally; they are about encourage both undergraduate and gradu- us . our members. But one value, Service, blessings we have ate brothers to sign up to be an organ and is focused on others. enjoyed.” tissue donor. (See the story of two organ Why is Service important in developing recipients on page 24.) men who become contributing members of Beyond our undergraduate chapters, the society? One reason is our responsibility to pay back, in many graduate brothers who continue to volunteer in some small measure, for the many benefits we realize as their communities long after graduation are evidence that members. Although our members are from diverse back- we are developing contributing members of society. grounds, each of us is privileged to have the opportunity to attend college and to be a part of Phi Gamma Delta. The impact of service is not measured only in hours With this privilege comes a responsibility to help others worked and dollars raised; service does not have to be an along the way. Voluntary service to others is one way we organized event or a volunteer activity. The act of serv- return and spread the gains, benefits and blessings we ing can develop an attitude of service that is alert for any have enjoyed. opportunity to make a difference for others, whatever the setting. It could be a polite gesture, an act of kindness, an Although our service to others receives relatively little encouraging word, a simple show of respect, or a helping press these days, fraternities have consistently given back. hand. These random acts – what one writer called “that A survey in 2013-14 by the North-American Interfraternity best portion of a good man’s life” – reflect and grow out Conference estimated that fraternities raised over $20 of our commitment to Service. million for charities and provided almost 3.8 million hours of service during that year. Greek organizations must be It is often said that we judge ourselves by our inten- the largest organized source of volunteers on our college tions, while others judge us by our actions. We are men campuses today! of integrity when our actions are aligned with our stated intentions, or values. There is no better way to show our Among our chapters and colonies are many impressive ex- integrity – as undergraduate or graduate brothers of Phi amples of service and philanthropy. In 2014, with just over Gamma Delta – than by living out the value of Service. 60% of chapters reporting, the Fraternity documented 4 THE PHI GAMMA DELTA www.phigam.org Friendship, the Sweetest Influence GAMMAGRAM NEWS, EVENTS, FEEDBACK Headquarters Staff Updates Coté Re-elected NIC Chairman Melanie Musick, Director of Hanover College with a B.A. in studio Communications art and communications minor. During the since January 2015-16 2004, departed Luke Francis (Kentucky 2015) meeting of the Fraternity stepped into the North- staff August 28 a new role as American after almost 21 Coordinator of Interfra- years. She first Communications ternity joined the Foun- in August. Luke Confer- dation staff as a joined the IHQ ence, Fundraising Co- staff in Janu- Eugene D. ordinator in September 1994. During ary 2014 as the “Buddy” her tenure as Director of Communica- Chapter Services Coté III tions, Melanie produced 21 magazines, Assistant. As an undergraduate, Luke (Maine created and distributed over 200 served as Chapter Treasurer and Phi- 1981) was Friday Letters and helped with five lanthropy Chair. He graduated with a unani- Fiji Academies and nine Ekklesiai. B.A. in studio art and Spanish. mously re-elected Chairman of the Melanie moved to Cape Coral, FL, Candida Rivera came to Lexington Board of Directors of the NIC. This where she works for Lifeline Family to fill the new is Buddy’s second year serving as the Center, a non-profit, two-year home Assistant Direc- 95th Chairman. Previously, he was and learning center for pregnant teens tor of Education elected to the Board of Directors in in crisis. position. Prior to 2010 and served two years as Vice joining the staff, Chairman of the Conference, begin- Erica Carlson was appointed to fill Candy worked ning in 2012. the position at Lycoming Buddy has had a long involvement in of Director of College as the both Phi Gamma Delta and the inter- Communica- Assistant Direc- fraternal movement. At Phi Gamma tions upon the tor of Student Programs & Leadership Delta, he served as a Field Secretary departure of Development for six years. She also from 1981-1983 and as Director of Melanie Mu- served as the Assistant Director of Chapter Services from 1983-1985. He sick in August. Campus Life at Mercer University and served as an Archon from 2000-2004 Erica joined the as a Graduate Assistant at the Univer- and as Archon President from 2006- Fraternity staff sity of Akron. in December 2014 as Coordinator of 2008. He also has been a member of Communication Services and Data Candy graduated with a B.A. in the Educational Foundation Board of Management.