Alpha Tau Omega - University of Florida

University of Florida p. 3 www.ufato.org T his past year, Alpha Omega Chapter did an excellent job adapting to life amid the pandemic. In this unique environment, we thrived by maintaining our high academic standard, experiencing record recruitment num- bers, and strengthening the brotherhood through new events. I am proud to share with you the highlights of the past several months. With classes transitioning to an online format during the pandemic, many students struggled with the change. Our Brothers, on the other hand, embraced the challenge and did excep- tionally well. As a Chapter, we improved our GPA from 3.23 to 3.39 in the past year. This spring, we were excited to bring back our annual philanthropy concert, Tautuga, benefit- ting the BrookeStrong Foundation. Philanthropy Chairman Davis Shockley '19 organized the event at Flavet Field. Brothers and friends enjoyed live music and ice cream provided by a local food truck. Through Tautuga, we raised $7,000 for the BrookeStrong Foundation. Due to COVID-19, the University of Florida decided to hold recruitment 100% online in the fall and limited in-person events during the spring. Despite these restrictions, we experi- enced great success during recruitment and in the education process. We proudly welcomed 52 new Brothers in the fall and 16 Brothers in the spring. We look forward to improving even further under a more traditional recruitment this summer and fall. The pandemic affected all aspects of fraternity life, but for us, none more drastic than social life. To make up for the lost events in the fall, we introduced the first Alpha Tau Omega Ryder Cup, where Team Alpha faced off against Team Omega in a two-day golf tournament at the Ironwood Golf Course. Even those not playing in the tournament came out to spectate, creating a fun environment for everyone. The spring allowed for a closer-to-normal social calendar, highlighted by our make-up Homecoming week where we were paired with Tri Delta. We are proud to share that David Gunby '17 recently served as the president of Florida Blue Key during the spring semester and was inducted into the UF Hall of Fame. He has been involved with student government throughout his four years at UF and was the executive di- rector of Gator Growl this past year. David is a valued Brother in the Chapter and a great leader here on campus. On March 26-28, we welcomed our fathers to Gainesville for Dad's Weekend. Cole Gabbai '20 planned a full weekend of activities that al- lowed us to spend quality time with our fathers while still following local COVID-19 guide- lines, including skeet shooting and golf. The strength of our brotherhood was put to the test this year. Faced with various challenges, our Brothers rose to the occasion each time, showing the true character of Alpha Omega Chapter. Fall 2021 looks to bring a sense of normalcy back to our community, and we look forward to growing and strengthening our brotherhood over the next year. Love and Respect, Jay McArthur '18 Worthy Master ΑΤΩ wins first place at the Kappa Delta Shamrock Paintball philanthropy event in March. Brothers bond during the Ryder Cup at Ironwood Golf Course. Tautuga was a success, raising $7,000 for the BrookeStrong Foundation. Pictured: Philanthropy Chairman Davis Shockley '19. Facing Challenges Head-on Alpha Omega Excels in Recruitment, Academics, and Philanthropy R. Cannon Coleman II '87 and his wife, Lisa, moved to Tampa after nearly 20 years in Houston. He recently retired from Invesco after a 20-year career as a portfolio manager. Now, he is a part-time adjunct professor at the University of Florida. Email: canon_coleman@ yahoo.com Bob Schalow '90 recently joined the Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute Board within the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management of the College of Health and Human Performance. If any Brothers are interested in pursuing this degree or have any questions regarding the program, please reach out via email. Bob would be more than willing to share his knowledge. Email: obert.schalow@ gmail.com ALUMNI NEWS (Continued from page 2) Michael Carr TJ Comer Victor Dubeux JM Fahey Spencer Farfante John Gatt Gio Giron Neven McBay Carpenter Mooney Jack Moore Nico Perez Harrison Rittel Matthew Salustro Jack Sommerville Collin Talbot Beck Warring Welcome, New Members

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