For Immediate Release
Theta Chi Fraternity passes TWO landmark milestones during 2012/2013 School Year
August 23, 2013 - Indianapolis, IN - We are proud to formally announce that due to the hard work and leadership of our undergraduate members, and with the support of our selfless alumni advisers and volunteers, Theta Chi Fraternity initiated more men during the 2012/2013 academic year than any other school year in its entire 157 year history!
All told, the 134 chapters of Theta Chi Fraternity initiated 2823 members into the Fraternity.
The previous record of 2804 initiates stood for just over 45 years, occurring during the 1965/1966 academic year when Theta Chi had 138 Chapters. The next closest record had occurred in 1987/1988 when 152 chapters initiated 2791 members.
Executive Director Mike Mayer said, “It is with great pride that I report to the Grand Chapter, our alumni, and our undergraduate chapters that Theta Chi Fraternity has broken the record for total number of men initiated in a single academic year. Our undergraduate members and volunteers across North America have done much to perpetuate our ideals over the past year and are to be congratulated. We also express our gratitude to the Grand Chapter, whose vision and leadership set us on this path of success, and to the dedicated men and women of our professional staff who have worked tirelessly in support of that direction. I challenge all members to continue their commitment to this road to success by seeking to continuously add more outstanding men to the brotherhood of Theta Chi.”
JD Ford, Sr. Director of Recruitment and Expansion added, “I’m truly proud of our brotherhood on this monumental occasion. We’ve reached this milestone in our Fraternity’s existence because of our undergraduate’s hard-work, dedication, and passion for recruitment. It’s my hope to have another successful year to further strengthen our brotherhood.”
National President Dick Elder shared,
To ALL Theta Chi's:
The news of our setting the 'ALL TIME RECORD' for the number of new initiates in one academic year has me and the entire Grand Chapter absolutely over the top and smiling with great PRIDE in both our undergraduates, our alumni volunteers, and our professional staff in Indianapolis...Fraternity Honors to you ALL!
Brothers, Theta Chi is on the move....and the move is UP! There is no doubt that on campuses across North America more and more men are seeking the values and opportunities of membership in our great fraternity. It is a historic time in Theta Chi and this goes to prove more than anything else the truth I have shared with everyone I come in contact with...." It is a great time to be a THETA CHI"
Thanks to ALL for everything you do in making THETA CHI...”America's BEST Fraternity"
We Are Resolute Men…Men Since ’56
The dedication and efforts of our undergraduate members reflects on the proud heritage and tradition passed down through the years of Theta Chi’s existence. Our Founders, Frederick Norton Freeman and Arthur Chase, envisioned a Society that left the enclosed walls of that dimly lit room on April 10, 1856 and spread beyond the scope of Norwich University. This is evident in the fact that two men were initiated on April 11, 1856 and six more were added by the end of the school year. Countless brothers from 2012/2013 replicated that same vision and those same actions by sharing Theta Chi with friends on their campuses.
Several of our members also demonstrated the tenacity and passion matching that of Park Valentine Perkins, who transferred from Norwich University to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1902 and recruited a group of men to form Beta Chapter. Many told Perkins that he would not be successful and that he should give up – but he persisted. Some chapters were faced with dire circumstances – and our members rose above it!
Others had courage bringing Theta Chi to a totally new campus just as Beta Chapter’s Don Wismer who transferred from MIT to Alberta and helped to make Theta Chi an International Fraternity.
Many of our chapter leaders brought calm, decisive and intelligent demeanor to their chapters just like George Chapman, who defined Theta Chi through consistent education and bold maneuvers. These members maintained high expectations and knew they would take Theta Chi to the next level at their Alma Mater.
By working together over the years, our chapters have added member after member to our rolls. Their perseverance brought Theta Chi its 100,000th initiate in 1981 and its 150,000th initiate twenty years later in 2001. And, we keep building and eventually, the next milestone will be reached…
…and that time is NOW! We are proud to report ANOTHER milestone for Theta Chi Fraternity: It was also discovered during the updating of records in the National database that one of the 2823 initiated in the spring of 2013 would become Theta Chi Fraternity’s 175,000 Initiate!
Brother Erik J. Rodriguez of Iota Omicron/Florida International University was initiated on April 7, 2013.
When informed of the distinction, Brother Rodriguez said, “I’m overcome with emotion. This means so much to me. Theta Chi has changed my life. I’m so glad to have and be a part of the thousands of brothers that have come before me.” w
Erik was initiated as a sophomore at FIU. (Photo: Erik (r) after his initiation with his Big Brother, Roberto Socorro (l)) A Miami native, he followed in the footsteps of his family and planned to work hard and get his degree. His cousin, Iota Omicron member Gabriel Bonilla, introduced him to Theta Chi. “…They were totally not what I perceived a Fraternity to be…,” said Erik, “They were excellent speakers, smart, educated. They were guys that I wanted to associate with – I wanted to be around successful people. After meeting the guys, it just clicked, and I knew Theta Chi was for me.”
Erik is a double major in Theater and History. He serves as Iota Omicron’s IFC Delegate and is a member of the recruitment and social committees. He seeks to run for Vice President in the future. He stated, “The involvement of other brothers is pushing me and others to step up and be involved. It’s a circle – we see hard work and want to continue that legacy. (FIU) and our community have given us so much – I want to leave a legacy of Theta Chi as the guys that give back”
He is also involved on campus and in the community: He is a DJ at the FIU radio station, an actor in the theatre department and volunteers as Assistant Theatre Arts Director at the Roxy Theatre Group, which helps children learn the performing arts and also provides scholarships to Miami’s underprivileged. Erik is also a playwright and his first work, “Not Ready for Primetime” a show about the first five years of Saturday Night Live is set to be produced in March 2014.
When asked what advice he would share with Theta Chi’s future 200,000th initiate, Erik pondered the question and shared, “Never stop working hard. Give back. Help out. Do your best.”
Congratulations, Brother Erik Rodriguez, Iota Omicron/FIU 2014, Theta Chi Fraternity’s 175,000th initiate!
A new school year is dawning. The 2013/2014 academic year is already upon us.
Records are made to be broken, brothers. Let’s not wait another 45+ years to break this record. Let’s set a new standard each and every year. Let’s recruit and initiate the top men on our campus each and every year.
You can help us break the record! Recommend a Recruit! Click here to send us your recommendation and we’ll make sure it gets back to the undergraduate chapter!
Keep in mind that this is not about the numbers. This is about lives touched. Friendships established. Networks widened. Lifelong connections forged. We are better because of the men that join our chapters – they challenge us to become better, and we, in turn, do the same for them. Together we can accomplish anything.
We Believe in Theta Chi. We ARE Theta Chi. We ARE the Assisting Hand.
The time is ours, brothers. Your Alma Mater is yours.
Let’s celebrate our success and build off of it.
Let’s make breaking records our new tradition!
And keep watch on www.thetachi.org and on our Facebook Page –
Another major Theta Chi announcement will be headed your way – Next Friday!
Founded in 1856, Theta Chi Fraternity is a men’s collegiate fraternity with over 175,000 initiated members and has established 224 chapters. Leadership development, personal development, and service to alma mater are fundamental to Theta Chi Fraternity’s mission.
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