Pi Kappa Alpha Iota Delta Chapter

Over the winter quarter break, a group of 13 Brothers from the Iota Delta Chapter ventured to Aspen, Colorado for the 8th annual Pike Aspen ski trip. This year's group spanned 11 years of Rose-Hulman graduating classes, 2004-2015. Pictures and video will be posted on the Iota Delta Facebook Page and Iota Delta Alumni Facebook Page soon.

"On Tuesday, July 12 2011 at 7:30 PM, Brother Mike Kohlmeier (Nu class, RHIT ’94) passed on to Chapter Eternal after courageously fighting a difficult battle with cancer. He was 39.
For anyone who met Mike, it didn’t take them long to realize that he loved life and that he knew how to live life to its fullest. Mike enjoyed fun and having a good time. He was always up for a volleyball game, singing, playing cards or about any other activity, never seeming to want to slow down & always seeming to enjoy himself. He was always quick with a joke and enjoyed laughing with you, but not at your expense. He also knew not to take himself too seriously and could laugh at himself without any problem. Mike never seemed to ever get embarrassed. Anyone who saw it cannot forget the Greek Games Songfest when Mike came out on stage in a dress & wig while covering his mustache by holding his finger over it.

The annual International Work Day was coupled with our third annual Founder’s Day. Undergraduates and alumni worked together to complete many projects including demolition of a former housing area called the cottage, moving and organizing the chapter office, painting the annex and making forms to lay new concrete sidewalks. The most notable attendee was a 3 ton backhoe which was put to great use breaking up and clearing old sidewalk and excavating trenches for drainage tile in the parking lot.

Housing and workday chairman Alex Kline reflected on the day, "Workday was very successful. We had 70 brothers and 13 alumni come out and we took on many tough projects." Also, the food was delicious thanks to Alumni Relations chairman, Matt Spurr. The actives and alumni devoured a pig that cooked underground for over 12 hours.

The rush scholarship for the spring of 2011 has been awarded to Jake Schuenke for his efforts in helping to recruit this year's spring class. Jake is freshman from Brighton, Illinois, a small town of about 2000 people and went to a small high school there. He was very social and active in high school, playing football along with participating in many other extracurricular activities.

Jake says he enjoys rush because he has always loved meeting new people and making new friends. “I am so excited about winning this award. I think rush is the most important part of any Fraternity and being able to give back to Pike in this respect is something that I am honored to do. I also, eventually, would like take the reigns as Pike Rush Chair, but for now I am helping our current Rush Chair, Collin Crowson. Hopefully the things I learn this coming year will really help me continue to rush the most best men.”

Congratulations to Jake from the Alumni Association!

The 2010 Fall Rush Scholarship, the inaugural Rush Scholarship, went to Timothy Joseph Orr, better known as T.O. to his brothers. T.O. is a 22-year-old Mechanical Engineering major. He has always surpassed what is expected of him during Rush periods, and he has always brought freshmen to events, interacted with them on campus, and showed them what Pike is all about. His outgoing personality and openness to all kinds of new people are great assets during Rush. Congratulations Tim!

2010 Fall Rush Scholarship recipient:
Timothy Joseph Orr, aka T.O.

Campus Involvement:
Varsity cheerlifter (lettered), intramurals, fencing club, juggling club, swing club

Pike Involvement:
Gold Membership Status with Pike Nationals for attending five events throughout his college career; very active in housing and grounds projects; loudest man in chapter; local League of Legends expert

The Iota Delta Alumni Association, through the generosity of a few donors, started a Rush Scholarship for the Iota Delta Chapter to reward active members who go way beyond typical expectations during a Rush period. The Chapter votes for a recipient of the Fall Rush $100 Scholarship during winter quarter, and another recipient for the Spring Rush $100 Scholarship during spring quarter.

Seven actives and two alumni from the Iota Delta Chapter traveled to Aspen, Colorado for the 6th annual Pike Aspen trip last week. The group spent time skiing in Aspen, and some of the actives traveled to a back country lodge outside of Leadville, CO for the second part of the trip.

The Pike Aspen trip has occurred every year since 2006 during Rose-Hulman's winter quarter break.

Brothers,

I am beginning to plan our fourth annual alumni trip to Three Floyds Dark Lord Day, a gourmet beer festival in Munster, Indiana. This year the festival will take place on Saturday, April 30th. Three Floyds is regarded as one of the finest breweries in America, and their Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout is one of the rarest beers in the United States. Dark Lord Day is the only day of the year this beer is sold to the general public.

If you are interested in joining us, please contact me at george.a.mills@gmail.com. There is no commitment at this time. I’m just compiling an email list of people who will like to receive updates and information as it is planned. Also, this is not a Pikes only event. Friends, girlfriends, wives, coworkers, and everyone else is invited to come along – the more the merrier.

Two trips hosted by Iota Delta alumni were featured in the Winter 2010 Shield & Diamond. The "Best of the Northwest" trip, hosted by James Byrne and Alan Schroeder, was featured on page 41, and the Pike Aspen 2010 trip was featured on page 57. Be sure to take look if you haven't already!

Click here to view it!

Last weekend many Pike alumni from around the nation and from class years dating back to the founding years of our Chapter returned to celebrate Homecoming, spending the weekend at the Rose-Hulman bonfire, football game, dodgeball at the house, hayrides, and just catching up with old friends. For many alumni, it was the first chance to see the soon to be completed Alden renovation.

The new officers for the Alumni Association are:
President – George Mills
Vice President – Alan Schroeder
Treasurer – Jake Esau (no change)
Secretary for Life – Scott Terek (no change)

The new officers for the Housing Corp are:
President – Stephen Rodriguez
Vice President – John Cergnul
Treasurer – Eric Schue (No Change)
Secretary – Nick Welte (No Change)