Missouri Colony Earns Its Charter
Penn State Chapter Raises $182,000 For Kids With Cancer
Texas Colony Takes Home Basketball Championship
Summer's Approaching — And So Is The Acacia Leadership Academy
Nebraska First Acacia Chapter To Reach Centennial Milestone
Finn Brothers Share A Fraternal Bond
Missouri Colony Earns Its Charter
The Missouri Chapter has once again assumed its rightful place in the ranks of Acacia Fraternity.
Over the weekend of April 8-9, 2005, Missouri Acacia brothers hosted chapter alumni, International Council members, headquarters staff and numerous undergraduate representatives from nearby chapters, all of whom gathered in Columbia, Missouri, to celebrate the momentous occasion of the re-chartering of the Missouri Chapter.
International President David J. Allen and Past President George F. Patterson, Jr., presented the charter and charge at the Saturday night chartering banquet.
Originally chartered on May 17, 1907, as the 13th chapter of Acacia, the Missouri Chapter remained active for the next 60 years. However, during the tumultuous 1960s, it, along with several other Acacia chapters, closed. After nearly a 10-year absence, a new Missouri colony emerged in 1979, but again fell to the times in 1984.
After nearly 20 years, the colony re-emerged stronger than ever. Excellence in human service, strong recruitment, a solid presence on the Missouri campus and advances in alumni relations all combined to result in an enthusiastic approval to charter from the International Council.
The chartering weekend's activities also included the initiation of the chapter's spring pledge class, as well as tours of the campus and the chapter's new house — which Missouri Acacia brothers will occupy in the 2005-06 academic year. The chapter's alumni board is preparing to launch a capital campaign to purchase a house.
Our best wishes to all the brothers of the new Missouri chapter; past, present and future. Congratulations on a job well done. And welcome home!
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Penn State Chapter Raises $182,000 For Kids With Cancer
The Penn State Chapter of Acacia continued its tradition of success in raising funds to fight pediatric cancer by partnering with the sisters of Alpha Omicron Pi to raise more than $182,000 in Dance MaraTHON 2005.
THON 2005 set a record by raising $4.1 million — all of which benefits the Hershey Medical Center Four Diamonds Fund. The Acacia brothers were extremely pleased with their efforts this year as they moved back into the top three money-raising organizations (out of 100+ organizations) after being bumped down to fourth place last year.
Congratulations to this year's dancers — Joe Butler, Shaun Clair, Kevin Deutsch, Anthony Mondi, and Eric Smooke — for their incredible determination in standing on their feet for 48 straight hours! All of the dancers agreed that it was not easy, but the support of the entire brotherhood throughout the 48 hours made the event much more enjoyable and satisfying. For more information regarding THON, the largest student-run charity in the world, see www.thon.org.
(L-R) Penn State "THON" dancers Anthony Mondi, Joe Butler, Shaun Clair, Kevin Deutsch and Eric Smooke.
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Texas Colony Takes Home Basketball Championship
The Texas Colony entered into its first season in the fraternity leagues for intramural basketball unsure of what we would encounter. After a disappointing season in the men's league last year, there was no guarantee that we would do any better in the Fraternity B league. In the final game of the season, we found ourselves going in 3-0 and attempting to keep our final opponent to a low score so that we would be the top seed entering into the play-offs. We held Alpha Epsilon Pi to just 11 points in our fourth game. The play-offs saw us facing off with the Phi Delts in our second round; they were our toughest opponent in the regular season.
Venerable Dean Robert York and Senior Dean Nick Miller strategized over lunch the day of the game on how to hold their big man from dominating in the paint, and the hard work paid off again with a large victory. At last, we went into the final game undefeated at 6-0 and facing Omega Phi Gamma, also undefeated. The men of Acacia walked onto the court on a Wednesday night across the front of stands full of Omega chapter members and supporters. The noise during the game was tremendous from the Omega fans, but the Acacia men stood up to the challenge.
"I can't hear any of you guys out there," Nick Miller said. "I want to hear you guys out there!"
With only 14 Acacia men in attendance, Acacia cheers were louder than anything the Omega stands could put up. Brother Andrew Hsu went 5 for 6 from the outside to combat the shooting offense of the Omegas, and Brother Richard Cary held the best offensive player on the Omegas with five blocks in the championship game. In the final moments of the game, Acacia got the ball with only seconds left in the game. We were down by one point. Miller caught a pass from the backcourt and put in a lay-up while fouled to put Acacia up by one point. Rebounding his own missed free throw, Miller was fouled twice more before the end of the game and cemented Acacia's victory 56-52.
Acacia was truly devoted to victory the entire game. Responding to Brother Rayda Sounny-Slitine's demands to get pumped up in the second half, Brother Michael Strohmann, our treasurer, was quick to point out what he wanted out of this championship.
"Focus on defense, Rayda, and go win me my shirt!" Strohmann said.
In the end, we all got our Intramural Champion shirts, and we will wear them with pride and, for Brother Strohmann, an incredible appreciation that they were free.
— Submitted by Jacob Sloan, Texas '03
Back Row (L-R): Robert York, Jacob Sloan, Nick Miller; Middle Row (L-R): Brian Mayo (holding Acacia shirt), Joseph Hellman, Adam Miller, Michael Strohmann; Front Row (L-R): Rayda Sounny-Slitene, Richard Cary, Andrew Hsu, Enrique Arana, Pavan Dharwadkar, and Jonathan Bahr (kneeling).
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Summer's Approaching —
And So Is The Acacia Leadership Academy
The Indiana Chapter house in Bloomington will once again be the site of the Acacia Leadership Academy (ALA) this July 27-31, 2005.
Held during off-Conclave years, the Leadership Academy draws the best-of-the-best of our undergraduate fraternity members. Over 100 of Acacia's brightest converge upon the IU chapter house to share in the free flowing exchange of ideas between chapters, and the fraternal setting is the perfect opportunity for undergraduates to live and function as one chapter. Acacia is the only fraternity to offer this unique program in a fraternal setting.
A balanced mix of speakers, fraternal issues and entertainment compliment the program to give the undergraduates a superlative fraternal experience. Everyone leaves with renewed invigoration and pride, ready to tackle the problems and challenges that face them in the coming academic year.
Undergraduates, we'll see you there! Alumni, if you're in the area, feel free to drop by and see what this incredible event is all about.
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Nebraska First Acacia Chapter To Reach Centennial Milestone
Acacians from across the country gathered in Lincoln, Nebraska earlier this year to celebrate 100 years of fraternal success with the Nebraska Chapter. Months of planning culminated in a series of special events held Thursday through Sunday, February 17-21, 2005. The mayor of Lincoln even participated in the festivities by issuing an official proclamation naming February 19, 2005 "Acacia Fraternity Day" in the city.
Chapter members wisely showcased the fraternity to the UNL community with a Thursday open house for other members of the Greek community and campus representatives. Friday's wine and cheese reception, with over 100 guests in attendance, featured an extensive display of memorabilia, including photos, newspaper articles, composites, roll books and William Jennings Bryan's shingle.
Saturday afternoon featured a sweetheart luncheon at the chapter house, while alumni were treated to a private tour of Memorial Football Stadium. For Saturday evening's centennial banquet, approximately 200 undergraduates, alumni from the 1930s on, and special guests filled UNL's Champions Club to enjoy a first-rate meal and presentation emceed by Acacia Executive Director Darold Larson. The banquet featured a keynote by Johnny Rodgers, UNL's first Heismann Trophy winner. A video presentation provided everyone present a moving retrospective of the Nebraska Chapter.
Earlier in the week, the chapter had presented actives and alumni with a private commemoration on the actual centennial day, February 14th. On that Monday, local alumni gathered with the undergraduate members at the chapter house for a steak dinner and a chance to reflect upon the meaning of Acacia.
As the first Acacia chapter to reach the centennial milestone, the Nebraska Chapter is to be congratulated — not only for its longevity, but also for setting a very high standard indeed for chapter centennial celebrations.
For additional photos of the Nebraska Chapter centennial, please visit the chapter's website at www.acacia-unl.org.
Five Nebraska Acacians received the Order of Pythagoras honor at the chapter's centennial banquet. They are (L-R) David Scott, Wade Weichel, Justin Stine, Aaron Schram and Justin Cardisco.
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Finn Brothers Share A Fraternal Bond
February 2, 2005 is a day that will always live in the memories of brothers Ian and Neil Finn, for that was the day Ian, CUP '00, took part in Neil's initiation into the Penn State Chapter of Acacia Fraternity.
"A few very important classes and a six hour roundtrip were not going to stop me from being a part of this very special moment in both my brother's and my own lives. I would not have missed it for the world," Ian remarked.
"My initiation into this fraternity marked a turning point in my life," he continued. "I just can't describe the positive impact that it has had upon me. Acacia has shaped me into the person who I am today. I am so glad that my brother will not miss out on this experience."
Neil, a 19 year-old sophomore turf grass management major with a 3.0 grade point average, began his pledge period in late September and was not initiated until February. "It was quite a long pledge period, I am not sure what to do with myself now that I have free time," he said.
Ian has been a highly influential member of the CUP Chapter since his initiation and continues to be involved in many aspects of the chapter as a graduate student. He is the 2004 recipient of the Roy C. Clark Award, given annually to the nation's top graduating senior, for his service to Acacia.
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