KSTUAA urges donations to purchase two Water Softeners

While the uptown water tower has long since vanished from Oxford, the white crust from the hard water remains a challenge for residents, especially those at 406 E. Withrow St.

KSTUAA seeks $15,000 in donations to help purchase two water softeners.

The KSTUAA Board voted February 22 to devote the proceeds of the years Cossa Challenge to the Housing Company to raise awareness of a needed project that Theta Upsilon Housing Company is planning: Installation of Water Softeners.

As most of you remember, Oxford, Ohio, is notorious for its extremely hard water, often exceeding 20 grains per gallon due to the region’s limestone-rich groundwater. 

Without a water softening system, these high mineral levels lead to rapid scale buildup inside plumbing, water heaters, and appliances, significantly shortening their lifespan and increasing maintenance costs! Installing a softener is a proactive investment that protects the property’s infrastructure from internal corrosion and ensures tenants don't face constant issues with clogged showerheads, inefficient heating, or mineral-stained fixtures.

We estimate needing $15,000-25,000 for the purchase and installation. The installation faces some space challenges in the Shoe Box.  If you have expertise, resources or connections we could be utilizing, contact Brother Bren through the KSTUAA@gmail email address.

The Cossa Challenge is expected to deliver only $990, so we have a lot of ground to make up.

To help encourage donations five alumni have stepped up to create a $5,000 gift when we exceed reach $5,000 (not including the Cossa Challenge pot).  

Your donations of $50, $250, $500 or more will add up quickly and keep the progress moving forward and help fund this project! 

Donations can be made by: Paypal or Venmo

Checks can be made out to KSTUAA, memo line should read "Water Softener" and mailed to: James Lewis at:

Thank you to those that have donated to this Project

The Boards of KSTUAA and TUHC would like to thank the following alumni for helping us      Donors to this effort will also be listed on our Donors page link on the right.

$5000 Matching Gift  

Jim Lewis IC '74 

Rob Miller IC '86  

Jeff Bieber IC '89 

Jay Rammes IC '88 

Chris Broome IC '89

1967 

Alan Higgins 

1981 

Scott Hamilton

1985 

Wes Bren

Chris Scocos

Rick Sippola

1992 

Robb Warren

Cossa Challenge Kicks off for the 12th Time  

This annual tradition started over in 2015 years ago, provides our Theta-Upsilon Alumni a virtual competition for bragging rights in picking the winners in the NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament.  KSTUAA created its own tournament in 2020 when the COVID pandemic cancelled the NCAA Tournaments. Videos of  our competition can be found on our YouTube Channel.

Winners have included:

Clay Hunt in 2025

Wes Bren in 2024

Pat O'Brien in 2023

??? in 2022

Keith Zurawski in 2021, 2016? 2015?

Brad Storts in 2020 (Luke Meissner was the champion Team in the 60 second challenge)
*We are searching a our archives for the winners of the other years.

 

Who will win it this year?