Congratulations to the newly inaugurated 2013-2014 executive board: President Nathan Douglas Chaplain Nick Falkowski Internal Vice President Matt Morrow External Vice President Rich Coker Treasurer Blake Giragos Secretary Justin Hoover ...
Fall Rush 2013
Rush Kappa Phi Epsilon
September 9-13 @ 8pm
1002 W. University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
New Executive Board Elected
Congratulations to the newly inaugurated 2013-2014 executive board:
- President Nathan Douglas
- Chaplain Nick Falkowski
- Internal Vice President Matt Morrow
- External Vice President Rich Coker
- Treasurer Blake Giragos
- Secretary Justin Hoover
Chairmen, directors, and committeemen for the Fall 2013 semester have also been appointed and were announced at the final spring chapter meeting this week.
The 2013-2014 Kappa Phi Epsilon executive board (from left to right): President Nathan Douglas (Omicron), Chaplain Nick Falkowski (Nu), Internal Vice President Matt Morrow (Pi), External Vice President Rich Coker (Omicron), Treasurer Blake Giragos (Pi), and Secretary Justin Hoover (Pi).
Spring 2013 Retreat Focuses on Fraternity Roots
Over the course of a three day weekend, Kappa Phi Epsilon sought refuge at its semi-annual retreat. The Brotherhood’s theme was a resoundingly powerful one: returning to our roots. Inspecting the lives of the Christian leaders we draw our inspiration from, our men were challenged to inspect their own lives, the relationships they had with one another, and their relationship to God. Aimed at bringing the accomplished lives of John Wesley, Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, Robert Kirkham, and William Morgan down to Earth, Fraternity elders were guided through diligent prayer and the Spirit into perspective and emphasis the often humble origins of these men – who very much like today’s body of Christians – appeared far-fledged in their hopes to bring Christ’s light to an oftentimes darkened world.
On this subject in particular, Internal Vice President Erik Yeary delivered a resounding call to action in the personal lives of the Brothers, railing against complacency and urging greatness through faith in the Creator by quoting Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who gave his life in the fight against Nazi oppression and atheism,
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil; God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
In this same way, Kappa Phi is called not to permit mediocrity in our lives and to believe in the capacity of the Lord to use the Brotherhood in modern miracles. Other leaders also gave passionate speeches about maturity, achieving higher goals, and initiative.
Apart from the messages, Brothers enjoyed the great outdoors and relaxed bonding time, propelled by the assignment of new members into the chapter’s five founding families. Below is the list of the Sigma pledge class, their new big brothers, and their respective families.
- Angel Avalos, Bryan Shaw – Semino
- Chehade Boulos, Mark Ragland – Czupryk
- Michael Chandler, Michael Moricz – Caltabellotta
- Taylor Dunphy, Nostra Fortunel – Kayiales
- Tyler Ferguson, Blake Giragos – Czupryk
- James Fong, Brandon Holton – Caltabellotta
- Connor Ingalls, Matt Morrow – Semino
- Mitch Irvin, Danny Alcala – Bernau
- Clifford Kibo, Matt Hasty – Czupryk
- Curran Kuehl, Nick Falkowski – Czupryk
- Adam Lipford, Eric Hedberg – Czupryk
- Brandon Peebles, Nathan Douglas – Bernau
- Christian Wade, Nick Morrell – Kayiales
- Jacob Watt, Austin Phillips – Czupryk
- Joel Whitehead, Andrew Morrish – Kayiales
Going forward, this pairings will represent the tightest bonds and opportunities for fellowship available to a Kappa Phi as an instrument of developing Brothers young and old in Christian manhood. In returning to Gainesville, we are reinforced by our community of believers and the hope that, when our souls are placed in rightful alignment with the will of God, the extraordinary may occur.
We also wish to thank the Payne family for graciously allowing the fraternity to enjoy their riverfront property for the weekend!
A New Place to Call Home
Friends, family, alumni, and supporters of our brotherhood,
It is my great pleasure to announce that after months of prayer, steadfastness, and preparation, Kappa Phi Epsilon at the University of Florida will have a new home starting in the Fall 2013 term! The new Kappa Phi Epsilon House is located at 1002 W. University Avenue in Gainesville. The 39-bedroom, 16,000+ sq. ft. Collier Hall will be the new chapter headquarters and home to a majority of the brotherhood.
This historic building has been a landmark of the Gainesville community for many years, and is located just two blocks from campus and only a 10-minute walk from downtown. The building was once known as Georgia Seagle Hall, a co-op dormitory for Christian men at UF founded in 1946 by Georgia Seagle, a Christian entrepreneur from Jacksonville.
A photo from 1957 of Collier Hall, then Georgia Seagle Hall.
It was later purchased by Nathan Collier, founder of The Collier Companies, which owns and manages more than 10,000 apartments in Gainesville and around the state of Florida. It was then that the building was renamed after Nathan Collier’s father, the late Courtland A. Collier, a former UF professor, Gainesville city commissioner turned mayor, and an outspoken Christian. The building’s roots trace back to a community for Christian men at our university, and we are excited to honor that history by establishing a home that is a light to the surrounding community.
This move marks the beginning of a new era for Kappa Phi, and we couldn’t be more thankful for this blessing nor could we be more excited for what is yet to come. It is beyond evident how the Lord has guided and blessed this entire process, and His faithfulness throughout has been incredibly encouraging. To Him be the praise and glory!
Furthermore, the Kappa Phi Epsilon Heritage Alumni Board has been instrumental in the advising and oversight of this process, and I am grateful for their contributions and support. Personally, it has been a blessing to have had the opportunity to spearhead this movement. It has been an unforgettable experience to witness such a long-time vision come to fruition during my presidency.
The new Kappa Phi Epsilon House at Collier Hall.
Of course, every big move comes with a great deal of logistical preparations and financial demands. We’d love to have your support as we transition to our new home, and however you can contribute is immensely appreciated, whether that’s through prayer, time, or financial contribution. If you’d like to donate to our Housing Fund, feel free to do so via PayPal below. Your support can help us cover the costs of paint supplies, furniture, decor, and other necessities in and around the house as we prepare for move-in this summer.
On behalf of all the brothers, I wish to thank you all for your continued support of Kappa Phi Epsilon and our ministry at the University of Florida and in the Gainesville community at large. We can do all things through Christ, and it’s His name–the name above all names–that we serve and seek to glorify through this fraternity and with this house in the years to come. Thank you for joining us in this mission, and may the Lord bless you and keep you.
In Christ,
Steven Gallo
President
Spring Philanthropy Season Kicks Off
The Kappa Phi Epsilon teams and their coaches at Phi Mu Tailgate Invitational 2013.
The gentlemen of Kappa Phi Epsilon have started the spring semester off well with participation in several Panhellenic philanthropies thus far. Last weekend, the brothers competed in Phi Mu’s Tailgate Invitational, an event featuring tailgate games from corn hole to ladder golf. The philanthropy benefited Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
This weekend, Kappa Phi competed in Delta Zeta’s annual Turtle Tug philanthropy, benefitting the speech and hearing impaired. The tug-of-war competition brought out fraternities across campus to battle it out for the top spot. Kappa Phi placed third overall, bringing home another trophy for the shelf!
Up next on the philanthropy calendar is Pi Beta Phi’s Down and Dirty, a flag football tournament that benefits literacy programs across the nation and in the Gainesville community.
Brothers pray with their coaches before competing in Delta Zeta Turtle Tug 2013.
Sigma Pledge Class Breaks Record
After a successful rush week, Kappa Phi Epsilon is pleased to record the Sigma Pledge Class as the largest spring class in the Fraternity’s history, a distinction previously held by the Zeta Pledge Class of Spring 2007. Following much diligent work and prayer from within the Brotherhood, this accomplishment contributes towards the Fraternity’s forward trajectory, one founded upon seeking the Lord while serving both the Christian and the outside communities.
The recent additions have already stirred active brothers.
“Never in my life have I seen God more visibly at work then during our recruitment period…I knew that whatever happened was going to be God’s will,” reported Recruitment Chairman Matt Morrow (Pi), “and I’ve never felt more comforted.”
The newly inducted Sigma Pledge class and the active brotherhood of Kappa Phi Epsilon at UF.
The Sigma Class will spend the semester being integrated into Greek Life, educated about the Fraternity’s heritage, and mentored spiritually with the long-term goal of being developed into Christian leaders as active brothers of Kappa Phi. Prospective candidates for future membership are encouraged to visit during the next Fall Rush.
Christmas with Kappa Phi
Lindy, the Kappa Phi house dog.
In keeping with a successful tradition, the Fraternity held its annual “Christmas with Kappa Phi” function this 1st of December, inviting in an array of new and old friends for songs, hot chocolate around the fire pit, and tacky Christmas sweaters, of course. The night culminated in a message from Chaplain Juan Alcala designed to bring home the truth behind the Christmas holiday.
Apart from a time to celebrate and appreciate one’s earthly blessings, the season provides an opportunity to observe the true faithfulness and humility of the Lord, who selflessly entered a broken world through ever
As Fall 2012 nears its close, Kappa Phi is grateful for the continued success it has been blessed with and will be striving with diligence and faith towards the academic break and Spring 2013. It’s a time to reflect upon the tireless pursuit of God into both history and our personal lives, rekindle existing flames and invite new hearts to hear the good news.
Brothers Initiated into Florida Blue Key
Kappa Phi Epsilon congratulates brothers Steven Gallo (Mu) and Dave Chauncey (Epsilon) on their joining the Fall 2012 tapping class of Florida Blue Key, the state’s most prestigious leadership honorary. Since its founding in 1923, the organization represents the top leaders and servants of the Gator Nation. Steven, the Fraternity’s current president, is widely recognized in the College of Journalism and Communications. Dave, a President-Emeritus of Kappa Phi, is an alumnus of Teach for America and is currently enrolled in the Levin College of Law at the University of Florida.
Pictured (from left) are Kappa Phi Florida Blue Key members Logan Harrison, Steven Gallo, Dave Chauncey and Sean Fahy.
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We’d love to have your support as we transition to our new home, and however you can contribute is immensely appreciated, whether that’s through prayer, time, or financial contribution. If you’d like to donate to our Housing Fund, feel free to do so via PayPal below.
Your support can help us cover the costs of paint supplies, furniture, decor, and other necessities in and around the house as we prepare for move-in this summer.
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