Gamma Chi Chapter
Gamma Chi Chapter (Founded 15 April 1998) is located at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, Florida. The Chapter is a member of the Southeast Region.
Contents
Chapter History
Founding
The first interest meeting was held on January 26, 1998 in the UCF Student Union. Over three hundred people attended this meeting. At that point, the Chapter were slated to be the Gamma Upsilon Chapter, but by the time inductions were held, chapters were established at the University of Kentucky and the University of Oklahoma. Thus, Gamma Chi was chartered at UCF on April 15, 1998, with over one hundred brothers inducted.
Early Years
On February 1, 1998 the first Organizational Meeting was held and the first executive board was elected: Kristin Gillenwater (President); Daron A.S. "Dash" Holt (Vice President); Amber Goldberg (Recording Secretary); Scott Garson (Corresponding Secretary); Gary H. Gotwalt (Treasurer); Beau Ratliff (Rush Advisor); Allison "Allie" Young (Initiation Advisor); Matt Salois (Parliamentarian); and Pedro Davila (Historian). Kristin Gillenwater was the first brother to sign the Gamma Chi roll book as Gamma Chi 1.
Unfortunately due to scholastic obligations; Amber Goldberg had to resign from her position and the chapter. She then became the first Honorary Brother of the chapter.
The Chapter creed was written in the spring semester of 1998 by Georgianna Miller and is called Fellowship.
Phil, the chapter cartoon, was first designed in the spring of 1998. Brother Shaun Lynch created the final version of Phil that appears to date. Phil is rarely used as a chapter symbol now that Gamma Chi adopted it's chapter mascot.
The chapter mascot, The Phoenix, was established in the fall semester of 1998. The Phoenix was chosen to represent the chapter because of the myth surrounding it. In Greek mythology, the Phoenix was a bird that had purple, green, white, and gold feathers that would combust and then rise again from its ashes. This was chosen to represent the several stumbling blocks that the fraternity has had throughout its creation.
In the Spring of 1999, the chapter felt that it should adopt a philanthropy. During this time Ken Tse (one of the charter brothers) had a relapse of leukemia. The Chapter felt that it should involve ourselves in raising funds for cancer research in order to not only help others, but as a sign of support for one of its own. Gamma Chi has participated in several American Cancer Society events since then.
The Active Chapter
The brotherhood prides itself on being a diverse group of individuals brought together and founded on the aspects of the Tripod (Scholarship, Leadership, and Fellowship). The chapter's hosted an array of events. Some of these events include:
- Fundraising: Selling concessions at the Daytona 500
- Fundraising: Kid's Nite Out
- Fundraising: Mini-golf tournament
- Fundraising: The Most Dangerous Game/ Assassins
- Social: Brotherhood Retreat
- Social: Game Night
- Social: Chocolate Factory
- Scholarship: Kite Making
- Scholarship: Study Buddy Dates
- Service: Achieving a College Education (ACE) Day
- Service: Easter Egg Hunt for the Creative School
- Service: Shoe boxes for Soldiers
- Alumni: Founder's Day Picnic
- Alumni: Alumni Roast and Wills
- Public Relations: Adopt-a-Pond
- Public Relations: IM Sports
- UCF Homecoming
- ICR: Southeast Regional Conference
- Relay For Life
Chapter Events & Activites
Boos and Bros
Every Fall semester, Gamma Chi hosts "Boos and Bros," which is a Inter-Chapter Relations event for the Southeast Region. This event occurs in October and is themed around the Halloween season. During "Bros and Bros," brothers participate in social, scholarship, and service events. In previous years, the ICR event includes attending Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida, horror make-up scholarship event, Leadership in Action modules, arts and crafts service event at the UCF Creative School.
American Cancer Society's Relay for Life
The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life is our local philanthropy. Every Spring semester, we participate in the campus-wide Relay for Life event at the University of Central Florida.
Adopt-a-Pond
In Fall 2011, Gamma Chi decided to adopt an on-campus pond. The brothers have monthly pond cleanings, and they keep the ecosystem around the pond free from any harmful items.
Past Chapter Presidents
- Kristin Gillenwater (1998)
- Pedro Davila (?-?)
- Laura Sumner (?-201)
- Megan Avitiable (Bearden) (2001-2002)
- Ashley Yankowitz (Lopez) (?-?)
- Hemzi Patel (2005-2006)
- Tracy Berkman (2006-2007)
- Heather Colbert (2007-2008)
- Jessica Wilbur (2008-2009)
- Denesse Johnson (2009-2010)
- Caitlin Marsh (2010-2011)
- David Berardi (2011-2012)
- Jillian Blueford (2012-2013)
- Catherine Siew (2013-Present)
Past Executive Boards
2000-2001
- Laura Sumner - President
- Vice President
- Recording Secretary
- Corresponding Secretary
- Treasurer
- Rush Advisor
- Initiate Advisor
- Historian
- Josh Lazar - Parliamentarian
2001-2002
- Maygan Avitabile - President
- Billy Brown - Vice President
- Dana Ruscoe - Recording Secretary
- Diana Stella - Corresponding Secretary
- J.A. Lopez - Treasurer
- An Nyugen - Rush Advisor
- Pedro Davila - Initiate Advisor
- Claire Goggin - Historian
- Charles Coen -Parliamentarian
2010-2011
- Caitlin Marsh - President
- Jessica White - Vice President
- Michelle Gardner - Recording Secretary
- David Berardi - Corresponding Secretary
- Shalonda Dukes - Treasurer
- Chelsea Widmaier - Rush Advisor
- Jamilla Bigby - Rush Advisor
- Jennifer Brownell - Rush Advisor
- Kaitlyn Ceuninck - Historian
- Jenn Osburn - Parliamentarian
2011-2012
- David Berardi - President
- Michelle Garnder - Vice President
- Whitney Lawson - Recording Secretary
- Celysse Mackey - Corresponding Secretary
- Ryan Mims - Treasurer
- Jenny Brownell - Rush Advisor
- Kaitlyn Ceuninck - Rush Advisor
- Ryan Higgins - Rush Advisor
- Holly Kaiser - Historian
- Shalonda Dukes - Parliamentarian
- Shawn Gaulden - Brother-at-Large
- Athira Alias - Brother-at-Large
- Kristin Benjamin - Brother-at-Large
2012-2013
- Jillian Blueford- President
- Sarah Thorncroft - Vice President
- Audrey Petersen - Recording Secretary
- Sarah Landers - Corresponding Secretary
- Austin Bodnar - Treasurer
- Ryan Higgins - Rush Advisor
- Jessica Meyer - Rush Advisor
- Paige Gurba - Historian
- Josh Witt - Parliamentarian
- David Berardi - Inter-Chapter Relations
- Tommy Rhodes - Brother-at-Large
- Dani Horowitz - Brother-at-Large
- Katelyn Karaffa - Brother-at-Large
2013-2014
- Catherine Siew - President
- Audrey Petersen - Vice President
- Tyler Kirby - Recording Secretary
- Sarah LaRocca - Corresponding Secretary
- Paige Gurba - Treasurer
- Meghan Carr - Rush Advisor
- Tori Weston - Initiate Advisor
- Dani Horowitz - Historian
- Emily Twist - Parliamentarian
- Alex Rousseau - Inter-Chapter Relations
- Katelyn Karaffa - Brother-at-Large
- Megan Diffey - Brother-at-Large
Initiate Classes
Main Article: List of Gamma Chi Chapter Initiate Classes
Chapter Events & Activities
Founder's Weekend
Gamma Chi celebrates the Chapter's founding...
Other Event or Activity
Boos and Bros
Notable Alumni
- Josh Lazar (1998-2001)
- CFAC President
- Phi Sigma Pi Foundation Board of Directors, Member at Large
- Suzanne Schaffer (Honorary Brother- 1999)
- Executive Director, National Staff Member of Phi Sigma Pi
- Kaitlyn Ceuninck (2009-2012)
- Region Consultant, National Staff Member of Phi Sigma Pi (2012-present)
Chapter Honors and Awards
National Awards
- 1999 Chapter to Travel Furthest to National Convention Award
- 1999 Most Spirited Chapter Award
- 2007 Most Traveled Chapter Award
- 2009 Recruitment Incentive Plan reward recipient
- 2012 Pencils for Potential Recipient
- 2012 Outstanding Fundraiser Award
University Awards
- 1999 1st Place Homecoming Spirit Car
- 2006 Top Team Fundraiser for American Cancer Society's UCF Relay for Life
- 2011 1st Place Homecoming for Most Box Tops for a Small Organization
- 2013 1st Place Homecoming for Best Commercial
Other Recognition
- Brothers David Berardi and Kaitlyn Ceuninck attended the 2012 Alternative Spring Break Project in Newark, NJ
Further Resources
In the News
- 79 teams collaborate to help fight against cancer
- UCF fraternity participates in Brevard beach cleanup
- Teams Raise $77k to Fight Cancer
- Alumna finds ways to travel worldwide
