Omicron Chapter

Omicron Chapter (Founded 8 May 1931; Reactivated 1 March 1987) is located at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. The chapter was founded by Chapter alumnus Name and is a member of the Keystone Region.

Chapter History

Early Years

At the time of the chapter's founding in 1931, enrollment was approximately four hundred members. In the decade prior to World War II, membership in the chapter averaged between thirty and fifty members.

The guiding force in the establishment of Omicron Chapter was Dr. Simon Shearer. This well-liked professor was the chapter's first advisor and served in that capacity until World War II when the chapter became temporarily inactive. Activities of the fraternity during these early years were quite varied. One annual event was a picnic/smoker for the members and their dates that was held in cabin owned by Dr. Shearer. They also sponsored speeches by education professionals, held an annual Christmas party, and some members even served as ushers at various events on campus. A Founder's Day banquet was also held each spring on the second floor of Morrison's Restaurant ( now the American Legion in town). Awards were presented yearly to various members for outstanding service to the fraternity. With the start of World War II and the departure of men to serve in the war and women to take their places in the factories, enrollment at the college dropped off sharply. Enrollment was down, faculty members were released, and the school almost closed down. As a result Phi Sigma Pi, along with most of other campus organizations, was put into mothballs until the end of the war.

During the decade of the 1950s, the fraternity experienced a revival. Under the guidance of advisor Mr. Roy M. Dibert, the fraternity consisted of approximately 25-30 men. The organization was considered the most prestigious on campus and an invitation to join was rarely declined. Meetings were held on a monthyl basis, along with other social and academic functions. In 1958, under the presidency of Dr. Donald Morningstar, delegates were sent to National Convention in Kansas where Omicron Chapter won the Outstanding Chapter award.

With the coming of social greeks and various other extra-curricular organizations in the late 50s and early 60s, active participation of the fraternity declined. With the new variety of activities in which students could participate, those students who were members had less time to devote to fraternity matters. Futhermore,the new spectrum of activities drew away prospective members as well.By the middle of the turbulent decade of the 1960s the fraternity remained in the name only and by the middle of the 1970s, the chapter's charter was revoked.

The Active Chapter

In 1987, the Omicron chapter of Phi Sigma Pi National Honors Fraternity was reactivated on the campus of Shippensburg University. The National Secretary-Treasurer, Mr. Steven Diguiseppe, initiated approximately 250 new brothers. Fellow brother from the Sigma (Millersville University) and Iota (Bloomsburg University) chapters also took an active part in the initiation. Officers were elected for the upcoming school year along with the appointment of Dr. Jeffrey Lacy of the Chemistry Department serving as faculty advisor.

The fall semester of 1987 started out as a very busy one for Omicron Chapter. Regularly scheduled meetings of the general membership were held so that everyone would be able to keep in touch with fraternal matters.

The fraternity ran smoothly for the next decade, as membership continued to grow and the current members gained more experience on what it takes to balance scholarship, leadership, and fellowship and other fraternal matters. In fall of 1997, the first website for Omicron Chapter was created by Keith Ensminger. Then in 1998 under the presidency of Mark Schmelz, the chapter decided to start allowing second semester freshman the opportunity to pledge.

During the next few years, the fraternity had ambitions to host a large fund raiser event. In the spring of 2003, Omicron held its first annual fund raiser event and held a Dance-a-thon that raised money for the A-T Children's Project. After the success of this event, the fraternity decided to combine the fund raising event make it an inter-chapter event as well. Thus, in spring of 2004 under the presidency of Erin Golembiewski, Omicron Chapter held its first annual Inter-Chapter fund raiser event. Chapters from around Pennsylvania and students from campus participated in a Jello-wrestling match to raise funds for the Association of Retarded Citizens (ARC). Over $3000 was raised for the ARC and good times were had by all who participated, making Jello-Wrestling at Omicron a popular event. In the fall of same year, Anthony F. Ceddia, the then president of Shippensburg University, was inducted as an honorary member of Phi Sigma Pi.

Past Chapter Presidents

• Ed Murren (April 2005-April, 2006)
• Ashlie Wesley (April, 2006-April, 2007)
• Joseph Peltzer (April, 2007-Present)

Chapter Events & Activities

Founder's Weekend

Alpha celebrates the Chapter's founding...

Other Event or Activity

This event is...

Other Event or Activity

This activity is...

Notable Alumni

• Simon S. Shearer

National President (1935-1937)

Senior Vice President (1937-1939)

• Roy M. Dibert

Senior Vice President (1961-1962)

• J. Bruce Maclay

National Secretary (1936-1937)

Chapter Honors and Awards

National Awards

• 1963-64 Joseph Torchia Outstanding Chapter Award
• 1990 Joseph Torchia Outstanding Chapter Award
• 1992 C.H. McClure Single Service Award
• 2005 Joseph Torchia Outstanding Chapter Award
• 2005 Top in Region
• 2007 Outstanding Risk Management
• 2007 Top in Region

University Awards

• None to date

Other Awards

• None to date

Further Resources

• Chapter Website