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UW-RF Theta Chi Wins National Award

By Christine Duellman
UW-RF News Bureau

DEC. 3, 2004--The University of Wisconsin-River Falls Zeta Sigma chapter of the Theta Chi fraternity won a national award for excellence in overall chapter operations.

The Howard Alter Jr. Award is the highest honor for chapters in the Theta Chi fraternity. A committee reviewed applications submitted by more than 130 active chapters and judged them on a activities ranging from philanthropy and academic programs to Internet technologies.

"We've been trying to achieve the Alter award over the past few years by slowly improving our chapter operations," said Jonathan Hill, the Zeta Sigma chapter president. "Winning the award was an unforgettable moment for us."

This award is named for Howard R. Alter, Jr., who served as the Theta Chi national president and the National Board of Trustees president. He is currently the executive director emeritus.

The UW-RF Zeta Sigma chapter has proved to be successful in following the fraternity creed that vows to help others in need, advance culture and build character.

"I think Theta Chi promotes excellence in young men and encourages them to be gentlemen," said Michael Martin, local chapter advisor and academic advisor for the UW-RF College of Education and Professional Studies. "It shows them the importance of community involvement and connects them to the larger world."

Philanthropy work has become a Theta Chi tradition. Each year the local chapter participates in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, a community event designed to raise money to support cancer research, education, and service to patients and their families in the River Falls area. The Zeta Sigma chapter traditionally has a team that participates in the activities and helps with setting up the event. Last year it raised more than $1,000.

The UW-RF Theta Chi chapter also participates in volunteer activities ranging from the Red Cross Blood Drive to bell ringing during the holidays for the Salvation Army. In addition, each year the local chapter spends time with teenagers at the Hudson YMCA during scheduled teen nights.

Members of Theta Chi strive to maintain academic excellence. The UW-RF chapter has a program designed to challenge the brothers by creating an academic competition. Teams of four work together to try and achieve the highest semester grade point average. At the end of the term, the winning team gets a meal paid for by the other competing teams. The overall goal is to keep the combined Zeta Sigma chapter grade point average above the UW-RF men's average and the UW-RF fraternity average.

Hill said keeping each other on the right track is a priority for the fraternity. "I'm most proud that Theta Chi is a close-knit brotherhood. We're all friends and look out for each other."

After receiving the Howard Alter Jr. Award, the Zeta Sigma chapter strives to continue to maintain its overall chapter excellence. "We've worked really hard for the Alter award and now we want to celebrate by having another good year," said Hill.
Theta Chi was founded in 1856 at Norwich University in Vermont. Since then the fraternity has established more than 200 chapters throughout the country and initiated nearly 150,000 members as Theta Chi brothers.

The following are local members of Theta Chi, listed by hometown, and including year and major. Also listed is their chapter office held, where appropriate.

WISCONSIN
Almena: Peter Stauner, sophomore, business administration and computer science and information systems double major.
Balsam Lake: Jonathan Hill, junior, business administration and marketing communications double major, and chapter president.
Bowler: Kristopher Clauss, senior, dairy science and agronomy double major.
Giman: Jason Conway, junior, business administration major with marketing option, and chapter health and fitness chairman.
Grantsburg: Brian Devine, junior, business administration major.
Green Bay: Todd Willems, senior, broad field social studies secondary education major.
Greenleaf: Craig Micke, senior, marketing communications and journalism double major.
Mischicot: Paul Wachsmuth, freshman, animal science major.
New Richmond: Jonathan Stefonek, senior, marketing major.
Plymouth: Chad Goetsch, senior, agriculture engineering major, and chapter treasurer.
River Falls: Robert D. Moody, sophomore, psychology and music double major.
Shawano: Scott Kosnicki, senior, mathematics major.
Stanley: Nicholas Lauer, sophomore, elementary education major.
Strum: Matthew Kunes, sophomore, business major.

MINNESOTA
Chaska: Francis Vorasane, sophomore, physics and mathematics double major.
Eagan: Matthew Kelliher, freshman pre-professional animal science major; David Kloskin, sophomore, accounting major.
Elgin: Erik Peterson, junior, accounting and finance double major.
Fairmont: Eric Ebert, junior, journalism major, and chapter secretary.
Golden Vally: Jon Strande, freshman, broad area music major.
Hopkins: Daniel Egan, junior, sociology and criminal justice double major, and chapter vice-president.
Hugo: Steven Carlson, freshman, pre-professional animal science major, and chapter standards chairman.
Lakeville: Eric DeWald, sophomore, art and biology double major.
Maplewood: Derek Brandt, sophomore, broad field social science major.
Minneapolis: Da Vis Linder, sophomore, computer science major, and chapter webmaster.
Minnetonka: Ian Young, junior, biology major.
Mounds View: Kurt Blomberg, sophomore, music education major.
Oakdale: Cory Lanoux, junior, broad field science major with chemistry emphasis, and chapter director of housing.
Rhinelander: Jeffrey Molander, freshman, speech communications major.
Viroqua: Christian Bankes, sophomore, computer science and information systems major.
White Bear Lake: Noah Hauble, senior, business administration major with marketing option.
White Bear Lake: Edward Peck, sophomore, sociology major.
Woodbury: Kristopher Evans, junior, English and education double major, and chapter chaplain.
Zimmerman: Nathan Anderson, freshman, speech communications major.

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