CHARLESTON, S.C.—During the week of June 12-18, 59 members of Pi Kappa Phi converged upon the College of Charleston for six days of character and leadership development. The men in attendance was selected from a pool of more than 100 applicants to attend Pi Kapp College, an institute for emerging leaders.
Faculty and staff arrived in Charleston on Sunday, June 12, to prepare for Pi Kappa Phi’s premier leadership experience. In order to provide the men a breadth of knowledge and perspective, each facilitation team was made up of one Pi Kappa Phi alumni and one non-member. The facilitation team provided a wealth of knowledge to Pi Kapp College attendees and brought more than 60 years of higher education and leadership development experience to challenge and support the men.
Excitement built as the students began to arrive on campus and prepare for what was sure to be an intense week of self-reflection and personal development. On the first night, the students were divided into six groups called “huddles” and given a tour of the birthplace of Pi Kappa Phi. Students, faculty and staff alike were in awe as they walked the campus and visited the four anniversary gifts, Alpha chapter house and 90 Broad Street.
“Seeing the birthplace of Pi Kappa Phi with brothers from across the country was amazing,” said Ethan Hyde, an initate of Eta Delta (Kennesaw State) and current member of Lambda (Georgia). “As we walked to the various sites, we all seemed to really begin to recognize our shared bonds and values.”
As the week progressed, men were challenged daily to learn and reflect on their own morals and strengths as well as the values of the fraternity. Each day, a new theme from the Creed was applied to student development principals to give the men a framework for their growth. During the experience the brothers discussed and worked through topics including common loyalty, character, brotherhood, aspiration and commitment before wrapping up the week by pledging to do their share to make it so.
The men began to forge the bonds of brotherhood as they worked together to complete the challenge course, a morning of team builders designed to break boundaries. As the brothers worked together to achieve common goals, they also began to learn about each others communication styles and discover techniques to encourage team success.
In addition to exploring their own leadership capabilities, studying the messages in the ritual and creating a plan to bring their visions back to their individual chapters, the men were also participated in a panel discussion on living commitment. The panel, made up of dedicated Pi Kappa Phi alumni, spent an entire evening fielding questions and providing advice to the fraternity’s emerging leaders. Led by Executive Director Emmeritus Durward Owen, Xi (Roanoke), the panel also included Past Assistant Executive Director Steve Whitby, Zeta Iota (Indiana University of Pennsylvania), Education Committee Chair Dr. Alan Duesterhaus, Epsilon Lambda (USC Upstate), Regional Governor Dick Baker, Delta Beta (North Georgia), and past staff member Vince Fabra, Theta Alpha (Southern Mississippi).
“Hearing thoughts on lifelong commitment from the men who have shaped this fraternity was incredible,” said Sal Mattos, Eta Omicron (San Francisco State). “I realized that if I don't live the ritual fully every single day, don't contribute to the fraternity’s success at all times, I am holding Pi Kappa Phi back.”
One of the most impactful experiences at Pi Kapp College was a friendship visit with a local partner of Push America. After spending the morning discussing the importance of service and how it ties in to the values of the fraternity, the students and facilitators traveled to a local bowling alley to bowl a few frames with athletes from the Charleston Miracle League, a baseball league for children with disabilities. Throughout the afternoon the brothers bowled with their new friends, high-fiving and dancing to celebrate each bowl. After returning to campus at the College of Charleston, the brothers felt inspired by the abilities of the athletes they had met that day. More importantly, they were able to experience firsthand that the value of brotherhood can deeply impact members of the fraternity as well as touch the lives of members of the community.
As the six-day experience came to a close, and the 59 men were deemed Pi Kapp College graduates, their excitement to implement what they had learned at the College of Charleston seemed to outweigh their excitement at arrival. As the men gathered one final time around the 100th anniversary bell tower, the very symbol of Pi Kappa Phi’s second century, it was clear that the newest graduates of Pi Kapp College would have a profound impact on the fraternity’s second century of brotherhood.
“This leadership program will not only help the men of Pi Kappa Phi create positive social change within their chapters, but also in any endeavor they pursue throughout their lives,” said Drew Chin, Pi Kapp College Facilitator and Greek Affairs Advisor at Davidson College. “I am proud to be a friend of the fraternity.”
To view photos and video from the event, please visit Pi Kappa Phi’s flickr and YouTube accounts.