BETA ETA
DATA
FALL 2010
PI KAPPA PHI FRATERNITY • FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY BETA ETA CHAPTER ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
Beta Eta Reigns Supreme From August 5th to 8th, Orlando, FL played host to Pi Kappa Phi’s biennial legislative convention, the Supreme Chapter, which Beta Eta used as a chance to celebrate its leadership role within the greater fraternity.
The Hilton Hotel at Walt Disney World was the headquarters hotel for Pi Kappa Phi’s 52nd Supreme Chapter. But more than just the fraternity’s national convention, the Supreme Chapter was also a backdrop against which Beta Eta alumni and their guests from across the Southeast joined together to acknowledge the unique accomplishments of three chapter alumni who were being recognized during the four day event. In all, close to 40 Beta Eta alumni and guests participated in at least one event during the convention. Friday’s opening general session, as with every Supreme Chapter, is done in ritualistic fashion where all student chapters are ceremonially dissolved and reconstituted as the Supreme Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi – the fraternity’s ultimate legislative body. It’s here where policy is made and the fraternity’s Supreme Law is amended for the upcoming biennium. Representing Beta Eta Chapter throughout the convention was Archon Phillip Kelley and Vice Archon John Frazier Strickland. Each was assigned to a committee and also represented the chapter’s interest during the general sessions. Later Friday evening, the Pi Kappa Phi Foundation hosted its black tie Nu Phi Society Banquet at the nearby Lake Buena Vista Palace Resort & Spa. The purpose of the Nu Phi Society is to recognize sustained commitment to the fraternity as evidenced by an alumnus’ attendance at Supreme Chapter. Alumni become eligible to join the Nu Phi Society at their fifth convention. This year, Beta Eta alums John Pierce ’85,
Beta Eta alumni at the fraternity’s Supreme Banquet celebrating Frank M. Ryll, Jr. as the 2010 Hall of Fame inductee.
Lee Nichols ’87, and Jeff Pujals ’96 were inducted into the Society. They join fellow chapter alums Jeff Niedenthal ’67, Mike Loy ’91, Jeff Wahlen ’81 and Tom Atwood ’92 who were inducted in previous years. Beta Eta now has the fourth most Nu Phi members of any chapter in Pi Kappa Phi Saturday was a great day for the chapter and it began with the awards luncheon sponsored by the Pi Kappa Phi Foundation. It was during lunch that the Beta Eta Alumni Chapter (BHAC) was acknowledged, for the fifth consecutive year, as Pi Kappa Phi’s leading alumni group. Brothers Mike Loy and Frank Kaney ’55 were present to receive the award on behalf of the executive committee. Also during lunch, student members Ryan Chiarello and William Boyce were recognized for their academic achievements for the previous school year. Chiarello was awarded a $500 scholarship and named as one of four Outstanding Associate Members by the Foundation and Boyce was awarded a $1,000 scholarship and identified as one of seven Pi Kapp Scholars for the 20092010 academic year. Both competed nationally for their recognition and beat out the competition with impressive applications. The Pi Kapp Scholars award is the fraternity’s highest academic honor which it has been bestowing upon talented students since 1927. Boyce joins just a handful of other Beta Eta’s to have received this award. Later Saturday evening, the BHAC sponsored an alumni reception to honor Frank M. Ryll, Jr.’62, Pi Kappa Phi’s 2010 Hall of Fame Inductee, Jeff Wahlen, outgoing National President and John Pierce, outgoing President of the Push America Board of Directors. It was a special evening for Beta Eta and for the friends and families of each of the honored alumni. Together, Wahlen and Pierce leave a legacy of CONTINUED ON PAGE 5