Category Archives: Alumni News
Alumnus makes cameo on NBC’s “Today” Show
Service in the U.S. Navy brings sailors to all corners of the Earth, but for Beta Omicron alumnus Matt Darby, it landed him a brief appearance on NBC’s “Today” Show.
On May 31, 2011 Darby and fellow sailors filed into the daily crowd that gathers outside Rockefeller Plaza to watch the live broadcast of the “Today” Show. A sea of uniforms filled the screen when anchors Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira mentioned Fleet Week. The annual event brings the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to New York City for entertainment and activities during the week leading up to Memorial Day.
Having served watch from 2 to 4 a.m. that morning, Darby arrived to “30 Rock” after only an hour of sleep. Despite being groggy, he says the NBC crew picked him to stand up front because he looked like a “model sailor,” perfect for TV. “In fact, both Meredith Vieira and Ann Curry told me I was cute,” said Darby. Read the rest of this entry
Beta Omicron helps establish chapter at rival university
Beta Omicron chapter’s year-long effort to help establish a chapter at rival Stephen F. Austin State University culminated on April 30th, 2011. Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity chartered its 222nd chapter with the installation of the Iota Zeta chapter. Living in East Texas, Beta Omicron alumnus Lane Luckie helped start the SFA chapter and serves as chapter advisor. Throughout that year, several members of the Beta Omicron chapter and its alumni aided the SFA associate chapter in their various projects and efforts. Just more than a year after colonizing in Nacogdoches, the associate chapter received its charter. Read the rest of this entry
Six recognized for going the “Extra Mile” at NSU
Six members of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity were honored for their commitment to leadership at the fourth annual Beta Omicron Scholarship Banquet. On Saturday, March 19, 2011; Jon Lee, Kyle Duhon, Chase Harvey, Scott Mayeaux, Tyler Stahl and Ryan Jeffords were named the Spring 2011 “Morgan Extra Mile Scholars.” The recipients were selected for excellence in academics, campus and chapter leadership, service, and employment. Over $2,000 in scholarships were awarded at the banquet, held at Lasyone’s Meatpie Restaurant in Natchitoches. Read the rest of this entry
From the Archives: Pi Kapps Celebrate Christmas Festival 1958
Welcoming the holiday season to Natchitoches has been a highlight of the college experience for generations of Pi Kappa Phi. Each December for more than a half-century, attending the Christmas Festival is one of the oldest Beta Omicron traditions. This year, the 84th annual Christmas Festival expects to draw upwards of a quarter of a million people on Saturday, December 4th. This year’s festival features a laser light show and even synthetic snow. While they’re a sign of the changing times, some mainstays have weathered the course of time. Nearly any festival go-er, Pi Kapps included, would say no festival is complete without fireworks, hundreds of thousands of lights, and the Christmas parade. In honor of this weekend’s 84th annual Christas Festival, we’re sharing a story from the past: an article from the Feburary 1959 issue of Pi Kappa Phi’s Star and Lamp Magazine.
The 32nd annual Christmas Festival was staged December 6 in downtown Natchitoches, the report from Beta Omicron continues. “The festival, which annually draws some 50,000 people from several of the surrounding states, was climaxed with the turning on of 125,000 multi-colored lights which are valued at some $75,000. Read the rest of this entry
Board of directors elected to Beta Omicron Alumni Association
A slate of seven alumni of the Beta Omicron Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity have been elected to guide the efforts of the chapter alumni association/ housing corporation. David Morgan; Lane Luckie, David Morgan, Jr.; Joey Kliebert; Kie Boyett; Joshua Alost; and George Etheredge will serve on the 2010-2011 board of directors. These alumni officers will manage the Beta Omicron Alumni Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Housing Corporation, a non-profit organization that exists to advance the interests of the student chapter and provide education housing facilities to undergraduate members. Read the rest of this entry
A homecoming to remember
Homecoming 2010 served as the backdrop to many memorable Beta Omicron moments during a weekend of events which reunited brothers, spouses, and guests from across the country. On Friday, October 29, early arrivals to Natchitoches enjoyed a social at Antoon’s Riverfront Restaurant along the historic bricks of Front Street. Alumni and active members traded Pi Kapp stories over a meal. Read the rest of this entry
A Wonderful World Awaits: Supreme Chapter 2010
Fraternity members from across the nation convened at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida for Pi Kappa Phi’s 52nd biennial Supreme Chapter on August 5 – 9, 2010. The convention delegation from Beta Omicron chapter consisted of Archon Jon Lee, Treasurer Butch York, Push America chairman Cameron Moises, and alumni members David Morgan, Sr.; Wes Breeden; and David Morgan, Jr. Beta Omicron Chapter was recognized as one of the top chapters of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity for their committment to service and for academic achievement. Read the rest of this entry
Alumnus named to national Pi Kapp Properties Board
Beta Omicron Chapter alumnus David D. Morgan, Sr. has been named to a 3-year term to the Pi Kapp Properties Board. As a separate affiliate of the Fraternity, PKP Properties is governed by a board of ten alumni volunteers. Invariably, these individuals have real estate, banking and legal expertise. Pi Kappa Phi Properties is an incorporated entity with the sole purpose of providing housing and management expertise for chapters of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. The Fraternity believes housing can be a tremendous educational resource and, when utilized correctly, can play an important role in ensuring the long-term strength of a chapter. “The chapter house is the physical structure that facilitates fellowship,” Morgan said. “It builds brotherhood and is an unmatched recruitment tool, central to the chapter.” Read the rest of this entry
Brothers awarded thousands in scholarship money
Seven members of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity were honored for their committment to leadership at the Third Annual Beta Omicron Scholarship Banquet on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010. Chris Alley, Kyle Duhon, Chase Harvey, Jon Lee, Charles Messick, Marcos Silverio, and Nathan Willison were named the Spring 2010 “Morgan Extra Mile Scholars.” The recipients were selected for excellence in academics, campus and chapter leadership, service, and employment. Over $2,000 in scholarships were awarded at the banquet, held at Lasyone’s Meatpie Kitchen in Natchitoches. Read the rest of this entry
Alumni initiates welcomed at Founders’ Day gathering
The Beta Omicron Chapter marked the 105th anniversary of Pi Kappa Phi’s founding with their annual banquet. Alumni, active and associate members gathered on Saturday, December 12 in historic Russell Hall to share a meal in honor of the friendship of the seven Pi Kappa Phi founders. Their decision to be “leaders by choice” has allowed fellowship and brotherhood at more than 150 chapters across the country, including one at Northwestern State University. Read the rest of this entry
Northwestern State, Beta Omicron celebrate milestones in history
As Northwestern State University commemorated its 125th anniversary during the 2009 homecoming activities, Beta Omicron chapter celebrated a milestone in its history. The Fraternity marked 10 years since the chapter re-colonized at NSU. Pi Kappa Phi, originally chartered in 1956, is the oldest fraternity on campus. Homecoming weekend saw reunions among college friends, generations of Demons bound by loyalty to their alma mater’s traditions, and anticipating an expectedly bright future. Read the rest of this entry
Brothers honored at annual scholarship banquet
Two members of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity were honored for their dedication at the Second Annual Beta Omicron Scholarship Banquet on Monday, March 23, 2009. Kyle Duhon, a sophomore biology major, and Kyle Domangue, a sophomore psychology major, were named the 2009 “Morgan Extra Mile Scholars.” The recipients were selected for their commitment to excellence in academics, leadership, service, and employment. Over $2,000 in scholarships were awarded at the banquet, held at Merci Beaucoup Restaurant in Natchitoches. Read the rest of this entry
National Football Foundation honors Pi Kappa Phi alumnus
Courtesty: NSUDemons.com
Veteran Northwestern State sports information director Doug Ireland will be presented the “Distinguished American Award” by the S.M. McNaughton Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame during the group’s annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet Thursday night at East Ridge Country Club. Read the rest of this entry
Pi Kappa Phi alum’s NSU Baseball number retired
Pi Kappa Phi alumnus and former NSU Demon Baseball player Billie Roy Cook was honored at the annual Demon Baseball Opening Day Banquet on February 7th, 2009. Cook and fellow baseball standout Jim Willis will have their NSU Baseball numbers retired. They will join two others as the only numbers retired in NSU baseball history. Their retired numbers will be displayed on the outfield wall at Brown-Stroud Field. After the Baseball Banquet, Cook was honored again with plaques from both the Pi Kappa Phi undergraduate chapter and the Alumni Founders Group. A baseball signed by Cook will be displayed in the Chapter House to commemorate his accomplishment. Read the rest of this entry
It’s never too late to be a Pi Kapp
More than 50 years after first being introduced to Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Joe Sampite officially became a member on December 13, 2008. He was a member of Phi Kappa Nu, a local fraternity that became Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity when it chartered at Northwestern State University in 1956. Having graduated before the transition to Pi Kappa Phi, Sampite never initiated with the Founding group. Sampite said he was proud to finally be a Pi Kapp, so many years later. “They’re a great group of young guys who are involved in the community and interested in helping other people. I’m very excited to be a part of that. I’m looking forward to being involved with them, especially helping people with disabilities.” He was recognized at the Beta Omicron Chapter’s Founders’ Day Banquet on Saturday, December 13th. He was also presented with a pair of his signature white socks, a gift from his friends in the Beta Omicron Founders Group from 1956. Read the rest of this entry
