Pi Kappa Alpha - Mississippi State University

Visit www.missstatepikes.kintera.org/donate to make an online gi. Brandtly Smith '15 on a Malaysian mission trip. Walker Carter '15 and his father, Robert S. Carter '82, proudly raising the Pike flag after running a 5K this summer. Laithan Simmerman '13 (far left) interned in Washington, D.C., this summer. Adam Grubbs'13 on his final day as an intern in Washington, D.C. No Time Off Gamma eta Works rough the Summer in Preparation for Fall T he summer is always an extremely crucial time for the men of Pi Kappa Alpha. Though intramurals, academics, and the general life of the fraternity are put on hold, that does not mean the chapter isn't in full "go-mode." From summer recruitment to planning philanthropy events for the fall, each member was diligently at work through the summer months. ACHIEVING ACADEMICALLY Looking back at the spring, Pi Kappa Alpha earned its highest GPA honors in roughly 10 years. We raised our GPA to a 2.87 collectively, keeping us above the all-men's GPA average for the second consecutive semester. We have not had two consecutive semesters with that honor in roughly 15 years. This GPA ranks us at number 10 on campus, and we hope to increase our GPA this fall. SECOND ANNUAL PIKE DIAMOND CLASSIC Throughout the summer, we began planning for our second annual Pike Diamond Classic. This full-speed, nine-inning baseball game is played at a local high school against a neighboring fraternity who offers the highest bid. Sigma Chi placed a bid of $1,750 this year, as well as a promise to sell T-shirts for the event, thus they are who we decided to host. We are going into the event with roughly $7,000 pledged, and all proceeds will be for the Taylor Trudeau Cycle for Life Foundation. Last year, we raised roughly $10,000 and hope to surpass that number this fall semester. SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS Some members in our chapter did impressive activities this summer. Brandtly Smith '15 spent two and a half weeks in Malaysia on a mission trip. While there, he lived in a jungle village where he helped build a concrete housing structure large enough for 45 families. Adam Grubbs '13 and Laithan Simmerman '13 both spent their summer in Washington, D.C., interning for a U.S. senator. Being pledge brothers and good friends, they roomed together and shared plenty of memories from the experience. Avid runners Walker Carter '15 and Noah Frank '15 each ran in several 5Ks benefitting countless organizations and charity foundations. At each event, the two raised their Pi Kappa Alpha flags proudly as they crossed the finish line. Ultimately, the summer can be a slow time for chapter operations, but it can also show the strides a chapter is making through months that are normally "dead." I cannot say enough good things about the place Gamma Theta Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha is headed, and I am lucky to be along for the ride. Fraternally, Austin Walker '13 Chapter President pikepresidentmsu@gmail.com Austin Walker '13 accepting awards from the Mis- sissippi State Greek Ritter award ceremony. 2016 Executive Officers Chapter President Austin Walker '13 (687) 354-9269 pikepresidentmsu@gmail.com Internal Vice President Laithan Simmerman '13 External Vice President Tyler Dossett '13 Treasurer Daniel Newman '14 Secretary Phillip Wood '14 Sergeant-at-Arms Reggie Richey '13 Recruitment Chairman Alex Farrar '14 raf229@msstate.edu

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