Spring Rush - January 19, 2010

Spring Rush: February 8th-11th.

• Nick Fuller 610 509 8934 nfuller@mix.wvu.edu
• Brian Harvey 973 417 4407 bharvey5@mix.wvu.edu
• Da-laine Beverly 717 514 9969 dbeverly@mix.wvu.edu

Congratulations to 21 new Tekes! - December 5th, 2009

As of December 5th, 2009 Rho Chapter initiated 21 new Tekes, bringing our chapter size to 71 members! Congratulations to Josh Azoff, Peyton Bartlett, Brian Berlin, Josh Cooper, Andrew Greaves, Adam Howell, Sam Inberg, John Jennings, Brendan Jobin, Markus Keller, Jake Lambuth, Jeff Lavin, Blake Lehmann, Kyle McAuley? , Kevin Miller, Josh Raymond, Nick Sagginario, Jake Springer, Ben Tantillo, Matt Torres, and Aj Warne.

Prytanis Jeffery Upson in The Daily Athenaeum - August 30, 2009

Two frats set to move into new, remodeled houses By Anna Defrancis, Staff writer for The Daily Athenaeum

Published: Sunday, August 30, 2009

As a sign of growth at West Virginia University, two fraternity houses have been remodeled and relocated.

Though both the Phi Sigma Kappa and Tau Kappa Epsilon houses were condemned within the past two years, the fraternities have still been active in the Greek world, according to Sam Whalen, Phi Sigma Kappa rush chair and Jeff Upson, Tau Kappa Epilson president.

For Phi Sigma Kappa, alumni support was key. After collecting around $2 million in donations, the fraternity was able to remodel its house on North High Street, also known as frat row.

“Most of our donations came from alumni that graduated in the ’60s and the ’70s,” Whalen said. “Even though we are a completely different generation than them, we are still in contact and are able to help each other.”

The Tau Kappa Epsilon house was condemned two summers ago after it did not pass fire marshal inspections. After raising enough money, with most coming from Tau Kappa Epsilon’s landlord and owner of de Lazy Lizard Justin Byers, he was relocated to North High Street.

“(Byers) was able to get approved for a $1 million loan and put a half a million dollars on a payment. He actually put a lot of his savings down for the restoration of the house,” Upson said.

A new house “is exciting” and “a privilege,” Whalen and Upson said. Whalen added having a house better incorporates each fraternity’s identity in the Greek world.

Prospective brothers and community members will take in the new sights of the house, encouraging more membership, according to Upson.

“People kind of turned away from us because of the depleted look of the house. It wasn’t the best looking house inside or out,” he said. “Now that we have a brand new house, we are trying to be more involved.”

The house has encouraged Phi Sigma Kappa to plan for the future, and Whalen believes the future is limitless.

“Half of us don’t know what it’s like to be in a fraternity with a house,” he said. “Our goals are to get more members that are interested in Greek life and get back to the top.”

Tau Kppa Epsilon will also use its new house as leverage to better its fraternity. Upson said community service is important to the fraternity, and the brothers will participate in events in the Morgantown community, not just within the Greek community.

Tau Kappa Epsilon brothers will move into their house Sept. 26. And the Phi Sigma Kappa house will be active starting Sept. 2.

anna.defrancis@mail.wvu.edu

http://www.thedaonline.com/news/two-frats-set-to-move-into-new-remodeled-houses-1.344104

Back to School in Style!

Top TKE Chapter Award! - July 22, 2009

Dear Men of the Rho Chapter of TKE:

It is our pleasure to inform you that your chapter has been selected as a Top TKE Chapter for the 2008-2009 academic year.

This year’s winners were chosen from a highly competitive group of applicants. Your chapter is one of only 10 total chapters, out of all the TKE chapters across the United States and Canada (268 total), chosen to receive this distinction. Your selection was based on your high achievement in the following Awards of Excellence categories:

Excellence in Recruitment - Results

Excellence in Recruitment - Chapter Size

Excellence in Involvement - Alumni Relations

Excellence in Achievement - Academic Success

Excellence in Achievement - Extracurricular Activities

On behalf of the Grand Council, Volunteers and Offices of the Grand Chapter staff, we are pleased to present you with these awards in recognition of your chapter’s efforts and accomplishments during the 2008-2009 academic year. We are all very proud of the Rho chapter.

Your chapter, along with the other winners of the Top TKE Chapter Award, will be featured in the summer 2009 issue of The Teke magazine, and on our website, www.tke.org.

Your award will be presented to you at the 55th Biennial Conclave in New Orleans, Louisiana, August 6-9, 2009. We look forward to recognizing your chapter at the Undergraduate Awards Banquet, and hope to see continued success from your chapter in the future.

Yours in the Bond,

Ben Carroll, Executive Assistant to the CEO

We Are Rho Chapter

Founded on January 1st, 1923, Rho Chapter has experienced a rich and diverse 86 years of history. Currently we have 71 active members who study a wide range of subjects from Engineering to Accouting to Chemistry. We pride ourselves on our diversity and mutually selective membership. As a Chapter at West Virginia University, we support our school and our community by volunteering, attending school athletic events and participating in all facets of Greek and Student life. Rho Chapter, with the help of our Alumni Association, are currently building a new house to be ready for the 2009/2010 school year, and look forward for you to join us as we open the next chapter for our Fraternity.

Tau Kappa Epsilon International Fraternity

Tau Kappa Epsilon is a brotherhood of men who support each other's mental, moral, and social development. Since its founding in 1899, more than 250,000 men of the best character have become members. We currently operate Chapters and Colonies on 273 college campuses across the United States and Canada, which makes us the largest college social fraternity in the world.

Members of Tau Kappa Epsilon value scholarship, character, leadership, teamwork, service, and brotherhood. We aim to make a positive difference in society, and become better people in the process.

Tau Kappa Epsilon at West Virginia University is a great opportunity for young men to become leaders in the professional world. Education through leadership, adventures in group living, experiencing fundamentals of democracy first hand and the responsibility of participating in a student organization in conjunction with the great institution that is West Virginia University provides an abundance of good reasons to join our brotherhood.

TKE at WVU

While Greek Life at WVU is only a little more than 10% of the total population, Rho Chapter fills the void with a very large presence on campus and in the community. The chapter participates in Flag Football, Volleyball, Ultimate Frisbee, Indoor Soccer and Basketball intramurals. We have partnered with the Morgantown Chapter of Habitat for Humanity every year for the last 8 years on housing projects for low income families. We strive for excellence in the classroom, the community and on the athletic fields. Our most recent accomplishments include:

• 2008 / 2009 - Top TKE Chapter Award
  • Excellence in Recruitment - Results
  • Excellence in Recruitment - Chapter Size
  • Excellence in Involvement - Alumni Relations
  • Excellence in Achievement - Academic Success
  • Excellence in Achievement - Extracurricular Activities
• 2008 / 2009 - West Virginia University Interfraternal Council Most Improved Fraternity
• 2008 Pan-Hellenic and IFC Homecoming Competition Champions
• 2007 / 2008 - West Virginia University Interfraternal Council Most Improved Fraternity
• 2007 / 2008 - TKE National Awards (Tied For Most Awards Among All Chapters)
  • Excellence in Involvement for Alumni Relations
  • Excellence in Achievement for Extracurricular Activities
  • Excellence in Recruitment
  • Excellence in Involvement for Community Service
  • Excellence in Recruitment for Chapter Size
  • Honorable Mention for Academic Success
• 2006 / 2007 - West Virginia University Interfraternal Council Most Improved Fraternity
• 2006 / 2007 - West Virginia University Interfraternal Council Best Scholarship
• 2006 Grant Stetz Crowned West Virginia University Homecoming King
• 2006 3rd Place Greek Week Competition
• 2006 2nd Runner Up Delta Gamma Flag Football Anchor Bowl
• 2005 Runner Up Delta Gamma Flag Football Anchor Bowl
• 2005 Pan-Hellenic and IFC Homecoming Competition Champions