Presidents Academy & Volunteer Development Institute 2020

A group photo of Presidents Academy participants and facilitators

Held at the site of our upcoming National Convention in July, the Hilton Fort Worth is a historic landmark situated in the city’s downtown. The site of President John F. Kennedy’s final night, it’s also where JFK gave his last public speech in the hotel’s Crystal Ballroom the morning of November 22nd. Today, there is a sculpture of the President just outside the front doors, along with the inscription, “There are no faint hearts in Fort Worth.”  

Formal installation of presidents

With an obligation to others in mind and the proximity to historic leadership, a delegation of 70 Phi Tau chapter presidents made their way to the historic Hilton to attend the first educational program of the year – Presidents Academy. For three days, our President-elects engaged with facilitators in small and large groups to discuss ways they can change their chapters for the better and how to create meaningful campus collaborations. They created action plans to improve their Borradaile Challenge metrics, improve recruitment efforts and SeriousFun involvement, and engaged in difficult conversations regarding risk management. By the end of the program, participants were formally installed as chapter presidents by National Vice President Dale Holland, Kent State ‘87.  

Alex Thompkins, Columbus State ‘17 (left)

“I enjoyed Presidents Academy because it got me motivated for this semester, and I think I can bring back something very valuable to my guys. I’m ready to get this started,” said Alex Thompkins, Columbus State ’17, President of our newest chapter, Zeta Rho at Columbus State University. Jordan Tran, Middle Tennessee ’18, commented on the applicability of some of the first-hand skills participants practice, “I learned how to lead the guys in the right direction and lots of useful information like learning how to use ChapterSpot and networking with other organizations on campus.”  

Jordan Tran, Middle Tennessee ‘18 (left)

Presidents Academy is a crucial step in the transition of chapter presidencies. It helps the new President find their own unique leadership style, identify problems in their chapter and map out ways to improve them, and facilitate connections between students by introducing them to brothers from around the country. Without a doubt, one of the most valuable opportunities of the program is the chance to meet other chapter presidents. Last year, Dallas Taylor, Southern Mississippi ’16, testified to this. “A lot of people don’t get the chance to go outside of their chapter and see things other chapters have, so when you go to these National Programs you get to meet people from other chapters that have dealt with similar issues but handled them differently. Because of that, you can learn what works best from them and take it back to your own chapter,” he said. This year, brothers gathered again from all nine Phi Tau domains to meet, discuss their chapters strengths and shortcomings, and bond over the unique challenges and opportunities of being a chapter president.  

Simultaneous to Presidents Academy, Volunteer Development Institute (VDI) is held in conjunction with Presidents Academy each year. VDI is our only educational program curated entirely to the needs of alumni. It’s is designed for those directly involved in chapter advising; it helps them discover new and innovative ways to communicate with today’s college students, keeps them up-to-date on Phi Tau policies and procedures, and ensures they are prepared and confident to meet the needs of the chapter in whatever capacity may arise. 

By the end of the program, the objectives of VDI, among other items, include:  

VDI participant and facilitator group photo

• The ability to demonstrate comprehension of the role and responsibilities of volunteers within the structure of the Fraternity  

• The ability to identify three core responsibilities of a Phi Kappa Tau volunteer  

• The ability to model effective methods of advising collegiate men  

• The ability to facilitate an educational program 

• Demonstrated knowledge of Risk Management Policy  

Facilitator Stephen Rupprecht, Oswego State '91

 This year, 17 alumni representing 12 chapters took time out of their busy lives to travel to Texas to ensure they’re prepared to be the best advisors they can to the next generation of Phi Taus. We are very grateful to have alumni who so focused on building the Fraternity’s future.  

Thank you to our National Education Advisor and facilitators as well as our participants. These programs cannot run without the help of engaged volunteers and we are lucky to have so many willing to dedicate a weekend to Phi Tau!  

We trust that our newest Chapter Presidents return to their schools prepared to tackle all the challenges that come with the role. We expect you’ll make us proud.  

Our educational programs continue this month and into February with Regional Conferences, beginning January 25 with the Pacific Northwest region. Find dates and locations here.  

Want to share your story with us? Submit news here.  

These presidents met last summer at Leadership Academy and paused for a group photo last weekend

A breakout group poses for a photo

Bethany Alumnus Debuts Film

Last September, Bethany College alumnus Cody Knotts’s, Bethany ’87, film Kecksburg debuted at the State Theater in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

Cody Knotts and wife Emily Lapisardi, alongside leads Szonja Oroszlan and Scott Cooper

This film, produced, written, and directed by Knotts, revolves around the Kecksburg UFO incident – a scandal in 1965 where residents of Kecksburg, 30 miles south of Pittsburg, spotted a burning fireball in the sky. Reported by NASA as debris of a Soviet Satellite, the Kecksburg incident has remained a popular conspiracy of alien invasion government cover-up.

Thomas Kurt Fuchel, Cincinnati ’71, as Pennsylvania Governor Edward Martin

This film was very much a show of Phi Tau brotherhood. It stared Thomas Kurt Fuchel, Cincinnati ’71, as Pennsylvania Governor Edward Martin and George Manahan, Bethany ’80, worked as Associate Producer. The final credits included a tribute to the late Todd Jones, Bethany ’81, and a thank-you to Phi Kappa Tau and the Phi chapter.

Among those in attendance of the sold-out premier were Ken Ohrman, Bethany ’84, JP Silk, Bethany ’84, Scott Wilcox, Bethany ’87, Edward Arose, Bethany ’94 and family, and Barry Gaetano, Bethany ’81. “The film was made possible because of the brothers of Phi Kappa Tau,” said Knotts. See below for photos.

Kecksburg poster

This film also stared actress Szonja Oroszlan (The Martin), Scott Cooper, (Maze Runner), Maria Olsen (Percy Jackson), and Richard John Walters (My Bloody Valentine 3D) as President Lyndon B. Johnson. Knotts’ wife, Emily Lapisardi, plays Lady Bird Johnson. Knotts also makes a cameo in the film.

Kecksburg will have a general release in March, then a limited theatrical and DVD/Blue Ray release. You can find more information on the film’s IMDb page or the Kecksburg website.

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A still from the film

Phi alumni left to right: Ken Ohrman, Bethany ’84, JP Silk, Bethany ’84, Cody Knotts, Bethany ‘87, Scott Wilcox, Bethany ’87,

Edward Arose, Bethany ‘94, and family

Louisville Undergrad Recognized as Co-Op Student of the Year Finalist

Nicholas Doinger, Louisville AM, of the Beta Beta chapter has been named a 2020 National Co-Op Student of the Year Finalist by the Cooperative & Experimental Education Division of the American Society of Engineering Education. Doninger was nominated for this award by the Speed School of Engineering at the University of Louisville and the Bioengineering Department.

Doinger, a biomedical engineering major said on upon reception of the award, “I was honored and fortunate to receive this award. I would like to recognize the UofL Bioengineering Department for the opportunity to participate in the school’s co-op program and get hands on engineering experience in the medical device industry before becoming a practicing bio-medical engineer. I also want to thank the Zimmer Biomet company for the opportunity they gave me for engineering co-op training, industry onboarding and guidance.”

The National Co-Op Student of the Year Award recognizes undergraduates enrolled in a 4-5-year program who demonstrate a high caliber of work and initiative in their co-op.

Congratulations, Nicholas!

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Editor of Distinction

For the centennial edition of The Laurel, it would have been a mistake not to highlight the work of Richard J. Young, Miami ‘25.

A man who dedicated his life to Phi Tau and Greek Life, Young took a sabbatical from the Executive Offices in the 1940s only to enlist in the Navy. Upon his return, he set the record as the longest running editor of The Laurel and the longest running Grand Secretary (now CEO) of Phi Tau - both of which he still holds. It’s hard to detail all of his accomplishments in just 1 page, but there are few more fitting to be labeled The Laurel’s “Editor of Distinction.”

You can read the full edition here.

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The Tie that Binds Us

“When I was on the road as a Consultant, the only way people were connected was by talking to other chapter brothers and seeing The Laurel. It does a lot to keep us all connected. It’s the tie that binds us. It runs through everybody’s membership.” - Bill Jenkins

Bill Jenkins, Bowling Green ‘57, Charlie Ball, Miami ‘82, and Tyler Wash, Georgetown ‘06, all former editors of The Laurel sat down to talk about their experience with the magazine and the value it holds for this organization as a feature in the centennial edition.

You can read the article as a special excerpt from the edition as a PDF. The full edition can be found here.

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Central Michigan Alumnus Appointed to Assistant City Manager

Mike Green, Central Michigan ’10, has been appointed Assistant City Manager and Community Development Director of the city of Saline, Michigan. Green will now be responsible for planning, organizing, and directing activities within the community development department. This includes zoning, code enforcement, building review, inspections, and assessing business attraction.

Green is an initiate of the Gamma Lambda chapter at Central Michigan, where he obtained his Bachelors before earning his Masters from East Carolina. Prior to this position, he worked as Manager of the Village of Three Oaks.

Saline is just south of Ann Arbor and home to approximately 10,000 people.

Read the original story here.

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Ambassadors of the Future

Brothers at University of Southern California’s Pi chapter recently supported the Ambassadors of the Future’s annual gala, helping them raise $40,000 for the organization.

Ambassadors of the Future is a charity committed to raising funds for the international education of intellectually gifted, but financially challenged, students. It was founded in 2016 by a Pi Associate Member, Adam Beres, and has raised over $90,000 since its founding.

Go Far, Pi!

See the original post here.

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A Summer of Service

As Phi Kappa Tau enters its 25th year in partnership with SeriousFun Children’s Network, the ways the two organizations benefit from each other are ever changing and ever expanding. Phi Kappa Tau undergraduates are eligible for a $300 travel stipend to cover the cost of getting to and from a camp, and members of the National Council, Foundation Trustees, and staff are encouraged to take a week off each year to volunteer. But this summer, one of our staff members seized the opportunity to work at Roundup River Ranch in Gypsum, CO – an experience he will never forget.

Colton Anderson, Middle Tennessee ’15, who started as a Recruiter in the spring of 2018 after graduating, took a two-month sabbatical earlier this year to pack up and move to Gypsum, the home of Roundup River Ranch. Situated in the mountains two and a half hours outside of Denver, Roundup River Ranch is one of SeriousFun’s newer camps. It welcomed campers for its first season in 2011 and has since hosted thousands of campers – all free of charge.

Colton took a seasonal position as a Program Team Member and traded in his duties as a Recruiter for planning horseback riding excursions, archery, art classes, swimming, and all the other activities SeriousFun camps offer. As its core, his role was to make campers time enjoyable, and to ensure they had fun and safe things to do.

In addition to being free of charge, SeriousFun camps are special because they provide a full medical staff at each campsite. “Many of the campers are in and out of the hospital in their daily lives, but the SeriousFun camps are medically equip to be able to meet medical needs of the campers while they’re doing all this fun, outdoor stuff,” Colton explains.

Colton speaks so highly of the whole experience he says it’s hard to select a favorite memory, but among them was a week where staff members and volunteers acted as characters. Colton and a fellow staffer were the King and Queen, and one of his most enjoyable experiences of the entire summer was playing that role for a group of kids. “We got to interact with this group as King and Queen and answer questions about what it was like to be royalty, it was so fun and special to them,” he says.

The entire experience is something he would recommend to anyone, and definitely an opportunity he would take again. “It’s an awesome experience, not only for the kids but for staff as well. Being a part of that environment is so much fun for everyone involved,” Colton shares. SeriousFun network relies on generosity to run and not just in donations; besides a handful of staff members, the camps are run largely off volunteer efforts. There are lots of ways to volunteer, and the camps design their volunteer structure so that it’s flexible for people with full time jobs. From going for a full week to just a couple days, all of the camps have different options. But for those who don’t have the flexibility to take the time off to volunteer, getting involved financially is a worthy cause. “Their donation network is so good, all of those dollars go towards making sure the kids have an awesome experience,” he says.

Colton encourages every member of Phi Kappa Tau to get involved with SeriousFun, whether that’s as a seasonal volunteer, staff member, or donor. “We have this partnership and it’s such a big deal, it’s important we continue to live up to the reputation we've set by earning the Excellent in Philanthropy Award. We have to continue to grow the relationship,” he says.

“It’s really just an awesome philanthropy, in my opinion one of the best in the world,” he concludes, enthusiastically. “It has a real impact, it’s a very real thing with a lot of hands-on work and ways to directly help people.”

Colton’s summer at the camp even yielded a professional opportunity, and as his next step he will be starting a new job as Financial Associate at SeriousFun headquarters in Westport after the New Year.

Summer registration is opening soon and we encourage all members to check out this list of camps to find one to volunteer.

Go Far!

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Fall 2019 Expansion Wrap Up

The newest associates at the University of Delaware

A strategic imperative of Phi Kappa Tau, our expansion projects are selected intentionally and thoughtfully to find campuses who need us, alumni that are interested in seeing their chapters return, and student interest groups. This fall, alumni groups were particularly excited as all of our expansions return groups.

We are particularly excited to welcome 30 new associate members to the Alpha Gamma chapter at the University of Delaware. This group has hit the ground running and is already weaving themselves into the fabric of the Delaware campus by participating in social and service events.

Darryl Thompson the newest member of the Foundation staff

Our other expansion projects this fall included Alpha Rho at Georgia Institute of Technology, Delta Upsilon at the University of Tennessee-Martin, and Tau at the University of Michigan. Recruiters held individual meetings, built group camaraderie, and demonstrated the basics of event planning and meeting structure to successfully build these colonies. We look forward to employing these strategies as we return to Eta chapter at Muhlenberg College this spring!

Alex Papke on project at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville

In the expansion department, the Associate Director of Organizational Growth, Darryl Thompson, Old Dominion ’14, has accepted a new role within the Phi Tau Foundation as Philanthropy Coordinator, and Recruiter Alex Papke, Baldwin Wallace ‘14, will be assuming the new role as Associate Director. We wish both men luck in their new roles!

If you are interested in volunteering at a Phi Kappa Tau colony, find out more information here.

Colgate Alumni Named 30 Under 30

Two Phi Taus Nick Freud, Colgate ’12, and Rob Carroll, Colgate ’12, have been listed on Forbes’ academic “30 Under 30.”  

They earned their spot on the list through their company CampusReel, a college review site that hosts candid student-review videos of various campuses. The purpose of the website is to provide prospective high school students the opportunity to see what their dream school is “really” like by providing them videos of dorm tours, dining hall reviews, and program insight. This tool has been beneficial to high school counselors as well as college administration staff and recruiters.  

Their library contains over 17,000 videos created by students from 355 colleges and universities. In just three years, CampusReel has reached users in 140 countries and raised $1 million.   

Well done to these Men of Distinction!  

Read their Forbes profile here.  

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