Spring 2015 Volume 5 Issue 4 What’s Inside Brothers in East Asia P. 3 Class of 2015 P.4 Chi Etas Abroad P.5 Meet the Xi Class P. 6 Pig Dinner P.9 Chi Eta wins reed morgan P. 10 Graduate Spotlight p. 11 Mark your calendars! August 24 Beginning of Class for WKU Students 2nd Annual Chili Cookoff By: Tony Piedmonte Chi Eta hosted its second annual Bowling Green Chili Cook-off in April at Covington Woods Park. The Chili Cook-off served as Chi Eta’s spring philanthropy and raised more than $800 for the United Service Organization (USO). The USO, Phi Gamma Delta’s nationally partnered philanthropy, provides support for the men and women in the armed forces. The USO organizes activities, gifts, and supplies to be given to American soldiers all over the world. Planning started at the beginning of the semester at Chi Eta’s leadership planning retreat. The chapter wanted to takes steps to create a wellestablished philanthropy for the spring to compliment the Purple Run in the fall. Several ideas were passed around but in the end it was decided to build upon the Chili Cook-off event from the year before. The sunny spring weather provided the chapter with the perfect day for the event. Chili entry teams began to arrive at noon and chili-eaters lined up to pay the entrance fee for endless chili access. Music filled the pavilion as Seth Haga, Elijah Essa, and Luke Sparks took turns performing while Continue to Page 2 1 Friendship. Knowledge. Service. Morality. Excellence. 1 \r\npeople moved from chili to chili. Red, white, and blue streamers, flags, and table clothes decorated the pavilion and Brent Stephens worked at the grill making hotdogs, which became tasty chilidogs. “Chili. America. Fiji. Friends. Doesn’t get much better than that,” said WKU freshman Bailee Correro, a contestant in the competition. Kari Moore, a representative for the USO, made a two-hour road trip to attend the cookoff. Moore served as a guest speaker for the event and spoke about the benefits of USO’s service and why providing aid to our troops is important. Moore and her family also served as judges to help determine the best chili making team. “We ended up having a terrific time in BG, so thank you for giving us a reason to visit,” Moore said in an email. Along with a judge’s vote, a popular vote was collected from the chili-eaters for their favorite batch, and then compared to the judge’s pick to announce a winner. The winning team was Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and the runner-up was Sigma Nu Fraternity. Overall the event was deemed a success, with most people were already talking about next year’s cook-off. Two weeks after the event, Stakz Frozen Yogurt in Bowling Green sponsored Chi Eta and the USO with a portion of its sales for April 25. With the popularity of the BG Chili Cook-off, Chi Eta may have the makings of a traditional recipe for a spring philanthropy. 2 Friendship. Knowledge. Service. Morality. Excellence. \r\nMaking a difference in East Asia By Matthew Lawson (‘15) Three Chi Etas spent their spring break on a mission trip to East Asia with Living Hope Baptist Church. Brothers Hunter Sewell, Matt Lawson, and Andrew Boyles, along with graduate brother Tyler Wittmer, spent a week in an undisclosed East Asian city of approximately two million people helping in English classes and sharing about the love of Jesus with university students. “The biggest thing that I learned was the scope of the sovereignty of God,” said Wittmer, who serves as Living Hope College Minister. “Seeing Him work despite the language barrier was so humbling.” The brothers spent more than 24 hours of travel going to and from their destination. Upon arrival, they had the opportunity to tour the city and see the university they would be serving. Later in the week the group would partnered with English teachers and volunteered in classes in order to meet local Chinese students who wanted to practice English. In the process brothers were able to engage in cultural exchanges about faith, beliefs, and worldview by getting meals and coffee with students. “It was cool to see how there are people who believe and struggle with the same things as me although we are on opposite sides of the world,” Sewell said. While in East Asia, brothers were exposed to a different culture, language, and cuisine. It required adaptability but brothers enjoyed short immersion in to a completely new culture. From tasting various spicy dishes to chatting with locals over tea to singing the night away in KTV, the brothers had an unforgettable adventure which gave them a greater view of the world and allowed them to serve others by sharing life and faith with the people of East Asia. “I learned that God doesn’t called the equipped but he equips the called,” Boyles, Chi Eta President, said. “I had to rely on His strength and the words He would give me to fulfill His calling for me in East Asia.” 3 Friendship. Knowledge. Service. Morality. Excellence. \r\nGraduating Brothers Top Row (from left): Matthew Lawson, William Linder, Ryne McMullen, Levi McQueary, Drew Morgan Middle Row (from left): Evan Pennington, Charlie Rhea, Joe Starks, Kyle Stewart, Wes Trail Bottom Row (from left): Zack Van Zant, Ryan White, Wade Weatherholt Congratulations Class of 2015! 4 Friendship. Knowledge. Service. Morality. Excellence. \r\nFijis Abroad- Winter Term Will Linder (Far Left) and Jay Todd Richey (Left) went on a faculty-led trip to Enlangd where they studied “London During the Age of Revolutions.” Joesph Aroh (Above Left) and Brent Harney (Above Right) traveled to Ecuador on a faculty-led trip. Sean Jacobson traveled to Argentina with Sol Education Abroad where he studied Spanish. Alec Brown went on a faculty-led trip to Costa Rica where he studied Economics. 5 Friendship. Knowledge. Service. Morality. Excellence. \r\nTHE NEW “Xi” PLEDGE CLASS Name: Enes Atici Age: 18 Year: Freshman Big Bro: Brandon Pruitt Major/Minor: Biology and Chemistry High School: Bowling Green High School Why you joined Chi Eta: Academic achievement and community outreach If I could travel to any country I would go to: England Name: Connor Fowkes Age: 20 Year: Junior Big Bro: Drake Riley Major/Minor: Sports Management, Community Recreation High School: Libertyville High School (Ill.) Why you joined Chi Eta: The first two years of college the people I got closest to and made a biggest impact on my life were Chi Etas. I finally saw that it was a place I could make a difference and make bigger impacts happen in my life. If I could travel to any country I would go to: Belize Name: Will Hixson Age: 19 Year: Sophmore Big Bro: Trent Erps Major/Minor: Elementary Education High School: Adair County High School Why you joined Chi Eta: I appreciated the values, brotherhood, and opportunites that the fraternity had to offer. If I could travel to any country I would go to: Belize 6 Friendship. Knowledge. Service. Morality. Excellence. \r\nName: Byron Hughes Age: 18 Year: Freshman Big Bro: Jamie Harvener Major/Minor: Geographic Information Systems High School: South Warren High School Why you joined Chi Eta: I joined Chi Eta for the brotherhood and opportunity to serve others. If I could travel to any country I would go to: England Name: Logan Johnson Age: 19 Year: Freshman Big Bro: Austin Richards Major/Minor: Exercise Science High School: Logan County High School Why you joined Chi Eta: I wanted to be part of a great group of guys who are doing extraordinary things. If I could travel to any country I would go to: Taiwan Name: Matt Millay Age: 19 Year: Freshman Big Bro: Braden Profitt Major/Minor: Biochemistry/ Buisness Administration (Pre-Med) High School: Meade County High School Why you joined Chi Eta: I joined Chi Eta becasue of its reputation for building upon high values. If I could travel to any country I would go to: Italy 7 Friendship. Friendship. Knowledge. Knowledge. Service. Service. Morality. Morality. Excellence. Excellence. \r\nName: Logan Reynolds Age: 19 Year: Freshamn Big Bro: Brent Harney Major/Minor: Chemistry (Biochemistry and Buisness Administration) High School: Central Magnet School (Tenn.) Why you joined Chi Eta: I joined Chi Eta to expand my network of friends and to join a brotherhood that shares my values. If I could travel to any country I would go to: Australia Name: Jacob Tipton Age: 19 Year: Freshman Big Bro: Tony Piedmonte Major/Minor: Exploratory Studies High School: Cornerstone Christian Academy Why you joined Chi Eta: I already had several friends in the fraternity and I knew it was a brotherhood that would give me the opportunity to make friends for life. I knew Chi Eta would benefit me both academically and socially If I could travel to any country I would go to: Ireland Name: Alex Turner Age: 19 Year: Freshman Big Bro: Skyler Wright Major/Minor: Bilogy Pre-Med High School: Russell County High School Why you joined Chi Eta: Everyone told me of their great experiences in Chi Eta and I wanted to be a part of an awesome group of guys. If I could travel to any country I would go to: The Bahamas 8 Friendship. Knowledge. Service. Morality. Excellence. \r\nChi Eta’s 6th Annual Frank Norris Pig Dinner By: Charlie Rhea The end of April means Frank Norris Pig Dinner weekend for Chi Eta. This jam-packed weekend is infamous for being one of the busiest events of the spring semester but also serves as one of the best opportunities for brotherhood for our chapter. To kick off the weekend, per Chi Eta tradition, we took our Xi Pledge class through our campus history walk, and initiated them into our chapter. In celebration of our graduates who were back in town, the chapter hosted a Friday night event for them the at 440 Main in downtown Bowling Green. This event also served as the first graduate event for our seniors, who will become graduate brothers this year. On Saturday afternoon the chapter hosted an afternoon cookout at Fort Armstrong. While this event was primarily to host our graduates back at the chapter house, the event was open also to the undergraduate parents who were in attendance. Finally, it was time for the main event, which took place on Saturday night. Graduates, undergraduates, parents, dates and other guests of the chapter all gathered at the Sloan Convention Center for Chi Eta’s 6th annual Frank Norris Pig Dinner. The event was presided over by the Master of Ceremonies, Taylor Bowling. After our ceremonial “bringing in the pig” by our Xi Pledge class, we began with our program. Speakers for the event included Matthew Lawson, who delivered the invocation, graduate brother Bryan Hartzell with the Exile’s Toast, Fiji Inc. President Zack Ryle with the Housing Corporation Report and Chapter President Andrew Boyles with the State of the Chapter Report. This year we also had the opportunity to hear from graduate brother Craig Cobane for the Keynote Address. The chapter was happy to give multiple recognitions throughout the program, to our graduating seniors and our graduate and parent donors to the 1311 and 2010 Clubs. The chapter enjoyed holding true to some of the fun traditions in place with the dinner. Bob Anderegg, the oldest Fiji in the room and Byron Hughes, the youngest. We also recognized the graduate brother who travelled the farthest in order to be with us for the dinner. This year, that brother was Sam Wells, who travelled 2,370 miles from Tacoma, Wash. Through all of the speakers, programs points, traditions and customs of the dinner, it was all in the name of Chi Eta brotherhood. The chapter is pleased to announce a record attendance of 46 graduates, 77 undergraduates with a total of 277 people. Be sure to mark you calendars for next years 7th annual Frank Norris Pig Dinner for Saturday April 31, 2016. We’re already looking forward to seeing you then! 9 Friendship. Knowledge. Service. Morality. Excellence. \r\nChi Eta Wins Reed Morgan By Brent Stephens (‘16) For the third time in four years, the Chi Eta chapter received the Reed Morgan Fraternity of the Year award presented at the 2015 Greek Week Convocation. Chi Eta’s name was called often as the chapter took home several chapter achievement awards and had multiple brothers recognized for their achievements and activity throughout the WKU and Bowling Green communities. Among the chapter awards that Chi Eta received were the Alumni Development, Outstanding Intramurals, Philanthropic Science and Campus Involvement and Leadership awards. Brother Drake Riley won Greek Feud, a first for Chi Eta. And for the third consecutive year, Chi Eta won Spring Sing. This was also the first year that all of the choreography and music of the Spring Sing routine was done by a Chi Eta, as brother Jamie Harvener led the group’s efforts. On Friday of Greek Week, eight Chi Etas pulled on the rope against FarmHouse in the annual Tug competition. Anchored by brother Clint Bacon, Chi Eta fought hard and took an early lead against the men of FarmHouse, but ended up losing by just a couple of narrow inches. Chi Eta placed third in Banner, which was completed by brothers Charlie Rhea and Tony Piedmonte. Brother Matt Lawson also won the Charley Pride Spirit Award for outstanding fraternity member. Lawson as well as brother Seth Bland were inducted into WKU’s Greek Hall of Fame. Chi Eta now has five brothers initiated into the Order of Omega: Lawson, Bland, Ian Greer, Taylor Ruby and Colton Hounshell. Friendship. Knowledge. Service. Morality. Excellence. 10 \r\nGraduate Spotlight : By Justin Hobbs (‘18) This spring’s Graduate Brother Spotlight highlights the adventure of two brothers, Griffin Frugé and Nick Burnett. Griffin graduated in 2014 with a degree in perosnal finance and Nick graduated in 2013 with a degree in marketing. Griffin and Nick are currently working as interns at a church in Lima, Peru called Oikos. It is not only a church but a ministry that trains Peruvians to be church planters. Once trained, the Peruvians leave thier hometowns to plant other Oikos churches. Griffin moved to Santiago, Chile in May of 2014 after he graduated. Nick had told him last October that he should come be a part of Oikos once he finished his work in Chile. Come January, Griffin moved to Peru to work with Nick at Oikos. As interns at Oikos, their main focus is teaching and taking classes in Oikos’ school of ministry. Oikos has schools of ministry that equip students to plant churches in other parts of Peru. Thier main focus is in the Amazon jungle. Though work is their prime focus, Griffin and Nick do take time off to enjoy themselves. They enjoy going surfing together and saying “embarrassing things” in Spanish. Griffin describes how he wish he was kidding that the Peruvians have Coming Home King From left- Taylor Ruby- Second Runner-Up, McGavinn Brown- Coming Home King, and Matthew LawsonFirst Runner-Up. Congratulations guys! a traditional party where they end up choping down a palm tree. Above all Nick and Griffin just love sharing with Peruvians the love they say God has for us. As for their future, Griffin and Nick plan to move back to Nashville in June where they will be running their company Hanmade in Peru (HIP). They will be selling 100 percent alpaca scarves and blankets handmade in Peru to suppos Oikos church. They said they are pumped to be back home and can’t wait to catch up with their Chi Eta bros. bike 4 Alz 2016 Planning for the 2016 bike ride is underway. The 2016 group has offically announced that it will be partnering with The Alzheimer’s Association. The bikers will be biking over 3,800 miles from Seattle to Virginia Beach, Va. Stay tuned for updates and if you would like more information, contact Taylor Leigh at (606)-706-2835 Friendship. Knowledge. Service. Morality. Excellence. 11 \r\nGraduate News Brad Stephens (‘13) took a job as sports reporter at the Bowling Green Daily News covering WKU women’s basketball and high school sports. Nicholas Serroque (‘11) and wife Ashley welcomed their baby boy to the world. Ray Blakenship (Kentucky ‘84 WKU GA ‘10) is now a department head at WKU. Jason White (‘14) got engaged to Emily Gott Tyler Wittmer (‘13) married Alicia Beach and became a licensed minister. Will Garcia (‘14) took a job at Southern High School in Louisville. Ben Harris (‘14) recieved a law clerkship at Phillips Parker Orberson & Arnett in Louisville. Josh Wisman (‘12) got accepted into the Global Field Program through Miami University’s grad school and will be pursuing a Master’s degree in Zoology John Hellams (‘11) became the Director of Operations at Mercy Church, a church plant launching in Charlotte, N.C. this fall. Kent Jones(‘14) got accepted to and received a full tuition-plus-stipend fellowship to Auburn University’s Graduate school of Civil Engineering. He will research pavements engineering at the National Center for Asphalt Technology. Alex Fahnders (‘14) was hired as Graduate Assistant managing the Pike house at the University of Arkansas while pursuing a Masters in Higher Education Robert Lucas (‘14) got a job as a professional writer at KirkPatrickPrice, which is an information security auditing firm in Bowling Green. Mason Bramer (‘14) got a job as Customer Development Coordinator at Christ in Youth. Matthew Purdom (‘14) got accepted in to The University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law and will be starting this fall. Ben Aroh (‘13) got engaged to Christen Profancik. Have any graduate news? Send an email to graduate@wkufiji.com! Chi Eta By the Numbers 79 Initiated Brothers 0 Pledge Brothers 85 Graduate Brothers 0 Brothers Abroad 2008 Chi Eta founded at WKU Learn about the WKU Excellence Fund and how you can support Chi Eta at www.wkufiji.com/donate Current Supporters Bob Anderegg (USC `71, WKU GA `10) Jeff Baynham (WKU `10) Ray Blankenship (Kentucky `84, WKU GA `10) Brandon Bowman (WKU `10) Dr. Craig Cobane (WKU Faculty `10) George and Jane Pennington (Parents) Blaine Routt (WKU `11) Josh Wiseman (WKU `12) Brad Stephens (WKU’13) 12 Friendship. Knowledge. Service. Morality. Excellence.