GEM STATE FIJI MU IOTA CHAPTER OF PHI GAMMA DELTA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO SPRING 2023 Telling Our Story and Connecting Our Brothers Named Best Chapter Publication 3 Times Matt Lvon 23. Alphonse Crittendon 23. Amesh Shrestha '24 and Daniel Burgess '25 enjoy one another's company at Pig Dinner. 'GOLDEN AGE' OF MU IOTA PITMAN SALUTES CHAPTER SUCCESS AT 103RD PIG DINNER By Don Shelton '76 A silent auction for four fallen Greek students, Brendan Lundgren '26 and his father, David '92, emotional speeches from a father and son, gave back-to-back speeches to highlight a theme SECRET and a national perspective from a Fiji legend of Mu Iota legacies. They were one of 10 father/ highlighted Mu lota's memorable 103rd Norris son legacies who attended. Brendan's freshman GEM AT Pig Dinner. class became Phi Gamma Delta's first new members under the International Fraternity's new 600U Our first silent auction raised more than $5,000 early membership guidelines. for scholarships established by the University of Idaho to honor Kaylee Goncalves, Madison "This change allowed freshmen to bond with Mogan, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, Greek upperclassmen more easily and feel welcome and Order Your Own students who were murdered on Nov. 13, 2022. at home," said Brendan. "Proving yourself is no The silent auction was coordinated by Ryan longer something you do the first few months as a Chapter History Clayeux '89, who was Pig Dinner MC. freshman. It continues every day throughout your Mu lota's first definitive chapter history, years in the house." "Secret Gem at 600U." is ready to be "Please pass my gratitude to your Fiji brothers," UI President Scott Green wrote in an email after ordered and shipped. This oversized, Brendan said he has never felt closer to his father. hard-backed book should be on every learning of the donation. "I know the rest of Idaho Fijis bookshelf and coffee table. the university and families feel the same. Just "Every son gets to have a bond with their father, Don Shelton '76 spent more than three know how much I appreciate all that you and Fiji but also having a brotherly bond through Fiji years and 150 interviews researching and alumni have done for our alma mater." is a bond like no other," he said. "Growing up, writing. It includes more than 300 pages he was always strict with me about achieving and 500 photos and documents dating The 103rd Norris Pig Dinner on March 4 was good grades, being a leader, a hard worker, and a from our chapter's birth. Order now for attended by 124 graduates, undergraduates and respectable man overall. In my short time in Fiji, $130 plus shipping at this URL: guests at the Best Western Plus University Inn. I have come to realize those are qualities that he gained from Fiji and passed to me." caxtonpress.com/fiji-600u.aspx (Continued on page 3) INSIDE: Freshmen Success | Page 2 Graduates Honored I Page 4 New Purple Legionnaire I Page 5 New members achieve 3.4 GPA Johnson, Sonnen win Lyle Award Hohstadt named Chapter's advisor PAGE 2 GEM STATE FIJI Undergraduate Report NEW EARLY MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM BENEFITS MU IOTA By Cole Stockton '24 A freshman class that already made Phi Gamma SCHOLARSHIP Caleb Strong '24, Junior Social Service Delta history is proving its quality and Overall, Fijis stayed focused on academics Jaxon Cherry '25, Inspirational Sophomore helping lift Mu lota academically while taking on during a difficult fall semester that included Kaden Orcutt '25, Sophomore Scholarship critical roles inside and outside the Chapter. the tragic murders of four Greek students near Calvin Pigott '26, Outstanding Freshman campus in November. The Chapter earned a Twenty-three freshmen became members only 3.31 GPA and a 3.40 cumulative GPA, which CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT two days after the start of the fall semester, ranked second among all Idaho fraternities. Lucien Lee '24 is the Interfraternity as our Chapter was the first to initiate after Council's vice president of recruitment, becoming an early adopter of the International "I am really proud of how the brothers pulled and other members became IFC recruiting Fraternity's new bylaws passed at Ekklesia last through last semester even with a lot of specialists that guide college students toward summer. Twenty-three returned for the spring brothers personally affected by the tragedy," suitable fraternities. Chapter members semester, and the class of 2026 achieved a 3.4 said Amesh Shrestha '24. "There's always participated in Homecoming and joined GPA, the best of any Mu lota class. room for improvement, however, and second committees and clubs. place has never suited this Fiji Chapter, SO we Early membership also allowed freshmen to are continuing to adapt our scholarship program INTRAMURALS take on several critical positions in the Chapter, to best support our brothers in their academic Fijis ranked fifth at the end of the fall semester including Tyler Bush '26 as maintenance endeavors." in intramurals, placing first in pickleball, third chairman, Brendan Lundgren '26 as recruitment in flag football and third in doubles badminton. chairman and several others on committees. Mu lota updated its academic probation Every freshman has joined a campus club. program during the semester. "We were acting "The men of Fiji love to participate in all proactively as opposed to reactively once grades the intramurals that U of I has to offer," said Hayden Edwards '25 agreed that early were finalized," Amesh said. Cole Stockton '24. "We are playing to have membership, which was proposed to eliminate fun and, of course, to win. Fiji in the past has hazing at Phi Gamma Delta Chapters, has had Derek Opland-Evers '22, Nick Sassaman '22, been atop the standings, and we are on a path other positive impacts. Zack Lamkey '22 and Hunter Gust '22 to be back up to the top of the podium." graduated last May. Jack Pachner '22 and "Including the freshman class as new members PHILANTHROPY Traynor Underwood '22 graduated in December. helped them become more integrated into Fijis won the Kappa Alpha Theta philanthropy bettering our Fraternity," he said. "Major AWARDS and placed in the top three in most others on changes included involving them more in Mu Iota earned the Excellence in Safety and campus. The Chapter donated $2,000 last fall committees as well as holding each other more Wellness awards at the Fraternity and Sorority and totaled more than 1,000 philanthropic hours accountable with class GPA goals." Life Awards banquet on March 1. in the past three semesters. Early membership also allowed freshmen to Undergraduates who earned recognition at the "Philanthropy is one of the most important help recruit more new members as the Chapter 103rd Norris Pig Dinner on March 4 were: things to the men of Fiji," said Ethan strives for a year-round recruitment model. Matt Lyon '23, Outstanding Fiji Overstreet '24. "We love being able to give and Outstanding Senior back to the community and donating our time "We worked harder with the new members to Keagan Eisele '24, Distinguished Junior and money to good causes." recruit after recruitment week," Hayden said. Mu lota brothers enjoy their annual Ski Brotherhood at Snowhaven Ski Area Five juniors celebrate the New Year and explore Boise over holiday break. in Grangeville. From left, Amesh Shrestha, Cole Stockton, Caleb Strong, Ophath Silaphath and Awson Wheeler, all class of 2024.