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AlumniNews





      The Alpha Epsilon Walk


      Our Story—Walking Along the
      AE Gator Walkway

      By Rick Riisma ’94 (AE 1886)
      We are very proud to tell the story of our alumni
      brotherhood   through   the
      words  and  inspirations  of  our
      exceptional  active  brothers,
      family  members  as  well  as
      many friends of Alpha Epsilon.
      Can’t think of a better way to
      enter  into  our  new  chapter
      house than by strolling up this
      historic  walk.  Modeled  after
      the  UF  Gator  Walkway,  AE  is
      the only Pi Kapp Chapter to develop, plan, and
                                               the UF Walkway so we could involve as many
      successfully  execute  such  a  comprehensive
                                               alumni as possible. We then built a user-friendly
      endeavor.  This  project  brought  together  a
                                               website  and  developed  a  strong  advertising
      significant  number  of  our  alumni  brothers  and
                                               campaign  working  through  Facebook,  the  Pi
      allowed  them  to  share  their  personal  stories,
                                               Kapp Gator, and numerous email blasts.
      sports  teams,  professional  companies  and
      slogans. The project was the inspiration of Steve  As usual, these programs require teamwork. So
                                                                                       those of our Founding Fathers, the Stray
                         Shepherd, and from that  special  thanks  to  Bob Halcrow ’68 (AE 868),   Brothers,  Hall  of  Famers,  as  well  as  a
                         idea   we   developed  Mike Sullivan ’68 (AE 886), Steve Steinfeld ’86   special  tribute  to  the  Teen  Timers,  all
                         a  business  plan  that  (AE 1484), as well as Gregg LaRoche ’98 (AE
                                                                                       of which has helped to recreate a long-
                         allowed  us  to  reduce  1982), who came through in a big way to help
                                                                                       lasting testimony to our great fraternity.
                         the cost of an individual  drive this project. With the completion of phase
                         brick when compared to  one,  we  now  have  over  400  names,  including  Phase II will begin in March. Stay tuned!
      Veterans Initiative Program


      A  new  program  designed  to  honor                     able to locate and gather background information on over 150 veteran
      those members of Alpha Epsilon who                       brothers who served our country in the armed forces.
      have  served  in  the  military  has  been
      established  by  Rick Riisma ’94 (AE                     Since the initiation of this project, it has been determined that no other
      1886)  and  Mike  Hill  ’67  (AE  815).                  chapter (180-plus) within Pi Kappa Phi has ever pursued an effort to
                                                               locate, identify, and memorialize their brothers in such a momentous
      According  to  the  National  Office,  AE                way. I recommend that each and every brother who visits the new
      will  be  the  first  chapter  to  implement             house stop, by the chapter room and view this Wall of Honor.
      such a program. So far, our team has
      identified 150 brothers who served our                   As  with  every  project,  the
      country and their name and branch of                     committee  is  quite  sure  that
      service is recognized on an individual                   we  were  unable  to  locate  and
      nameplate.                         Rick and Mike are joined   identify  every  veteran,  so  the
                                        by Floyd Hershberger of BJ   wall  still  has  room  for  alumni
      When  the  active  chapter  moved  into   Trophies.
      the  new  house  they  noted  a  number                  identified by family, friends of Pi
                                                               Kapps,  and  brothers  who  might
      of  new  additions  to  AE’s  collection
                                                               have  been  inadvertently  left  off
      of memorabilia, but one of the most unique was the Wall of Honor.
                                                               the list. Should anyone note any
      This  impressive  wall  mounted  dedication  to  the  veterans  of  Alpha
                                                               omissions to this project, please
      Epsilon  is  the  centerpiece  in  the  chapter/dining  room  of  our  newly
                                                               contact  either  Rick  Riisma,
      constructed fraternity house. Over the last three-plus years, a small
                                                               rriisma@gmail.com,  or  Mike  Hill,
      group of dedicated brothers, led by Rick Riisma ’94 (AE 1886) (Navy)
      and Mike Hill ’67 (AE 815) (Army) that included Skip Fink ’69 (AE   mployerhill@gmail.com,  so  that   Brian Hershberger of BJ Trophies
      888)  (Marines),  Felix Haynes ’67 (AE 813)  (Army),  Bill Thorpe ’80   their  names  can  be  included  in   and Rick Riisma.
                                                               next update to the wall!
      (AE 1107)  (Air  Force),  and  Joe McGrail ’65 (AE 773)  (Army),  were
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