Wayne State FIJI In This Issue: A Note from the President Service Morality Friendship Knowledge Excellence Looking Forward A Note From the President At Phi Gamma Delta Wayne State University, we pride ourselves in our ability to live out our five core values. This past school year not only tested us individually but also as a group. I can confidently say that I have come out prouder than ever to call myself a Fiji and to call every one of these gentlemen a brother. We have added many great young men to our ranks, we have raised money for some wonderful organizations and we have bonded as a group and brought everyone even closer together. We have not done it alone, though. Graduate brothers from all over have come in to give us their support and share their wisdom with us, and we could not be more thankful. We hope that this newsletter gives you a sense of where we are and you can see how we, as a colony, represent the Fraternity. We look forward to your continued support and cannot express enough how appreciative we are for the help we have already received. Fraternally, Benjamin Lipinski Delta Colony President Press On! Service The Delta Class of Phi Gamma Delta at Wayne State University. (From left to right) Daniel Alter, Francisco Puebla, Alexandre Sorgatz, Jozzi Billingslea, Andrew Sevin and Mitchell Fenner. Martin Luther King Jr. Day On January 15, the brothers of Wayne State FIJI volunteered their time at the Frederick Douglass Academy in Detroit. Our members spent the day painting classrooms in the school. Brendan Lopus and Robbie Pluta were student teachers at the Academy. This was a huge help to an educational institution in our own backyard. Our commitment to knowledge extends beyond our ranks and into our community. Top Brothers for Service This semester, the top brothers for recorded service were Zach Rich, Jamie Phelps, Greg Alter, Nathan Mazey and Jake Gonzalez. Zach Rich achieved an astounding 40.50 hours of service. He is truly an exemplary brother and serves the community selflessly. Goalball Tournament President Benjamin Lipinski, Zach Rich (former president, scholarship chair) and Delta Class President Daniel Alter volunteered at a local goalball tournament. The sport is a Paralympic sport and is designed for those with visual impairments. ...continued on page 2 \r\n2 GSCMA Zach Rich and Jamie Phelps volunteered for Habitat for Humanity via the Wayne State Global Supply Chain Management Association. Brother Phelps is a member of GSCMA. WSU 150 Day of Service Service Chairman Jeffrey Pokriefka and Corresponding Secretary Jamie Phelps attended the WSU 150 day of service event. The event was aimed towards the cleanup of a neighborhood on Detroit’s West Side. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the brothers completed a day of service for the Frederick Douglass Academy. Brothers Zach Rich and Jamie Phelps volunteered for Habitat for Humanity in Detroit. Brothers Ben Lipinski, Zach Rich and Dan Alter volunteered to work a goalball tournament. Morality Mental Illness Presentation by Robbie Pluta Risk Management Chair Robbie Pluta gave a presentation on mental illness toward the end of the semester. In a poll given to members on which topic they were most interested in learning more about, mental illness won by a landslide. He presented on stress relief and ways you can get help for mental illnesses. Gift of Life AGD We participated in the Gift of Life competition again and our FIJI’s helped table and get people to sign up to become donors. Wayne State won for the sixth consecutive year. Philanthropy Was Relay for Life Our Philanthropy project this year was Relay for Life. We created a team and raised $2,556.69, which was the most raised by any organization on campus. The event was sponsored by our colony and was in direct association with the Wayne State Relay for Life Team. All of the donations went to the American Cancer Society for cancer research. Wayne State FIJI partnered with Relay for Life for our philanthropy event this semester. Friendship Wayne State FIJI hosted graduate brothers from other universities at Buffalo Wild Wings in Detroit. This was a wonderful opportunity to network with brothers in the area. \r\n3 Knowledge Our colony-wide GPA was 3.21 this past semester, and we had four brothers achieve a 4.0. This is a great accomplishment and an area that we will take very seriously as our group continues to grow and progress. Alexander Pouttu was recognized for his achievement in drone design by the Department of Engineering, and Greg Alter achieved great heights as he will be in the top ensemble in the music department (Wind Symphony) this coming fall. FIJI’s class of 2018 is: Zach Rich (master of public administration), Robbie Pluta (education), Brendan Lopus (education), Nathan Mazey (marketing), Daniel Macias (Pre-Dentistry). Excellence To kick-off the new year, Brothers Jamie Phelps, Ben Lipinski and Chris Woods attended Fiji Academy in St. Louis, Missouri. There they learned valuable leadership and administrative lessons that are useful for fraternity operations. Several brothers hold leadership positions that are outside of our ranks. Greg Alter was renamed drum major of the Wayne State Warrior Marching Band. Jamie Phelps was renamed drumline captain of the Warrior Marching Band. Jake Gonzalez was elected co-cultural director of the Filipino Student Society of Wayne State University. Justin Verriest is president of Warriors for Abdul, treasurer of the College Democrats, secretary of the Society of Physics Students and VP of Student Astronomical Society. Jozzi Billingslea and Zach Rich were resident advisors in Wayne State’s Housing Department. Greg Alter performed in a saxophone quartet and several brothers watched as he performed several selections. Jake Gonzalez and Zach Rich performed for Alpha Gamma Delta’s #1 Alpha Gam Fan contest. Zach Rich came in first place for #1 Alpha Gam Fan competition. The competition is a signifier of an individual’s character and commitment to involvement with another organization. The intramural basketball team won the Hoops for Hunger tournament, a philanthropy event hosted by the Alpha Gamma Delta Women’s Fraternity. FIJI was victorious in Alpha Gamma Delta’s Hoops for Hunger basketball tournament! Campus involvement: Fil-Soc, College Democrats, Delta Epsilon Mu, Warrior Marching Band, Wayne State Department of Theatre and Dance, Wayne State Department of Housing and Residential Life, Professional Staff member of the year Eric Ruelle, Outstanding Staff member Jozzi Billingslea, Devoted to Diversity award to Jozzi Billingslea. \r\n4 Looking Forward The Delta Colony is entering this summer with grand ambitions. We will be sending a delegation of brothers (Petition/Chartering and Service Chairman Jeffrey Pokrieka, Treasurer Jeremy Bojnowski, and President Benjamin Lipinski) to Dallas, Texas for the 170th Ekklesia. There, the brothers will petition for a charter from Phi Gamma Delta. If our chartering petition is approved, we will host our chartering weekend in the fall. That date will be released to graduate brothers in the area upon approval. Our first Pig Dinner will also take place during our chartering weekend. We feel strongly that we have met the expectations that are required of a chapter and that we deserve to join the ranks of many other groups. There is so much ahead of this promising group, and we sincerely hope to make an impact in each and every one of the lives of those we come in contact with. Our identity may come in the form of new Greek letters in front of the ones we hold closest to our hearts. FIJI’s class of 2018! Daniel Macias, Kevin Reck, Zach Rich, Robbie Pluta, Brendan Lopus and Nate Mazey.