The IUP Sig

Sigma Chi Delta House Corporation

Board of DirectorsJeff Bird – President

Ryan Gunther – Vice President

Adam Porter – Treasurer

Bob Baron – Secretary

Dick Clawson – House Executive

Johnny Brennan - Golf Outing

Chairman

Matt Chatlak - Rush

Duane Corbett -

Communications

Tom Sinclair – Board Member

Kevin Field - Board Member

Carl Bullers - Board Member

Chapter AdvisorJonathan Weaver

WebmasterGregg Wyland

NewsletterTony Coccagna

Checkout Sigma Chi IUP Eta Omicron Alumni Association on Facebook

On the web: www.sigmachieo.com

Newsletter of the Sigma Chi Delta House Corporation and the Sigma Chi Alumni Association

By JEFF BIRDSigma Chi Delta House Corporation President

Networking is the key to success. Looking for and starting relationships with others is at the core of our fraternity. New recruits are drawn to Sigma Chi because they see our fraternity as a leader at IUP.

Our undergrads need to be challenged by our alumni. We need our undergrads to be leaders not only in the IUP Greek commu-nity but leaders in all areas of IUP life. This will make for a stronger chapter and better qual-ity men among our ranks.

Networking to raise money for philanthropy events is a big part of leading at IUP. It is important to help raise awareness for a cer-tain cause. We do our part with our Derby Days event and participate in many other Greek philanthropy events. Please consider donating to this spring’s Derby Days to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

NEW ADVISOR: Networking need not stop there. Our new chapter advisor, Jonathan Weaver, is going to be challenging our under-grads to be better networkers and leaders all around IUP. The undergrads need to be chal-lenged, and Jonathan is just the man for the job. See Jonathan’s article and please con-gratulate him on his new position of chapter advisor.

I can’t tell you how lucky we are to have Jonathan helping guide the undergrads in his new role. It’s not an easy position. If Jonathan asks for help, please volunteer. Jonathan is

already looking for alumni assistance around initiation this spring.

Jonathan has already made a big differ-ence to the betterment of the HO by having nine IUP undergrads meet with him at Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning for the Provincial Work-shop. The training covered many risks facing fraternities today. About 61 brothers from IUP, CMU, Pitt, Clarion, WVU and Saint Francis were given tools and strategies on how to face dif-ficult issues. Our undergrads represented IUP in a positive way. According to Jonathan, “Our chapter is really showing signs of making some positive headway with the House Corp, university and at Sigma Chi National.”

Many of you saw the new furniture in the chapter room at the last golf event. I want to report the Blockhouse furniture is holding up very well and has been well-received by the undergrads. The House Corp just completed our second buy for another sofa and coffee tables. These furniture buys were made 100 percent because of your generosity from the golf events.

The House Corp’s next big project is finalizing bids on “Rhino Lining” the basement floor. In an attempt to preserve the concrete floor, stop any mold and create a more welcom-ing environment, the House Corp is evaluat-ing an epoxy coating floor solution. This is the same kind of product used in industrial warehouse applications. The epoxy would be installed professionally. Please let me know your thoughts.

Continued on next page

We need to challenge undergrads

The House Corporation purchased new furniture with proceeds from the golf outing. The quality Blockhouse furniture is made with fraternities in mind.

Ryan Lute made his first alumni donation during the golf outing.

Spring 2015

Continued from previous page

MORTAGE NEWS: Adam Porter, treasure, is happy to report the mortgage is below $300,000 for the first time. We are chipping away to a paid-off fraternity house sometime around 2030.

Great things can happen if you put in the work. Please read Duane Corbett’s update on his PhD. When you get a chance to meet one of the HO’s PhD’s, take an extra second to learn

how the Sigma Chi experi-ence helped them along the way to their PhD. Way to go, Duane!

I’m not sure what is better, a PhD, a professional award highlighting you as one of the best in your business or get-ting married to your IUP Sigma Chi Sweetheart? Steve Gun-tang has been awarded one of the best “Under 40 In Con-struction Equipment” by SGC Horizon. Say congrats to Steve! Don’t forget to con-gratulate Johnny Brennen for finally taking the plunge with Amber!

PLEDGE CLASS PADDLES: We are running out of space on the walls of the fraternity house. We will be running a “First In, First Out” program starting in summer of 2017. Any brother who wants his pledge class paddle from 2005 through 2008, please come to Indiana and take it home with you. I’m sure your wife will love it in your home’s family room.

In the summer of 2017 the oldest paddles will be coming down. We do not want to toss this history so please consider taking them.

Composites, same thing! If you want an older composite, please come get it.

SAME PLACE, NEW NAME: The Holiday Inn was sold. It is now called Park Inn by Radisson. All the numbers are the same. Same location. I hope Radisson puts some money into the old place. We have 30 rooms there for the golf event.

GREAT GOLF: Lastly, many of the extras the House Corp is able to provide around the fraternity is due to your generosity at the golf event. For all the regulars, your contributions can be seen every day. For all the hole sponsors, the event would not be a success without your generosity. The golf event is our “one-and-

only” fundraising event. If you don’t golf, please sponsor a hole or just come for the pig roast. If you have yet to attend, please call some brothers from your era and I will put you in a foursome. I guarantee you will have a good time.

In hoc,Jeff Bird(253) 946-0169 (O)(253) 297-1463 (M)Jbirdx11@comcast.netwww.sigmachieo.com

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Save the DateGolf Outing - August 14 & 15, 2015

We need to challenge undergrads

The House Corp’s next big project is finalizing bids on “Rhino Lining” the basement floor

This is one of the stars of the golf outing. He was a very good pig.

Stephen Guntang, of Stephens City, Va., is one of the winners of Construction Equipment magazine’s 2014 “Under 40 in Construction Equipment Awards.”

Twenty-two young professionals, rang-ing in age from 28 to 39, populate the Class of 2014, chosen by Construction Equipment editors for exemplary lead-ership skills, inventiveness, interpersonal skills, training, dedication, personal integ-rity, technical skills and industry and com-munity involvement.

The winners are not only asset manag-ers who run fleets, but also equipment dis-tributors and manufacturers and others. Achievements by the Class of 2014 range from cost-effective management to safety initiatives, spearheading a rebuild versus replacement program, introducing and practicing lean principles for efficien-cy gains, and designing and fabricating

custom implementations for job-specific needs.

“Personal and career accomplish-ments, along with community activism, continue to distinguish the rising young stars in this industry,” said Rod Sutton, edi-torial rirector. “We appreciate our part-ners in the program, founding partner Trimble and Caterpillar.”

Volunteerism was a frequent com-mon factor among the Class of 2014, with many of the winners involved in char-ity drives, community clean-up projects, youth groups and coaching youth sports.

The 22 award winners are listed online at www.constructionequipment.com/un-der40 and in the November issue of Con-struction Equipment.

For information on Construction Equip-ment, visit www.ConstructionEquipment.com.

It was an odd feeling being back at 246 South Seventh St. this past December. I was in the same basement surrounded by men who were not born when I had attended my last chapter meet-ing in December 1986. I did not expect it to be as emotional as it was.

To hear the business at hand and “for the good of the order” was not much different from what it was 28 years ago. All the recounts of past weekend events and general concern for finals and looking forward to returning home to families for the holiday break … it was exactly as I had remembered so many years ago.

To hear the reading of The Charge 28 years later was pretty special with all the memories flooding back of my time in the house and remembering the real meaning of our fellowship. It helped cement in my mind the decision to take on the chal-lenge of serving as your chapter advisor as the right one.

I can’t say that I have any special skills or the training to be in this position. I do have a little more time as my family grows older and I can offer my perspective. I will do my best to assist the un-dergrads where I can. I am sure I will need help from our alumni brotherhood and welcome any suggestions.

I have identified four areas of attention: Improving GPA: Our fraternity’s GPA is among the lowest in

the IUP Greek system.Expanding extracurricular activities: Our students don’t par-

ticipate in many clubs/activities or events outside of Sigma Chi.Better interaction with the university: We need continued bet-

ter communication with the Greek Life Office.Rededication to ritual: Some bad habits have been passed

down over the years and have diluted our ceremony.I am not 100 percent clear in how I can affect change in these

areas. I sense that no one has ever challenged the undergrads to try to be better. The first order of change is to challenge the undergrads to consider something different than the status quo.

My first request from the alumni brotherhood is to help with interviews and job placement. Can any alumni help find a grad-uating undergrad his first real job? We have a great network of

more than 800 IUP Sigma Chi alumni in every professional field imaginable. Now that there is 40 years of Eta Omicron history, our potential is better than ever to help a new IUP Sigma Chi graduate.

Lastly, are you are available in the spring? I would like to have more alumni participation at our initiation. We need you. Please let me know. Here is my contact info weavej1@comcast.net or (412) 628-0178.

In hoc, Jonathan Weaver,Chapter Advisor,Eta Omicron Chapter

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Stephen Guntang

Guntang receives award for excellence

Weaver excited about role as chapter advisor

Tony Cianfaro, Jonathan Weaver and Greg Mathews

Braden McKnight entered Chap-ter Eternal suddenly on Jan. 23. Braden was a member of the Spring 2007 pledge class. He was a great brother and a true Sigma Chi. He served in the U.S. Army for eight years. Without a doubt, he was able to say, looking back over his life, that he had fought the good fight, he had finished his work and the White Cross had gained new luster by his life.

Braden T. McKnight, of Pittsburgh, formerly of Mercer, died sud-denly at 1:30 p.m. Fri-day, Jan. 23, 2015, in Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh. He was 26.

He was born May 5, 1988, in Grove City, a son of Eric B. Porter and Janet M. McKnight Porter.

Braden, a 2006 graduate of Mer-cer High School, served in the Army National Guard for eight years and was deployed for one year to Iraq. He was a current member of the Na-tional Guard, based in Hermitage.

Braden had been employed for the last two years by the Pennsylva-nia Department of Corrections as an officer for Fayette County State Prison.

He was of the Protestant faith.

Braden enjoyed working out in the gym and watching and playing sports. He especially liked watching football and was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan. He also enjoyed travel-

ing and spending time with nephews and family.

Survivors include: his father, Eric B. Porter and his wife, Michelle, Elida, Ohio; his stepfa-ther, Steven McIntosh and wife Debbie, Kins-man; his grandparents, Tom and Karen McK-night, Grove City, and Connie Porter, Bedford, Ind; seven brothers, Cory McKnight and wife Jennifer, Dover, Del.; Micheal McK-night and wife Jessica,

Garrettsville, Ohio; Chad McIntosh, Warren, Ohio; Bradley Guthrie, Mer-cer; Jeffory Porter and wife Chelsea, Elida; Jacob Porter and wife Kylee, Augusta, Ga.; and Joshua Porter, Elida. Braden is also survived by his girlfriend, Jasmine N. Holtz, of Pitts-burgh, and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Janet McKnight, in 2004.

Memorial contributions in Braden’s memory may be made to Wayside Community Church, 1911 Mercer-Grove City Road, Mercer, PA 16137.

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Amber Schulman and I met in college the spring of 2005. We were introduced by Chris Scartelli, my little brother in the fraternity. In Spring ’06, Amber was named Sigma Chi Sweetheart. We dated from Fall 2005 until we got engaged in August ’13. We got mar-ried on Sept. 19, 2014, at the Embassy Suites in Moon Town-ship. Almost a dozen Sigs from the Eta Omicron, including my Uncle Tom (Sniclair) were invited. (Regretfully, though, we didn’t do the roach.) We went to Jamaica for our hon-eymoon.

Johnny ties the knot Corbett earns Ph.D

Braden McKnight: 1988-2015

Congratulations to Duane Corbett (Fall 2005), who was awarded a competitive postdoctoral fel-lowship with the University of Florida. Duane is working in the College of Medicine with the Institute on Ag-ing’s Department of Aging and Geriatric Research. His work focuses on several large clinical studies, one of which being the LIFE Study — a multicenter study that gained wide attention when it was published last May. This study showed that structured physical activ-ity can help maintain mobil-ity in vulnerable older adults, a familiar topic to Duane, who is also an Ameri-can College of Sports Medicine certified health fitness special-ist.

Prior to com-pleting his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology last spring at Kent State Uni-versity, Duane completed his B.S. (2008) and M.S. (2009), both in Exercise Science, at IUP. Before start-ing his graduate work, he also completed an intern-ship at the University of Pittsburgh Human Energy Research Laboratory.

During his time at IUP, he was a member of sev-eral organizations, including Phi Epsilon Kappa, Ex-ercise Science majors club and Sigma Chi, where he served as scholarship chair-man and helped the chapter earn a Popson Award for overall chap-ter excellence. As an undergradu-ate, he was also the founder and president of the IUP cycling team, which competes against students from other uni-versities in the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Confer-ence. In his spare time he held several jobs, includ-ing personal trainer at Gorell Windows and Doors corporate fitness facility, certified spinning instructor at the HUB Fitness Center and certified water safety instructor at the YMCA of Indiana County.

Of all the organizations he has been part of, he is most thankful for his time spent in Sigma Chi. He credits the values he learned through the fraterni-ty as being vital to his success. For this reason, he continues to give back to his chapter, serving as the communications chairman of the House Corpora-tion since 2010.

Duane Corbett

Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Brennan

Braden McKnight

Dr. Dale LandonDr. Merle RifeDr. Charles H. Heine IIIDr. Donald E. BiererDr. Duane B. CorbettDr. Joseph C. ClarkDr. Lawrence K. PettitDr. Ralph M. FeatherDr. Robert F. BaronDr. Robert K. Toutkoushian

OUR PH.D’S

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2014 SponSorSSuperFiltech, Harry ElinskyMark SnyirAtlantic Construction Co., Steve GuntangKen DornPremiumAaron Smith Welding, Aaron SmithSteve “Mongo,” Ersek, Fall ’78Siteworx, Gregg WylandDr. Ralph FeatherMSS, Dave ElinskyJay and Julie CredeStandardJoe SirnaDonald DonougheStephen GoodwillPaul CiminoRobroy Industries, Michael DeaneJohn WoodSun Citrus Harvest, Dave NicelyCarl Bullers, FounderRammrath Realty, Ed RammrathBob Baron, Spring ’82Mike BascaJames Bell, Spring ’77Saltzman Hughes, Scott Wyland

Winning FourSomeSteve Kilianek, Jim Price, Al Simmen, Jay Fisher

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Sigma Chi Delta House Corp & Alumni Association

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