FRATERNITY COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION CENTENNIAL CELEBRATED WITH KA RECOGNITION

The 2023 Annual Conference and Centennial Celebration of the Fraternity Communications Association (FCA) was held May 2–4, 2023, at the Omni Severin in Indianapolis, Indiana. FCA received more than 600 entries in four main categories for 27 separate awards. FCA has 71 member organizations including national fraternities and sororities as well as leadership and honor societies.

tions’ highest honor, the Evin C. Varner Fraternal Communications Award of Distinction.

attractiveness, and relevance to the intended audience.

Buswell re-elected to FCA Board

Brent E. Buswell (Beta Eta–Oklahoma '09), Director of Communications, was re-elected to the FCA Board of Directors as Director of Finance. Buswell was first elected in 2020 and will serve an additional two-year term. He previously served as Membership Committee Chair. He has served on the Order’s staff since 2014.

Lyons recognized with FCA’s highest honor

Jesse S. Lyons (Delta Alpha–Western Carolina '98), Assistant Executive Director for Advancement & Editor of The Kappa Alpha Journal, was the recipient of the Associa -

Lyons is a two-term FCA Past President, having served on the FCA Board for seven years initially, returning for a two-year term during the pandemic to assist. He most recently served as the FCA Centennial Commission Chair. Under Jesse’s leadership, the FCA succeeded in achieving record attendance; creation of a digital archive and history timeline with History IT; a refreshed brand; and the establishment of a “Centennial Fund” with initial contributions totaling more than $217,000 from individuals and organizations.

The Varner Award was established in 1985 to honor Evin C. Varner (Alpha Sigma Phi). The recipient should demonstrate, over a period of years and with notable efforts and results, a record of effectively communicating the meaning and opportunities of fraternal life, through his or her own organization and/or interfraternal associations, of working with and helping others in Greek-letter work, and of interfraternal cooperation, resulting in a high level of peer respect.

Leading in Education of Peers

During the conference, former Journal editor Todd Shelton (Delta Lambda–Middle Tennessee State '90) and the Order’s Director of Community Engagement Marlon Gibson, were two of the four keynote presenters.

Fellows named Executive Vice President for Fraternity Housing Corporation

Founded in 1947, today the Fraternity Housing Corporation (FHC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kappa Alpha Order. While the FHC board has been comprised of members of the Executive Council since 1992, FHC reorganized its leadership at its board meeting on November 18, 2022.

Chairman – C. Douglas Simmons III (Beta Tau–Mississippi '95)

Vice Chairman – King V. Aiken, Jr. (Kappa–Mercer '83)

Secretary – James M. Schmuck (Alpha Eta–Westminster '69)

Treasurer – Malcolm H. Liles (Gamma–Georgia '71)

President – Larry Stanton Wiese (Gamma Omega–Midwestern State '87)

Additionally, the position of Executive Vice President was created for primary management of FHC, reflecting an increased number of operations related to housing. Brent W. Fellows (Epsilon Theta–Western Kentucky ʹ'96) was appointed to that position. He continues to serve as Assistant Executive Director for Alumni Affairs, and joined the KA staff in 2000.