74th Grand Conclave Brings Many Firsts for Theta-Upsilon!

Photo: Members of the Theta-Upsilon Chapter (undergraduate and alumni) pose with awards and the Supreme Executive Committee at the "Finest Hour" Banquet. 

The 74th Biennial Grand Conclave of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, held in Charlottesville, VA resulted in many achievements for our Theta-Upsilon Chapter only seventeen months after its re-chartering! 

• The Chapter's first-ever UAC (Undergraduate Advisory Committee) delegate
• The Chapter's first-ever Opal Level Jackson Men donor
• The Chapter's first-ever Master of Ritual
• The Chapter's first-ever Kappa Sigma Fellows nominee
• The Chapter's first-ever Grand Conclave Intern

A sixth first-ever was approved at the SEC meeting at conclave and will be announced shortly.

In addition the Chapter members and alumni were recognized with numerous awards (several of these are first-ever awards too) and reflect the across the board effort to make Theta-Upsilon Chapter the Pride of Miami University and within Kappa Sigma Fraternity and its 300 Chapters and colonies.  

• Founders Achievement for Chapter Excellence (FACE)
• Outstanding Grand Procurator Award: Fernando Romero IC '22  
• Outstanding Grand Scribe Award : Gabriel Johnson IC '22
• Outstanding Grand Treasurer Award: David Weygandt IC '22
• Outstanding Alumnus Advisor Award: Garett Reinhart (Nu-Psi Chapter IC '17)
• Outstanding District Grand Master Award: Wesley Bren IC '85 

These awards come in a year that saw the Chapter raise more than $12,425 for the Oxford Free Clinic as part of the community A Greater Cause Campaign and  $16,600 for the Kappa Sigma Military Heroes Campaign and the alumni, members and friends donate $25,818 to the Chapter's Scholarship Endowment Fund (3rd highest amount within Kappa Sigma last year) and receive three Scholarship Leadership Awards for members and recruit a record number of pledges in single year of 44!

Alumni are encouraged to mail their notes of congratulations to the officers and Chapter at 406 E. Withrow Street, Oxford Ohio 45056. Contact KSTUAA if you prefer to email your congratulations or post to their Facebook page.    

Past Grand Master/Grand Treasurer becomes Theta-Upsilon's first UAC member.

Brother Emmett Jones IC '22 of Pickerington, Ohio will serve Area 3 (Central US) Chapters and Districts as the Undergraduate Advisory Council member. There are 5 UAC members elected by conference delegates and attend SEC (Supreme Executive Committee) meetings throughout the year. They play a key role in communicating to and from Chapters in the districts. Brother Jones began his campaign for this sought after position in the winter of the past year and reached out to members in each of the 12 districts.  

Brother Jones will be serving as the Chapter's Champions Quest (Recruiting) Chair this fall, having served in numerous leadership roles.

Photo: Emmett (middle) discusses Fraternal strategy with Past Worthy Grand Masters 

2022 HOF Inductee becomes Theta-Upsilon's first Opal Jackson's Men level donor.

Brother James Lewis IC '74 attended the Grand Conclave this summer and increased his commitment to the Jackson's Men program that feed the Kappa Sigma Endowment Fund to the Opal Level. Only nine members of Theta-Upsilon have become Jackson's Men to-date and Brother Lewis become the first to become the first at this level.  Brother Lewis also serves as Treasurer of KSTUAA and the Theta Upsilon Housing Company and has been instrumental with his matching gifts during the last two years of SAJ Weekend of Giving to drive the record breaking results.   

Photo: Brother Lewis (left) and Brother Bren IC '85 pose for a photo in front of the Paramount Theatre where the Grand Conclave was held July 26-30 in Charlottesville, VA.  

The Chapter's first ever of Master of Ritual is recognized at the Grand Conclave.

Fernando Romero IC '22 of Zargoza, Spain who graduated this May and who served two terms as Grand Procurator (receiving Outstanding Grand Procurator Awards for both terms) and who was initiate #2 during the restart effort has led the way with his work memorizing the secret work of the order, earning the coveted Master of Ritual pin #826. The Fraternity honors Master of Rituals with a complimentary pass and room at the Grand Conclave. Following close behind Brother Romero are two members that have completed 5 of the 6 ceremonies and 100% of the Chapter members have memorized at least one ceremony. 

Photo: Brother Romero (right) poses with a Brother CJ Elston of Theta-Xi Chapter,  Trine University with their pins and framed certificates. Both brothers have agreed to serve as volunteers in the new Southwest Ohio District as ADGMs helping with the restart of the Alpha-Sigma Chapter at the Ohio State University.

Past Grand Master, Kappa Sigma Intern, Theta-Upsilon Legacy and Initiate #1 in the Restart of Theta-Upsilon is honored as a Kappa Sigma Fellow.

Quinn Sippola IC '22 of Mentor, Ohio who graduated this May was one of just 10 graduating members from across the country honored as a Kappa Sigma Fellow!  Fellows are nominated for their potential for the potential Fraternity leadership shown in their undergraduate experience and brought in early to the Grand Conclave to meet with fraternity leaders to discuss and interview for various positions. Quinn was offered a position at IHQ but will be serving as a volunteer in Northern Ohio near his hometown.  

Quinn served as the colony's first Grand Master and worked last summer as an intern at Kappa Sigma International Headquarters and was the student we recruited out of high school to help us restart the Theta-Upsilon Chapter.    

Photo: Brother Sippola (left) and DGM, Wes Bren pose for a quick photo before the first Conclave session began.  Interesting fact, Brother Bren and Quinn's dad (Rick Sippola IC '85) were pledge brothers in 1985. 

First-ever Grand Conclave Intern get's a unique opportunity to meet VIPs and expose them to Theta-Upsilon.

Brother Scott Roney IC '22, a senior volunteered to work as an intern at the Grand Conclave this summer in exchange for room and board for the week and the chance to participate. Brother Roney was given a special assignment to transport VIPs throughout the weekend using the Vice-President External Affairs, Leo Brown's vehicle (no pressure.)  Brother Roney received a glowing report handling the responsibility with the energy and enthusiasm he is known for within the Theta-Upsilon Chapter.   

Photos: Brother Roney had the opportunity to support many of the VIPs with transportation during the week including 2023 Kappa Sigma Hall of Honor recipient, past Kappa Sigma of the Year and Past Worthy Grand Treasurer,  Brother Martin Petersen.