Pi Kappa Alpha - Purdue University

Page 3 Pi Kappa Alpha Beta Phi: Home from the Beginning for Raymond Schier '65 F inding a home on the Purdue campus was important to Raymond Schier '65. The reception by the Pikes during rush (now called recruitment) was warm and friendly. "That impressed me, and I always felt that way about ΠΚΑ. I've never forgotten that." Ray says being a member of Beta Phi Chapter played a large part in "staying the course and was helpful" on his path to graduation. "Pi Kappa Alpha helped me to discover discipline, manners, and how to make my life meaningful." Ray served the Chapter as rush chairman and song leader. He was also on the kitchen crew. "My pledge class had four or five of us on the crew. We worked together, which was reflective of the whole [Chapter House] atmosphere." He was also one of the few with a car, so that "made me pretty popular!" After graduation, Ray started his career in aviation. As a captain on Boeing 727, 747, and DC-10 aircraft, he flew mostly to the Far East for Northwest/Delta Airlines. He is grateful to have had such a fulfilling career and credits Pi Kappa Alpha for providing the foundation. Retired at 50, Ray says he felt like he needed to accomplish more. "Five years later I was bored!" He and his wife, Phyllis (a Purdue Alpha Delta Pi), enjoyed travel, golf, and private aviation until Phyllis passed away in 2014. While he says that college life kept him busy during his undergraduate years, Ray remembers having meals together every evening and rushing home from class to hang out. "We were like a family." So keeping in touch with Beta Phi brothers over the years has been a priority for Ray. They correspond via email, and his pledge class gets together for a reunion every year. The friendships are but one reason Ray has been supportive of the Chapter over the years. He also wants other young men to have the experience he still treasures. His hope is that alumni can maintain the necessary guidance and that collegiate members embrace the lessons older generations are willing to impart. Ray says he has felt very lucky throughout life, with every endeavor that came along. "I didn't come from anywhere special, and ΠΚΑ made it special. I am just the luckiest person in this world." Ray can be contacted at nwplane@hotmail.com. Ray and house dog Lady. Pi Kappa Alpha Maintains Success in Academics and Recruitment Chapter Raises Over $12,000 for Philanthropy B eta Phi continued to show its excellence and growth last semester. With the transition of a new executive board going into this fall, it was imperative to set goals and expectations for the summer. The new executive board developed a list of goals to achieve before fall for each area of operation. In addition to the goalsetting, Beta Phi sent two representatives to the National Convention in Richmond, Virginia. Brothers Matt Retzke '16 and Dhruv Bhargava '16 celebrated Pi Kappa Alpha's 150th year at the place our fraternity was founded. In the spring, we recruited and initiated 16 quality men into our Chapter. That pledge class was the first to test out Beta Phi's updated four-week new member education plan. For this fall semester, we recruited 25 men who were recently initiated. Our proud history of a strong ROTC presence grows, as we have new members representing Navy, Army, and Air Force branches. Beta Phi participated in Relay for Life for the fourth year in a row. This event gives organizations an opportunity to meet cancer survivors and hear their stories while raising money for the American Cancer Society. Beta Phi members raised an outstanding $7,950 for the event. This fall, Beta Phi held our annual philanthropy event, PIKE Firefighter Challenge. This is an opportunity for sororities and fraternities to compete in firefighter- related challenges to raise money for the Fallen Firefighter Foundation. Beta Phi raised $4,550 from the event, which is a huge improvement from the $2,917 raised the year before. Regarding academics, Beta Phi had a Chapter cumulative GPA of 3.03 and a new member cumulative GPA of 3.04. Both of these beat the all-men's GPA of 2.96 and the all-IFC GPA of 3.00. Beta Phi looks forward to continually improving operations and winning another Robert Edgar Smythe award! In φφκα, Alex Durre '19 Chapter President (260) 443-9254 purduepikepresident@gmail.com (Left) All participants of the PIKE Firefighter Challenge benefitting the Fallen Firefighter Foundation. (Right) Brothers Dhruv Bhargava '16 and Matthew Retzke '16 at National Convention at 47 West Range, the founding room of Pi Kappa Alpha on its 150th year.

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