Eta Tau Fall Newsletter

Alumni Newsletter Of the Eta Tau Chapter

Featured in this Issue Miracle League Updates Meet Your Executive Council Letter from the Archon

Miracle League The men of Pi Kappa Phi have spent the last four Saturday mornings at Shillito Park, in Lexington with the Toyota Bluegrass Miracle League.

While there, they partner with individual players, who come from all over Central Kentucky.

The Miracle League season is six weeks long, running until October 14th. The Eta Tau Chapter is the sponsor of the Reds, one of six teams in the league. Associate Members have found it to be a great experience. “It’s great to make them feel like Babe Ruth,” Grant Pillsbury said with a smile. “The Miracle League is a lot of fun… to be so overwhelmingly positive with the athletes. It’s a really positive atmosphere and everyone really enjoys it.”

Eta Tau is looking into further avenues in working with people with different abilities, including a potential partnership with the University of Kentucky’s Chapter of Best Buddies.

As for the fundraising arm of Pi Kappa Phi, Eta Tau has set a goal of contributing $7500 to the Ability Experience this semester.

Brother Matthew Farmer and Liam, one of the stars of the Reds

Six teams in the Toyota Bluegrass Miracle League – and one sponsored exclusively by the Eta Tau Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi. October 2017 1st Issue, 1st Edition A Pi Kappa Phi Newsletter Published by the Eta Tau Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein. The Eta Tau Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi, nor Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity is liable for errors or omissions. © 2017

Letter from the Archon Fellow Brothers of Pi Kappa Phi, Eta Tau Chapter, It is an exciting time to be a part of Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Kentucky! As a re-established colony, we are already making a name for ourselves. Pi Kappa Phi’s mission is to establish leadership opportunities for its members. At the University of Kentucky, we are taking the lead on placing our brothers in positions of influence on campus. Brothers Lucas Heilman and Bilal Shaikh are running for spots on Freshman Senate.

Fostering brotherhood is important for our chapter. We believe that a strong brotherhood results in lifelong connections for brothers. To this end, we had a bowling event for brothers at Southland Bowling. Additionally, we hosted a laser tag night at Champs Entertainment Complex, which gave us an opportunity not only get to know each other better, but to welcome new members into the brotherhood. In the short term, we hope to successfully continue to recruit new members who want to share in the vision of building up our organization by building diversity in brotherhood and leadership during the rest of the fall semester and spring rush. During the spring semester, we hope to implement a philanthropy event that will bring together the UK community. This will establish a key tradition that can continue for years.

In our common purpose, Matthew Jones

1.

Stars and Swords | A newsletter from the Eta Tau Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi | Page 2

DanceBlue 5K DanceBlue is the University of Kentucky’s largest student-run philanthropy, and with almost 1,000 dancers, is one of the largest events of its kind in the nation. Months of preparation in fundraising culminate in a twenty-four hour no-sitting-or-sleeping dance party on the floor of the historic Memorial Coliseum. Entering its thirteenth year, DanceBlue has raised 11.6 million dollars. Each year’s DanceBlue has been larger than the previous year’s, with 2017 raising $1,785,286.96 “For The Kids.”

On October 1st, Eta Tau had several runners in the annual 5K. Archon Matthew Jones was the fastest of the Pi Kapps, with a time of 21:01, placing him 31st overall among over a thousand runners.

Brother Alex Spangler ran a 22:57 to place him 61st overall. Brother Lucas Heilman ran a 24:56 to finish 115th.

Brothers Tanner Palin and Robert Currie ran similar times, finishing at 28:39 and 28:37, respectively.

Brother Grant Pillsbury was just behind, running an even 31:00.

This year, the Eta Tau Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi will be attempting to put some men on the floor at DanceBlue. Over the next few months, Philanthropy Chair Grant Pillsbury will help lead various fundraisers. If you would like to contribute, you can contact Grant at grantpillsbury.1@gmail.com .

“It was a great way to kick off the DanceBlue season. It was my first 5K, and it was nice to meet all of the people in the DanceBlue community and I look forward to doing more events For The Kids!”

Tanner Palin said.

DanceBlue will be holding more events in the coming weeks, including Spirit Nights at Lexington-area restaurants. For more information, follow @PiKappUK on Instagram or Twitter.

Eta Tau’s finishers after the race (from left to right): Alex Spangler, Lucas Heilman, Matthew Jones, Grant Pillsbury, Robert Currie, Owen Walker, Tanner Palin (not pictured: Sam Stottman, Hunter McMurtrey, Jared Gorman

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @PiKappUK! We’d love for you to see what we’re doing in the community!

Stars and Swords | A newsletter from the Eta Tau Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi | Page 3

MEET OUR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ARCHON – MATTHEW FRANKLIN JONES A Patterson Scholar studying Finance within the Gatton College of Business & Economics, Matthew serves as a Senator-at-Large to the Student Government Association. He is also a member of the Lewis Honors College, where he has also served as a Peer Mentor. “I am proud to be a Pi Kapp because of the enthusiasm of my chapter brothers,” Matthew explains, “I am excited to create programming that brings together actives and pledges to form a cohesive fraternity.” Matthew will be in charge of all aspects of fraternal life, including acting as the chair of the Executive Council and Chapter Meetings.

VICE ARCHON – HUNTER L. MCMURTREY Hunter is a junior studying Middle Grades Education, with minors in psychology and Spanish. He has quickly joined several organizations, including Intramural Basketball. Hunter is also beginning a stint as a DJ for the student-run WRFL radio station on campus. Hunter is also involved with UK’s Backpacking Club. He is most looking forward to “take gentlemen from all across this great country, with different hobbies, ways of life, and passions, and have them come together for a common goal…[F]or all to develop a better understanding, respect, and love for one another.”

TREASURER – BILAL SHAIKH Bilal is currently a political science major, but is a biology minor. He is a member of the Muslim Student Association, and is in the midst of a campaign for a spot in the University of Kentucky Freshman Senate. “As a new chapter we have the unique ability to define ourselves on campus,” Bilal explains. He is looking forward to helping with the creation of “a respectable fraternity that is involved with leadership on campus.”

SECRETARY – ALEXANDER “ALEC” FOUST Alec is a double major in English and Environmental and Sustainability Studies, with minors in Writing, Reading, and Rhetoric, as well as theatre. He is a proud member of the Baptist Campus Ministry on campus, and serves on his Hall Council. Alec is also heavily involved with the promotion of the humanities on campus, serving as the prose editor for Shale Undergraduate Literary Journal, and the historian of the Delta Epsilon Upsilon chapter of the English honors fraternity Sigma Tau Delta. Alec looks forward to “see[ing] our chapter implement several service projects in Lexington, both on- and off-campus.”

ΗΤ

Address Correspondence to: Eta Tau – University of Kentucky Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity 575 Patterson Street and Office Tower Lexington, KY 40508 kentuckypikapp@gmail.com | @pikappuk

WARDEN – ALEX SPANGLER Alex Spangler is from Lexington, Kentucky, and is currently studying Integrated Strategic Communications. In his spare time, Alex plays the guitar and the bass, and also serves as a medic in the National Guard. Alex will be in charge of New Member Education, and is focused on growth, “getting to know the brothers over the course of the next four years and seeing the fraternity grow together.”

HISTORIAN - J. TATE GREENE A native of Prestonsburg, Kentucky, Tate is an Otis A. Singletary Scholar studying Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology, but has ultimate plans of attending pharmacy school. He is a member of the Lewis Honors College, the Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology Club, and the Pre-Pharmacy Club. In addition, Tate works with the Governor’s Scholars Program. “I’m proud to be able to help establish what will one day be known as a prime example of a fraternity that uses the bonds of men to strengthen, not just one another, but the community around them.” Tate will work with Alumni Relations, Newsletters, and run the Social Media Committee.

CHAPLAIN – ANDREW CRITTENDEN Andrew is a freshman studying Electrical and Computer Engineering. As an Eagle Scout, Andrew enjoys serving the community around him, and looks forward to seeing “Pi Kapp’s impact on campus.” He is also looking forward to “bonding with my new brothers, and the memories we will make.”

RISK MANAGEMENT – TANNER PALIN Tanner is a double major in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He is a contributor to the University of Kentucky Solar Car Team, FSAE (Formula and serves on his Hall Council. Tanner is especially looking forward towards “our philanthropy events and the ability to serve the community around us.”

Tanner will be helping with social and philanthropy events to ensure chapter policies are upheld.

PHILANTHROPY – GRANT PILLSBURY Grant is a Public Health major who regularly appears on the Dean’s List. He is involved with the Club Tennis Team on campus, but takes great pride in what he does off-campus, as well. An Eagle Scout, Grant volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, and is eager to see “how we can positively impact campus over the next few years.” Grant will be involved with both the Philanthropy and Service arms of Pi Kappa Phi.