HAPTER OF PHI GAMMA DELTA - UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA THE OMICRON GREETINGS FROM THE TEMPLE Our men have regrouped from summer, and we are already off to an- other great year together at 128 Madison Lane. We have worked hard to achieve some significant successes since we sent out the last newsletter. Our chapter GPA was the second highest among fraternities with over a 3.4. We also were able to capture the High- points Championship for the first time in over a decade. Special thanks go to our current chapter Treasurer, Dan Reaves, for establishing a winning mentality and carrying us through until we reached our goal. Internation- al Headquarters also awarded us the Cheney Cup — the trophy given to the a i best overall chapter — for the second consecutive year, and I was fortunate enough to receive the award on the Chapter's behalf at Ekklesia this August. , It was a great honor, and I also really appreciated how impressed other chapters / were of our successes. This semester we have already completed our fall rush. We have four men who accepted their bids to become pledges, and we are extremely excited to see how they do. We are also already preparing for a larger rush in the spring. If you know any young men at the University who are interested in joining a fraternity, please let them know about Fiji! Beyond recruitment, we continue to have a variety of brotherhood and social events at the house which bring us together and help us celebrate our college days. Hopefully we saw many of you back during Homecomings for our Pig Dinner, but feel free to stop by the House any time you are in town. Fraternally, Chris Megaw Omicron Chapter President 08 Pergé! FALL 2008 LINGS JORDAN BABER JOE STOOTS CLIFTON, VA CINCINNATI, OH JOSH JOLISSAINT MATT EMMEL NEWPORT NEws, VA ABON, CT PiG DINNER ’O8 HELD Nov. 1 - DETAILS ON PAGE 4. VISIT FIJI ON-LINE TO LEARN MORE: UVAFIJI.ORG \r\nGRADUATE Rob McGough (’92), Curtis Gifford (’92), Greg Scharer (91), and Dave Rapp (’96) climbed Mount Rainier (14,411’) this sum- mer, setting up camp and spending the night on top in the crater rim instead of tagging the summit heading back down. A full account can be found at hetp://hugebean. blogspot.com. Danny Brosnihan (97) has moved to a new drop zone and now works at Skydive Orange in Orange, VA. He is preparing to make his 1000th skydive next month, He will also be ramping-up training in the coming months with a new skydiving team that will be headed to Eloy Arizona in the Fall 2009 to compete in US Skydiving Nationals with the inten- tion of medaling, Nick Feakins (05), Purple Legionnaire, married Allison Levesque on August 9, 2008 in Falmouth, Maine. Allie graduated from Harvard University and was a sister in Delta Gamma. They are currently living in Charlottesville, VA while Allie completes her MBA at Darden. Nick Kristoff (’06) is living in Hilton Head Island, SC and working as a mortgage consultant for CoastalStates Bank where he has enjoyed front row seats for the Houston-we-have-a-problem-oh-wait-no-we-have-700 -billion-wait-the-marke still-tanking financial debacle. He was re- cently engaged to Austin Cline (‘07). Their wedding is planned for June 2009 in Hilton Head. Bill Jeter (’78) tied the knot on February 9, 2008 to Valerie Wirt and then escaped to Costa Rica for a great honeymoon. Jetes also inherited a wonderful 7-year old stepdaughter named Emily, for sure a future mulei- sport athlete. Bill, Valerie and Emily invite you to come by their tailgate space at East D15 & 16. Brother Jeter has worked as a Financial Advisor for the past 25 years and is presently employed at Smith Barney in Rich- mond, VA. Jetes presently serves on the Omicron House Corporation. Steve Nauss (’72) finds that retirement has been anything but quiet. In addition to works as a consultant and "Chairman Emeritus" of his old business, he is a Trustee for The Shenandoah National Park Trust, serves on Fiji House Corp, is part owner in a Virginia winery and vineyard, has two young kids to still chase around (who he cannot catch!), is active in his country club, works out religiously, and hopes to get back to doubles squash and golf when he finishes rehabbing his left knee which was just adjusted by his orthopedic surgeon that he has on retainer. ‘The University of Virginia wrestling team recently awarded the first John Pegues Character Award, named for three-time ACC Champion wrestler John Pegues (’71). The award honors the qualities of great char- acter, moral fiber, and who sets an example for his teammates “off the mats . Daniel Podhajny (‘04) passed the February 2008 bar exam, and is now a licensed attorney in Virginia, working as a patent lawyer in Fairfax, VA, practicing at the same firm that employs current law school stu- dent Steve Driskill (05). He married Erin Marie O' Hara on August 16, 2008, With many other brothers in attendance, he was pied with ferocity. Alec Rothman (’06) moved to a new job this spring and now works for Greenpeace USA in Washington, DC as the organizations first Data Analyse. It’s not a bad gig, as he finds himself without the typical cor- porate tie downs and red tape that used to ruin his life. With his new position, Alec is just one step closer to finally becoming that dirty hip- pie that Fiji's can resent as the "liberal nut" among the bunch at future reunions. The next goal in his career is to chase down whaling fleets in the South Pacific, Greg Treharne ('02) is in his third year of Medical School at Tulane. Christopher “Woody” Woodburn ('87) just finished a year-long tour in Iraq as an advisor for the 7th Iraqi Infantry Division and returned home October I1th. He looks forward to seeing his Fiji Brothers at the Clemson game. Jon Ziefle ('05) recently became engaged to his longtime girlfriend Courtney Williams. They currently live in Boston and are planning on a Charlottesville wedding in June 2009. ie \r\nBROTHER SERVES AS FIELD SECRETARY T have put more than sixteen-thousand miles on my car since I started serving our Fraternity as a Field Secretary. This experience began two weeks after graduation in May 2007. I work at the In- ternational Headquarters office (IHQ) in Lexington, Kentucky, which is only an hour away from my home in Louisville, or more accurately, “Anchorage,” for those who know. I am one of five active Field Secretaries — we're nicknamed “Riders.” Our purpose is to aid and advise undergraduate chap- ters, and generally, help our brothers and promote Phi Gamma Delta in any way possible. When we're not traveling, which is only during the summer and briefly during the winter, we live together in an apartment in the [HQ basement. I am the 154th brother to serve in this po- sition, and two Omicron Fijis, Danner Lee Mahood (c/o 1923) and James McKeldin (c/o 1925), were the 6th and 12th Riders, respectively. This year I have been working with the chapters in the “north- east” region. I have visited more than 22 different chapters, includ- ing those in Vermont, Maine, New York City, Rhode Island, San Diego (special assignment), and Toronto. If you ever find yourself in Toronto, look up the Phi Gams because those brothers would give you the shirts off their backs — and take you to the Madison Avenue Pub across the street from their house. I live out of my car, and drive to a new chapter every 3-4 days. I usually stay in the chapters, and I have slept in suspicious locations and encountered peculiar characters. During my visit to NYU, I slept on the floor of a brother’s cold, cramped, dirty, and dark (his lamp, the one source of light in the room, accidentally broke within 5 minutes of my arrival), dorm room while he slept next to me on his bed. That was awkward. I later discovered that this brother’s nickname was “Sketch.” Eyen though the lifestyle isn’t glamorous, this is a great oppor- tunity. I enjoy discovering new parts of the country, helping un- dergraduates build better chapters, and rubbing elbows with suc- !\) SUBMIT GRADUATE | NEWS ONLINE! KEEP YOUR FELLOW OMICRON | ALUMNI UP TO DATE WITH WHAT | YOU HAVE BEEN DOING. | SUBMIT A BLURB OR ADDRESS | CHANGE ONLINE AT UVAFIJIL.ORG l Jonathan extends a bid to a Refounding Father at the University of Penn- sylvania where he is currently leading their recolonization efforts. cessful graduate brothers. I’m proud to work for Phi Gamma Delta, and can unabashedly say that we are directed by upstanding men and the best leaders in the Greek world. My travels have helped me realize how privileged we all are to have graduated from the University of Virginia and how fortunate we are to be associated with a strong chapter. Graduate involvement and support is the key to a chapter's success, and I hope that we can all ensure that Omicron continues to be the model Fraternity at UVA. Ic is impossible to capture my entire experience within this brief article. I would love to discuss it with you more — please contact me if you're interested (jhilliard@phigam.org). I look forward to seeing you all back in Charlottesville for a Pig Dinner! Perge! Jonathan Hilliard ’07 2007-2008 FiJI AWARDS - WINNER OF THE CHENEY Cup! - INTRAMURAL HIGHPOINT CHAMPIONS - JORDAN BOWL, 3RD PLACE - BRIGHTMAN TROPHY, HONORABLE MENTION - BAKER CUP, HONORABLE MENTION -ZERMAN TROPHY, HONORABLE MENTION \r\nRUN ACROSS VIRGINIA This fall, in conjunction with our FIJI brothers at Virginia Tech, the Omicron chapter will be participating in the 6th Annual FIJI Run Across Virginia benefiting the Jimmy V Founda- tion for cancer research. We will be leaving from the Temple on Friday November 28th with the game ball for the UVA/ Virginia Tech football game, and we will be trekking over 70 miles of interstate before we meet our Tech brothers in Lynchburg. Over the past 5 years, our two chapters have raised over $170,000 for the Jimmy V Foundation, and we are hoping that this year is our most successful Run ever. Our chapter goal is $20,000, and you can help by writing a tax-deductible check to "Jimmy V Foundation" and mailing it to: Kevin Dowlen, 128 Madison Lane, Charlottesville, VA 22903. For more information visit: http://fijirunacrossvirginia.com/ Fraternally, Kevin Dowlen, Run Across VA Chairman 2008 PIG DINNER RECAP This year’s Annual Frank Norris Pig Dinner was a huge success! Held following the Homecoming football game vs. Miami, the celebration took place under a large white tent in the front yard of 128 Madison Lane. Approximately 40 graduates returned with their families for the tailgate, Pig Dinner, and Sunday Brunch. It was great seeing everyone again and showing off the chapter house following our second Cheney Cup win! Pictures from Pig Dinner and information about our next graduate event can be found on the website: http://www.uvafiji.org. Thanks again to all the graduates who helped coordinate this event ~ and in particular — thanks to all those graduates who donated to our Annual Fund. The undergraduates look forward to seeing you again soon! Fraternally, Spencer Sloan, Graduate Relations Chairman 2008 ANNUAL GIVING DONORS Special thanks to the following brothers for supporting the Omicron chapter over the past year. $5,000 + $500 + $128 + George Williams 50 Wade Hover 46 A.C. Shackelford Jr. “49 Richard Swift 74 Charles Rohrer $55 $2,500 + Pete Dunne °80 Charles B. Arrington Jr. °55 ° » Bob Krout 80 Ted Bedford °64 Stephen N; 2 REP A SEE NUS: a Steven Vittorio 84 Richard Holden °64 Neil McPherson 87 Horace P. Smith °68 $1,000 + Doug Milman 87 Edwin L. Underwood °69 James Hunter Jr. 55 George Collins 84 John Moritz 9 $250 + John Church °95 Jack Bitrate ‘69 Di: Sata’ Maney 56 Jeffrey Williamson 99 David Verklin 78 “ne ‘ Jeremy Hogg 03 es William Easton 65 2 : r 1 oH Gromel Jr 68 Christopher Anderson 05 Wp eee George Cramer} "71 peda f> | CONTRIBUTION | ee ms Christopher T. Walters 05 James Wilson 74 : : > | Jeffrey Brown 76 Beer ° Gifts to the FIJI Annual Fund sponsor Chri F . Kyle Fuschetti 06 . oo ristopher Valtin 80 y : 5 alumni communications, . . Nicholas Kristoff 06 . . David Morris 80 , } reunions and house improvements. Mike Outten 06 | Make a gift online at | Jonathan Hilliard 07 www.uvafijiorg Ted Schnuck Jr. ‘07