Pi Kappa Alpha - University of Texas

INSIDE: Pikes Selected for Texas Cowboys and Silver Spurs • 3 Thank You, Loyal Beta Mu Brothers • 4-5 Alumni Update • 6-7 PI KAPPA ALPHA • UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS • SPRING 2016 TEXAS PIKES LEADING ACROSS CAMPUS AND IN THE CLASSROOM T exas Pikes are enjoying the 2016 spring semester. The chapter was pleased to welcome 28 new members into the brotherhood in December. Our winter party, Pikes Peak, was a blast, and we have great expectations for another huge Round-Up Weekend in March and Mom's Weekend this spring. In February, our dads enjoyed being in Austin, where we took in the U.T. versus Baylor basketball game and enjoyed dinner together at the Pike house. We look forward to hosting our moms in Austin April 15-17. The chapter sent 25 brothers in February to Pike University in Dallas to meet other regional Pike leaders and learn best fraternity practices. While in Dallas, these brothers also joined a DFW-area alumni Founder's Day lunch. This spring, Pikes joined the student-led charity, Texas Thon, for another year, hosting a pancake fundraiser at the Pike house in February, which netted more than $7,000 for the Thon campaign to benefit the pediatric cancer research program at Dell Children's Medical Center. Academics remain a priority at the Pike house. The overall Pike Actives membership GPA is 3.2, placing our men tenth of the 27 IFC fraternities at U.T. This spring, Pike added a Texas Cowboy Newman and the Silver Spurs selected two Pike Rowels (see page 3). In 2016, Beta Mu Chapter celebrates its 96th year at The University of Texas at Austin. There has never been a time to have more pride in being an active member or an alumnus of Pi Kappa Alpha. We encourage Pikes, alumni and friends to visit when in Austin. J .D. Swancoat '12 was elected president of Pike by his peers in late fall 2015 and will serve until mid-fall 2016. Q: Tell us about your early years. Where were you born, family background, your high school days, etc.? A: I was born in Laguna Hills, California, and grew up in Tustin, California. I was fortunate to have a close family and grow up in Orange County. My father is a CFO in Southern California and I have a sister attending college in Wisconsin. Our mother died when I was in kindergarten. I graduated from Arnold O. Berkman High School, where I was active in student government all four years and served as student body president my senior year. I ran track and cross country my first three years. I was politically active in high school, working for Meg Whitman's campaign for governor, and was chosen by the American Legion to serve as my school's delegate to the California Golden Boys State. Q: What attracted you to Pike? When did you pledge? A: I pledged in the fall of 2012. When going through the rush process as an out-of-state student, Pike stood out in large part because the guys seemed relatable and I liked the other guys I met who were rushing Pike. There was a good representation of out-of-state members, which was attractive to me being from California. I was in a great pledge class of 36 brothers. Q: You have been a visible leader in Pike. What other offices did you hold before being elected president? A: Swampmaster, external vice president and state rush co-chairman. Q: What is your major? Do you have a career pathway identified or specific industry in mind to join? Grad school? A: I am double majoring in finance and government and would like to go to law school after I graduate. My long-term goal is to run for public office. Q: What is the vision you have as Pike president? What are your goals for Pike over the next year? A: Pike has a number of areas that we have targeted for growth. We continue to have a great presence on campus, but strive for continual improvement. There is a large focus on rush this fall. Rush is the lifeblood of the fraternity and is the key to Pike growing at U.T. We are also looking to tweak the new member education program so that it has more of an emphasis on building future leaders for the chapter and pledges having a better understanding of chapter operations. For current actives, we are constantly looking to improve the experience of being a Pike. We are increasing the number, and improving the quality of our social events, mainly due to an increase in financial management. I also hope to see the Hire- a-Pike internship and mentoring program, which was started by our alumni in 2015, become more successful year after year and for the fraternity to serve as a strong platform to transition to the real world. Finally, I would like to continue working with Beta Mu alumni to identify a successful plan for improving the Pike chapter house to ensure our long-term viability at The University of Texas. The current housing situation for Pike is not sustainable and I would like to see us make changes soon, in time to mark Beta Mu's centennial in 2020. Q: What are your hobbies and interests? A: Following U.T. sports, keeping up with current events, craft beer and running. Q: Name the four guests you would invite to a "fantasy" dinner party. A: Sir Winston Churchill, Texas basketball coach Shaka Smart, Dr. Condaleezza Rice and Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. Q & A with New Pike President, J.D. Swancoat '12 The BeTa Mu Review J. D. Swancoat '13, (second from left) with brothers Jake Winslett '12, Michael Webb '12, and Zach Carabine '12.

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