Clicking to view

The Gamma Iota Star and Lamp
Volume 22, Issue 1
August 5, 2009
Alumni Spotlight on House Dad Ryan McGwyer
R
yan McGwyer, !" 190, pledged Gamma Iota in the fall of 1997 as a member of the Eta class, and lived in the fraternity house for two years as an active brother. Originally from Wiscon­
sin, Ryan chose to attend LSU because he believes it to be “the best college in the nation.” Maria Golf Academy at Santa Maria Golf Club. Though he began the business solo, the opera­
tion has grown to include two additional employ­
ees, including NFL scout Chris Landry who has his own radio show on Fox Sports Radio.
As if Ryan did not have enough to keep After him busy, in graduating in addition to run­
December of ning a small 1999, Ryan business, he traveled the has served as country teach­
the Gamma ing golf les­
Iota House sons. He lived in eight Dad since 2006. In the cities over the course past three years, Ryan of the next seven years, believes the chapter has ranging from the states #$%&'()%*+,-.))%',*/0-%01,
of Arizona, to Minne­
and is made up of even sota, and Florida. After higher quality men than learning about golf from when he was an active some extremely esteemed brother. He says that the mentors over these seven two biggest messages years, Ryan returned to he tries to impart on the Baton Rouge in August actives are responsibility of 2006 to found Santa and respect.:;<=>?#@>#$
What’s Inside...
­Alumni Updates, p.2
­PUSH Report, p.3
­Inside the Chapter, p.4
­Picture Gallery, p.5
­Honors & Awards, p.6
(,,*#-./01234/#56789
Archon Steven Nelson
#225­937­3400
Vice Archon Paul Kepper
#504­812­2352
Treasurer John Stribling
#512­560­5611
!"#$$%
snelso7@tigers.lsu.edu
!"#$%&
pkeppe1@tigers.lsu.edu
!"#$'&
jstrib1@tigers.lsu.edu
Secretary Chad Gourgues
#504­439­2007
!"#$%(
cgourg1@tigers.lsu.edu
Warden Andrew Cochrane
#281­793­1194
!"#$)'
acochr3@tigers.lsu.edu
Chaplain John Farrell
#972­877­1668
!"#$)*
jfarre7@tigers.lsu.edu
Historian Jim Rabalais
#281­728­1970
!"#$$+
jrabal5@tigers.lsu.edu
PUSH Chair Joel Raborn
#225­978­5885
!"#$%+
jmr6754@yahoo.com
House Manager James Loetzerich
!"#$*%
#504­909­6657
eloetz1@tigers.lsu.edu
Chapter Report: Gamma Iota growing and thriving
It has been another great year here at the Gamma Iota chapter of Pi Kappa Phi at LSU. In late November 2008, we initiated our target number of new members with 30 fall rushees ultimately joining the fraternity. Our 2009 formal rush will start August 20. Please contact Vice Ar­
chon Paul Kepper with any potential rushees.
In late November, Snow fell on the Pi Kappa Phi house on De­ we also ushered in a new executive board cember 11,2008.
member lead by Archon Steven Nelson, who you can read about on PAGE 4( a full list of the new board is listed above).
Our efforts for Pi Kappa Phi’s national philanthropy, PUSH, which benefits the dis­
abled, was another successful one. The chapter, led by PUSH Chair Jim Rabalais(PAGE 3), raised over $13,000 in 2008. ranking us 6th in the nation among chapter. For more about PUSH, check out PAGE 3.
Alumni Updates
2,3/45,6'$%07.',3089,!",:;9,
and his wife Janice just had a new baby! Her name is Madelyn Grace Anderson. She was born April 7, 2009. 5lbs 6oz. His family now resides in Castle Rock, CO @ 1375 Elm Fork Pl, Castle Rock, CO 80104 Phone 303­551­5104. 2,<.=%0),>.5%?9,!",@A@9,
was married on July 24, 2009 in Baton Rouge to Lori King. Robert graduat­
ed from LSU in May 2009.
2,BC0(7,B/7)*%?/'9,!",;DE9,
is to be married this No­
vember to Jana Williams. Chris graduated in Decem­
ber 2008 from LSU with a degree in Accounting.
2,3/7.',F(459,!",A;G9,H/7,
married on June 27, 2009.
2,I%''(7,J('59,!",;KE9,H/7,
married on July 11, 2009.
a battalion of Iraqi Mecha­
nized Infantry soldiers. With over 20 years in the military, Paul is also ready for military retirement. Paul continues his civilian career with the U.S. Patent U,N0/$%?/05,VW&4%,/'$,
Michelle began a new ca­
reer with the Department of Homeland Security. They have also recently moved to XQ0('-&%*$9,F(0-('(/9,HC(4C,
is located in the Washing­
ton, DC metro area. Their new phone number at home is 703­461­8449.
2,N%00+,S/059,3089,!",GDR9,
moved to Chicago, Illinois in January 2007. He was married in August 2008 to Suzanne “Suzie” Park. They can be contacted at 504­909­9994. Terry works at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Lincoln Park, Chicago. 2,Y(4C/%*,S/059,!",A:A9,
currently works for Broad­
moor Construction in New Orleans.
2,B/7%+,Y4I.'/*$9,!",;G;9,
is a partner and co­owner of “Remember Me, Mono­
gramming & Specialties” in Lafayette, LA. He is also Director of Lacrosse Opera­
tions at Next Level Sports Academy, and is an assistant coach to the Lafayette Lions lacrosse team. Casey’s cell phone number is 337­315­
2503 and his address is 113 Brighton Drive, Lafayette, LA 70503.
2,3.',Z/'7%'9,!",GAD9,0%­
cently changed jobs and is now a Middleware Systems Engineer with Zions Man­
agement Services Company.
­ Glenn Mediamolle, Jr., !",GE:9,4T00%')*+,0%7($%7,
in Mandeville, La. He is Page 2
the Engineering Manager for Fairwinds International in Covington, La. He was married in 2004 to his wife Melissa and they have one son, Blake, that will be two years old in September.
To submit updates for future newsletters, please email John Bennett at jbenn32@tigers.lsu.edu.
Homecoming 2009
The chapter will again be hosting a homecoming party before LSU’s game against Louisiana Tech on November 14. All alumni are encouraged to come and visit. Fes­
tivites will begin around noon. Don’t forget to stick around for Pull for PUSH on sunday. For more information, con­
tact Jim Rabalais.
2,L%M(',N74C(0'9,!",AOG9,H/7,
married on July 25, 2009.
2,L+*%,<.=('7.'9,!",;;A9,
was married on June 5, 2009 to Jeanne Leveque Robinson. Kyle and Jeanne live in Baton Rouge.
2,P%',L'/QQ9,!",ARK9,C/7,
a new cell phone number: 225­205­7341. About 4 months ago, he switched jobs and now works for the Louisiana Legislative Audi­
tors.
2,S/T*,BC%'%M%0)9,!",R;9,/'$,
his wife Michelle welcomed )C%(0,&07),4C(*$,(',I%4%?­
ber; daughter Noëlle and ?.)C%0,/0%,$.('-,&'%8,,S/T*,
also was promoted to the rank of Captain in the Vir­
ginia Army National Guard after his tour in Iraq training !"#$%%&$'()*"&$+&+,-&$**($'&!"./0"*&12$34/,&56606(+7&,-'8&6*&9$25,&:;<
PUSH America
Fundraising stronger than ever
The Brothers of Gamma Iota continued the tradi­
tional fundraising events of the past with Pull for PUSH, the invention of brother Kyle Devillier, !" 404, and Strongman, coordinated by brother and weightlifter, Andrew Talley, !" 402. The ef­
forts of PUSH Chairmen Jim Rabalais and Joel Raborn were instrumental in the successful events. The winners were all given donated prizes, including the girls of Delta Gamma(pictured to the right) who received /,40/H&7C,=.(*,.',)C%,
front lawn, cooked by brother Alex Farge, !" ;H&+-$)/&6>&I&56)%-+-8& 405. Thanks to all who "*&+,"/&@-$2J/&+6(2*$)-*+<&& contributed, we look for­
A,-@&$2-&%"5+(2-8&,-2-&"*& ward to seeing even more >26*+&6>&=(*+-2J/&K(*&F(*& participation.
Club.
Page 3
L26+,-2/&!$('&#-%%-2&$*8&M+-%,-*&9$>>-"&/+$*8&
3"+,&+,-&B"5+62"6(/&."2'/&6>&N-'+$&F$))$&$>+-2&+,-&
Strongman Sororities competition.
Pull for PUSH 2009
This year’s Pull for PUSH skeet shooting tournament will be held November 15, the day after LSU’s Home­
coming football game. Teams are forming now so get a group together and come compete. Prize and silent auction donations are also welcome!
G i ving back to the Com m u n i t y
Gamma Iota has an established volunteer relationship with the McMains Children’s Developmen­
tal Center, located in Baton Rouge. One­fourth of the total funds raised for Push America by Gamma Iota each year return to the McMains Center through Push America’s A,-&959$"*/&1-*+-2&3$/&%2-/-*+­
-8&3"+,&$&5,-50&>62&6B-2&CD7EEE&
>26)&F$))$&G6+$&+,"/&@-$2<
“Circle of Giving”. Also, some brothers volunteer there on a weekly basis.
Through the Mc­
Mains Center, Gamma Iota learned of the Hopkins family, who desperately needed a wheelchair ramp to enter their home, yet could not afford one. The 92/<&=6%0"*/&"/&/--*&3"+,&$&/)"'-&6*&,-2&
Hopkins’ two daughters >$5-&$>+-2&+,-/-&?26+,-2/&4*"/,-8&$&'6*.&8$@&
/0%,/W[(4)%$,H()C,/,0/0%,
of work on her new wheelchair ramp.
chromosome disease that a sidewalk and ramp for the Hop­
exhibits symptoms similar kins family. The grant application to cerebral palsy; subsequently, both daughters require walkers for included locating a contractor, and submitting design sketches, cost mobility. Additionally, the grand­
mother of these two girls resides in estimates, and pictures of the work site. Push America paid for the the same home and must be trans­
ramp and sidewalk materials, and ported in a wheelchair. twenty fraternity brothers provided the labor over two weekends in Gamma Iota members October of 2008. Everyone left the took the initiative to apply for an project with a sense of accomplish­
AcessABILITY grant from Push ment, and Mrs. Hopkins waved America, Pi Kappa Phi’s national philanthropy, to secure funding for goodbye with a tear in her eye.
Inside the Chapter
O25,6*&M+-B-*&P-'/6*7&%"5+(2-8&,-2-&3"+,&."2'>2"-*8&$*8&F$))$&
G6+$&:EEQ&K6/-&R(--*7&96''@&S$*82"-(7&$&)-)?-2&6>&N-'+$&T-+$<
Pi Kappa Phi’s newest Archon, Steven Nelson, !" 446, is a Biological Sciences major from Baton Rouge. He is a 2006 graduate from Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, LA. He hopes to enter into Dental School in New Orleans, LA in the fall of 2010. In addition to his present Archon duties, Steven has served as 2007 Interfraternity Council Rep­
resentative and 2008 Vice­
Archon in his three years of fraternity membership.
Page 4
McGwyer, cont.
Responsibility is stressed through cleaning and mainte­
nance of the fraterni­
ty house, and respect is required for forty young men to live together. be a doctor, lawyer, accountant, engineer or anything else. Golf is a profes­
sional’s game, and college is the perfect time to hone your skills.” He is always willing to take some brothers out to the driving range to help them improve their golf skills, for Ryan believes that “Every­
one here is going to be some sort of pro­
fessional, whether it Gamma Iota is thankful for Ryan’s love of golf he is always will­
ing to share with us, as well as the vital leadership role he &**7,/),)C%,W0/)%0'()+,
house.
Below(Clockwise from top left): Seniors $+&/-)"U>62)$'7&!(2-&16(*+2@&%$2+@&$>+-2&
the Georgia football game, “Beach after VL$)$W7&L"8&N$@&$5+"B"+"-/7&$*8&1,2"/+)$/&
Cocktail.
Throughout the Year...
Page 3
O%%26X")$+-'@&:E&!"#$%%/&3-*+&6*&+,-&SMY&56628"*$+-8&
/0"&+2"%&+,"/&@-$2<&&A,"/&@-$2J/&'65$+"6*&3$/&Z"*+-2&!$207&
16'62$86<&&G+&"/&$&3--0'6*.&+2"%&$+&+,-&-*8&6>&Z"*+-2&L2-$0<
9$*@&)-)?-2/&6>&+,-&5,$%+-2&B6'(*+--2-8&$+&+,"/&
@-$2J/&#$2*"B$'&#2-3-&8-&S6("/"$*-&5,$2"+@&?$''<&&
L26+,-2/&$//"/+&"*&+,-&%$2$8-J/&6%-2$+"6*/&$*8&$2-&
+,-*&$''63-8&+6&[6"*&+,-&%$2+@&$*8&?2"*.&8$+-/<
!"#$%%/&-*[6@"*.&+,-&9$28"&F2$/&>-/+"B"+"-/<
K".,+\&A,-&:EEQ&K6/-&16(2+&3$/&$**6(*5-8&
$+&+,-&>62)$'&"*&!$*$)$&1"+@7&]'62"8$<&&]26)&
'->+&+6&2".,+\&9$2"$&Z"*0U!"&!,"7&M,$**6*&
S"*-&U&N-'+$&T-+$7&^K6/-&R(--*_&96''@&S$*­
82"-(&U&N-'+$&T-+$7&1$26'"*-&L$2*-/&U&N-'+$&
F$))$7&O)$*8$&16)-$(X<
A,-/-&+36&!"#$%%/&$2-&82-//-8&"*&
+,-)-&>62&$&!"&!,"&8$+-&%$2+@<
]62&+,-&M3$)%3$+-2&
%$2+@7&+,-&>26*+&@$28&"/&
+2$*/>62)-8&"*+6&$&/3$)%7&
"*5'(8"*.&$&%6*8<
Awards & Honors
Page 6
Brothers of Gamma Iota ma k i n g thei r marks in the classroom
Aleman is pictured here with his girlfriend and 2008 Rose Queen, Savannah Ordoyne, a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.
Chris Aleman, Brother of the Year
Chris Aleman, !" 387, was voted Gamma Iota’s 2009 “Brother of the Year.” The award was announced in April at formal in Panama City, FL. Winning the award surprised Chris and “caught [him] off guard”. Chris is a Psychol­
ogy and Sociology dual major from Missouri City, located in the greater Houston area. He intends to graduate in Decem­
ber of 2009. Chris pledged in the spring of 2005 as a mem­
ber of the Chi pledge class and served as Academics Chair­
man of Gamma Iota for two years.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, comments or submissions for the newsletter, please email John Bennett at jbenn32@
tigers.lsu.edu. For information about parent and alumni events, contact Jim Rabalais at jrabal5@tigers.lsu.
edu
Jim Rabalais, !" 448, was one of seven talented student leaders se­
lected as a Pi Kapp Scholar by the Pi Kappa Phi Foundation. He is the &07),S(,L/QQ,X4C.*/0,W0.?,\/??/,
Iota Chapter and will receive a $1,000 grant from the Foundation. Jim is a Biological Sciences and Animal Sci­
ence dual major from Lafayette, LA who hopes to enter medical school in the fall of 2010. Since pledging in the fall of 2006 as a member of the V?%-/,4*/779,3(?,C/7,&**%$,0.*%7,(',
Gamma Iota as the 2008 Push Chair­
man and the 2009 Historian. Jim was also selected as a national Outstand­
ing Associate Member in 2007 by the Pi Kappa Phi Foundation.
In addition to Jim’s accomplishments being recognized by Pi Kappa Phi nationally, the fraternity as a whole is raising the bar in the classroom. The chapter now ranks sixth among fraternities on campus with a 3.0 GPA, it’s highest rank and average in years.
House Wishlist
the house’s accessories and furnishings. With Throughout the sum­
that in mind, here is a mer, the fraternity short list of items the house has been under­
fraternity would love to going major renova­
have donated:
tions including new carpet and paint in the ­ Outdoor audio, upstairs hallway. With including speakers for tailgating.
these great new addi­
tions comes the need to ­Outdoor furniture
­Outdoor lighting
upgrade and improve ­ Indoor furnishings
­ Billiards accessories (balls, sticks, cover)
­Pictures and paintings for the upstairs hallway
­Living room curtains
For information about donations, contact Jim Rabalais. No donation is too small! Thank you for your contribu­
tions.
Flashback!
Shown to the '->+&"/&$&!$2+@&
Pic from the Delta Gamma ­ !"#$%%&`Z,"+-&
Trash” ex­
5,$*.-&"*&]-?­
2($2@&6>&:EEE<