Phi Kappa Theta - Iowa State University

Page 3 Ben Sevcik '14, Cray Weirich '16, and Linden Shoup '13 celebrate Iowa Xi's intramural championship win. Reconnecting with Iowa Xi I Frank Kock '71 Shares a Lifetime of Memories n the last few months, I've had the pleasure and privilege of talking with many of the people I lived with in the house back in the late '60s and early '70s. As we have reminisced about the old days, one theme seemed to keep popping up in our conversations. It went something like this, "You know, I just haven't stayed connected with the chapter all these years." As a matter of fact, I may have visited the house once between my graduation in 1971 and my retirement in 2004. Sure, I kept in contact with a few of my really close friends from the house, but even that was sporadic. Then a lucky thing happened to me. Out of the blue, I got a phone call from Mike Murphy '81. At that time, Mike was the chairman of the alumni board, and he was helping with recruiting a few Omaha men for the chapter. He saw my name on the alumni list and called to ask if I would help. I was shocked to get the call, let alone be asked to help. Newly retired. Time on my hands. Why not? While there, I got the chance to meet a couple of alumni and two of the actives, having the chance to swap stories of what the house was like when we were there and how they felt about being Phi Kaps. During my trip to Ames, I took a self-guided tour of the campus and decided it was time to look at the house. It was comforting and a shock at the same time. Many things were just as I remembered them. Yes, "the hole" is just as we left it. Other things like the dining room and housemother's quarters have changed. The house looked a little tired— all those college men have put her to the test through the years. But it renewed me. It gave me a new connection. I knew that if I wanted to, I could walk into that door anytime and be welcomed. Last November, I got a call from Andy Kowal, Kansas State '06. He asked me if I would consider being a member of the campaign board. I was happy to do it, if for no other reason than I would have the perfect excuse to reconnect with a lot of the brothers from my era I hadn't talked to in over 40 years. I've done exactly that, and it has been a blast. I reconnected because someone gave me an invitation to do so, and I had the good fortune to accept. So here is my invitation to you, not that you or I or any of the brothers need one, but this is our house, as it was once our home. Stop by on just about any football Saturday, and you'll find a group of alumni in the side yard, enjoying food, refreshments, and good conversation. Or come to the golf outing in August. Do yourself a favor and reconnect with your fraternity and brothers. There was a reason you chose to become a Phi Kap. Fraternally, Frank Kock '71 (402) 453-2069 • fkock@cox.net Mark Biegger '84 was profiled in an ISU College of Engineering essay on the varying paths of three Procter & Gamble industrial engineers from Iowa State. The article titled "The Passion for Leading gives Mark Biegger Early Experience for Career" traced his path to becoming Chief Human Resources Office at Procter & Gamble. Phi Kappa Theta Builds Off Alumni Success Chapter Inspired by Pride in Our Past, Foundation for Our Future Campaign P hi Kappa Theta is enjoying another successful fall semester improving our house, growing our outreach to the community, making strides in academics, and recruiting quality men for the future of the chapter. The actives have seen first-hand the generosity of our alumni in the Pride in Our Past, Foundation for Our Future campaign, and are doing their best to make them proud. Recruitment and Scholarship Strong Iowa Xi enjoyed a very strong recruitment class this year, with nine new members signed. We look forward to them partaking in the Neophyte ceremony later this year. The fraternity is also focused on academics with Scholarship Chairman John Vonderhaar '14 implementing many programs for all members to focus on grades. We have had academic success speakers, multiple study hours, and incentive programs for improved grades. Homecoming Traditions in Full Effect Homecoming was a huge success. Our pairing with Alpha Delta Pi and Phi Delta Theta won second overall. We had many members involved in Yell Like Hell, in which we placed first. We also worked on the lawn display in front of the Phi Delta Theta house, earning us third place. Overall it was a good showing for Phi Kappa Theta. Phi Kappa Theta Leaders on Campus Many members participate in other activities on campus. Dylan Camp '15 is now on the Government of the Student Body Supreme Court, while Talon Larson '14 is the president of the Society of Creative Anachronism. In August, Kevin Smetana '14, John Vonderhaar '14, Alumni News Leo Landis '87 received a Distinguished Alumni award from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences during Homecoming Week this November. Landis, the first ever recipient of the award for the History Department, received the honor Thursday, November 8, at the LAS Awards Ceremony at the Scheman Building. (Continued on page 4) Nick Van Berkum '05 wrote the cover article for the fall 2013 issue of VISIONS magazine. The article, "Born to Be a Cyclone," can be found on page 12. Nick is a communications specialist for the departments of sociology and anthropology at Iowa State University.

• Cover