March 17, 2003


Student Greek Leaders Awarded For Good Deeds

Greek of the Year Award Winners: This year's recipients were (front row, from left) Ben Giant, Paul Gross, Michael Novotney, Andy Feyen, Alison Bailey and Anne Trueblood. In the back row are Andrew Batta, Deric Fetters, Bill Casey, Jonathan Miller and Rose-Hulman President Samuel Hulbert.

Ten students have been honored for the many good deeds that Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's Greek community accomplish each year through community service, campus involvement and academic traditions.

Greek of the Year plaques were presented on March 12 by Rose-Hulman President Samuel Hulbert and Vice President of Student Affairs Pete Gustafson. Tom Miller, associate dean of students, will moderate the special dinner, highlighting the recent activities of each member and the Greek organization.

Rose-Hulman fraternities assist several community agencies during the school year. Examples include donating blood to the Indiana Blood Center, helping construct a Habitat for Humanity house, organizing food drives and fund-raising events for local not-for-profit agencies, planting trees for Trees Inc. and assembling bicycles for the Exchange Club's Bikes for Tykes project.

This year's honorees, nominated by their respective Greek organizations, were:  Alison Bailey, former president of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. The senior electrical engineering major has also served as continuing education chair and an alternate delegate to the Panhellenic Council. "Alison is always the first to help with set up and the last to leave when everything needs to be torn down," stated sorority sister Spring McEwen.

Andrew Batta, who served as chair of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity's successful Rush recruitment campaign. The senior electrical engineering major has been the chapter's representative to the Interfraternity Council and served as a senator in Rose-Hulman's Student Government Association. "Andrew exemplifies everything a Pike should be in a scholar, leader, athlete and gentleman," noted colleague Matthew Brandt.

Bill Casey, who has been treasurer and Rush chair for the Sigma Nu fraternity, and represented the chapter at the group's international convention. The chapter's reorganized recruitment efforts increased the number of pledges by 1,700 percent. Casey is a junior mechanical engineering major.

Deric Fetters, who as activities chair of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity helped organize a 24-hour basketball marathon fund-raising activity for March of Dimes. He is a junior mechanical engineering major.

Andy Feyen, public relations chair of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. The senior chemical engineering major has also been rush chair, Interfraternity Council representative, pledge class vice president and has attended every community service project that the fraternity has participated in since attending Rose-Hulman. He also organized a Greek Night activity during a home basketball game this past season.

Ben Giant, historian of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and a student leader on campus. He was president of the college's Student Government Association in 2002-2003, has been a Resident Assistant for two years and was a Sophomore Adviser. He maintains a 3.94 grade point average as a senior mechanical engineering major.

Paul Gross, former external relations chair of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. The 2002 computer science graduate helped organize community food drives and a 24-hour cross country fund-raising Run for Kid's Sake event to support Big Brother Big Sister of Vigo County. Both events exceeded the chapter's goals.

Jonathan Miller, president of the Theta Xi fraternity, has encouraged his colleagues to become more active in campus and community activities. "Jon is helping lead the transition to more activity and a more studious Theta Xi. The fraternity has a bright future with Jon Miller at the helm," stated classmate Ailur Blair. Miller is a senior mechanical engineering major.

Michael Novotney, president of the Triangle, has helped lead the Rose-Hulman chapter to No. 1 Active Chapter ranking in the fraternity's Chapter Performance Award competition. He also organized the first "Living Our Values" All Greek Retreat and secured scholarships for a representative of each campus Greek organization to attend the 2003 Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute this summer. Novotney is a senior civil engineering major.

Anne Trueblood, who is secretary of the Chi Omega sorority and has also been president of Rose-Hulman's student chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and a founding member of the college's varsity golf team. "She has not only made a contribution, she has made a legacy," stated Chi Omega officer Jill Kurdys. Trueblood is a senior mechanical engineering major.