Lambda Chi Alpha - Indiana University

B eing a Hoosier isn't just about living in Indiana—it runs in your blood and strengthens connections that last a lifetime. While Ward Roberts '00 lives a Hollywood life in California today, he'll never forget those bonds he made through Lambda Chi Alpha. As an undergraduate, Ward was introduced to Alpha-Omicron Zeta by Drew Price '97. Ward remembers great conversations with brothers that truly felt like a family on campus, and he appreciated the chance to bond while traveling for spring break trips and more. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Wanting to give back to the house and learn leadership skills, Ward served as recruitment chairman and Kappa. While he regrets not having enough time to devote as Kappa, he learned an important lesson on not spreading himself too thin. "It all started at IU; I ended up leaving the traditional Theater major to do the individualized major program," Ward said, finding freedom in his studies. His college experience included writing and directing short films as well as acting in plays. Ward's AO brothers always came out to support all his creative endeavors. After graduation, Ward moved to Los Angeles. "It was really about taking this network that started at IU, moving to LA, and starting to piece together the resources to get things done." This included his fellow associate from Lambda Chi Alpha, Aaron McDermott '01, who became a producer on Ward's first feature film as a writer/director, Little Big Top. For his next film, Dust Up, several other AOs contributed to his crowdfunding campaign to complete the film. "Those films may have never been made or released without my Lambda Chi brothers," Ward said. PROJECTS WITH PURPOSE Ward holds all his projects dear to his heart, including his new feature film Invaders from Proxima B and his new album and documentary about the life and music of Cole Porter. "All those are extremely special to me—I've poured years of my life into them," Ward added. He remembers touring Universal Studios as a child, and he was amazed to spend a day shooting Marvel's Agent Carter in the very same place. STAYING CONNECTED Ward merged his media work and IU connection through the Hoosier Hysterics podcast with Eric Pankowski, recognizing a mutual passion for IU basketball. Since they began the show, Ward is proud to have helped share stories from IU men's and women's basketball players. "We were able to be the catalyst to get coach Knight at an IU basketball event for the first time in 20 years. It has been a completely unexpected and largely improvised journey, but you just feel like pinching yourself when you get a chance to talk to people like Calbert Cheaney or coach Woodson." Ward is proud to remain close with alumni brothers to this day despite the distance, and he is always there to look out for his fellow brothers. He and his wife moved to Los Angeles and married in 2005, and they have a son and daughter who they are raising as Hoosiers at heart. You can connect with Ward at wardroberts@gmail.com, on Twitter/X @HoosierHystrcs, or follow his Hoosier Hysterics on many of your favorite podcast platforms. 2 THE ORACLE Ward Roberts '00 (right) with podcast co-host Eric Pankowski and coach Bob Knight at The Bluebird. THE HOOSIER HYSTERIC Ward Roberts '00 Stays Grounded through Brotherhood "Those four years in Bloomington are something I wouldn't trade for the world. I look back at that fondly—not just for how important that was in my development, but here we are more than 20 years later. It's very much still a part of who I am right now." FOLLOW OUR PODCAST! Apple: tinyurl.com/applehoosier Spotify: tinyurl.com/spotifyhoosier iHeartRadio: tinyurl.com/ihearthoosier. A s we embark on a journey filled with new beginnings, we express our heartfelt gratitude to our previous officers who skillfully guided us through uncharted waters. A new era begins as we introduce our current officers: Nick Woods '25 as High Alpha, Lucas Hallal '25 as High Beta, Thomas Crow '26 as High Theta, and Jack Markus '25 as High Gamma. Meet the rest of our High Zeta members by visiting our new website, lxaiu.com! GROWING THE BROTHERHOOD During an eventful year, we received exciting news: we would soon be returning to our beloved house on the hill. With eager anticipation, undergraduates and alumni rallied together to make this long-awaited homecoming a reality. We are also thrilled to welcome 23 new members who embody the values of our fraternity. As we prepare for the upcoming initiation season, led by our dynamic High Delta, JJ Williams '25, we are enthusiastically inviting potential new members to explore our fraternity and become part of our thriving brotherhood. SERVING THE COMMUNITY This spring, we devoted ourselves to serving our community by recording an impressive 61 hours at a local soup kitchen and raising $3,307 for charitable causes. Our inaugural Goats and Floats philanthropy event proved to be a memorable experience. Proceeds were donated to the Movember Foundation. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed alumni, undergraduates, faculty, and peers for their generous support of our philanthropic efforts. LEARNING FROM MENTORS We are delighted to introduce Jami Patton as our exceptional new live-in advisor. Her unwavering passion, determination, and expertise in healthcare and fraternity and sorority life will undoubtedly elevate our fraternity to new heights. In addition to immense admiration for the growth and maturity within our brotherhood, Jami also brings a wealth of knowledge, and we eagerly anticipate her invaluable guidance. EXCELLING STILL MORE Lastly, we're pleased to share our outstanding academic achievements, including a GPA of 3.46, earning us third place among all IFC chapters. The dedication of our undergraduate brothers has truly surpassed expectations and demonstrates a commitment to excellence. Kalepa ta kala! In ZAX, Nick Woods '25, President nicwoods@iu.edu Reflecting on the Past and Embracing the Future ACTIVE CHAPTER AIMS FOR EXCELLENCE

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