Alpha Theta Chapter (Founded 11 March 1990; Reactivated 17 April 2006) is located at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The Chapter was founded by David Eshelman, Sigma Chapter Alumnus. The Chapter went inactive in 1999 but was reactivated in Spring 2006. The Chapter is a member of the East Region.

Alpha Theta Chapter Inductions, Spring 2015

Chapter History

Founding

Inactivity

Recruitment always posed a challenge for the chapter. As membership numbers dropped the challenges increased. In 1999 the chapter did not register as a student organization with the university making it too difficult to operate. The chapter went inactive later that year.

ReColonization

Alpha Theta was recolonized in Spring of 2006 with the help of David Rosengrant, (Chapter Advisor). Paul Turchin, (Alumni Advisor) along with the help of Alpha Iota, later helped strengthened the foundation of the Alpha Theta Chapter. They welcomed the Tau class at the end of the Fall 2006 semester, and Upsilon in 2007. The colony class' hard work paid off immediately for the chapter as they were recognized as one of the top chapters at the school's annual "Greek Awards". Today they are working to build not only the Chapter, but also to establish themselves in the Rutgers community; as well as provide the same dedication to service throughout not only the New Brunswick area, but globally as well.

Larry the Initiate Dinosaur

Early Years

Chapter Mascot

The chapter's official mascot is the Phoenix. The Phoenix is a mythical creature which symbolizes the recolonization of the chapter because of its connotations concerning "Rising From the Ashes". Today the Alpha Theta Chapter continues its' rise as it gains in not only membership, but the quality and quantity of their events, as well as the general spirit of their Brotherhood.

In addition to the official chapter mascot, Alpha Theta has an initiation mascot by the name Larry the Initiate Dinosaur. When started by Alpha Theta Brother Cara Feldscher in Spring 2013, Larry was merely a drawing on the chalkboard during Initiate meetings. Since then Larry has found physicality in a stuffed dinosaur gifted to the chapter by the Alpha Lambda class. During the course of initiation, he spends each week with a different initiate.

The Active Chapter

Today, the chapter operates under the guidance of the Executive Board as well as the nine committees (the Executive Council guided by the Vice President) that plan events that help foster the growth and development of the chapter either through gaining members or embracing tripod ideals. The chapter is entering its tenth full year since its reactivation in Spring 2006. Since the colony's induction in Spring 2006, there have been 19 classes (Tau through Alpha Mu). The membership of the Brotherhood after the graduation of some Brothers in May 2015 is currently around 20 Brothers including those who are inactive. The chapter continues to make strides to growth amongst the Phi Sigma Pi nation, the Alpha Theta ranks, and the Rutgers community through events, recognition, and improvements.

Executive Board

Main Article: List of Past Alpha Theta Chapter Executive Boards

2014-2015 Executive Board

Christopher Santiago, President
Samantha Radin, Vice President
Jackie Alencewicz, Secretary
Jackie Alencewicz, Treasurer
Chelsea Julius, Initiation Advisor
Jessica Kern, Recruitment Advisor
Kelsey Maxwell, Parliamentarian
Jackie Alencewicz, Historian

2014-2015 Alumni Advisory Board

Committee Chairs of Alpha Theta

Main Article: List of Past Alpha Theta Chapter Committee Chairs

2014-2015 Executive Council of Alpha Theta

Jaclyn Bradli, Scholarship Chair (FA 2014)
Elizabeth Holler, Scholarship Chair (SP 2015)
Brinda Banjeri, Service Chair (SP 2015)
Brinda Banerji, Social Chair (FA 2014)
Ariel Lin, Social Chair (SP 2015)
Jenn Gutterman, Fundraising Chair
Jessica Kern, Public Relations Chair
Kelsey Maxwell, Inter Chapter Relations Chair
Kelsey Maxwell, Alumni Relations Chair

Past Chapter Presidents

Cindy Huang (2006-2007)
Paulina Grabczak (2007)
Michael Covin (2007-2008)
Ramona Perry (2008-2009)
Rachel Mikida (2009-2010)
Gabriella Hudis (2010-2011)
Katie McGinness-Grimes (2011-2012)
Erika Hinson (2012-2013)
Mary Gomez (2013-2014)

Chapter Members

Initiate Classes

Main Article: List of Alpha Theta Chapter Initiate Classes

Family Trees

Main Article: List of Alpha Theta Chapter Family Trees

Chapter Events & Activities

Founder's Weekend

Alpha Theta celebrates the Chapter's founding each April with a Founders' Day Celebration.

AIDS Awareness Week

Alpha Theta began AIDS Awareness week to do simply that: Create more awareness for AIDS and HIV among the younger generation, erase the stigma, and raise money for Alpha Theta's local philanthropy, the Hyancinth AIDS Foundation. Since the introductory week, AIDS Awareness Week has become a campus-wide event lasting typically four days, once a year. In the past, this week has traditionally been planned in the Spring semester. Each of the four days includes a variety of activities, which have included informational panels and discussions, free instant HIV testing, blood drives, bake sales, and more. Brothers and Initiates alike participate to make this event a success.

In 2015, Alpha Theta voted to look into a new local philanthropy, ultimately settling on the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Week. As a result, AIDS Awareness Week became Suicide Prevention Week: a week in which the Brothers strive, much like it did in AIDS Awareness Week, to spread more awareness about mental illness and raise money for their local philanthropy.

Fall Rush 2007

In Fall 2007, the Alpha Theta Chapter launched its "Reason for the Seasons - Rush Phi Sigma Pi" Recruitment Campaign. The Brothers discussed in depth what they were looking for in prospective candidates and the amount of Rushees they wanted to initiate (7-10). The Recruitment Committee planned a 2-week Recruitment with 4 information sessions at 4 out of the 5 Rutgers campuses, as well as 4 social events that reflected each of the 4 seasons; an Oktoberfest meet and greet with rootbeer etc, a Mardi Gras for the winter with a canned food drive for Katrina as well as mask making and Mardi Gras beads, a Spring Fling where prospectives could come throw frisbees etc with the Brothers, and an invite-only traditional Summer BBQ.

Spring Rush 2008

In Spring 2008, the theme was Just Rush It (like Nike's Just Do It). Like the Fall 2007 Rush, there were four information sessions on four of the five campuses. For the social events, there was Just Bet It, an event with games, Just Search It, an event like a scavenger hunt, and Just Play It, a day of just throwing around a football and having fun.

Notable Alumni

Colleen Dougherty

Vice President of Chapter Development (1992-1994)

National President (2006-2007)

Stephen L. Johnson

National Secretary (1990-1998)

Chapter Honors and Awards

National Awards

University Awards

Chapter Excellence Award (2006-2007)
Programming Achievement Awards (2006-2007)in the areas of: Academic Achievement, Chapter Management, Membership Recruitment

Other Awards

None to date

Further Resources

In the News

Alpha Theta Chapter
Founded March 11, 1990 • Rutgers University
Presidents	Cindy Huang • Paulina Grabczak • Michael Covin • Ramona Perry • Rachel Mikida • Gabriella Hudis • Katie McGinness-Grimes • Erika Hinson • Mary Gomez
History	List of Alpha Theta Chapter Initiate Classes • List of Alpha Theta Family Lines
Chapter Service Keys	Danielle Facchine • Alice Lee
National Council Members	Colleen Dougherty • Stephen Johnson
Torchias	none

Collegiate Chapters
Alpha • Beta • Gamma • Delta • Epsilon • Zeta • Eta • Theta • Iota • Kappa • Lambda • Mu • Nu • Xi • Omicron • Pi • Rho • Sigma • Tau • Upsilon • Phi • Omega • Alpha Alpha • Alpha Beta • Alpha Gamma • Alpha Delta • Alpha Epsilon • Alpha Zeta • Alpha Eta • Alpha Theta • Alpha Iota • Alpha Kappa • Alpha Lambda • Alpha Mu • Alpha Nu • Alpha Xi • Alpha Omicron • Alpha Pi • Alpha Rho • Alpha Sigma • Alpha Tau • Alpha Upsilon • Alpha Phi • Alpha Chi • Alpha Psi • Alpha Omega • Beta Alpha • Beta Beta • Beta Gamma • Beta Delta • Beta Epsilon • Beta Zeta • Beta Eta • Beta Theta • Beta Iota • Beta Kappa • Beta Lambda • Beta Mu • Beta Nu • Beta Xi • Beta Omicron • Beta Pi • Beta Rho • Beta Sigma • Beta Tau • Beta Upsilon • Beta Phi • Beta Chi • Beta Psi • Beta Omega • Gamma Alpha • Gamma Beta • Gamma Gamma • Gamma Delta • Gamma Epsilon • Gamma Zeta • Gamma Eta • Gamma Theta • Gamma Iota • Gamma Kappa • Gamma Lambda • Gamma Mu • Gamma Nu • Gamma Xi • Gamma Omicron • Gamma Pi • Gamma Rho • Gamma Sigma • Gamma Tau • Gamma Upsilon • Gamma Phi • Gamma Chi • Gamma Psi • Gamma Omega • Delta Alpha • Delta Beta • Delta Gamma • Delta Delta • Delta Epsilon • Delta Zeta • Delta Eta • Delta Theta • Delta Iota • Delta Kappa • Delta Lambda • Delta Mu • Delta Nu • Delta Xi • Delta Omicron • Delta Pi • Delta Rho • Delta Sigma • Delta Tau • Delta Upsilon • Delta Phi • Delta Chi • Delta Psi • Delta Omega • Epsilon Alpha • Epsilon Beta • Epsilon Gamma • Epsilon Delta • Epsilon Epsilon • Epsilon Zeta • Epsilon Eta • Epsilon Theta • Epsilon Iota • Epsilon Kappa • Epsilon Lambda • Epsilon Mu • Epsilon Nu • Epsilon Xi • Epsilon Omicron • Epsilon Pi • Epsilon Rho • Epsilon Sigma • Epsilon Tau • Epsilon Upsilon • Epsilon Phi • Epsilon Chi • Epsilon Psi • Epsilon Omega • Zeta Alpha • Zeta Beta • Zeta Gamma • Zeta Delta • Zeta Epsilon • Zeta Zeta • Zeta Eta • Zeta Theta • Zeta Iota • Zeta Kappa • Zeta Lambda • Zeta Mu • Zeta Nu • Zeta Xi • Zeta Omicron • Zeta Pi • Zeta Rho • Zeta Sigma • Zeta Tau • Zeta Upsilon • Zeta Phi • Zeta Chi • Zeta Psi • Zeta Omega • Eta Alpha • Eta Beta • Eta Gamma • Eta Delta • Eta Epsilon • Eta Zeta • Eta Theta • Eta Iota • Eta Kappa • Eta Mu • Eta Lambda • Eta Mu • Eta Nu • Eta Xi • Eta Omicron • Eta Pi • Eta Rho • Eta Sigma

Alpha Theta Chapter

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