Kappa Alpha Order - University of Texas

OmicrOn Update A PUB L IC A TIO N O F THE UT K A PPA A L PHA HO US ING C O R PO R A TIO N O MIC R O N C HA PTER -THE UNIV ER S ITY O F TEXA S A T A US TIN s F A L L 2019 FINISH LINE IN SIGHT FOR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN Will You Help Omicron Chapter Reach Its $2.25 Million Goal? D uring the first weekend of June, the best collegiate track and field athletes in the nation came to Austin to compete in the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium. The Texas summer heat didn't faze many of the competitors as several meet records were broken. Alumni of the Omicron Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order can learn a few things from those standout track and field athletes. When Omicron embarked on its Honoring Our Past, Securing Our Future capital campaign in 2017, the challenge felt similar to that of running the 10,000 meters. A long-term goal of $2.25 million to update our Manor at 2515 Leon St. was set and we knew that sprinting to finish the project quickly wasn't an option. Thanks to the 228 alumni who have contributed to the campaign, Omicron has overcome some unexpected obstacles during the renovation process. Our brotherhood has displayed the endurance and mental toughness of a long- distance runner, and now the finish line is in sight. Those 228 donors have raised $2,247,761, which leaves just $2,239 to reach our $2.25 million goal. As Omicron Chapter approaches the home stretch, we want to finish strong just like those college track and field stars did in Austin this summer. Now is the time to put on your track spikes and help Omicron Chapter reach the finish line. Our goal is to reach and even exceed the $2.25 million mark by the end of 2019. If everyone comes together to help complete the campaign, we hope not only to cross the finish but have enough left in the tank for a victory lap. By exceeding the $2.25 million goal, we can have additional funds to use for ongoing projects that will need attention down the road. If you made a multiyear pledge to the capital campaign, thank you for your generosity. We ask that you please ensure you continue payment on your commitment. It is essential we receive every dollar pledged so Omicron Chapter can complete our renovations. If you have not made a gift yet, there is still time to donate. Use the enclosed pledge form to make your gift today. A donation to the Honoring Our Past, Securing Our Future campaign will help Omicron Chapter's mission to be at the top of the podium when it comes to fraternities at UT and nationwide. The NCAA Outdoor Championships will return to Austin in 2020. Let's keep up the tradition of finishing strong in Austin and break some records of our own at Omicron Chapter. Fraternally, D. Kent Lance '80 Jim McBride '80 Campaign Co-Chairman Campaign Co-Chairman lance@hpitx.com jim.mcbride@bluesage.com W hile Jon McNeil '80 was recently visiting his brother in Houston, his sister-in-law concocted a breakfast snack for his drive to the airport that gave his taste buds an unexpected trip down memory lane. "It definitely wasn't a pizza burger, but there was a familiar flavor I hadn't experienced since my days at Kappa Alpha eating Stella and Naomi's infamous pizza burgers," he shared. "As soon as I landed, I called to find out the ingredients. It turns out the flavor that created my pizza burger flashback was Old English cheese." Jon was inspired to recreate the beloved pizza burger as best as he could from memory. He seems to have found a convincible version that he shared with several of his KA brothers while on their annual golf trip. "I sprung pizza burgers on them while in Sea Island," Jon said. "And they definitely passed the test." He admits that a lot of guess work goes into the pizza burger, but Jon shared the recipe so his Omicron brothers can try to recreate the infamous snack, too. "I'd encourage everyone to take a shot at making a batch and let me know what you think. There's always room for improvement," Jon said. "And of course, pass on the recipe to other Omicrons. We need to keep pizza burgers alive." Other than pizza burgers leaving a lasting impact on Jon, KA was the best thing to happen to him as a young adult. KA Provides Moral and Culinary Compass Jon McNeil '80 Keeps Brotherhood and Pizza Burgers Alive and Well Brothers on their annual golf trip in Sea Island, Ga. From left: Stanley Bould '80, D. Kent Lance '80, Jon McNeil '80, Scott Dennis '78, Randy Shipman '79, John P. Owen '78, Bobby Carter '79, Mike Lafitte '80, and Jody Thornton '79. (Continued on page 4)

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