Theta Xi - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Alphabet 4 www.alpha6294.com THETA XI RECOGNIZED AS 5-STAR FRATERNITY AT RPI Academic and Philanthropic Focus Remains Key to Spring Success T he spring semester was possibly one of the most eventful and successful ones in recent history for Alpha Chapter. From the preparation of the 150th anniversary to increasing our philanthropic activities, we have accomplished a considerable amount, both internally and externally. In addition to being recognized as a 5-Star fraternity at Rensselaer, and receiving nine out of nine in the national QX accredidation, our chapter is honored to be the recent recipient of the Fire & Life Safety Award and to be recognized as the top fraternity on campus in professional development. This is truly a testament to the hard work and determination that the brothers have displayed over the past year. For the semester, our chapter held an improved GPA of 3.20, placing us above the all-men, all-Greek, and all-campus averages. This year also introduced the full implementation of the study room, which was carefully formulated by me and expertly constructed by Carson Hotard '16 (A1665). Over the past several months, it proved to be a valuable asset to brothers who needed a quieter place to study and allowed a location for organized meetings. Recruitment Chairman Jon Burke '14 (A1645) led a strong recruitment period, with high attendance at events such as the steak dinner and Broomball. We had the pleasure of initiating five brothers bringing our yearly total to 14 new brothers. We return to RPI in the fall with 41 active brothers, 35 of whom will be living in-house. Logging over 700 combined service hours, our chapter has significantly increased our involvement in philanthropy and in keeping good relationships with other organizations. Community Relations Chairman David McWilliams '14 (A1652) organized multiple philanthropic and service events. Over the course of the semester, there were three separate Habitat for Humanity service days, in which brothers helped construct houses for the homeless. Furthermore, we have made a conscious effort to be more involved in campus activities, especially those that are philanthropy related. For instance, we had a significant turnout to an open skate event, which brings together multiple Greek organizations to donate money to the LifeNets Foundation. The 150th anniversary was an incredible moment for both our chapter and fraternity as a whole. It served as a proud reminder that we as brothers, regardless of background or location, find our ambitions through the core values we began our journeys upon. As we look to the future, I have no doubt that the Alpha Chapter will continue to thrive and stand at the forefront of fraternal leadership. As always, we would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to our alumni, without whom we would not be where we are today; we hope you will join and support us in the coming months. Whether at national convention or with an unexpected visit, we truly look forward to celebrating the richness of our history and the integrity of our brotherhood together. Yours in the Bonds, James Lee '14 (A1654) Chapter President (551) 579-0024 president@alphaofthetaxi.com R econnect with your Alpha brothers and stay up to date on all the latest chapter events by visiting our LinkedIn and Facebook pages. LinkedIn: Search for Alpha Chapter of Theta Xi and connect professionally to 130 brothers. Facebook: Search for Zoo Alumni to find 339 members, or search by individual groups, Theta Xi Club of Boston, Theta Xi Club of New York, and Theta Xi – Washington, D.C., Alumni Club. www.alpha6294.com: Explore the alumni database, view the photo gallery, read expanded articles, and update your informa- tion at the Alpha Chapter of Theta Xi Alumni website. Visit Us on the Web Brothers Robert Fohrenbach '15 (A1662), David McWilliams '14 (A1650), Carson Hotard '16 (A1665), David Miller '15 (A1653), Trevor Langley '16 (A1674), and Ed Yu '13 (A1634) volunteered at Fox Hollow in Troy, N.Y., as part of Habitat for Humanity: Capital District. i f f In celebration of 150 years of Theta Xi, brothers commemorated the founding of the fraternity by gathering on April 29th near the former building on Fulton Street in downtown Troy where the Founders met that fateful night in 1864.

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