Pi Kappa Alpha - University of Texas

INSIDE: Welcome, New Members • 2 Alumni Spotlight • 4 Thank You, Loyal Brothers • 6 Pike Receives Prestigious International Awards • 8 PI KAPPA ALPHA • UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS • FALL 2014 Beta Mu Review the T he fall semester is always a vibrant time for Texas Pikes. The chapter is pleased to report an excellent new pledge class of 34 men from Texas cities and towns like Denton, Houston, Midland, Plano, Temple and The Woodlands, as well as out-of-staters from Arizona, North Carolina and Virginia. We are pleased to have broadened engagement in our philanthropic activities and an active social calendar is planned largely around Texas Longhorn football. Our membership now exceeds 145 brothers and in addition to a strong brotherhood, academics remain a priority at Pike. The overall Pike membership GPA is 3.2, per the university's most recent semester rankings, placing our men ninth of the 26 IFC fraternities at Texas. Brothers Focus on Philanthropy The fall semester social agenda began with a number of mixers and tailgates and led up to the annual November Swamp Party, always a highlight of our year. The Pike Swamp Party is approaching its 50th year and it remains one of the Greek community's most recognizable events. Our philanthropic work this fall includes supporting several nonprofits and causes such as the Settlement Home of Austin (the state's largest charity garage sale), Caring for Camo (gift shipments to U.S. service men and women overseas), Boy Scout Capital Area Council (skeet shoot TEXAS PIKES ARE THRIVING ChapteR SuCCeedS in aCadeMiCS, ReCRuitMent and philanthRopy fundraiser), and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (staffing a 10k/Fun Run). Members Enjoy Fall Events The Texas-Oklahoma Weekend in Dallas on October 10-12 was once again a memorable chapter road trip, with fun times spent at the State Fair and taking in the big game. And we welcomed scores of parents and families to Parents Weekend, which was held during the weekend of October 16-18 when Texas welcomed Iowa State to Austin. Chapter Welcomes New Officers We thank our outgoing officer group, including the three December 2014 graduating seniors, President Chandler Abbott '11, External Vice President William Brown '11 and Social Co-chairman Dalton Hardy '11. Our new officers, led by President Tyler Weido '12, a junior studying business and marketing from Houston, look forward to introducing our new men to the Pike brotherhood and are planning for another terrific year. Beta Mu is well into its 10th decade at the University of Texas at Austin. There has never been a better time to have pride in being an active member or an alumnus of Beta Mu Chapter. We encourage Pikes, alumni, and friends to visit whenever in Austin. P ikes have been active leaders in the two oldest campus honoraries, The Texas Cowboys and The Silver Spurs, for decades. Pike Spurs today are Casey Beauchamp '11 (serving as Spurs Secretary), Will Brown '11, Dylan Hamer '11, Lucas Hyman '11, Will Wakefield '12 and Jake Webb '12. New Spur rowels are Zach Carrabine '12 and Matt Hoover '12. Pike Cowboys are Dalton Hardy '11, Matt Lillard '11, Chris Roman '12, and Kyle Shaffer '11. Cowboy New Man is Tyler Weido '12, who is also the newly elected Pike SMC. Texas Pikes Active in Texas Cowboys and Silver Spurs Pikes on the field at DKR/Memorial Stadium with Bevo XIV in September. (Left to right) Lucas Hyman '11, Kyle Shaffer '11, Casey Beauchamp '11, Dylan Hamer '11, Matt Lillard '11 and Will Brown '11. New Spur Rowels Matt Hoover '12 and Zach Carrabine '12 are welcomed by Will Wakefield '12 (center) and the Spur Sweetheart at a Spurs function. Will is the newly elected Pike internal vice president and Matt is social co-chairman. Matt Lillard '11 met Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings at a university reception during Texas-Oklahoma weekend. Matt, a Texas Cowboy, is also vice president for philanthropy in U.T.'s Interfraternity Council.

• Cover