Alpha Phi Takes Philanthropy to Heart

Several BW student leaders were "arrested" by the sisters of Alpha Phi for their "Cardiac Arrest" philanthropy event. Friends of those "locked up" could "bail out" their friends by donating to The Alpha Phi Foundation, which benefits women's heart health and scholarships to Alpha Phi sisters nationwide.

"This event is important to us," Lauren Schneider '16, Vice President of Marketing for Alpha Phi, said, "because it allows us to create awareness about a serious health issue and donate money to a cause that is so important to our chapter."

Attendees could also "pie" a sister for a donation, and there was pizza and cornhole just for fun.

"My favorite part of Cardiac Arrest is getting other fraternities, sororities, and sports teams involved," Schneider said. "It is always awesome to see so many other organizations on campus come together to help up support the philanthropy that means so much to us."

The event made over $900 to support The Alpha Phi Foundation. 

Grad Launches Company to Support Homeless Veterans in LA

Justin Groza '04

"I hate veteran homelessness," Justin Groza '04, says simply. Groza's ten year military experience and desire to help others has spurred the launch of Logos, a business aiming to employ homeless veterans in a sustainable way. 

Groza was very involved  in campus activities during his time at BW as a brother of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, a member of the varsity soccer team and manager of the Student Activities Center. After graduating with a degree in Business Administration, Groza enlisted in the United States Army and became a commissioned officer. Following his military service, Groza continued his education at Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem in Budapest, where he earned an MBA.

Image from Groza's Logos crowd-funding campaign

After earning his master's degree, Groza developed and refined the concept for Logos and moved to Los Angeles. He recently launched a a crowd-funding campaign to support his idea and to educate the public about the prevalence of homeless veterans and the importance of long-term employment.

"I'm extremely proud of the project and have received excellent feedback from social workers at the VA and Salvation Army offices in Los Angeles," says Groza.

Fraternities, Sororities Collect Teddy Bears for Noble Cause

Marc West and William Anastasiadis '18 donating the bears

After marching to University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital with over 1,000 stuffed animals, BW's Greek Council, the governing body of the ten fraternities and sororities on campus, say "job well done" to the BW fraternity and sorority chapters that collected the bears.

Under the direction of Greek Council's Vice Presidents of Scholarship and Service, William Anastasiadis '18 and Emmy Venner '16, "The March of the Teddy Bears," was a month-long stuffed animal drive for hospitalized, terminally-ill children. The organizing duo hoped to receive at least 500 stuffed animals from the drive, but ended up with 1,140 stuffed animals!

Anastasiadis believes that participating in service work helps improve the perception of Fraternity & Sorority Life nationwide, while also fulfilling the lives of those members through meaningful work. "Community service is a 'win-win' situation," he says. "Not only does a student benefit and make a difference in the society, they also receive in return an experience that is usually rewarding."

At the end of the drive, the chapters that came out on top for donating the most stuffed animals were Pi Lambda Phi and Phi Mu.

BW's Annual April Reign Weekend a Success

Brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon holding April Reign trophy

Photo Credit: Sigma Phi Epsilon Ohio Zeta Chapter

Students from all over the Baldwin Wallace campus came together to celebrate and compete in the annual April Reign games and events the weekend of April 10-11.

In addition to the traditional men's and women's brackets normally featured in the competitive component of the weekend's events, a newly-added coed bracket featured a number of student organizations including BW Veterans, Theatre Arts and Performance (TAP), Commuter Activity Board (CAB), Sophomore Year Experience, WBWC (the Radio Station), and the Middle Eastern Culture Club.

As another first for the annual festivities, a tricycle relay was added to the line up of the classic April Reign games including obstacle course, pyramid, and tug of war. Teams competed in their respective brackets for the top spot in each event, earning points to advance their team in the standings and determine an overall winner in each division.

Coming out on top this year overall for the men's, women's and coed brackets were Sigma Phi Epsilon, Alpha Phi and TAP, respectively.

Beyond the team competitions, the annual April Reign concert, hosted by Campus Entertainment Productions (CEP) in Ursprung Gymnasium, featured DJ Bobby Booshay, Air Doobai, and headliner Asher Roth.

BW's Greek Council Gathers New Ideas at Conference

Greek Council at the AFLV Awards Banquet

Despite the snowy weather in the Midwest, members of BW's Greek Council (including yours truly) recently made the trek to Indianapolis to attend the Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values (AFLV) Central Conference. As an annual tradition for the recently elected Greek Council, this conference connected our Greek Council leadership team to a network of more than 2,000 Fraternity & Sorority Life professionals and students.

The Greek Council delegates attended workshops on topics such as battling negative stereotypes, and improving community service efforts. They also found time for some fun, cheering on their favorite teams at the Stroll Competition. Strolling, a form of line movement, is traditionally done by chapters in the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC).

After a phenomenal weekend, BW's Greek Council members returned campus with the knowledge, ambition and confidence to make this a successful year for BW's Fraternity & Sorority Life community.

Speak Out - Pi Lambda Phi and HASA Support Inclusiveness

Based on BW's rich tradition of inclusiveness and equality, Pi Lambda Phi and the Hispanic-American Student Association (HASA) hosted "Speaking Out Against Prejudice" this semester. The event allowed students and faculty to share poems, songs, dances, and monologues themed around prejudice and equality.

From a cover of John Lennon's "Imagine" to a discussion on themes of race and gender in En Vogue's music video, "Free Your Mind," the event displayed a spectrum of talents that offered different perspectives to the BW student body.

In addition to the Open Mic, the event also raised money for Pi Lambda Phi's philanthropy organization, the Elimination of Prejudice Foundation.

Alpha Gamma Delta Crowns New Mr. BW at Philanthropy Event

Opportunities for generosity abound at BW as students find fun avenues for philanthropy. In support of Diabetes Awareness Month in November, the women of Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Iota Chapter, hosted their annual Mr. BW Pageant to raise money for Diabetes Education and Awareness through the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation.

Designed as a spoof pageant for men, participants performed different acts such as dressing up as Captain America. Alpha Gamma Delta chose Nick Traverso '16 as this year's Mr. BW after he sang a tribute to the women in the chapter on the piano.

By raising over $1000 from the event, the women of Alpha Gamma Delta will continue to contribute to the awareness of a health condition that affects close to 30 million people in the U.S.

Fraternities Team Up to Support Big Brothers Big Sisters

Two fraternities at BW teamed up once again for the purpose of the philanthropy at this year's Second Annual Big-Little Games. Hosted by Sigma Phi Epsilon and Alpha Sigma Phi, the Big-Little Games raised money for Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS).

Styled after family picnic games, which included a two-legged race and a game of musical chairs, each round challenged participants to compete for one of the top three trophies. Participants were paired up as either best friends, Fraternity/Sorority big and little, or siblings. In the end, Chad Woolsteen '18 and Sam Trapp '17 won the competition.

Together, both fraternities raised more than $400 for BBBS, a non-profit organization that seeks to provide mentors to young children nationwide.

National Fraternity Recognizes Outstanding BW Senior

National fraternity, Phi Kappa Tau, recognized Steve Vaccaro ’15 as a “leader of tomorrow” for his outstanding work in the Alpha Omega chapter of the fraternity here at BW.

Vaccaro, a senior arts management major, currently serves as chapter president. He is a past recruitment chairman for the chapter and program intern for Executive Offices. Vaccaro has also attended the Leaders Regional Conference, Leadership Academy, Presidents Academy, Conclave and National Convention, and helped Alpha Omega win the Roland Maxwell Trophy, an award presented to the outstanding chapter in the nation.

Vaccaro is also a dedicated volunteer and advocate for the SeriousFun Children’s Network, a global network of camps and programs that serves children with serious illness.

In addition to extensive service as a member of Phi Kappa Tau, Vaccaro is co-director of Dating Beyond Control, a program that creates awareness for dating violence at BW.

As for his plans after graduation, Vaccaro says, "I hope to work in a nonprofit setting where I am able to become passionate about whatever I do."

BW SigEp "Big Brother" Featured on Magazine Cover

Rising BW junior Nick Traverso '16 is featured in a cover story for the spring 2014 issue of SigEp Magazine."How SigEps are Defining Philanthropy and the World Around Them" explores the transformation Traverso experienced through involvement in Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), the national service and philanthropic partner for his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Traverso was among a group of BW students who mentored a group of school-aged children who visited BW's Berea campus on a weekly basis starting in the Fall. Traverso told the magazine that the experience "changed the way I look at a lot of things. Being a big brother makes you think about every little thing that you do because you want your little brother to see you making the right decisions."

SigEp Crowns BW's "Queen of Hearts" at Philanthropy Event

Although Alice was nowhere to be found, Sigma Phi Epsilon Ohio Zeta chapter crowned a new Queen of Hearts on April 16 at the Student Activities Center. This year, Paige Zilba '16 won the crown after stunning the audience with her beat-boxing talent. She joins last year's Queen of Hearts and BW alumna, Becca Wagner '13.

Despite the laughs and the talent on stage (one participant even performed a chemistry experiment), the event served for a greater purpose: to support SigEp's national philanthropy, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS). BBBS seeks to match mentors with children for healthy development and friendship. The event raised over $900 for the organization.

BW Lambda Chi Alpha Receives Charter

The BW colony of Lambda Chi Alpha is a colony no more. Over the weekend, the chapter received their charter, a written document from the Lambda Chi Alpha headquarters by which a colony, an experimental body of a Greek organization awaiting recognition, is made into a chapter and is given chapter rights and privileges.

Since 2010, the BW members of Lambda Chi Alpha have been working hard to earn their charter. Many of the fourteen members who founded the colony four years ago have graduated, but three founders are still on campus: Zachary Frese '14, Kenneth Kosovich '14, and Steven Fasone '14.

"It's been a lot of hard work," says Frese, "but now that we have chartered we can start growing as a chapter and start giving back to BW more. Lambda Chi has a long history at BW and we hope to continue our legacy far into the future."

The chapter is now able to personalize the  floor in Heritage Hall, and will be able to have fraternity letters placed on the side of the building. As they said during Greek Sing 2013: "We've been charter, we're here to stay."

BW Students Rally Behind Delta Zeta Family Fundraiser

The big hearts on the Baldwin Wallace campus grew even larger this winter as Delta Zeta Sorority raised money to assist a local family in need, unifying the BW Greek community around the cause. 

Earlier this year, the chapter became aware of a local family that was at risk of eviction, and made a goal to raise $500 to help the family.  The sorority sisters contacted members of their national chapter, as well as members of BW's Greek community, to support an emergency fundraiser. They created a website to collect donations, and set up a donation table where students could leave spare change. Within a few hours, they had raised $350, and in less than 2 days they collected over $1,000!

Katie Mitchell, President of Delta Zeta, said "I just want to say thank you to all who donated, shared the link to the GoFundMe site, and spread the word about our fundraiser. It was truly amazing to see what it means to have strength in numbers… I know I speak for the rest of the Delta Zeta Sorority when I say that this exceeded our expectations."

That's the BW way!

BW Fraternities Team up to Support Big Brothers Big Sisters

Although the Winter Olympics will not be held until February 2014, brothers from the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity brought the Olympic spirit to BW for the Big/Little Olympics on November 20 to support their national philanthropy organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS).

BW students could either pair up with their fraternity/sorority Big Brother/Sister, Grandbig, etc. or their best friend, roommate, or sibling to compete in games like limbo and a three-legged race.

Organized by Nick Traverso of Sigma Phi Epsilon and Kevin Hulsmann of Alpha Sigma Phi, the event was held at the Lou Higgins Center with about 40 teams participating and a large audience watching. The event raised over $500 for the local organization of BBBS.

"Everyone came out in great support of BBBS and that truly meant a lot to me, Kevin, and everyone involved in the execution of the event," Traverso said.

Since it was such a success, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Alpha Sigma Phi hope to make the Big/Little Olympics an annual event.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is an organization that “makes meaningful, monitored matchesthe country.”

Students "Rock" For Children

There was music, games, food, and rocking chairs at the Rock-A-Thon, put together by the Phi Mu sorority and the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.

Students from both Greek organizations rocked in rocking chairs, on the Union Steps, from 9 in the morning to 9 in the evening, with rock music playing in the background to add on to the puns. At the end of the day, Phi Mu and Phi Kappa Tau ended up raising $248 for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and SeriousFun Children's Network.

Lambda Chi Alpha: Chartered At Last!

Baldwin Wallace University's Lambda Chi Alpha chapter, 2013

After three years of hard work, dedication and spirit, the Lambda Chi Alpha colony of BW has officially been chartered. Fourteen brothers founded the BW colony in 2010, and followed the ideals that went with the Lambda Chi Alpha name. A colony is an experimental body of a Greek organization that is awaiting for recognition from their headquarters to establish a chapter on their campus. The brothers had to prove themselves - and they definitely did.

The brothers of the new BW Lambda Chi Alpha chapter are excited about the charter news, but fraternity president Robert Hood says there is still much work to do. Hood says the chapter's next goal is to work toward earning the Grand High Alpha Award, the highest honor any chapter can receive.

Full disclosure... the author of this blog post is a proud brother of Lambda Chi Alpha. Roll Chi!

BW's Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity Wins National Award

For the first time since their chartering at Baldwin Wallace in 1942, Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity was honored with the 2013 Roland Maxwell Award.

This national recognition is given to the top chapter of Phi Kappa Tau, which has 81 chapters across the country. 

Chapters are judged in 13 categories, including recruit performance, philanthropic contributions, risk management, and community service participation. 

BW Panhellenic Council Receives Achievement Award

Baldwin Wallace University's Panhellenic Council, a cooperative organization that oversees the five sororities on BW's campus, has received the College Panhellenic Achievement Award. The National award was given by the National Panhellenic Conference, and BW's council was one of only 19 other schools awarded with this distinguished honor.

Annalise Sinclair, GA; Gabby Friedlund, VP of Student Affairs; Brianna Razzante, VP of Recruitment; Alexis Charara, President; Katie Nadson, VP of Judicial Affairs; Mackenzie Hollar, VP of Programming; Emily Black, VP of Operation

Panhellenic Council is currently preparing for Women's Recruitment, which will be held September 24th-28th this year.

Delta Zeta Sorority Sisters Help Teens Affected by Cancer

A DZ-sponsored Healing Heels Fashion Show helped collect more than 120 prom dresses and $728 from the BW community. The donations will benefit a local event called “A Prom To Remember,” a prom for teens affected by cancer. http://ow.ly/jXQ2c