A group of friends at the University of South Carolina decided that they wanted to start a fraternity. After some research they learned that Theta Chi was one of the largest fraternities in the country and had never had a chapter at their campus. Digging deeper, the friends also discovered that Theta Chi stood for the things they were looking for – a fraternity that celebrated a diverse brotherhood, cared about academics and the community.
South Carolina student Austin Stevens contacted Theta Chi’s then-Sr. Director for Recruitment and Expansion, JD Ford, about starting the process for becoming a colony. On January 28, 2014 he wrote:
We are looking for something more out of out of our college experience. We all really like Greek life but we want something different than is currently offered here at the University. We believe by starting Theta Chi we will be willing to mold the chapter into something that will embody the best of Greek life at the University.
I have personally researched Theta Chi and its rich history. I believe that by us joining the brotherhood and rallying under the rich tradition of Theta Chi we will be able to really make a difference on the campus. We understand that this is a big under-taking and we are very willing and capable in getting the colony going.
The group continued to grow to more than 30 members and in February 2014, Carter Kilmann, Nathan Sairam and Sam McCallum attended the Mid-Year Leadership Conference at North Carolina State University to learn more about what it meant to be a part of Theta Chi Fraternity. The men were given useful ideas and tips on how to successfully run fraternity operations.
On June 7, 2014, International Headquarters staff and Colony Advisory Board Members Warren Hoffman, Bill Schuetze and Shickre Sabbagha hosted a retreat to help educate the members about Theta Chi. The following month, President Carter Kilmann, Recruitment Chairman Tim Kallal, and John Caddle attended the 158th Anniversary Convention in Minneapolis, MN. Although the men were not yet formally colonized, they benefited from the experience of meeting brothers from all over the country and taking their advice. A few weeks later, President Carter Kilmann attended the Initiative Academy at Indiana University. He brought back many things that he had learned to the group, different perspectives on how to approach leadership and recruitment, and being open to all types of personalities and finding strengths in everyone.
On Aug. 24, 2014, the group of 33 became an official colony of Theta Chi. The Colonization Ceremony was held at the Walsh Meeting Room of Barnwell College at the University of South Carolina. Past-Foundation Chapter President Warren Hoffman presided.
As a colony, the men formed an effective New Member Program designed to educate all new members on Theta Chi’s history and ideals, and to promote personal health and well being among members. They formed strong bonds in their community and with the USO by traveling to Camp McGrady to serve and food and spend valuable time with the soldiers stationed there. Members also assisted with the USO's Sesame Street Experience by keeping children active in the show and helping them to understand the performance.
Academically, the colony was a top performer at the University of South Carolina. Entering the Spring 2015 semester, Theta Chi ranked 2nd out of 25 other fraternities with a 3.4 GPA.
The members held a weekly brotherhood event called "Theta Chi Thursday" where they met at Village Idiot Pizza to eat and watch football and other sports. The management has complemented the members beacuse of their gentlemanly conduct. The colony also hosted X-box tournaments, poker nights, basketball and football games, and alumni meals.
The colony continued strong involvement with the International Fraternity by sending President Carter Kilmann to attend the Deranian Presidents Conference. A few weeks later, a strong delgation of members drove to the Mid-Year Leadership Conference held at the University of Alabama.
The colony was proactive in the University of South Carolina Greek Community. They participated in multiple sorority events, such as Kappa Delta’s Shamrock Week, and Chi Omega’s Cook-off. Whatever it took, the colony put in a tremendous amount of effort to make the journey toward becoming a chapter successful.
A wide variety of majors and academic disciplines are represented by the members such as: Accounting, Athletic Training, Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Broadcast Journalism, Business, Business Management, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Criminal Justice, Economics, Exercise Science, Finance, Computer Science, Global Supply Chains & Operational Management, Hospitality Management, Insurance and Risk Management, Integrated Information Technology, International Business, Marketing, Mass Communications, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Pharmacy, Philosophy, Political Science, and Sport and Entertainment Management.
Members are involved throughout the South Carolina in organizations such as: American Pharmiacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Biomedical Engineering Honors Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Capstone Scholars, Capstone Fellows, Honors College, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Delta Epsilon Iota Academic Honor Society, Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity, Phi Delta Chi Pharmacy Fraternity, Model UN, Global Business Council, South Carolina Athletic Training Student Association, Sport and Entertainment Management Club, College Life Christian Club, Relay for Life, Service Saturdays, Homelessnes Outreach Program, Green Community, Sustainable Carolina, Club Volleyball, Club Lacrosse, Club Swimming, Carolina Rugby, USC Weightlifting Club, SCUBA Club, Mountaineering and Whitewater Rafting Club, USC Ducks Unlimited, Gamecock Productions, Student Government, Residence Hall Association/Hall Council, College Republicans, Young Entrepreneurs Across America, Peer Leaders, Teaching Assistants, Student Union Employees, Student Gamecock Club, My Carolina Alumni Association, Daily Gamecock, and Air Force ROTC.
Shortly after the 1-year-anniversary of Austin Stevens brief email to JD Ford, the University of South Carolina Colony submitted its petition to the Grand Chapter for approval.
On Saturday, March 21, 2015, 60 men were initiated and installed as the Iota Phi Chapter of Theta Chi at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, in Columbia, SC. Past National President and current Foundation Chapter Director Patrick T. O’Conner presided over the Initiation of Members, and National Vice President Joseph Couch served as the presiding officer for the Chapter Installation and the Installation of Chapter Officers Ceremonies. 
Iota Phi Charter Members include: James Baltimore, Matt Barfield, Austin Blalock, Tony Breth, Josh Burgess, John Caddle, Jimmy Chanda, Chas Clark, Perry Davis, Austin Deitz, Liam Duggan, Tyler Encke, Robert Ferira, Kyle Fox, Brandon Frame, Eric Frye, Brandon Gompert, Zach Gordon, Vincent Gregoire, Tucker Griffin, Tripp Harmon, Josh Hill, Bayne Hirshman, Paul Hoehn, Michal Hoge, Jack Jackson, Andy Jensen, Tim Kallal, Carter Kilmann, Christian Kloot, Alex Kohlroser, Chris Kuuskvere, Jack Lawson, Paul Leonard, Jesse Lester, Dylan MacIsaac, Pat Mahoney, Eddie Martin, Sam McCallum, Dylan McCarty, Brandon McClung, Juan Munoz, Nate Ockenhouse, Garrett O'Connor, Michael Olcott, Ben Person, John Phifer, Rohan Rajeev, Ryan Roe, Nathan Sairam, Nick Sarandria, Matt Shalloo, Briley Steele, Austin Stevens, Blake Stimpson, Justin Stone, Alex Vath, Jordan Vowels, and Dan Whalen.
During the initiation ceremony, Jack Lawson was pinned by his father, H. West Lawson (Gamma Sigma/Duke 1981) and William Fudger, a man who had served as a mentor to colony members, was initiated as an Alumnus Initiate.
Also in attendance were Past-Foundation Chapter President Warren Hoffman, and Past Theta Chi Funds President William Schuetze. Representing the International Headquarters were Sr. Director for Collegiate Services Ray Vanlanot, Sr. Director for External Relations JD Ford, Director of Recruitment and Expansion Justin Jones, Director of Education Brandon Younkin, and Field Executive Corey Esquenazi.
In all, 13 chapters were represented including Chi/Auburn, Psi/Wisconsin, Alpha Delta/Purdue, Alpha Iota/Indiana, Beta Psi/Presbyterian, Gamma Sigma/Duke, Epsilon Phi/Central Missouri, Epsilon Psi/NJIT, Eta Iota/Newberry, Eta Pi/East Stroudsburg, Iota Theta/Central Florida, Iota Omicron/FIU, and Iota Pi/LSU. Epsilon Psi/NJIT members Diego Jimenez (2016) and Alemnehe Lemma (2015) have now started a streak of attending (re)installation ceremonies by following up on their November 2014 trip to Eta Upsilon/Texas A&M - and this time they when they departed Newark, NJ, they were joined by six additional Epsilon Psi members!
A reception followed the ceremony on the roof of Carolina Walk. Theta Chi members were joined by Iota Phi President Carter Kilmann’s father, Peter Kilmann, a Kappa Delta Rho from Lycoming College and a psychology professor at USC. National Vice President Joseph Couch opened the reception and spoke on behalf of The Grand Chapter, providing remarks regarding the current state of the Fraternity and assured everyone that it was a great day to be a Theta Chi. Chapter Advisory Board Chairman Shickre Sabbagha (Beta Psi/Presbyterian 1989) spoke about the importance of not following the trends of others, but remaining men of good character. He addressed the men about how proud he was of them, and how anxious he was for the future of Iota Phi.
Awards were presented for Scholastic Achievement, Service to the Chapter, and the Active Service Chapter Award was presented to Chapter President Carter Kilmann. Brothers Shickre Sabbagha and William Fudger were presented Citations of Honor.
Iota Phi looks forward to continuing their work with the USO and participating in philanthropy events and competitions on campus. They hope to continue their gain of influence and size by practicing 365 recruitment. Their ultimate goal is to be an Alter Award Contender by the summer of 2016 and the 160th Anniversary Convention and School of Fraternity Practices in Atlanta, GA.
They will continue to be assisted and guided by a strong Chapter Advisory Board consisting of:
- Shickre Sabbagha, Beta Psi/Presbyterian 1989, CAB Chairman
- Warren Hoffman, Alpha Iota/Indiana 1976
- Josh Kendrick, Eta Iota/Newberry 2013
- James Mullen, Epsilon Psi/NJIT 1976
- Bryan Payne, Zeta Pi/Old Dominion 1987
- Karl Schoenleber, Delta/RPI 1978
- Bill Schuetze, Psi/Wisconsin 1969
- Will Turner, Eta Iota/Newberry 2015
- Steve Yount, Epsilon Phi/Central Missouri 1972
Iota Phi President Carter Kilmann said, "The installation of the Iota Phi Chapter of Theta Chi allowed me to see all of our efforts come to fruition. It will stand as one of the best days of my life, in part because of the success it embodied, but also because I was able to celebrate it with 69 of my best friends. We are unbelievably appreciative of all the support we have received from the national Fraternity, alumni, and fellow undergraduates. Although we have come leaps and bounds from where we originated, the journey never ends. This is merely the start of a new chapter in our story. We will continue to strive to break the negative stigma of fraternities and insert Theta Chi as the best fraternity on our campus."
Two SEC Installation Presidents: (l-r) Director of Recruitment and Expansion Justin Jones (Iota Pi/LSU) and Iota Phi's Carter Kilmann. Jones was installed as Chapter President at Iota Pi's Installation at LSU in 2012.
“This group of gentlemen, and now brothers, is a cohesive unit that strives every day to maintain the values and traditions of Theta Chi Fraternity. Every day is a new day and their goals seem to be never ending. They stand alone in a category of their own at the University of South Carolina as men of virtue, honor and respect,” said Director of Education Brandon Younkin.
Sr. Director for Collegiate Services Ray Vanlanot made several visits to Columbia to work with the colony. He shared, "It is a pleasure to recognize our Iota Phi Chapter at University of South Carolina. The membership of the chapter is a clear reflection of the University’s upstanding reputation; USC should feel honored to host our chapter. I continue to witness the Iota Phi Chapter’s resilience in the face of the adversity of an entrenched Greek system, selfless engagement of the USO and campus philanthropies, knack for balancing scholastic obligations and social initiative, and an unbridled drive to “be the best.” The leadership laid a firm foundation for immediate growth; the chapter, as a whole, projects success long into the future. Without a doubt, Iota Phi of Theta Chi sets the standard for Greek life at University of South Carolina and provides a shining story of success for Theta Chi chapters to come."
Theta Chi Fraternity was formally admitted to the University of South Carolina Interfraternity Council on April 9, 2015.
With the installation of the Iota Phi Chapter at the University of South Carolina, Theta Chi Fraternity continues its streak of excellence in the Iota Series of chapters. Iota Phi strives to be different, distinguished, and respected among the University of South Carolina’s already prestigious Greek system.
Established as South Carolina College in 1801 as an effort to unite South Carolinians after the Revolutionary War, the campus grew around the modified quadrangle of the horseshoe. Having survived an earthquake in 1811, and a fire that gutted Rutledge in 1855, the college eventually succumbed to the upheaval of the Civil War. The college paid dearly, closing its doors in 1861 due to lack of students. The state revived the college in 1866 as the University of South Carolina.
Many of the buildings that stood during the Civil War era are still in use on the campus today, including the horseshoe, which is the heart and soul of the University of South Carolina campus. The university has a student population of more than 30,000, and is home to 41 fraternities and sororities.
Letters of congratulations can be sent to Iota Phi Chapter President Carter Kilmann at kilmannr@email.sc.edu.
To view the Iota Phi Chapter's website, click here.
To visit and like their Facebook Fanpage, click here. You can also follow Iota Phi Chapter on Twitter: @uscthetachi