RHO ALPHA N Phi Gamma Delta, Rho Alpha Chapter (Virginia Tech), 202 Church Street, Biacksburg, VA 24060 cqabb@vt. edu House Phone: 540-552-3047 About This Newsletter Bv Chris Gabb '06 This is potentially our last newsletter that will be written by the undergraduates. The Rho Alpha graduate association has been working closely with Affinity Connection, a company that excels in database management, who will soon be taking over the role of maintaining our graduate contact information. Our new graduate association has big plans for the future of our chapter. However, they can not do it all! It is important to make sure your contact information is updated with both IHQ and the Rho Alpha Database. Obviously if you are receiving this newsletter, your information is correct but we still have many graduates whose addresses are not. If you are in contact with other Rho Alpha graduates, please ask them if they received this newsletter. If they haven't, simply tell them to send an email to cgabb@vt.edu and we will quickly update their information. The 35th Annual Pig Dinner will be held on March 31st this Spring! RSVPs will be going out in the beginning of January so please keep a look out. Occasionally check www.vtfiji.com for more information regarding the event as the date becomes closer. There are rooms with special rates available for Rho Alphas at the Inn at Virginia Tech so make your reservations early in advance. We hope to see all of you! If you have any comments or suggestions, please just let us know. VTFlJI.com By Chris Cabb '06 This is just a friendly reminder that VTFIJI.com is still up and running. Please read the following information that was provided by Tom Ostasiewski in last year's newsletter for access: The site has two levels of access. One is for anyone I that wishes to look - the public. The other is meant for you, our brothers. It does require a username and | password. Most of the more interesting content is located here, including Pig Dinner plans. Homecoming events, photos and a bulletin board. Please take a look, save the site in your "Favorite Places" and check back periodically. There's a link there to request more access if you so desire. INSIDE THIS ISSUE VTFIJI.com, Ekklesia Relay, Scholarship, Clean-Up, ( FIJI Run Career Services Career Services cont. Undergraduate Spotlight Our own ACC champion Ekklesia By Ethan Crockett '08 Every two years, Phi Gam brothers come together in a major city for Ekklesia, the national governing body of Phi Gamma Delta International. This year, Brother John Hall and I were lucky enough to be in attendance at this event in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Including graduates, more than five Rho Alpha's were in attendance throughout the weekend. The event was held at the Hyatt Regency Conference Center at Nicolet Mall. Conferences and seminars were held for different committees, allowing the graduate brothers to guide the undergraduates in conducting the business of Phi Gam's international sector. Other demonstrations and conferences were given for performing and perfecting formal meetings, purple legionnaire training, as well as a service project for the community. Brothers congregated from as far as Florida International to Multiple Canadian chapters to meet for this event, with approximately one thousand in attendance. Rho Alpha was recognized along with the Omnicron brothers (University of Virginia) as a roll model chapter in the area of philanthropy and fundraising for the past three years work, reaching the $100,000 mark for the FIJI Run Across Virginia. It should be known to the graduates of Rho Alpha that even if you have never participated in an Ekklesia before, it is not too late! Graduate brothers aging to almost one-hundred years old were still in attendance at this year's Phi Gam convention. It's never too late to get involved and help out your fraternity! The 2008 Ekklesia was announced to be held in Miami, Florida. I hope there will be more Rho Alpha's in attendance! \r\nPage 2 Rho Alpha News Summer House Clean-Up FIJI Run Across Virginia By Ethan Crockett '08 By Ross Milikan '08 m This summer, on July 15 , the Rho Alpha graduate association and many of the undergraduate brothers assembled for summer house cleanup weekend in Blacks burg. For the past three years, the Virginia Tech chapter of Phi Gamma Delta has united with the University of Virginia's chapter of Phi Gamma Delta to raise money for the Jimmy V Cancer Research foundation. Notable projects that occurred were: recovering the backyard from the summer flood, repainting the interior and patching the walls, and tree pruning was performed along the driveway and over the volleyball court. In addition to raising money, the game ball used in the football game of the two biggest rivals in the state, will be run a total of 178 miles from Charlottesville Virginia to Blacksburg Virginia by the brothers of both chapters. The game ball will be presented on Worsham field with the check for the Jimmy V foundation. Following the day of work, some brothers concluded the day with a trip down to the river to relax. In the past three years, we have raised over $100,000, and this year both chapters were able to raise $33,450. Rho Alpha had a chapter high of $17,000. Relay For Life By Ethan Crockett '08 The Football run has become the largest student run philanthropy at Virginia Tech, and this could not have been possible without the generous donations from our chapter's graduates. To learn more about the football run, or to make a donation, please see http://www.fiiirunacrossvirainia.com/. The Virginia Tech & Montgomery County Relay for Life was held on the Virginia Tech campus on the evening of April 21, morning of April 22. The campus and community managed to raise over $140,000 for the American Cancer Society. This event serves as an excellent transition between the FIJI Run Across Virginia to benefit the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research in the fall. The FIJI Relay for Life team was 18 strong, plus one sister from the Delta Gamma sorority. The team worked to raise $6,421.68 for the American Cancer Society, and as a result placed as number one fundraiser for the event. FIJI brother, Francis Kot and pledge brother Adam Roberts each raised over $1,000, and were named grand winners. Kot, however, took home the second 1st place award for the FIJI team as the top individual fundraiser, personally raising $2,731.68 for the ACS. Lastly, FIJI was also named #1 Greek Fundraiser for the event. Rho Alpha looks forward to the 2007 Virginia Tech Relay for Life, and will miss all our Seniors that were vital to making this event a success in 2006. Rho Alpha Scholarship By Chris Gabb '06 The Rho Alpha chapter successfully established its first ever rush scholarship for the incoming class of students this fall. Hoyt Bonner, VP Advisory, spearheaded the operation for the Graduate Association, which made possible both a $300 and $200 scholarship available to any incoming freshman or transfer student. After all the applications were collected, two notable gentlemen stood out above the rest. Dan Edberg, a transfer student from Virginia Commonwealth University, was awarded the $300 scholarship and Eric Johnson, an incoming freshman, was awarded the $200 scholarship. Both of these gentlemen are currently pledging the fraternity and bring much promise to our distinguished academic tradition of excellence. The chapter will be offering the scholarship again in the spring and hope to award more students who we believe fit the image of a gentleman of quality. \r\nPage 3 Rho Alpha News Fiji Career Services There has been too much disconnect in the past between our undergraduates and graduates in terms of networking for internships or full-time positions. The following provides several brothers' academic and contact information. Please take the time to look over the list and contact these brothers if there is a position available in your company. Our fraternity should utilize our successful graduates and put our undergraduates in an advantageous position. Miles Green Sophomore Finance & Accounting GPA: 3.65 Business Internship Location: Richmond, VA mbgreen@vt.edu Jeffrey Kramer Sophomore Pre-med/Pre-law GPA: 3.34 Lab/Office Assistant Location: Washington, DC jkramer@vt.edu William Santos Sophomore Economics/Biology GPA: 3.42 Business or Biology Internship Location: Washington, DC wjsantos@vt.edu Chris Perry Sophomore BIT GPA: 3.0 Business Internship Location: Washington, DC cjperry@vt.edu David Giammittorio Sophomore Political Science/Psychology GPA: 3.5 Internship within field Location: Northern, VA giammitd@vt.edu Ross Millikan Sophomore Civil Engineering GPA: 3.3 Engineering Internship Location: Richmond, VA rmilika@vt.edu Joey McDougall Senior Psychology GPA: 3.98 Gov't Law Enforcement Location: Richmond, VA jmcdoug@vt.edu Ben Axman Junior Marketing Management Business Internship Location: Richmond, VA baxman@vt.edu Casey Rafter Sophomore Building Construction GPA; 2.68 Construction Internship Location: Washington, DC rafter@vt.edu Alex Gorski Senior Civil Engineering Full-Time Location: Anywhere agorski@vt.edu Andrew Abate Junior Hospitality and Management GPA: 3.43 Internship Location: N. EastAA/est Coast abate@vt.edu Peter Lee Junior Finance Investment Banking Internship Location: DC/Baltimore leep@vt.edu Daniel Knott Sophomore Biochem/Psychology GPA: 3.95 Medical Internship Location: Richmond, VA dknott@vt.edu Adam Roberts Sophomore Biochem GPA: 3.95 Medical Internship Location: Richmond, VA Arob09@vt.edu Adam Oppenheim Sophomore Biology GPA: 3.68 Medical/Dental Internship Location: Yorktown, VA Adam09@vt.edu \r\nRho Alpha News Page 4 Career Services cont. Josh Phillips Sophomore Economics GPA: 3.5 Business Internship Location: Stafford, VA Jkphil05@vt.edu Griffin Goodreau Sophomore Biology GPA: 3.34 Med/Pharm/Dental Internship Location: NOVA, Blacksburg gdgood@vt.edu Justin Longest Sophomore Accounting GPA: 2.95 Accounting/Finance Internship Location: Richmond, VA jlongest@vt.edu Anthony Del Porto Senior Mechanical Engineering Full-time Process Engineer Location: Charleston, SC adelport@vt.edu Andrew Hanlin Senior Political Science GPA: 3.33 Local/Fed. Law Enforcement Location: Northern VA Ahanlin@vt.edu Hunter Smith Senior Geography GPA: 2.75 GIS Tech/Analyst Location: Anywhere, U.S. Hjsmith@vt.edu Chris Lawrence Senior Sociology/Music GPA: 2.98 Sound Rfmnt./Recording Location: V A/West Coast phishhed@vt.edu Dan Acker Senior Sociology GPA: 3.2 Local/Fed. Law Enforcement Location: Anywhere Acker@vt.edu Dylan Tarrant Senior Industrial Design/BUS. Minor GPA: 3.5 Internship Location: Anywhere jtarrant@vt.edu Seth McFarland Senior Business Information Tech. GPA: 2.7 Full-time Location: Anywhere stmcfarl@vt.edu Jeff Sloyer Sophomore Computer Science GPA: 2.67 Co-op/Internship Location: Anywhere jsloyer@vt.edu Tom Boster Sophomore Business GPA: 2.9 Internship Location: Anywhere trboster@vt.edu Mason Barret Sophomore Finance GPA: 2.8 Internship Location: Anywhere jmbarret@vt.edu John Hall Senior Turf Management GPA: 3.06 Full-time Location: Anywhere Jhall4@vt.edu Brian Krynitsky Sophomore Business Management GPA: 3.00 Internship Location: Anywhere Djbk87@vt.edu Phil Talarico Junior Business Information Tech. GPA: 2.75 Internship Location: New Jersey ptal@vt.edu Jonathan Edge Junior Finance GPA: 3.2 Internship Location: Richmond, VA Jedge04@vt.edu \r\nPage 5 Rho Alpha News Undergraduate Spotlight \ By Miles Green '09 Anthony Del Porto '06 Anthony Del Porto takes center stage for this semester's undergraduate spotlight. Anthony pledged in the Fall of 2002 with the Gamma Beta pledge class, making him the oldest undergraduate brother in the chapter. His participation and involvement in Rho Alpha have made him a brother to look up too and model oneself after. Anthony Del Porto currently serves as President of our chapter but has held positions in the past such as internal social chair and service chair. He stresses making a difference in whatever position in the fraternity one holds and encourages brothers to always live up to their fullest potential. As president, Anthony has truly used his position to make a mark on the chapter. This year, he gave the order to create and is facilitating the formation of an oncampus philanthropy for the FIJI Football Run Across Virginia. The chapter hopes to raise awareness of our run throughout the Virginia Tech community with this campus wide philanthropy. Del Porto also intends to give FIJI some political clout in the Interfraternity Council by encouraging and campaigning for members of FIJI to be on the executive committee. He cites some of his most rewarding experiences as President as giving the speech for Pig Dinner this past year and also getting involved in graduate chapter rneetings. Not only is Anthony heavily involved with FIJI but his leadership extends to campus life as well. He serves as president and director of "Naturally Sharp," a well-known a cappella group on campus. Anthony founded the group in 2002 during his freshman year and has watched it grow into Virginia Tech's premier all male a cappella group. They hope to release a CD in the near future. He majors in Mechanical Engineering with a focus in Green engineering and minors in Business. He will be graduating in May '07. His future plans include returning to his hometown of Charleston, S.C. and beginning work in manufacturing/process engineering and then eventually starting his own company. No one does a better job at motivating brothers and getting them excited about being involved in the chapter than Anthony Del Porto. His devotion to Phi Gamma Delta and its values have placed him in this year's undergraduate spotlight. Anthony Del Porto enjoying FIJI'S annual date function ACC Champion By Matthew Dremel '06 Last year our very own Justin Staylor won the ACC tournament at the 125 weight class. Last year he returned to the Virginia Tech wrestling team full of confidence and was ready to improve further upon a very successful freshman season, going 26-11 overall and 5-0 in the ACC. He also placed second in the 2005 ACC tournament his freshman year. In the 2006 season he went 4-1 in the ACC and 25-12 overall. However, it was in the 2006 ACC tournament where he reaped the benefits of a season of hard work where he was named the first ACC champion of the year. In the final he wrestled against Bobby Shaw of North Carolina and took a 10-5 win. He had a 4-3 lead going into the third period. During the third period he scored a reversal and a three point near fall to pull further ahead in the scoring. Later he also earned a riding time point to finalize his victory. This season Justin has been red-shirted and will be participating in open tournaments, and the Rho Alpha chapter of FIJI will be there to support him through all of his endeavors. \r\n. > newsletter to be as convenient as possible for you. Phi Gamma Delta Rho Alpha Chapter (Virginia Tech) If yo> ..n to receive this newsletter via email... 202 Church Street Blacksburg, VA 24060 Please send an email to House Phone: 540-552-3047 cgabb@vt.edu E-Mail: cgabb@vt.edu and let us know www.vtfijl.com Not for College Days Alone Phi Gamma Delta 202 Church Street Blacksburg, VA 24060 www.vtfiji.com Dana W.Hesse 11201 BasswoodTer Laurel, MD 20708-3173 2070BS3173 CO IB,