Cross & Crescent

Chapter members participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life charity event.

Chapter members cleaned up trash along the Concho River in San Angelo, Texas.

Justin Howell won third place in the annual Angelo State University pie-eating contest.

Stu Barnes-Israel (2009) was elected senior class president.

Jess Zimmerman (2011) was elected sophomore class president.

Rees Sloan (2011) was elected sophomore class treasurer.

Chapter members co-sponsored a blood drive on Valentine’s Day to benefit the Blood Bank of Delmarva.

The chapter earned a 3.01 GPA for the fall 2007 semester, better than all-men’s average.

Under the Chapter Assessment Program, created by the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council, the chapter earned a gold-level score for the fall 2007 semester for their combined ranking on four standards: academics, chapter management, membership development, and community involvement.

During the 2008 Greek Week Awards, the chapter won the Greek Sing Award, the Greek Games Award, and Joe Hoffman (2008) won the Greek Man of the Year Award.

Russell Mercer (2010) was one of the 500 University of Florida students and members of the Gainesville community who participated in the inaugural launch of Project Makeover: Rawlings Edition, which involved repainting the Rawlings Elementary School in Gainesville, Florida.

The chapter held an Initiation Ritual for 14 new brothers on January 31, 2008.

The cumulative GPA for the new initiates was 3.33 for the fall 2007 semester, the highest of all fraternities. The entire chapter earned a cumulative 3.23 GPA for the fall 2007 semester, the highest of all fraternities, and above the all-men’s average.

Chapter members were invited to join the following honor societies: Edgar Meyer (2010), Brian Mitchell (2009), Joshua Whitam (2011)–Alpha Epsilon Delta-Pre-Medical; Eric Miller (2008), Whitam–Beta Beta Beta-Biology; Meyer–Eta Sigma Phi-Classics; Justin Huckaby 2010)–Mu Phi Epsilon-Music; Kenith Crose (2009), Brian Hall (2008)–Omicron Delta Epsilon-Economics; Steven Eastlack (2011), Philip Ewbank (2011), Jorge Jimenez (2011), Ben McNair (2011), Alex Olinger (2011), Evan Parker (2011), Whitam–Phi Eta Sigma-Freshmen; Jimmy Cuevas (2010)–Pi Mu Epsilon-Math; Chris Awwad (2009), Andrew Olinger (2009)–Sigma Delta Pi-Spanish; David Smolkin (2008)–Sigma Gamma Epsilon-Geology; Luke Darby (2009)–Sigma Tau Delta-English; Meyer–Sigma Lambda-Millsaps Service; Ben Cain (2009)–Order of Omega-Greek Leadership; Cain, Jonathan Webb (2008)–Omicron Delta Kappa-Leadership.

In addition, three chapter members were named editors for the The Purple & White: Mitchell is the sports section editor, and McNair and Alex Pieschel (2010) are both layout editors.

A benefit concert was held on March 8, 2008, at Pierson Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri, on behalf of Jesse Ross (2010) who disappeared in November 2006, in Chicago, Illinois, while attending a model United Nations conference. Funds raised will go towards a scholarship in his name.

For the eighth year in a row, chapter members helped the Purple team to victory during College Night, the annual homecoming tradition that includes various intramural sporting events and original musical productions. Zach Banks (2008) served as the co-leader for the team.

The chapter placed second in the Homecoming Week competition, the highest of any fraternity. Chapter Vice President Brett Hornsby (2010) was named as a member of the Homecoming Court, placing second overall.

Chapter members participated in Guilford County’s 8th annual Polar Plunge, which raises money for the Special Olympics and its athletes. Lambda Chi Alpha has participated all eight years, winning best costume every year. This year the chapter dressed as Star Wars characters and raised nearly $1,100.

More than 100 undergraduate and alumni members attended the Northwest Pacific Conclave held on February 8-10, 2008, in Vancouver, Washington. Chapters attending included the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, the University of Washington, and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. The programming highlight was a speech by Master Steward Ray Lutzky (Rensselaer Polytechnic 2002) regarding the Warren A. Cole Recruitment Institute. At the awards luncheon, the following chapters were recognized: Washington–Scholarship; Oregon State and Washington State–Recruitment; Washington–Man Miles; and Washington, Oregon State–Host Chapters. After a full day of programming on Saturday, more than 30 alumni and guests gathered at a reception to hear about the True Brother Initiative from Executive Vice President Bill Farkas (Butler 1988), and Former Grand High Zeta Board Member Dr. Jeff Steele (Washington 1964).

Chapter Vice President Ben Bigby was named outstanding junior, and chapter Secretary Tyler Coker was named outstanding sophomore.

The chapter placed second for the University of Oklahoma President’s Trophy for best all-around fraternity on campus. They received awards for superior work in Academics, campus activities and involvement, multi-cultural programming, and community service.

Chapter members and members of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority placed third in the Penn State Dance Marathon, raising nearly $187,000 for the Four Diamonds Fund, which benefits pediatric cancer research and care at the Penn State Children’s Hospital in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The event raised a record $6.6 million.

Michael Kraft (2009) was named 2008 Big Man on Campus at the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority fundraiser held on March 1, 2008, at the Elliott Hall of Music. The event raised more than $88,000 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Chapter members funded and organized the second annual Easter Egg Hunt for about 100 children and parents at Gibbs Elementary in Huntsville, Texas. More than 2,000 plastic eggs stuffed with candy and marked with Lambda Chi Alpha letters were scattered around the playground for the children to collect.

Chapter members served as volunteers at the annual Mercedes Marathon held on February 11, 2008, in Birmingham, Alabama.

Joe Craig (2011) and Matt Lakenburger (2011) were elected as Student Government senators. They join brothers Scott Crean (2008), Joe Gholson (2009), Billy Garrett (2009), Ben Hooe (2011), and Nolan Ryan (2011). Gholson is the current vice president of Student Government and Crean is the chair of the Student Issues Committee.

Franklin Grey (2009) was selected as the man of the year for the Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority.

Nick Griggs (2009) was selected as the man of the year for the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority.

Chapter members hosted a Bowl for the Cure event that benefits the American
Breast Cancer Foundation; participated in Dance Marathon and won an Attendance Award for Greek students; and participated in an event at the SEMO basketball game, winning a listing in the Yellow Pages for Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

Hooe and Craig were selected as co-chairs of the Student Alumni Association. They will be involved with the planning of the fall 2008 Homecoming.

Performing a variety show, entitled “You Tube Invades UTC,” chapter members won the Best Fraternity Award at the annual Greek Show Competition on February 22, 2008, benefiting T.C. Thompson’s Children’s Hospital.

Nathaniel Lay (2009) was admitted to Physical Therapy School at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga to participate in their DPT program.

Ross Terry (2008) was admitted to Physical Therapy School at the University of Tennessee Medical Center located in Memphis, Tennessee. He will be joining his brother, Kyle Terry (2006).

Chapter members volunteered as participants in the Kirksville Police Department tactical training.

The colony was approved for chartering, and the chartering banquet will take place on May 3, 2008.

The colony added 11 new associate members.

Colony members participated in Sorority Conundrum charity event in which participants “kidnapped” stuffed sorority mascots. The sororities then had to solve the Conundrum Puzzle and donate canned food to retrieve their mascots. All food donations went to local food banks.

Colony members participated in Alpha Xi Delta’s Shamrock Shuffle 5K run on March 15, 2008. Associate Member Joe Hampton (2012) placed third and won the Most Spirited Award.

Andrew Scarponi (2007) received a Fulbright Scholarship and is studying asymmetrical information and bargaining in China’s antiques bazaars.