Pi Kappa Phi fraternity to establish alumni chapter at K-State in May

Media Relations and Marketing
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506-0117
Phone: 785-532-6415
Fax: 785-532-6418

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Sources: Tyler Price, 913-645-4111; Mark Timmes, 704-504-0888;
Scott Kelly, 785-532-5880; Tim Lindemuth, 785-532-5061; Scott Jones, 785-532-5546;
and Scott McElwain, 785-532-9344
News release prepared by: Tim Lindemuth

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

PI KAPPA PHI FRATERNITY TO ESTABLISH ALUMNI CHAPTER AT K-STATE IN MAY

MANHATTAN -- The Kansas State University chapter of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity will move to an alumni chapter status at the conclusion of the 2007 spring semester with the plan to reactivate the student chapter in 2011.

All current student members will receive lifetime alumni status in the fraternity, said Mark E. Timmes, the fraternity's national chief executive officer.

The student membership of the Delta Chi chapter, founded at K-State in 1978, voted in January to submit their charter to the national headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., on May 11, said Tyler Price, chapter president and a senior in social science, Lenexa. The action was taken due to low recruitment numbers and low chapter house occupancy.

"University officials and the office of K-State Greek affairs have granted permission to reestablish the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity chapter in the future with their full endorsement and support," Timmes said. "We are grateful to them that the Pi Kapps will be welcomed back into the K-State Greek community."

While the Pi Kapps maintain an alumni chapter at K-State, the alumni will continue to move forward with plans to celebrate the chapter's 30th anniversary with a reunion weekend in April 2008, said Scott Kelly, K-State assistant athletic trainer and the fraternity's chapter adviser.

The chapter marked its 25th anniversary in 2003 with more than 225 alumni and guests in attendance. The chapter has nearly 500 initiated brothers.

"Pi Kappa Phi has created a legacy at K-State and in the Manhattan community of which we are very proud, including making the largest gift to the university by a student organization," said Tim Lindemuth, editor of K-Stater magazine and the fraternity's housing corporation president.

In 2003, the fraternity raised more than $25,000 for the K-State Gardens to build the Pi Kappa Phi Red Rose Garden in the phase II portion of the gardens' construction. The red rose is the fraternity's flower and it is a fraternity tradition to establish a red rose garden on the campuses where chapters are located.

Work on the K-State Gardens' phase II, known as the Conservatory Garden, is expected to begin in spring 2008, said Scott McElwain, director of the K-State Gardens. He anticipates initial planting of the Pi Kappa Phi Red Rose Garden will go around the new fountain at the center of the Conservatory Garden.

The fraternity's philanthropy, Push America, contributed $10,000 to the construction of a handicap-accessible playground in 2000 at Manhattan's Anneberg Park. The Pi Kapps also were the first Greek chapter to contribute to the construction of the K-State Alumni Center.

Price said seven brothers in the chapter each cycled 3,800 miles across the United States in the fraternity's Journey of Hope bike ride to bring awareness for people with disabilities. The most recent rider in 2005 was Steve Stampbach, now a K-State graduate student in software engineering, Manhattan, who raised more than $5,000 for the philanthropy.

Scott Jones, director of Greek affairs at K-State, said, "We look forward to when the Pi Kapps will reestablish themselves in the future and to engage their strong commitment to K-State and Manhattan."