KAPPA PHI COLONY Winter 2016 The Kappa Phi Colony of Phi Gamma Delta COLONY UPDATE Cabinet Lucas Fritz (2016) - President Dakota Brown (2018) - Treasurer Rogelio Morales (2017) - Recording Secretary Aron Harris (2017) - Corresponding Secretary Luciano Laratelli (2017) - Historian Miscellaneous • • • FIJI currently has 4 members running for student Senate. The Cabinet made a great first impression Archons as we inch closer to chartering in the fall. Our social media has now reached over 1100 followers Upcoming Events • Brotherhood Retreat - March 10 - 12 • Formal - April 9 Grades The Kappa Phi Colony has achieved the second highest GPA on campus with a 3.25 average Membership We have officially reached 50 members for the first time in the Colony’s IN THIS EDITION: KAPPA PHI WELCOMES THE DELTA PLEDGE CLASS After months of preparation for our spring rush, the efforts of our colony brothers paid off as we welcome 12 exceptional young men,t who excel in all attributes of what you look for in a college man, be it in scholarship, community service or campus involvement. The Delta class stands out to us because of the diversity of each pledge that exemplifies what we look for when recruiting men for Phi Gamma Delta. When asked how this rush period had to be approached from a marketing standpoint to appeal to versatile men, our Recruitment Chair Mark Smyslov (2018) replied, “it’s was all about portraying ourselves as versatile men. We have a reputation on campus of being well-rounded men. By this recruitment semester, our name spoke for itself. We just had to close the deal.” Furthermore, this spring recruitment was very heartwarming for the Alpha class because it is the first time our colony has reached 50 members since being colonized on October 25, 2014. At our first colony retreat, we made it a goal to reach 50 members full of quality men. To see this come to fruition after meticulously searching for FIJI gentlemen, it feels gratifying to not only see how far we’ve come. Without further waiting, here is Delta class of the Kappa Phi Colony. (continued on page 2) Kappa Phi Welcomes the Delta Pledge Class Conitnued.......... 2-3 Class of 2016................................3-4 Letter to Our Graduates.............. 4 The Delta Pledge Class \r\nKAPPA PHI WELCOMES THE DELTA PLEDGE CLASS CONT. Name: Jayesh Patel Year of graduation: 2018 Major: Computer Science Hometown: Kenya, Eldoret Clubs: SHPE, BAPS campus orgz Fraternity experience: lifelong brotherhood, leadership and self-development skills and future opportunities. Name: Michael Manning Year of graduation: 2018 Major: Finance Hometown: Ponce Inlet, FL Clubs: Bulls Business Community and Real Estate Society. Fraternity experience: I am most excited to become a better man, network with other brothers and alumni bothers and building better connection to my school and community. Name: Jonathan DeJesus Graduation year: 2018 Major: Health Science w/ minor in Military science Hometown: Stamford, CT Other Organizations: Pre-Physician Assistant Society and Army ROTC Interests/Hobbies: Playing basketball, soccer, and football. Going to the beach to fish, and chill. Doing outdoor activities. Fraternity experience: What I am looking forward to most out of my fraternity experience, is building life-long memories and friendships with my fellow Phi Gam brothers. Name: Kevin Steven Cordon Graduation: Class of 2018 Major: Bio Medical Career Goal: To become a Dentist Hometown: Seattle, WA Other Organizations: Rowing club and Pre-Dental Society USF Interest/Hobbies: Clay shooting, fishing, playing sports, and playing FIFA Fraternity experience: I look forward to building great friendships in the fraternity while pushing myself to be the best person I can be and helping others Name: Kevin Steven Cordon Graduation: Class of 2018 Major: Bio Medical Career Goal: To become a Dentist Hometown: Seattle, WA Other Organizations: Rowing club and Pre-Dental Society USF Interest/Hobbies: clay shooting, fishing, playing sports, and playing FIFA Fraternity experience: I look forward to building great friendships in the fraternity while pushing myself to be the best person I can be and helping others Name: Andrew Sytek Graduation Year: 2019 Major: Electrical Engineering Career Goal: Create a company using skills as an electrical engineer. Hometown: Davison, MI Other Clubs & Organizations: SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers), USF Car Club, USF Snowboarding Club Name: Kelly Paffel Interests & Hobbies: Longboarding, Wakeboarding, Football, Ultimate FrisMajor: Mechanical engineering bee, Traveling, Video & Photo Editing, Music Production, Working on Cars, Career goal: To start my own engineering firm Home & Car Audio, Fishin’, and Muddin’. Hometown: New Berlin, WI Fraternity experience: Fiji is a great group of guys overall and is why I chose Other Organizations: Society of Automotive engineers, Car Club at USF, to surround myself by fellow brothers within the fraternity. I am hoping to 3D printing club, American society of mechanical engineers help my brothers develop themselves as well as develop myself where I find Fraternity experience: I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and grow- my weakest links throughout the upcoming years. By the end of my college ing lifelong friendships years I hope to not only leave as a member of the fraternity Fiji, but leave as Name: Blake Burklow Graduation Year: 2019 Hometown: Chicago, IL Major: Nursing Career Goal: To be a Nurse Anesthetist Interest/Hobbies: Health and Fitness Fraternity experience: What I Look Forward To Most Being In Fiji: The bonds I’ll make along the way. 2 a true Phi Gam. Name: Randy Esfahani Grad Year: 2018 Major: Cell and Molecular Biology Career Goal: Ophthalmologist Home town: Clinton Township, MI Other clubs: PAMSA, Treasurer of Operation Smile Interests/Hobbies: Hiking, kayaking, reading, and I like doing community service as a way to give back. Fraternity experience: I am excited to be a part of the fraternity and its support system. I am also looking forward to the opportunities that will be presented to me for networking as well as self-improvement. \r\nKAPPA PHI WLECOMES THE DELTA PLEDGE CLASS CONT. Name: Joshua Cordle Class: 2019 Major: Management Information Systems Career Goals: run a company’s IT department Home town: Jacksonville, FL Other Clubs: Surf Club, Wake boarding club, Bulls Business Community resident Interests/ Hobbies: Surfing, playing the drums, wake boarding Fraternity Experience: I am looking forward to meet new people with the same goals and values as me so that we can work together to achieve success as a fraternity and individually Name: Joseph Nguyen Class: 2019 Major: Geology Career Goals: Undecided career goals right now-just want to make a lot of money Home town: Pensacola, FL Other Clubs: Fishing club Interests/ Hobbies: Fishing Fraternity Experience: Looking forward to making lots of new friends Name: Troy Burte Class: 2018 Major: English Career goal: To never be bogged down by my career. Home town: Lido Beach, NY Interests and Hobbies: Reading, people-watching, and stories Fraternity Experience: I’m most looking forward to the days when I’ve forgotten what college was like when I wasn’t in a fraternity. Delta Pledge Class Initiation CLASS OF 2016 As we say welcome to an outstanding group of young men, we unfortunately must say goodbye to a handful of seniors who are about to go into the world and experience the ambiance and uncertainty of what the future holds. Some have chosen to attend grad school, others have decided to enter the workforce, and a few may be undecided as to what move to make next, it is in no way uncertain to look back on the times we have spent with these guys as they reflect on their favorite moments in Fiji and how they believe their time in the Kappa Phi Colony will guide them to a fruitful experience as graduates of USF: Jon McIntosh- I’ve had many moments that I could consider my favorite. However, none of those are my absolute favorite. That moment would be the day that I accepted my place within this great fraternity. It was on that day that I realized that I not only made a great group of friends but brothers for life. At times, we may not see eye to eye, but we manage to work through it all. Seeing everyone and everything come together over the past two school years has made me proud to be part of such an experience. I’m excited to see where the fraternity goes from here. Being part of FIJI has made me realize that it is important to be an understanding person in life as I approach graduation. If there are differing opinions on a topic, no one should tear another down. A person should have an open discussion with the opposing party and understand where they are coming from. It will create a stronger bond between both parties and make for a longer lasting professional or personal relationship. Joseph LaRouche- My favorite FIJI memory was making a day trip with a few brothers up to UF for a big dinner full of grad brothers who had been members of that chapter decades ago. I hope one day many years from now, to come to one of our own Pig Dinners and see all the Fiji’s that follow me and hear their stories of how Phi Gamma Delta enveloped them in brotherhood during undergrad years, as well as building relationships that would last much longer. Phi Gamma Delta breeds excellence and leadership in their members from the very beginning of the pledging process. With the combination of confidence and competence instilled into me by Phi Gamma Delta, I am not in fear of post-grad life unlike many of my (continued on page 4) 3 \r\nCLASS OF 2016 CONT classmates. I have been able to impress employers and successfully network, so day one after graduation I have the unique opportunity to not scramble searching for a job, but to consider different offers and select my career. Calvin Clarke- My Favorite moments in FIJI have to include the brotherhood retreat camping trips and the Super Bowl Watch Party of last year (2015). These events gathered most, if not all, of our brothers and saw us really showcase our friendship and brotherhood. At the retreat, simply sitting around the campfire and talking about random things, or all of us singing the doxology and cheering on our chosen team (even though brothers had opposing choices) during the Super Bowl Watch Party really made me feel as a brother of this colony. I feel as though FIJI has prepared me for life as a graduate by showing me that brothers are always willing to help out one another, wherever they may be. This also taught me the importance of networking with others, and always being able to lend a helping hand to a brother in need. David Orozco- My time as a member of the Alpha class of the Kappa Phi colony was as fun of an experience as it was rewarding. My favorite times would be the brotherhood retreats I participated in as well as watching all of the success we achieved in our intramural sports. Phi Gamma Delta has not only allowed me to become a more social person, it has allowed me to gain more confidence as a person when dealing with uncomfortable and unfamiliar situations. Fiji has certainly helped prepare me for life after I graduate. Kevin Rutland-I’ve made countless memories since becoming a founding father in fall 2104. My favorite memory, however, would have to be the car ride to Panama Beach that spring semester. We had a blast driving up, getting time to talk and just the anticipation of what spring break was going to bring. FIJI has helped me prepare for my career in numerous ways. The bureaucratic setting in which colony meetings take place has allowed me to get a real understanding of how professional organizations are similarity structured. This is important when it comes to creating ideas, eliminating problems and establishing an acclaimed reputation across a diverse group of individuals. LETTER TO OUR GRADUATES Graduate Brothers, I must first start of by expressing how grateful the chapter is to be surrounded by a group of graduates that yearn to see us to the next step as we inch closer to chartering this fall. Through donations and attendance at functions, you have shown the pledges that Phi Gamma Delta is truly “Not For College Days Alone.” To walk in your footsteps as we continue to excel and make an ever-growing reputation on campus as respectable and outgoing gentlemen. As we come closer to our goal of chartering, we would love to be able to introduce ourselves to more graduates and establish a mutually beneficial relationship. For any inquirers, 4 comments or just a simple hello, please email Lucas Fritz at lfritz1@mail.usf.edu. Also, graduate members form the original Kappa Phi Colony meet every Tuesday at 7:00 pm, with the location varying every week. Please email Aron Harris at aronharris7@gmail.com for more information, FIJI isn’t just for college days alone. Fraternally, Lucas Fritz P! \r\nNonprofit Org U.S. Postage Paid Lexington, KY Permit # 540 Kappa Phi Colony of PHI GAMMA DELTA UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA 1201 Red Mile Rd P.O. Box 4599 Lexington, KY 40544-4599 Design, printing and mailing services provided by the International Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. Caption: Rogelio Morales and Aron Harris at Boys Night Out with the Kappa Phi Graduates Undergraduate Members at formal rush dinner Brotherhood Super Bowl watch party 5