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Homecoming 2016 was a big success this year with many new things to see and many alumni who were recognized for their dedication to Phi Delta Theta at Purdue. The newly renovated room on the first floor facing State Street was toured by several alumni. The new room concept was an experiment to see how the Actives would like a suite concept of living. The new room has a large central common area with four private single bedrooms attached. The bedrooms have a full size bed, desk and dresser included. The concept has proven so popular, not only by the Actives, but also by rushees, that we will be converting two more rooms next summer as well as renovating the first floor bathroom.
The partially completed “Neil A. Armstrong Library” was on display for the first time and two Actives received “Neil A. Armstrong Scholarships”. This year’s First Man Award was presented to Steven Lorenz for his great work over the past year supporting the Indiana Theta Chapter. Steven has put in many hours above and beyond expectations to improve the Chapter. Joseph Montagano won the “Phikeia Award” for having the highest GPA of all of last year’s pledges. With 32 Phikeias in this year’s Fall pledge class, it will be an even larger challenge to receive this award next year. Jay Ihlenfeld spoke about the Whole Man Scholarship, which is funded in perpetuity for advanced leadership training in Oxford, Ohio, as well as the associated $1000 scholarship. While some Chapters have one Whole Man Scholarship, Indiana Theta now has two in place. They were fully funded by Paul Troupe and Bob Bowen, with a third scholarship, the “Neil A. Armstrong Whole Man Scholarship”, only $5000 short of being funded in full.
Three “President’s Awards” were presented to alumni who have donated time and treasure over the past few years, which helps make my life easier as President of the Housing Corp. They are: David Tavitian, Josef Lorenz and Jay Ihlenfeld. Their help has been greatly appreciated. Finally, two alumni who have given their talents to our chapter for over thirty years, were initiated into the prestigious Pillar Society. Bob Bouggy, a former Housing Corp. president and 30-plus-year member of the Housing Corp., as well as Jeff Reising, another 30-plus-year member of the Housing Corp. and the Chapter’s manager of the Phi Lodge renovation of 1990, were inducted into the Pillar Society by Bob Bowen, a previous member. All the awards were presented Homecoming weekend in our newly renovated Dining Room, which looks much more formal and proper than our our old cafeteria.
Please join us next year for brunch at Homecoming 2017 when the Neil A. Armstrong Library will be completed and two more suites and a bathroom will be completely renovated. We will also have two new Neil A. Armstrong Scholarships to award and two new members of the Pillar Society to be inducted.