P I K APPA P HI T HETA D ELTA C HAPTER
BEHIND THE STAR SHIELD V OLUME 1, I SSUE 1
J ANUARY 2009
IFC F LAG F OOTBALL I NTERMURAL C HAMPIONS For the first time in Pi Kappa Phi history, Theta Delta has won the coveted flag football championship. This feat was done with overwhelming dominance over the competition. At the beginning of the season no one expected Pi Kapp to win the flag football championship. They were proved wrong as Theta Delta finished the season undefeated, winning with at least three touchdowns per game while only allowing two touchdowns by opposing teams the entire season, and an average three interceptions per game. Those statistics are out of this world. At Quarterback, Johnny “Blaze” Gonzalez led the offense with an array of talented receivers. Leading the pack was our down field play-maker Patrick
Lolo and controlling the flats was Tony Govin, Kristopher “Luda” Sanchez and Kevin Preval. On the defen- Flag football team from top left to right: Tony Govin, sive side Kevin Preval, Kristopher Sanchez, Carlos Frigger, Riche Waithe, Oscar Correa, James Sotirescu, Dana LaBel, we shut Guy Zamor, Michelangelo Hernandez, Dennis Hackett, down Erik Suastegui, Juan Rodriguez, Kevin Perez, Christocorners pher Backofen, Johnny Gonzalez and Patrick Lolo and secondary. Carlos Friger, Chris Kevin Perez. All this talent Backofen and Oscar Correa would have gone to waste if it all played shut down defense. wasn’t for our coach, Guy On the front lines rushing the Zamor. Guy not only adapted QBs was James Sotirescu and the Wildcat offense to flag Ritchie Waithe. Shutting down football but he properly the middle of the field, leading placed each player to their the team in interception is respective positions.
N EW Y EAR , N EW A T TITUDE , S AME B ROTHERHOOD It is a new year and Pi Kappa Phi Theta Delta has ushered in a fresh and young Executive Board. Dealing with all the philanthropy work this year is our Director of Service Engage-
ment which Kevin Preval (Sigma Class #305). His philanthropy work last year, not only won him the Service award, but also showed his true passion in helping others. Outside of PUSH
America, Kevin wants to also focus on other philanthropies such as PUSH Earth, Dance Marathon and Relay for life. Handling Ritual duties this year will be Robert Santana
T HETA D ELTA T ODAY
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The number of active brothers has reached 109 active brothers.
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Stand to take the Sports Cup for the Third Year in a row..
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Continues to dominate in on campus activities.
I NSIDE THIS ISSUE : 2008: A YEAR
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IN REVIEW
A M ESSAGE
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FROM OUR A RCHON
R ECONNECTING N EW WITH O LD
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V OLUME 1, I SSUE 1
P AGE 2
2008: A Y EAR I N R EVIEW After all was said and done, Theta Delta had a great year in 2008. The brotherhood has grown exponentially and has reached 109 active brothers with the addition of Chi class in the summer and Psi Class in the fall with 12 and 18 brothers joining the Brotherhood respectively. Though the year had a rough start, the brotherhood persevered and continued to dominate in involvement and service projects . Last year Theta Delta led the pack with a whopping four Peer Advisors (Jephren
Perez, Chris Ponce, Justin Espagnol and Anthony Varona) and three Panther Camp facilitators (Andres “Gonzo” Gonzalez, Mark Alexis and Pravish Persaud) as well as having a Pi Kapp (Andres Penalver) as the Overall Director for Dance Marathon and three Representatives on SGA. I n PUSH America Theta Delta has raised over $9,000 for PUSH Brothers attending the annual Greek BBQ in 2008 and made a record 12 friendship visits with the Possible Dreams Foundation and Hope Center.
B ROTHERHOOD SET TO REACH NEW HEIGHTS Continued from Page 1 (Upsilon Class #339). Last year Rob was the Asst. Chaplain and his work in the logistical aspect of planning and setting up for rituals spoke volumes of his passion and love for our rituals. On the other side of the new member process is our Warden, Omar Regalado (Xi Class #233). As a past Chaplain and IFC Chief Justice Omar has a unique outlook on the Fraternity and the new member process. Omar is also the oldest brother on the E Board and he brings a sense of leadership and guidance to the younger guys. Handling the finances this year is Andres Gutierrez (Psi Class #367). Although Andres is a new brother he has proven to the Brotherhood and himself that he can manage the task of being treasure. Andres works for an accounting firm and is extremely knowledgeable in the realm of finances and accounting. The secretary this year will be Andres “Gonzo” Gonzalez (Tau Class #3). Gonzo’s many accomplishments over the last year made him a prime candidate for the position. His work ethic and experience is a valuable asset to the E Board. Another young
brother on the E board this year is Vignesh Iyer Doraiswamy (Psi Class #365). Vignesh will be in charge of all in-
“I
HOPE TO PLAN MANY A LUMNI E VENTS AND I HOPE TO RECONNECT OUR OLDER BROTHERS BACK TO THEIR CHAPTER .”
ternal affairs of the chapter. As Vice Archon of Internal Vignesh plans on not only upholding our RISK policies but helping out any and all committee directors. Our second in command as Vice Archon of external is Alex Parayuelos (Upsilon #337). Alex has done
an amazing job with rush so far. He is an extremely hard worker, who at times, his work goes unnoticed. Then there’s the Historian, Kevin Perez (myself Upsilon Class #343). I hope to plan many Alumni Events and I hope to reconnect our older brothers back to their chapter. Leading these men is our Archon, Wolfgang Acevedo. Wolfgang brings a sense of professionalism and guidance to the E Board. He plans on building where the last E Board left off and leaving this E Boards mark in Theta Delta history.
V OLUME 1, I SSUE 1
P AGE 3
R ECONNECTING THE O LD WITH THE N EW A message form Past National President Howard Leake, Rho (Washington & Lee) National President 1948-1950 (From Pikapp.org)
“It is good to come back to the source of all good things. We need water; we need food; and we need something for the spirit, and I don’t think there is anything better than a touch of refreshment of brotherhood and I don’t know of any better place to find that inspiration than in Pi Kappa Phi.” There is no better feeling than to feel like you belong to something important. Something you helped build. Something that has impacted the lives of countless men. Theta Delta wouldn’t be where it is today if it wasn’t for our older brothers. I was taught that you don’t know where you are going unless you know where you came from. You gentlemen where once the life of this fraternity, now that the
bond we as brother share is unlike any other. Our brotherhood is a lifelong commitment and as alumni you are given Brothers and Families attend last year’s Supreme Chapter the task to reconnect torch has been passed to younger with your younger brothers and brothers, we are picking up sharing with them your experiences with them. Like Brother where you left off. However, now that you are alumni and Howard states: it always good to since you have started your lives have “a touch of refreshment of and careers, your role in the brotherhood. Although the faces Chapter has never been more and names are different, we are important. still Pi Kapp’s. The letters, the ideals, and the Brotherhood is Pi Kapp means a lot of things to the same. All the undergraduates a lot of people. Some people encourage our brothers to come enter Pi Kapp as a way of netback and enjoy the brotherhood working; others join as a way to they help create. get involved on campus. Whatever the case for joining there is only one reason people stay. The
R IDE T O T HE L IGHT F OR CO A WARENESS The brothers of Pi Kappa Phi's Theta Delta Chapter are preparing for our second annual Ride to the Light, a 24hour stationary bicycling event meant to raise money and awareness for carbon monoxide and its dangers. This foundation was created in honor of our fallen brother, Anthony Perez. Anthony sadly passed from died from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of a leak in the exhaust of his car. Since then Theta Delta has worked tirelessly to bring a message of awareness and prevention to the F.I.U. commu-
ing this time the brothers, as well as volunteers, will remain bicycling at all times amongst 10 stationary bikes. Last year we raised over $2000, and we hope to surpass that number this year. If you would like to know more about the Anthony's Light Foundation, please visit the web site at: www.anthonyslight.org nity. The event will begin on Monday, April 13th at 5:00pm in the Graham Center Pit at Florida International University's south campus, and continue on until 5:00pm the following day. Dur-