By GM Colby Delaney
Several undergraduate brothers attended the Kappa Sigma Leadership Conference in New Orleans this summer. While at the conference the Alpha-Delta’s were awarded with one of the Academic Excellence Cups for having one of the highest GPAs of all Kappa Sigma chapters for the past school year. The undergrads finished the 2011-12 school year with a 3.30 GPA in the spring semester. These marks tied us with Beta Sigma Beta for the fourth best GPA in the IFC, far above the IFC average of 3.14.
In recruitment, the brothers of Alpha Delta put a full effort into a pivotal rush period this fall. Brother Steven Koniuk was elected as the rush chairman and did a great job coordinating the chapter’s rush efforts. Over 1,200 students went through the recruitment process this fall and we made contact with close to 200 of them. Through events such as a BBQ, poker night, football game and others, we got to know many of the great young men on campus. We gave out a total of 25 bids and secured 12 new pledges. Eleven of the pledges are freshmen and one is a sophomore, with majors ranging from engineering to accounting to economics. The brothers are excited about the new pledge class and the enthusiasm for the chapter they have shown so early in the pledge process. Two of the pledges are legacies of the chapter, Nick Vough, whose brother Mike graduated last spring and was a former Grand Master for the chapter; and Declan Wilson, whose father Matthew graduated from Penn State in 1982. Declan’s grandfather was also a Kappa Sigma at William and Mary. While 12 is a good number for the chapter, we hope that a good mid-semester rush can bring this number up to 18 and then get at least 10 new members in the spring.
For the first time since regaining our charter, the chapter participated in the Homecoming festivities. We paired up with Vole, a ballet club on campus, and made a float for our theme based on the movie Grease. It took a lot of effort from all the members of both organizations but in the end it all came together and everyone had a great time.
Last year Kappa Sigma has its first THON partner in Gamma Sigma Sigma since regaining our charter. The brothers are extremely excited for THON this year and hope that our new partnership will launch us into the top 10 for Greek organizations. On the first canning weekend our pair raised $6100.30, so we are off to a great start! If you would like to donate to THON in our name, contact our THON chairman Jakob Yarmoff at [email protected]. We hope you will support Kappa Sigma and THON For the Kids!