Cross & Crescent

The chapter worked diligently this semester to improve its identity and involvement on campus. The members’ efforts paid off with the chapter winning the Greek Week champion trophy.

The chapter received many honors at the Greek Excellence Awards Ceremony. The chapter received the following awards: Outstanding Fraternity Education Program, Outstanding Chapter Programming, Outstanding Member Involvement, and Five Star Outstanding Chapter of the Year. High Pi Elgan Baker (DePauw 1971) was recognized as Greek Adviser of the Year.

As part of a county-wide day of volunteer work by Cal Poly fraternities, the chapter and members of Sigma Kappa sorority repainted a Morro Bay group home operated by Options, a charity that serves people with developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries. Twenty Cal Poly Greek organizations worked at various locations around the county, including the Garden House Alzheimer’s care facility, the Morro Bay National Estuary Program, and the San Luis Obispo Arts Council.

The chapter won the intramurals All Sports trophy, a title Sigma Phi Epsilon has held 14 out of the last 15 years. First they defeated SigEp in the Championship Volleyball match. An hour later, they beat SigEp in softball 25-7. Following, the championship softball game was against Sigma Nu, which they won 11-10 in
extra innings.

The chapter celebrated its 40th Anniversary on April 8. Director of Chapter Services John Holloway (High Point 1993) was the guest speaker at the event. The fraternity staff also was represented by Tim Reuter (Simpson 2003), associate director of chapter services.

Phil Marino (2008) is starring in the reality show "Back on Campus", which premiered on Saturday, April 8 on the ABC Family network. The show is based on four students sharing a dorm room with their parents for one semester.

Stuart Ruwe (2006) was named Greek Man of the Year on April 13, 2006, at the Greek Awards Banquet. He will be one of two people from the EIU IFC who will be receiving the NIC Award of Distinction on behalf of the EIU Interfraternity Council.

The chapter’s Teeter-Totter-a-Thon raised more than $1,800 for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

On April 12, the chapter won five out of six Greek awards. The awards won were: Highest GPA, New Member of the Year Mike Mackowski (2009), Greek Man of the Year Michael Sharp IV (2006), Most Philanthropic, and Most Outstanding Fraternity. Also, Bruce Hoffman (2008) received the SGA House Member of the Year award.

The chapter was awarded the campus’ Chapter of the Year award. Also, Sandro Negron (2009) received New Greek Member of the Year.

The chapter’s annual alumni Pig Roast took place on Saturday, April 1. Twenty alumni participated in the morning golf tournament and more than 45 alumni joined the chapter for dinner on Saturday afternoon. Attendees ranged from 18 to 80 years old, including Marvin Lundquist (1950) and Louis George (1948), two of the 25 founding fathers.

Three chapter members were recently named as Kansas State Greek Ambassadors: Alex Ball (2006), Jeff Stolper (2009), Andrew Marquez (2009).

Also the chapter hosted the annual "3v3 Soccer Tournament Philanthropy" with Delta Delta Delta sorority. The event attracted 33 teams and raised $2,000.

The chapter hosted Cancer Fighters and World Record Breakers, an event organized to benefit the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center. With a crowd of willing participants and assistance from a local barber shop, the members helped break the world record for "Most Heads Shaved" when they shaved 272 heads in four hours.

Art Hebbeler (Butler 1982) was installed as the chapter’s new High Pi. Hebbeler previously served on the chapter’s Alumni Advisory Board, and served on the house corporation/alumni association at North Dakota (Epsilon-Zeta) in the mid-1980s. He is currently the senior pastor and head of schools at Abiding Presence Lutheran Church in Beltsville, Maryland.

Steven Appelbaum (2006), the outgoing chapter president, was honored for his hard work, determination, courage, and success at the annual Rededication Ceremony for all of Greek Life by receiving the Greek Leader of the Year Award.

Spring Rush was a great success when the chapter tied for recruiting the most men, initiating 12 associate members on March 31. Ritual was held in the St. John Student Parish Church where Mark Inglot (HON) is the pastor. Director of Chapter Services John Holloway (High Point 1993) attended the event. The chapter initiated two legacies: Matt Evans (2009), son of Jeff Evans (Northern Michigan 1976); and Tim Slavin (2009), grandson of Elton Blose (Syracuse 1953).

The chapter won the Order of Omega awards for Excellence in Greek Spirit, Public Relations, and Academic Programming, as well as the overall Fraternity of Excellence Award. Individuals recognized included: James McVaugh (2006) as Greek Man of the Year, Jonathan Webb (2008) for Yearbook Photography, and Bentley Curry (2008) for Intramural Sports.

Aaron Welch (2006) received the Excellence in Student Leadership, the highest student award, at Student Leadership Recognition on April 24. In addition, Matthew Duffy (2008) was nominated for Best Student Leader of a Student Organization and the chapter was nominated for Outstanding Fraternity and Outstanding Student Organization.

The chapter was awarded Chapter of the Year at the Greek Awards Banquet held in March. It was the first time in 10 years the chapter received this honor. Also at the banquet, Mike Hughes (2006) was awarded President of the Year while Brothers Under Christ Bible Study won Program of the Year

For Easter, the chapter passed out Easter baskets to the elderly at the Carriage House Assisted Living Facility. Members felt very rewarded to see the smiles they elicited from those 50 patients.

The chapter recently took home many awards. Three members were recognized for being top Greek males on campus. The chapter was named champions of Greek Week and was awarded recognition for excellence in academics, recruitment, public relations and campus involvement.

The chapter won the following IFC awards at OU Awards Presentation: Achievement for Academic Programming, Campus Involvement, Chapter Programming, Community Service, and Volunteerism Programming.

With the help of the brothers from Drury (Theta-Sigma), the chapter initiated 12 members on April 8. Grand High Pi Lynn Chipperfield (Drury 1973) narrated the Steps of Our Ritual. The ceremony was followed by a barbeque, with noteworthy attendees including Chipperfield, Educational Leadership Consultant Jason Holt (South Carolina-Aiken 2005), and Alpha Gamma Delta International President Connie Yates-Brown.

The chapter received recognition for Chapter Management, IFC Recruitment, New Member Education, and University Relations at the 14th Annual Awards of Excellence.

The chapter held their annual Mother’s Day event on April 8, with more than 100 people attending. The afternoon included a cookout and gift raffle in honor of the active brothers’ moms.

All College Sing was held for the first time in three years in Pote Theater in April, a tradition that was started in the late 1960s. Of the 105 participants and eight teams, the winning group for the men was Lambda Chi Alpha.

The chapter won eight awards at this year’s Greek Week. Tyler Surman (2009) was named Outstanding Greek New Member, Matt Knickman (2008) was awarded Outstanding Greek Sophomore, and James Wells (2007) was awarded Outstanding Greek Junior. The chapter also won the Outstanding Chapter Community Service Award for the 5th year in a row, Best New Member GPA with a 2.926, Best Overall GPA with a 3.009, and the first ever Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol Award.

Along with the women from Chi Omega, the chapter won the 2006 Sing Song competition. The pairs performance, entitled "I Love Sing Song," opened with a tap routine led by Will Cooper (2009). The presentation continued on in a rehearsal-like setting and ended with a costumed spectacle of "Hot Stuff."

The chapter hosted its annual Teeter-Totter-A-Thon to raise awareness and money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The teeter-totter was ridden continually for five days. The event was co-sponsored by Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.