Pete Gingrich
Pete Gingrich (born 1 December 1980) is an Alumnus of Alpha Rho Chapter (ΑΡ 483) at Virginia Tech. He currently serves as Chair of the Alpha Rho Alumni Advisory Board and is a member of the National Membership Development Committee.
| Pete Gingrich | |
 | |
| Name | Pete Gingrich |
| Chapter | Alpha Rho Virginia Tech |
| Date Inducted | November 30, 1999 |
| Roll Number | ΑΡ 483 |
| Alumni Chapter/Assoc | |
| Honorary Member | |
| Major | Industrial & Systems Engineering |
| Birthdate | December 1, 1980 |
| Spouse | |
| Nicknames | |
| Awards | 2001 AP Most Exemplary Scholarship, 2004 AP Outstanding Alumni Award |
Contents
Early Fraternity Life and Career
Pete enrolled at Virginia Tech after graduating from Concord High School in Wilmington, Delaware, beginning in Fall 1998. As a sophomore, he was looking for a student organization to become heavily involved in when he received a letter inviting him to Phi Sigma Pi rush. Intrigued by the blend of scholarship, leadership and fellowship, as well as the co-ed aspects of the organization, he rushed Phi Sigma Pi in Fall 1999. Pete received a bid and after a successful Initiation period serving as Initiate Class Service Chair, Pete was Inducted into the Chapter with the Pi Initiate Class on November 30, 1999.
Collegiate Years at Alpha Rho Chapter
During his time as an undergraduate Brother, Pete was very active within the Chapter, attending virtually every event the Chapter held. He was a regular participant in the Chapter's service events including cleanup days at the Virginia Tech Duckpond and a weekly mentorship program at a local elementary school. In Fall 2001, he won an intra-Chapter competition, logging the most service hours for the semester.
Pete served in several leadership positions as an undergraduate. In his second semester as a Brother he served as Initiation Chair for the Sigma Initiate Class. The following semester he served as Fellowship Chair, and among other events, planned the Chapter's first end of year Toga party, a tradition that continues today. The next year he stepped up as Initiate Advisor for the Upsilon and Phi Initiate Classes. In addition to his elected leadership roles, he helped on several ad-hoc committees to organize special events the Chapter held, including its annual 5K and now defunct Fashion Show.
Pete was instrumental in expanding the Chapter's presence within Virginia Tech intramural sports, serving as captain of many of the teams. During his time as an undergrad, the Chapter increased its number of intramural sports teams from two to eight and climbed into the Top 10 of the Hokie Grail standings, a set of rankings by the Virginia Tech Intramural Sports Department where organizations earn points based on participation and performance in intramural sports.
Pete also enjoyed road trips to other chapters. During his time as an undergraduate, his fraternity related trips included destinations of Tau, Alpha Beta, Alpha Eta, Alpha Mu, Alpha Xi, Alpha Omicron, Beta Delta, Beta Rho, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh.
Pete was recognized with a variety of superlatives and awards during his time as an undergradate. In his first semester as a Brother he was recognized as Most Laid Back and Best Big/Little with his Big Brother, Jae Welchel. In Spring 2001 he was recognized at Alpha Rho's annual Semiformal banquet as Most Exemplary Fellowship. In Fall 2001 he was selected as Tripod King, an annual title awarded in conjunction with the the week of events leading up to the Chapter's Founder's Weekend. In Fall 2002 he was awarded the Chapter's Spirit Award at the Alpha Rho/Beta Delta Founder's Weekend. Other superlatives Pete received during his time in college included Most Likely to be Wearing Letters and Most Likely to Talk Trash.
Alumni Years to Present
After graduating from Virginia Tech in December 2002, Pete moved back to Delaware for 6 months and worked as a substitute junior high and high school teacher while he finished his job search and interview process. In June 2003 he moved to Washington, DC and began work for Accenture as a business consultant. In December 2006 he moved to Arlington, Virginia where he currently resides and continues to work for Accenture.
Pete has remained active with Alpha Rho after graduation, participating in the Chapter's Alumni Buddy program with Initiates and has kept in touch with Brothers through regular trips to Blacksburg for football games and Chapter events. In addition, Pete was captain of the Ageless Wonders (pictured at left), a flag football team comprised of Alpha Rho Alumni who won the Alpha Eta Hopebowl tournament three consecutive years from 2003-2005. At Alpha Rho's 2004 Alumni Weekend, he was honored for his participation as an Alumnus with the Loren P. Johnson Outstanding Alumni Award. In March 2005, Pete was elected to a three year term on the Alpha Rho Alumni Advisory Board (AAB). In March 2006, he was recognized as Most Familiar Face at Alpha Rho's Alumni Banquet and stepped into the role of Chair of the AAB, a role he will continue for the 2007-2008 academic year.
Pete has also taken steps to be active with Phi Sigma Pi on the national level. He joined the National Alumni Association and has served on the National Membership Development Committee since 2004.
National Involvement
- National Membership Development Committee, 2004-Present
- National Convention, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006
- Grand Chapter, 2003, 2004
- Alpha Rho/Beta Delta Founder's Weekend, 1999-2003, 2005
- Tau Founder's Weekend, 2000-2002
- Alpha Beta Volleyball, 2001-2002, 2004-2006
- Alpha Eta Hopebowl, 2001-2006
- Alpha Eta Tripod 21, 2000-2002
- Beta Rho Founder's Weekend, 2000, 2004
Bigs and Littles
Pete's Big Brother is Jae Welchel.
Pete has 2 Little Brothers:
- Ryan Lemerich, Alumnus
- Andrea Rank, Alumna
Academic Degrees
- Concord High School Class of 1998
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University Class of 2002, Bachelor of Science in Industrial & Systems Engineering
Further Resources
- Pete can be reached by email at pete.gingrich@gmail.com
Other Interesting Facts
- Pete never missed a required chapter, chair, chair/exec, or committee meeting as an undergraduate at Alpha Rho
- One of Pete's current roommates and co-workers is fellow Alpha Rho Alumnus Jeff Owen
- Pete was valedictorian of the Class of 1998 at Concord High School in Wilmington, Delaware
- Pete declined an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in order to enroll at Virginia Tech
