W&L FIJI Zeta Deuteron Chapter ‐ Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity ‐ Washington & Lee University January 2014 Volume 2, Issue 1 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE By: Jordan Yost (2014) - Chapter President The past year has been a time of constant growth and change for FIJI at Washington & Lee. Greetings Brothers, My name is Jordan Yost and I am currently the president of Zeta Deuteron at Wash“This past year has ington and Lee. I am a senbeen a time of ior journalism major from constant growth and Fairfax, VA, and am planchange for FIJI at ning on teaching elemenWashington & Lee.” tary school upon graduating in May. I have previously served as New Member Educa- Our winter term pledge class tor, Scholarship Chair, and of 15 marks a major step in the Historian. right direction for our chapter. relatively low recruitment numbers, I believe this new group of fine young men will give Zeta Deuteron the numbers to truly make an impact on campus and in the Lexington community. With this success in mind, Zeta Deuteron is more committed than ever to its recent call-to-action to improve the chapter following advice from (Continued on page 2) QUESTIONS? For questions regarding the activities or state of the Zeta Deuteron Chapter, please contact our Corresponding Secretary, Michael Donnellan. (423)-963-5433 dmdonnellan13@gmail.com 112 W Preston St Lexington, VA 24450 After two consecutive years of A VIEW FROM THE HOUSE By: Lisa Tracy - House Director/House Mom Our winter term is well underway, and it’s been an eventful year, as Chapter President Jordan Yost’s letter will have told you. I’d like to take the opportunity here to introduce myself briefly, thank several very important people in our lives, and just brag a little about our current band of brothers here at Zeta Deuteron. This is my third year as your chapter’s house director/house mom, and it’s been a joy and an adventure. I’m a native of Lexington and a journalist, author and editor by trade. I have one child, a son currently serving in the Marine Corps. Retiring to Lexington after a career at the Philadel- phia Inquirer meant coming home for me, and working at FIJI has been the icing on the cake. I follow but could never replace House Director Barbara Geddes, who retired in 2011 and is now living outside of Atlanta. I can only say it was and is a great privilege to inherit the position she defined and to serve the house for which she did so BROTHERS GATHER in front of the house in this 1940s much. We are very fortunate to photo. The picture came to us courtesy of Harris Oswalt have Mark Muchmore of Mobile, AL, a grandson of Guy Coleman Oswalt (1940). (2004) and Brian Higgins (2004) leading our House times and some hard spots. Adam Wagner have been Corp. as president and treasVisits from Dana Hesse, chief invaluable. We are also urer. They’ve supported us of Phi Gamma Delta’s Section blessed to have the best wholeheartedly through these (Continued on page 4) IX, and from Field Secretary three years, through some great \r\nW&L FIJI Page 2 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE continued... (Continued from page 1) the International Headquarters. We have been working tirelessly to ensure the smooth implementation of the Pledge Education Program that IHQ recommends. We believe that this program, which emphasizes the values of Friendship, Knowledge, Service, Morality, and Excellence, will both strengthen the brotherhood of Zeta Deuteron and educate our new members on the rich traditions of our fraternity. Zeta Deuteron’s philanthropic efforts and academics have flourished this year. In the first semester alone, our chapter averaged over 20 hours of community service per brother, accumulating a total of 674 hours of charitable volunteer work. Through their work at Habitat for Humanity, local soup kitchens, and several other fine Marino Orlandi (2015), Grant Cokeley local charities, the brothers of Zeta (2016), Billy Fries (2016) and Matt Deuteron have truly distinguished Ziemer (2014) weigh Fiji’s 150-pound themselves as an asset to the commufood donation at the Rockbridge Area nity. On the academic front, our chapRelief Association. ter attained a 3.42 GPA this past seopportunity to have led such an outmester, the second highest fraternity standing group of young men. Graduaverage on campus. All told, fall term was full of new developments and distin- ates, thank you for establishing the traditions we strive daily to uphold. And figuished accomplishments for Zeta Deunally, I would like to thank our House teron. This semester brings with it new Mother Lisa for her tireless efforts and challenges and new opportunities for constant benevolent presence. our brothers to better themselves and the surrounding community. RARA Secretary Mary Bergen, Pantry Manager Anna Bolling, and Executive Director Mary B. Brown with the Fiji team. As the outgoing president at the end of winter term, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you. Brothers and recent graduates, you have truly made the last four years an unforgettable experience and I deeply appreciate the Finally, this newsletter marks a renewed effort on the part of our chapter to connect with Zeta Deuteron graduates, which is a crucial part of any successful chapter. The future is looking bright for Zeta Deuteron, but we do not want to forget our past. SCHOLARSHIP FUND CHAPTER LEADERSHIP W&L’s Fiji Chapter will be raising funds to create a New Member Scholarship that will be given to a deserving potential member with financial constraints. We believe that a person’s character, not finances, should be the most important prerequisite for joining our fraternity. With help from our strong graduate base, we hope to provide the first scholarship at the beginning of the 2014 school year. To learn more about the scholarship or to contribute, please contact myersd14@mail.wlu.edu. Jordan Yost (2014) - President Griffin Cook (2015) - Treasurer Michael Donnellan (2015) - Corresponding Secretary Tyler Kaelin (2016) - Recruitment Chairman Bren Flanigan (2016) - Social Chairman Grant Cokeley (2016) - Pledge Education Chairman Marino Orlandi (2015) - Recording Secretary Billy Fries (2016) - Philanthropy Chairman SAVE THE DATE - PIG DINNER - MAY 3, 2014 The annual Pig Dinner is being reinstituted this year, with a tentative date of Saturday, May 3, during Alumni Weekend, likely in the late afternoon. The date recalls Phi Gamma Delta’s official founding, May 1, 1848. It will be a great occasion for brothers to get reacquainted with their house and each other. PLEASE RSVP by email to donnelland15@mail.wlu.edu by April 1 – we’re trying to get a head count. \r\nPage 3 MEET THE CLASS OF 2014 Our seniors are the outstanding group of gentlemen you’d expect them to be. Before they get away from us and join the graduate ranks, here’s a thumbnail sketch of our 2014 brothers: medical school. Track team, 100s and 200s. Part of last spring’s winning ODAC champion 4x100 relay. ♦ Mac Keers: Economics major, from ♦ Jay Catlett: Accounting/Business Administration major; hails from Richmond, VA; has ridden on the Travellers ♦ cycling team; will attend UVA in the fall; working this summer with Ernst & Young in Richmond. ♦ Phil Dishuck: Biology major, from ♦ Tuscaloosa, AL. Member, the Alpha Epsilon Delta premedical honor society, treasurer of Student Environmental Action League (SEAL). Three♦ year member of the swim team. Internships: 2013 computational biology research at W&L; 2012, research at the Spanish National Cancer Research Center in Madrid. Looking to do biology research or consulting. ♦ Mark Faubion: International Politics and Spanish double major, with minor in Latin American and Caribbean stud♦ ies, from Dallas, TX. Deans List, Honor Roll, and Scholar Athlete. Two years on swim team, sidelined by injury but helps coach a Special Olympics team. Working in the Generals Development Initiative (GenDev) as director of international development, and with student group P4T (Preparing for Tomorrow), raising awareness of international issues. Teaches Spanish once weekly at local elementary school. ♦ Will Fulwider: Chinese and History double major, from Columbus, OH. Editor, literary magazine Muse; Member, SEAL; staff member, Outing Club; ♦ music director, WLUR. Plays folk guitar; choreographed for last spring’s aerial dance troupe. Studied in China in 2012. Member of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor So♦ ciety. ♦ Cole Glasgow: Religion major and pre-med. From Dallas, TX, bound for Statistical Mechanics 2013. Currently working on a thesis in nanoparticle self-assembly from his own research. Looking to work in research and development. Wilton, CT; member of the track team. Will be working at Deutsche Bank post- ♦ Kevin Sullivan: Economics and Socigraduation. ology double major, from Sandwich, MA. Co-captain of the track team. AllAgustin Kim: Sociology major, from Conference for the javelin throw, 2011, Los Angeles, CA. Track team, 100s and 2012, 2013. Member of W&L student 200s, member of the ODAC champion consulting and Generals Development 4X100 relay. Initiative. Will be working for MidCap H.T. Kotchinian: Biology major, Financial in Washington, DC, after from Lowell, MA. Three years on wresgraduation. tling team, heading for graduate school ♦ Kane Thomas: Chinese and Politics in dentistry, at Tufts or NYU. double major, from Seattle, WA. CapJoe Morgan: Classics major, from tain, cross-country team; co-captain, Louisville, KY. Honors candidate, with track team. RA 2012-13 and 2013-14. thesis on patterns in the representation Lead guitar, vocalist and composer for of northern foreigners in Greek and the alternative rock group Nudist BudRoman historiography from the second dhist. Member of Men’s Glee Club and century BCE through the second cenUniversity Singers, 2010-13. Recent tury CE. Studied in Wales and Italy, inductee of ODK Honor Society. 2012-13. Looking ahead: possible grad ♦ Jordan Yost: Journalism and Educaschool, teaching. tion double major, from Fairfax, VA. Dillon Myers: Business AdministraChapter President, 2013-14; Zeta Deution and Chinese double major, from teron officer, 2011-14. Dean’s List (5X) Foxboro, MA. Honors candidate. and Honor Roll. Recipient of the Carter Placed 11th nationally in the decathlon Glass Jr., the Charles Poellnitz Johnsin 2012; in ODAC championships 2013, ton, and the Josiah P. Rowe Jr. scholarhad three second-place finishes in long ships. Member, wrestling team, 2010jump, high jump and 400H and placed 2011; track team, 2012-2014. Academic first in the 4x400. NCAA Academic AllAll-conference track and wrestling American in 2012 and 2013. Business teams. Currently student teaching full manager of the Ring Tum Phi, executime. Plans to teach elementary school tive director of student consulting, expost-graduation. ecutive board member of Generals De♦ Matt Ziemer: Sociology and Ecovelopment Initiative. Internship 2013 nomics double major, from Charlotte, with financial technology startup NC. Honors thesis on race bias in NFL Dwolla in Silicon Valley. draftee evaluations. Member, rugby Jonathan Sells: Japanese and Interteam. Philanthropic national Politics double major, from activities have inTampa, FL. Track team long jump. cluded initiating FIJI Spring semester 2012 in Japan, studyinvolvement with the ing language and culture. nonprofit CommuBrian Simpson: Physics major, from nity Table and helpTucson, AZ. Active in on-campus physing lead FIJIs fall ics research since 2011-12, with results 2013 RARA food of one study published in Journal of drive. \r\nNonprofit Org Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity 1201 Red Mile Road Lexington, KY 40504 US Postage Paid Lexington, KY Permit # 540 A VIEW FROM THE HOUSE continued... (Continued from page 1) chef on campus. Dave Cobb (W&L ’87) hails from the Chicago area, trained at the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago, a Cordon Bleu affiliate, and is in his fourth year with us. When the brothers describe him as our secret recruitment advantage, they’re not kidding. His daily meals and party fare are legendary campus -wide. These three years have seen so many stellar accomplishments by the gentlemen of FIJI that I’ll only be able to mention a few of the most recent. However, in newsletters to come, we will feature current brothers and graduates, and we hope you’ll send us your news. A website is also in the works – we’ll hope to have it up by spring term. Jordan told you about our fall GPA –and this from a group of guys for whom double majors are common! And besides great academic skills, our brothers are outstanding in sports, extracurricular activities, and community service. You’ve seen the news on Page 1 of our support for the local food pantry, which is much needed in this county. Most recently, our Fijis spent a cleanup day at Boxerwood, the local nature center, which offers environmental classes for every child in the county, regardless of income. They’ve also supported Community Table, a nonprofit serving affordable meals – just to name a few of their philanthropic activities. Our brothers can be found on the crosscountry and track teams, with Fiji seniors Kane Thomas (2014) and Kevin Sullivan (2014) as track cocaptains; on the swim team, and on the wrestling mats and the rugby field. Among extracurricular activities, FIJI can claim the editor of the literary magazine; the business manager of the Ring Tum Phi; musicians who perform in the uni- versity’s choral groups and wind ensemble, as well as in an alt rock group that’s won the campus-wide open mike contest two years running; members of the Outing Club; and an enterprising group of seniors who participate in the Generals Development Initiative, a campus microfinance group. As these formidable Fijis go forward, they are following in your footsteps. Part of our wish in sending out this newsletter is that you will come back to see us – for the Pig Dinner on Alumni Weekend in May, Homecoming in the fall, or whenever you can. I also hope that you’ll think of supporting your chapter, remembering the value of the place that was your home away from home when you were here. Please be a presence in our lives – email, text, call or mail us – send news, come visit, and we will welcome you with open arms! 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