SAN ANTONIO (July 12, 2026) — Theta Chi Fraternity recognized 43 alumni volunteers for outstanding service to the Fraternity during the Alumni Brunch at the 170th Anniversary Convention in San Antonio.
Earl D. Rhodes Theta Chi for Life Award
The Earl D. Rhodes Theta Chi for Life Award is the second-highest honor that may be bestowed upon an alumnus member of Theta Chi Fraternity. Established and authorized by the Grand Chapter in 1975, the award recognizes members who have demonstrated a lifetime of dedicated and outstanding service to the Fraternity.
Creig L. Andreasen (Alpha Pi/Minnesota 1990) served on the Alpha Pi House Corporation at the University of Minnesota for many years, including as President. He also served as a Regional Counselor and assisted in hosting the 158th Anniversary Convention in Minneapolis in 2014. Andreasen was elected to the Grand Chapter in 2016 and served two terms, completing his service in 2024 as International President. Creig’s son, Mitch (2018), is also a member of Alpha Pi Chapter.
Vance K. Maultsby (Delta Phi/North Texas 1974) was the 1973/1974 recipient of Theta Chi’s Reginald E.F. Colley Memorial Trophy, the Fraternity’s highest honor for a collegiate brother. After graduation, he served for several years on the Delta Phi House Corporation at the University of North Texas. Maultsby joined the Board of Directors of the Foundation Chapter in 2018 and completed five years as President in 2026. He has also served on the Foundation Scholarship Committee since 2020.
George T. Kilavos Alumni Award
The George T. Kilavos Alumni Award recognizes alumni who, through exceptional service, personal effort, and unselfish interest, have made meritorious contributions to the general welfare of Theta Chi Fraternity at the local, regional, or international level.
The following brothers received the Kilavos Alumni Award from the Grand Chapter:
- John M. Berghoff (Alpha Delta/Purdue 1988)
- John B. Bokum, Jr. (Zeta Psi/Western Illinois 1972)
- John K. Cleaver (Beta Nu/Case Western 2012)
- Taylor A. Dahlem (Zeta Rho/Kentucky 2015)
- Steven A. De Angelis (Eta/Rhode Island 1979)
- Corey Esquenazi (Iota Theta/Central Florida 2011)
- Thomas J. Gardner (Alpha Psi/Maryland 1991)
- Carl J. Johnson (Zeta Epsilon/Long Beach State 1975)
- William B. Kessler, III (Zeta Epsilon/Long Beach State 1999)
- Sydney T. Kofi Ladans (Beta Omicron/Cincinnati 2018)
- Sean K. Lloyd (Delta Rho/NC State 1996)
- Stephen J. Macri (Alpha Omega/Lafayette 1982)
- William E. McCaulley (Zeta Beta/Adrian 2000)
- Marvin L. McConaghy (Alpha Phi/Alabama 1972)
- Jermaine M. Merritt (Epsilon Tau/Stephen F. Austin 2015)
- Mitchell J. Nolan (Delta Psi/Kansas 2017)
- Orin K. Rehorst (Zeta Psi/Western Illinois 1973)
- Reginald E. Rogers, Jr. (Iota Psi/RIT 2021)
- Kia Sepassi (Beta Iota/Arizona 2001)
- Erik C. VanDenBerghe (Zeta/New Hampshire 2015)
In addition, Jeffrey T. Hanuscin (Eta Pi/East Stroudsburg 1986) was presented the Kilavos Alumni Award by the Eta Pi Alumni Association.
David E. DeVol Award
The David E. DeVol Award is presented by the Chief Executive Officer to alumni who have demonstrated extraordinary effort and dedication in their volunteer service over the past academic year.
The 2025/2026 David E. DeVol Award recipients are:
- Jacob T. Alger (Epsilon Kappa/Idaho 2022)
- Stephen M. Baker (Beta Alpha/UCLA 1987)
- Jacob C. Bates (Eta Beta/Eastern Kentucky 2016)
- Samuel C. Bell (Delta Mu/Texas 2015)
- Robert M. Boris (Alpha Chi/Syracuse 1991)
- Robert C. Case (Delta Pi/Indiana State 1996)
- Richard M. Cunniff (Alpha Chi/Syracuse 1992)
- Shaun L. Hamlin (Zeta Xi/UC-Davis 2017)
- Rheis S. Jensen (Alpha Pi/Minnesota 2022)
- Richard A. Menzel (Delta Upsilon/Arizona State 1995)
- Joshua S. Nelands (Theta Rho/McNeese State 2019)
- Aaron W. Robinson (Gamma Xi/San Jose State 2017)
- Andrew J. Rubinacci (Gamma Rho/Florida State 1991)
- Steven T. Schmidt (Alpha Pi/Minnesota 1996)
- Herbert K. Schulze, III (Epsilon Gamma/Widener 2020)
- William J. Stephenson, IV (Theta Beta/TCNJ 1993)
- Aaron S. Taylor (Zeta Sigma/Wisconsin-River Falls 2011)
- Gabriel Wainscott, Jr. (Iota Tau/Northern Kentucky 2023)
- Kyle J. Weaver (Zeta Sigma/Wisconsin-River Falls 2004)
- David A. Wildgoose (Epsilon/WPI 1995)
Service Plaques
The Fraternity also recognized retiring board members with Service Plaques from their respective boards of directors. We thank them for their dedicated leadership and service to Theta Chi!
Grand Chapter Service Plaque
Tobin B. Roth (Alpha Phi/Alabama 1990)
2018-2020: International Marshal
2020-2022: International Chaplain
2022-2024: International Vice President
2024-2026: International President
Richard P. Santoriello (Epsilon Sigma/Wagner 1987)
2022-2026: International Counselor
Foundation Chapter Service Plaque
Vance K. Maultsby (Delta Phi/North Texas 1974)
2018-2019: Foundation Chapter Director
2019-2021: Foundation Chapter Secretary
2021-2026: Foundation Chapter President
Eric R. Jayaweera (Theta Iota/UC-Santa Cruz 1991)
2018-2023: Foundation Chapter Director
2023-2026: Foundation Chapter Treasurer
Norwich Housing Corporation Service Plaque
Peter S. Mackey (Alpha Phi/Alabama 1978)
2016-2018: Norwich Housing Corporation Counselor
2018-2020: Norwich Housing Corporation Secretary
2020-2022: Norwich Housing Corporation Treasurer
2022-2024: Norwich Housing Corporation Vice President
2024-2026: Norwich Housing Corporation President
About the Men Behind the Awards:
Earl D. Rhodes Theta Chi for Life Award
In 1976, the Grand Chapter created and named the Theta Chi for Life Award in honor of Earl D. “Dusty” Rhodes (Delta/RPI 1921), who was the Alumnus Adviser for Delta Chapter from 1921 to 1979. Brother Rhodes also served nearly two decades on the Grand Chapter, including four terms as National President across three different decades. He also served on the National Board of Trustees on two separate occasions, including as its President (1968-1970). He was Theta Chi’s Delegate to the National Interfraternity Council (now the North American Interfraternity Conference) and, in 1962, he was elected as its President. Brother Rhodes was widely known as “Mr. Theta Chi” and was the Fraternity’s second recipient of the NIC Gold Medal, presented for lifelong service to the interfraternal community and the highest honor for a fraternity man.
George T. Kilavos Alumni Award
Authorized and established by the Grand Chapter in 1946, the Alumni Award was renamed in memory of George T. Kilavos (Delta Xi/Valparaiso 1955), who served with loyalty and dedication for four terms on the Grand Chapter, including 14 years as International President. Brother Kilavos truly believed in brotherhood and was a mentor, adviser, and passionate advocate for generations of Theta Chi brothers.
David E. DeVol Award
The DeVol Award was created by the Executive Director in 2003 and is named in honor of David E. DeVol (Gamma Theta/San Diego State 1959), who served on the Grand Chapter, the National Board of Trustees, and the Foundation Chapter and was respected for always giving far more than what was required. In 2013, the Grand Chapter named DeVol as “The Grand Old Man of Theta Chi.”