Gamma Zeta Chapter

Gamma Zeta (Founded 25 February 1996) is located at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, and is a member of the Mid South Region.

Chapter History

UNDER CONSTRUCTION (2/4/2020)

Gamma Zeta chapter of Phi Sigma Pi Honors Fraternity has been active for eighteen strong years. Founded on February 25th 1996, Gamma Zeta had grown to 21 active brothers and continues to grow and retain committed brothers through their intensive 9 week initiation period. The brotherhood's initiation program was strengthened due to the Fall 2013 Initiate Advisor Peter Peltack who, through his Assitant Initiate Advisor position under Initiate Advisor Abigail Smith, was able to better structure the general initiation program into the ideal program. Based upon Peltack's program and the continuation of it, Gamma Zeta was able to welcome in two strong initiate classes.

The chapter's strength was officially instilled through the improved initiation program, and Gamma Zeta's step to become more involved with the Regional Consultant occurred when Becca Bleich became regional delegate in the Fall of 2012 to the Spring of 2013. Becca was the first Regional Delegate to keep in contact with the regional consultant, Jessica Iroche and in the Spring of 2014, Alison Criscoe became the first regional delegate to attend a regional conference (along with Dakota Parker, Brittany Hester, and John Spiegelman).

In Fall of 2019, the chapter inducted one new initiate under the initiation program led by Initiate Adviser Caitlyn White and Assistant Initiate Advisor Lindsey White. During this semester, several positions on the executive board were filled, including the Parliamentarian (Elijah Taylor) and the Historian (Madison Welte). In the fall, the Epsilon XI chapter from Eastern Tennessee State University attended a tailgate before the WCU vs. ETSU football game, which led to bonding between the two chapters.

Founding

Kevin Rogers was the Chapter founder and President in Gamma Zeta's year of establishment, 1996. Kevin and his now wife, Sherry Rogers still live in the Western Carolina area with their two children, Zeb and Mimosa. The Gamma Zeta Chapter was founded on February 25, 1996.

Early Years

In 1996 the Gamma Zeta Chapter of Phi Sigma Pi had their own floor in Western's old honors college residence hall, Reynolds. Brothers inhabited the 2nd floor which made it easy for everyone to plan events and meetings. Brothers who lived on the floor claim that their favorite aspect of the fraternity was coming back from class and spending time with their Brothers on the hall.

After Kevin, Sherry and much of the Alpha pledge class went alumni, the chapter historical documents were stolen from the storage locker in which they were being stored. Unfortunately, to the chapters current knowledge, these documents have not been found nor returned. Also, the year in which the documents were stolen is also unknown.

See also: List of Gamma Zeta Chapter Past Initiate Classes

See also: List of Gamma Zeta Chapter Past E-Boards/Committees

The Active Chapter

Current Faculty Advisor: Colin Townsend

10 Current Officers (Fall 2020):

• President - Taylor Hasick
• Vice President - Madison Welte
• Parliamentarian - Jessica Duckwall
• Corresponding/Recording Secretary - Grace Popp
• Treasurer - Zach Carr
• Head IA - Annie Feldman
• Assistant IA - Hannah Goins
• Recruitment Advisor - Melissa Huamanacondor
• Historian - Maggie Grondy
• Brother-at-Large - Rachel Rhodes

Current Committees:

Alumni (Fall 2020):

• Committee head: Braeden William

Awards & Scholarship (Fall 2020):

• Committee head: Kimberly Metz

Finance & Fundraising (Fall 2020):

• Committee head: Avery Grice

Initiation Committee (Fall 2020):

• Committee head: Annie Feldman

Public Relations (Fall 2020)

• Committee Head: Abby Hamilton

Service (Fall 2020)

• Committee Head: Heidi Stewart

Social (Fall 2020)

• Committee Head: Jordan Rains

Inter-chapter Relations (Fall 2020)

• Committee Head: Taylor Hasick

Semi-Formal (Fall 2020)

• Committee Head: Cassidy Schiebel

T-Shirt (Fall 2020)

• Committee Head: Abigail Gulley

Retreat (Fall 2020)

• Committee Head: Meredith Stone

Master of Ceremonies (Fall 2020)

• Committee Head: Victoria Frye

Past Chapter Presidents

• Marissa
• Kelsey
• Jeremy Boucher (ΓΖ 352) Fall 2014-Spring 2015
• Becca Bleich (ΓΖ) Fall 2013- Spring 2014
• Natasha Swanson (ΓΖ 334) Spring 2013
• Ariel Rymer (ΓΖ 332) Fall 2012
• Sarah Justice Fall 2011-Spring 2012
• John Kindy (Alpha Beta, ΓΖ roll number) Fall 2010- Spring 2011
• Shanee Sullivan (Omega, ΓΖ rollnumber) Part of Spring 2010
• Katelan Price (Psi, ΓΖ rollnumber) Fall 2009 part of Spring 2010
• Ashley Hardin (Tau, ΓΖ 260) Spring 2008-Spring 2009
• David Moss (Tau, ΓΖ 255) Fall 2007
• Laura Burgdorf (Sigma, ΓΖ 250) Spring 2007
• Carrie Petrea (Xi, ΓΖ 226) Fall 2006
• Megan Chamblee (Rho, ΓΖ 235) Spring 2006
• Cale Thornburg (Xi, ΓΖ 229) Fall 2004-Fall 2005
• Brad McAbee (Mu, ΓΖ 201) Spring 2004
• Patrick Pearce (Lambda,ΓΖ 185)Spring 2003-Fall 2003
• Jennifer Kramer (Kappa, ΓΖ 173) Fall 2002
• Samantha Rigby (Zeta, ΓΖ 141) Spring 2002
• Kristy Philemon (Zeta, ΓΖ 132) Fall 2000-Fall 2001
• Stephanie Roberson (Delta, ΓΖ 109) Spring 2000
• Sarah Keener (Beta, ΓΖ 69) Fall 1999-Spring 2000
• Kevin Philemon (Charter Member, ΓΖ 35) Fall 1998-Spring 1999
• Samuel Chantes (Alpha, ΓΖ 60) Fall 1997-Spring 1998
• Kevin Rogers (Charter Member, ΓΖ 3) Spring 1996-Fall 1997

Chapter Events & Activities

Spring 2020:

• Scholarship head, Meredith Stone, has contacted several community partners to hold informational meetings and discussions with the chapter. In February, a representative from CAPS, or Counseling and Psychological Services, spoke with the chapter about mental health and the resources that CAPS offers. The Scholarship committee plans to hold a Self-Defense class in March and a discussion about the Cherokee culture in April.
• Service head, Braeden William, has signed the chapter up for the annual Tuck River Clean-Up as well as an Out of the Darkness Walk in April.
• Social head, Rachel Rhodes, has planned for the chapter to attend a Western Carolina University vs. The Citadel basketball game in February, a chapter potluck in March, and a chapter stargazing night in April.
• Retreat committee head, Meredith Stone, has planned a weekend retreat for the chapter in April.

Founder's Day

On February 14th of every year, the chapter wears business casual dress as well as pin attire to signify the national founding date of Phi Sigma Pi.

On the 14th of every month, the chapter wears business casual to signify the national founding date.

Past Events or Activities

The brothers in the past have hosted an event called Rent-a-Puppy which encourages students to "rent" puppies for 15 minutes for 5 dollars.

In the past, the chapter has held a service event called Bowls for Bovines. In this event we collaborate with the Western Carolina University ceramics students (the WCU Mudcats) to make and sell bowls to raise money for Heifer International. Heifer International is an organization whose goal is to help end world hunger and boost the economy in impoverished areas around the world. The money we raise from Bowls for Bovines goes directly to this organization to purchase a livestock animal for a family (or multiple families when we do really well!) in these areas. The chapter has also made a tradition of doing the annual Tuck River Clean-up every April, as they get to experience bonding as well as do service for the community of Sylva, Dillsboro, and Cullowhee, North Carolina. This event is organized every year to clean up trash and do recycling on a section of the Tuckasegee River, then properly dispose of the litter collected. The chapter goes as a group and then splits off into different rafts to complete the cleanup. For service events in the past, the chapter has created cards for children's homes, nursing homes, and various other places in the chapter's local area. The chapter has also completed community garden workdays in the Cullowhee community garden in the fall semesters as well as in the late spring weather permitting.

For social events in the past, the chapter has done a variety of events. To support the chapter's university, social events have taken the form of going to basketball, football, and baseball games as a group. The chapter has also held several tailgating events, with one happening in Fall of 2019 that the Epsilon Xi chapter from East Tennessee State University attending as well, before going to the WCU vs. ETSU football game.

Notable Alumni

• Kevin Rogers (Alpha pledge class, 1996)

- Office Held: President (1996)
- Kevin is a notable Alumni because he is Gamma Zeta's chapter founder

Chapter Honors and Awards

National Awards

• 2014-2015 Recruitment Incentive

University Awards

• None to date

Chapter Service Key Recepients

• Spring 2015 Alison Criscoe (ΓΖ roll number)
• Spring 2013 Natasha Swanson (ΓΖ 334) and Brittany Cain (ΓΖ 319)
• Spring 2011 Jenny Kindy (ΓΖ ) and John Kindy(ΓΖ )
• Spring 2009 Zach Dearman (ΓΖ 280), Ashley Hardin (ΓΖ 260), Grant Newman (ΓΖ 275), Mark Phillips (ΓΖ 271), and Mike Young (ΓΖ 236)
• Fall 2008 Rebecca Vickers (ΓΖ 213)
• Spring 2007 - Heather Barnard (ΓΖ 218) and Carrie Petrea (ΓΖ 226)

Brother of the Semester Recipients (First Awarded in 2003)

• Spring 2015 Taylor Santa (ΓΖ roll number)
• Fall 2014 Steven Tripp (ΓΖ roll number)
• Spring 2010 -Shanee Sullivan (ΓΖ 282) and Jenny Leigh Jessup (ΓΖ 299)
• Fall 2009-----
• Spring 2009 - Ashley Anderson (ΓΖ 283)
• Fall 2008 - Zach Dearman (ΓΖ 280) and Shanee Sullivan (ΓΖ 282)
• Spring 2008 - Brittany Cardenas (ΓΖ 252)
• Fall 2007 - Ashley Hardin (ΓΖ 260) and Grant Newman (ΓΖ 275)
• Spring 2007 - Laura Burgdorf (ΓΖ 250)
• Fall 2006 - Laura Burgdorf (ΓΖ 250)
• Spring 2006 - Heather Barnard (ΓΖ 218)
• Fall 2005 - Megan Chamblee (ΓΖ 235)
• Spring 2004 - Rita Kirby (ΓΖ 2
• Fall 2004 - Cale Thornburg (ΓΖ 229)
• Spring 2004 - Cale Thornburg (ΓΖ 229)
• Fall 2003 - Brad McAbee (ΓΖ 201)

Brother of the Year Recipients (First Awarded in 2009)

• 2008-2009 Year - Mike Young (ΓΖ 236)

Further Resources

• Phi Sigma Pi: Gamma Zeta Chapter Website
• Gamma Zeta Chapter Portal

In the News

• Student to receive impact award