A member of the Beta Omicron Chapter’s Rose Court competed June 19-21 in the Miss Louisiana Competition. Mandi Ridgdell, a senior at NSU, has selected Pi Kappa Phi’s philanthropy, Push America, as her personal platform. Ridgdell promoted disability awareness and Push America during her interviews, which was aired on live television to over 4 million Louisiana residents. Throughout her time at Northwestern State, she has been an avid supporter of Push America. She has participated in nearly every local Push America activity , including friendship visits and welcoming the Journey of Hope team in Shreveport. She is also planning a major Push America fundraising event set to take place this fall. Ridgdell won the preliminary talent competition, was a semifinalist in the top 10, and won the People’s Choice Award.

Two members of the Beta Omicron Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity are participating in a cross-country bicycle ride to raise money and awareness for people with disabilities.

Adam Upshaw of Coushatta, Louisiana and Collin McKnight of Austin, Texas will spend six weeks of their summer participating in the Journey of Hope, a cycling trek from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. The ride is a project of Push America, a philanthropy founded by Pi Kappa Phi. Teams stop in cities along the routes for friendship visits in which members are involved in service projects or events for people with disabilities. (more…)

The following is an excerpt from the daily journal kept by the Pi Kappa Phi brothers riding in Push America’s Gear Up Florida. The trek is a 2 week ride across the state of Florida, which provides opportunities to promote the message of Push America. Throughout the route, friendship visits and service projects will be completed to serve those with disabilities. Beta Omicron brothers Nick Breaux and Cody Bourque are participating in the event.

Day 2: May 16, 2008 | Miami, FL

Day two started with an early wake up, making sure the team was up and ready to go by 7am. It was the team’s first practice pack, which is where everything is packed and brought to the vans, as if a trip was to be made to the next city. (more…)

Brothers of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity spent part of their spring break making improvements to the Louisiana Lion’s Camp on behalf of Push America. March 28th through 30th, almost 30 members of Pi Kappa Phi from chapters at Northwestern State University, Louisiana State University, and Louisiana Tech met in Leesville, Louisiana to participate in one of Push America’s Give A Push Weekends. The event offered an opportunity to experience brotherhood with members from other chapters, but primarily provided much needed services that will directly benefit people with disabilities. (more…)

Brothers of Pi Kappa Phi constructed the first phase of a boardwalk that will allow people in wheelchairs to experience nature up-close, some for the first time. November 9th-11th Adam Upshaw, Lane Luckie, Collin McKnight, Cody Bourque, and Matt Leblanc along with associate members Kyle Domangue and Andrew Thomas participated in one of Push America’s Give-A-Push Weekends in Rutledge, Georgia. They drove 10-hours to help Camp Twin Lakes, a non-profit organization that provides camp facilities and staff for numerous service organizations, many of which serve those with disabilities. Nearly 40 representatives from Pi Kapp chapters across the region worked together to construct the first phase of a 3/4 mile boardwalk skirting a lake on the camp property. (more…)

After a week of service, Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, with the help of four NSU sororities, raised over $1,000 for Push America.  The Fraternity’s annual “War of the Roses” is a friendly, week-long competition designed to spread awareness about disabilities, raise funds for Push America, and provide service to enhance the lives of those with disabilities.  (more…)

Rodney Clements, Beta Omicron (Northwestern State University), will serve as Push America’s new Director of Chapter Services and will work closely with chapters to help take Push America to the next level of service throughout universities across the country.

Push America added Clements to the staff in early September where he will be working with chapters on their Push America fundraising, volunteerism and awareness.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the Push America team,” Clements said, “and even more excited for the opportunity to work with undergraduate chapters of Pi Kappa Phi in the coming years.”

Clements is a recent graduate of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. As an undergraduate, Clements served as the Push America Chairman, Historian and Archon of his chapter. As a 2007 Journey of Hope team member, Clements served as the Public Relations Coordinator for the Trans America route. (more…)

The following is a news release written by Leah Jackson of the NSU News Bureau.  She wrote about the recent efforts of the Beta Omicron Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi for its philanthrophy, Push America.  Four chapter members were also mentioned for their involvement in major Push America programs.  The release is posted on the university’s website www.nsula.edu, which is visible to thousands of visitors daily. 

“Some members of the Northwestern State University Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity are participating in cross-country bicycle rides to raise money and awareness for people with disabilities.  The students are involved with Push America, a national Pi Kappa Phi organization that provides service to individuals with disabilities through fund raising, awareness and volunteerism. (more…)

The following is an excerpt from the daily journal kept by the Pi Kappa Phi brothers riding in Push America’s Gear Up Florida.  The trek is a 2 week ride across the state of Florida, which provides opportunities to promote the message of Push America.  Throughout the route, friendship visits and service projects will be completed to serve those with disabilities.  Beta Omicron brothers John Hall and Wil Adams are participating in the event.   

Monday, May 22, 2007
Orlando, Florida
Written By: John Hall, B.O. – Northwestern State University

When everyone woke up at 7:30, we all knew this was going to be one of the best days of the trip. Today was the first day we woke up and the sun was already out. (more…)

Beta Omicron Brothers Lane Luckie and Cody Bourque along with associate member Jake Horaist participated in one of Push America’s Give-A-Push weekends on April 13-15 in Atlanta, Georgia. They drove 10-hours to help enABLE, a non-profit organization that provides services to those with disabilities. Representatives from four Pi Kapp chapters across the region worked together to construct a wheelchair ramp canopy and paint the interior walls of the facility. (more…)

The week-long “War of the Roses” concluded on November 17th with a much anticipated awards ceremony at the NSU Recreation Complex.  Each sorority was recognized for outstanding service to Push America.  Dozens of women from each of NSU’s Panhellenic Sororities volunteered time to give back to the community and learn about disabilities.  The winner of the penny wars contest was Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority.  Event rankings are 1st place- Sigma Sigma Sigma, 2nd place- Phi Mu, 3rd place- Alpha Omicron Pi, and 4th place- Alpha Sigma Alpha.  The week raised $1,412  for Push America.

“War of the Roses” is Beta Omicron’s annual week-long effort to raise awareness and donations for people with disabilities.  The event is a friendly competition between Greek sororities at Northwestern.  NSU students will compete in five events designed to educate the public about the challenges faced by the disabled.  For complete details, click “more”. (more…)

Five members of Beta Omicron were selected to participate in Push America’s 2007 Journey of Hope and Gear Up Florida.  DJ Klucznik was chosen to ride in the Journey of Hope.  Rodney Clements was also chosen to serve on the Journey’s Public Relations team.  John Hall, Wil Adams, and Jason Stelley were also selected to ride in the 2007 Gear Up Florida.  Over the next year the brothers will train to cycle and raise money to fund their endeavor.  The proceeds will benefit the disabled through Push America.  Each man hopes to raise between $3,000 - $5,000.  If you would like to learn more about how to sponsor a Pi Kapp or view their progress, visit their information profiles linked below.

On July 21, Brothers Rodney Clements, Jake James, Michael Tiffany, Lane Luckie, DJ Klucznik, Matt LeBlanc, Adam Upshaw, Randy Smith, and Brandon King traveled to Shreveport, Louisiana to welcome fellow Pi Kapps who were participating in the Journey of Hope. After visiting with the cyclists, they spent time with the residents of Holy Angels, a home for disabled persons. National President J. Ernest Johnson and Beta Omicron alumni Wayne Waddell and Steve Austin were also present at the event. Thank you to the brothers who volunteered their time for this worthy cause.