The THIRD DEGREE - December 2023

The THIRD DEGREE The Journal of the Eta Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Kappa at the University of Maryland December 2023

December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 1 Contents 2 Eta Edition 14 Association News 63 Chapter Eternal On Our Cover We think that you’re gonna want to read this issue cover to cover - if only to find out the story behind this photo, and the many other great things happening at the Eta Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa. 31 Alumni Notes 3 Chapter President’s Address 76 Signing Off 5 Eta Chapter News 6 The Alpha-Alpha Class

This is a very special issue of your alumni magazine, The THIRD DEGREE. This issue is being made available to all alumni of the Eta Chapter, both members and prospective members. Second, this is a solely digital distribution - no killing a small number of trees in order to print and mail copies to our members. A fair number of those who are reading these words have rarely seen a copy of our magazine. We thought that all Eta Alumni, members or not, should receive the good news from the active chapter and, in having the chance to read this publication and learn a bit more about their alumni association, might still want to join us for this, our 13th year. We hope that you and yours are in good health and high spirits. We hope that new family members serve to amaze and excite you. And we hope that memories of those we have lost during these past years now serve to comfort and compel you. While many businesses fail within five years following incorporation, your alumni association is chugging along. Yes, with fewer members, but we hope that you will step forward and help with recruiting and renewals and make our 13th year a record-breaking triumph. We hope that you will consider supporting our plans, and stepping forward to make our 13th year a memorable one. We hope that you will read each and every page of this issue. The topics are many, but each and every one of them remain consistent with our Cardinal Principles: To Promote Brotherhood, Stimulate Scholarship and Develop Character. For some of you, some of the content herein may be a review; for some of you it will be new again. For all, we hope that it will serve as evidence that our reason for being is to lend our Time, Talent and Treasure to the benefit of all members of the Eta Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa at the University of Maryland. Enjoy the read. Sincerely...and always Damn Proud, The Executive Committee of the Eta Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Kappa 2 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE Executive Committee Todd B. Hoffman ‘82 Secretary Silver Spring, Maryland J. Victor Alonso ‘13 Treasurer Silver Spring, Maryland John J. B. Wright, Esq. ‘82 Second Vice-President Burtonsville, Maryland Christopher M. Flood ‘13 First Vice-President Silver Spring, Maryland Joseph E. Criscuoli, ‘82 President Laurel, Maryland Eta Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Kappa 12806 Silverbirch Lane Laurel, Maryland 20708 301-802-6464 www.alumni.psk-eta.com [email protected] The THIRD DEGREE Published By EDITION ETA THE ETA NEWS BRIEFS DECEMBER 2023

I t is both an honor and a humbling experience to address you as the newly elected President of the Eta Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa. As I assume this role, I am acutely aware of the rich legacy and traditions that have been handed down by those who came before me. The past presidents and brothers have set a commendable standard for the operation of our chapter, embodying qualities of exemplary students, leaders, and brothers. I am committed to diligently following in their footsteps. In my capacity as President, I have the privilege of collaborating closely with external organizations, including the University, your alumni association, other IFC and PHA organizations, and more. Recognizing that I am now the public representative of our fraternity, I pledge to uphold its reputation and contribute to maintaining its esteemed standing. I am dedicated to enhancing the perception of our fraternity, both at the University of Maryland and on a national level. Anticipating the year ahead, I am enthusiastic about contributing to the continual improvement of an organization that has played a significant role in my personal growth as a man. A beloved event, Homecoming was a true highlight as we proudly displayed our fraternity spirit and unity. Paired with Phi Sigma Sigma, each day was filled with fun events including banner painting, bonfires, ice cream socials, basketball tournaments, and community service. This year's homecoming was notably competitive, and while the final result wasn't exactly what we had aimed for, we proudly secured second-place. Anticipating the semester ahead, we eagerly look forward to another round of spirited competition, embodying the essence of Greek life. Brothers also had a blast at the Alumni Tailgate which brought together past and present members for a day of camaraderie, reminiscing, and, of course, cheering on our Terrapins in a disappointing matchup against Illinois. Our Parents Weekend was a heartwarming celebration of family, tradition, and the values we hold dear. Amidst the backdrop of backyard games and the sizzle of freshly grilled dogs, burgers, and ice-cold drinks, parents had the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the essence of Phi Sigma Kappa. It was a chance for them to witness firsthand the positive impact our fraternity has on their sons. It was a pleasure to showcase our accomplishments and the strong community we've built. We could not be more proud of our amazing Parents Weekend chairs that put together such a wonderful event. We extend heartfelt appreciation to the parents who joined us, expressing gratitude for the support they continually offer to our fraternity. Their presence added to the warmth of the occasion, and we couldn't be more proud of the strong bond between our fraternity and the families who share in our journey. In the midst of the semester, the brothers took a well-deserved break to prioritize mental health. Venturing to the National Zoo in D.C., the brothers had the opportunity to bid farewell to the pandas—Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao Qi Ji—one last time before their return to China. Continuing, our exceptional Formal Chairs orchestrated a memorable formal in Washington, D.C. The evening offered a wonderful opportunity for all brothers and their dates to dress up and explore the city. Brimming with entertainment and excitement, the night left a lasting impression, and the chapter is eagerly anticipating our next formal event. (continued on next page) Eඍൺ Cඁൺඉඍൾඋ Nൾඐඌ News Briefs from the Eta Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa at the University of Maryland From the Desk of The President Lukas Einberg ‘25 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 3 Lukas Einberg Mechanical Engineering Bethesda, MD Class of 2025 Photo courtesy of Lukas Einberg

4 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE From the Desk of The President (continued) Embarking on a cherished tradition beyond our campus borders, the brothers enjoyed a favorite fraternity activity during mid-November – our semesterly Away Weekend at Lake Anna. Taking a well-deserved break, brothers, partners, and friends enjoyed a beautiful weekend by the lake filled with music and great times. The memories forged during this weekend will undoubtedly be cherished for years to come. As we embrace the new year with the Fall semester behind us, I express the collective enthusiasm of the entire Eta Chapter for the upcoming spring semester. We look forward to an outstanding rush class, an exciting social calendar, and numerous other opportunities. A significant highlight on our horizon is Giving Day, scheduled for March 6th - a 24-hour fundraising event dedicated to scholarships of various kinds. Our goal this year is to achieve $200K, and your support will play a pivotal role. Soon after, we will host an Open House, and we extend a warm invitation to join us not only at this event but also at the various others we are eager to organize! We ask that you all join the Eta Alumni Association so that in a combined effort of the local chapter and association we can continue to grow the fraternity. For years the Association has supported the Eta Chapter and served as the link between the chapter and alumni. By becoming a member you will become engaged again in the fraternity that you once held so dear to your heart. Damn Proud, Lukas Einberg ‘25 Eta Chapter President Brothers of the Eta Chapter on the steps of the Chapter House at 2 Fraternity Row Photo courtesy of Lukas Einberg

The Executive Board for the Eta Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa Back Row: Kevin Osei-Boateng ‘25, Inductor 3rd Row (L to R): Nick Condrasky ‘25, Treasurer; Aiden Fletcher ‘25, Vice President 2nd Row (L to R): Tommy Rose ‘25, Secretary; Jared Leanord ‘26, Sentinel Front: Lukas Einberg ‘25, President December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 5 Eta Chapter Officers & Chapter Chairmen Alumni – Alex Krucoff Apparel – Brendan O’Boyle, Nicky Bradford Athletics – Nick Condrasky Away Weekend – Xander DeLoureiro, Ryan Morris, Ely Cohen Brotherhood – Jake Shidlofsky, Conor McCue, Tommy Rose, Jared Watenberg, Andrew Potts Character – George Baldwin, Kyle Bedard Community Service – Sarkis Pakchanian DEI – Nate Frenkel Expectations – Andrew Bubnis External Housing – Jake Schwartz Formal – Kyle Richardson, Jared Leonard Greek Week – Daniel Ashbeck, Sawyer Jones Health and Wellness – Jacob Sandler Historian – Parker Homann House Manager – Jackson LaFever Mental Health – George Baldwin Music – Arnav Bhatia, Kevin Osei-Boateng, Luis Martinez Parents Day – Jackson LaFever, Hayden Sweeney Philanthropy – Matt Laddy, Chase Clark, Aiden Fletcher, Jacob Sandler Public Relations – Brendan O’Boyle Rush Chairmen – Michael Gardiner, Jack Haines, Arnav Bhatia, Daniel Paz Rush Committee – Matthew Laddy, Brendan O’Boyle, Daniel Ashbeck, Kevin Osei-Boatang, Aidan Ellwanger, Luke Wergeles, George Baldwin, Luis Martinez, Andrew Potts, Arnav Bhatia, Ryan Lomax, Phil Mercado, Aiden Fletcher, Jake Schwartz, Vishal Dalavayi, Corey Althoff SA Liaison – Andrew Cardillo Scholarship – Alex Krucoff Senior – Conor McCue Social (external) – Kevin Osei-Boateng, Noah Ocasio Social (internal) – Phil Mercado Sustainability – Aiden Fletcher Tailgate – Kyle Richardson Website – Craig Johnson Photo courtesy of Lukas Einberg Chapter Chairmen of the Eta Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa

The Alpha-Alpha Class 6 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE This Fall the Eta Chapter had the pleasure of welcoming to the fraternity its 27th Associate Class since 2009, composed of 3 exceptional associates. Led by Inductor Jack Van Dopp, this small but mighty associate class did phenomenally well during their new member education following the Cardinal Journey. It is clear that these fine men lead their lives in accordance to the Phi Sigma Kappa Creed each and every day. During their Association process, they became closer than friends and formed true bonds of brotherhood. Their outstanding efforts have not only enriched the fraternity experience for all but have also set a high standard for what it means to be a brother of Phi Sigma Kappa. We have witnessed their growth, both individually and collectively, and it is truly inspiring. These new brothers wish to share some insight into their journey of becoming a Phi Sig: Mark Thackery “When I first came to Maryland I didn’t know whether joining a fraternity would be for me, but I knew a brother in Phi Sigma Kappa who encouraged me to come out to some events to meet some brothers and see if I would enjoy it. Taking him up on that offer was one of the best decisions I’ve made so far in my time at Maryland. I immediately clicked with everyone and realized this was something that I wanted to pursue. I could tell that there was a deep sense of brotherhood that existed in this fraternity and was something that I wanted to be a part of. As I continued my process of joining Phi Sigma Kappa I became more sure that this was the best fit for me. Now that I have joined I look forward to building on what so many brothers before me have created.” Ishan Bansal “When I was exploring all the fraternities that the university had to offer at the Meet the Greeks event at our school, one stood out. The men representing Phi Sigma Kappa seemed genuine and were easy to talk to, and I was able to have meaningful conversations with them. This continued through to every rush event I attended. I felt welcomed, but also saw Phi Sigma Kappa as a place where I could have fun and grow myself amongst other, like-minded people who could serve as both friends and mentors throughout my journey in college. I saw joining a fraternity as a way for me to branch out and step outside my comfort zone, which is what I sought to do in college. Phi Sigma Kappa was the best fraternity for my needs, and interactions with the brothers of this fraternity just affirmed that fact, throughout my time as an associate and now as a brother. I know that I made the right choice, and cannot imagine a better place to be.” (continued on next page) Photo courtesy of Lukas Einberg Inductor Jack Van Dopp and newly elected Inductor Kevin Osei-Boateng stand with the new members of the Alpha-Alpha Class on the front steps of the Chapter House at 2 Fraternity Row. They are: Mark Thackery from Morristown, NJ Ishan Bansal from Mars, PA Aneesh Manne from Centreville, VA Alpha-Alpha Class President Mark Thackery Brother Ishan Bansal

Aneesh Manne “I joined Phi Sigma Kappa because I wanted to make friends and be part of a brotherhood. I liked the idea of having a strong community during college, and for the rest of my life, where I could go for any problems I have and also receive advice. Phi Sigma Kappa also seemed like a place I could grow as a person and learn to lead. Additionally, the prospect of networking with a diverse group of individuals and participating in various social and philanthropic events further motivated my decision. Phi Sigma Kappa felt like a good mix of things I wanted in my college experience, where I could connect with people, have a good time, and develop myself along the way. Another thing is that the focus on doing well in school and helping out the community also appealed to me. I believe joining Phi Sigma Kappa will open my eyes to diverse perspectives allowing me to grow as an overall person.” The Alpha-Alpha Class looks to keep up the good work they have done this semester going into the spring. They have all expressed interest in holding positions ranging from recruitment, to philanthropy, to mental health. We are all eager to begin working closely with our new brothers and excited to see what they have in store! The Eta Chapter is extremely proud to call these three new members our brothers and are ready to welcome the next class of Phi Sigs into the chapter during the Spring ’24 semester. Newly elected Inductor Kevin OseiBoateng says that “it is an honor and a privilege to be trusted with the duties of Inductor. I can’t wait for the next semester to begin and to familiarize the new associate class with the rest of the chapter.” Brother Aneesh Manne NEW Alumni Chair - A Legacy of Bortherhood As the current alumni chairman, I am extremely proud that the Eta Alumni Association has earned the "Alumni Club of the Year" award. This award means a lot to the brothers of the Eta Chapter. Having a reliable group of alumni truly does strengthen the brotherhood of our fraternity. I am grateful that I have been able to serve as the alumni chair this past semester. Doing this for the chapter means a lot to me personally because I am an Eta legacy. My dad and both of my uncles were part of Phi Sigma Kappa here at Maryland and I am proud to continue their legacy. Fostering alumni relations is extremely important to me as well as the rest of the Eta Chapter. Being a legacy has made that connection even more impactful to, and for, me. This semester the brothers and alumni came together for the annual homecoming tailgate. Despite the weather, and the Maryland football loss, it was an amazing time. I would like to thank Joe and John for coordinating and planning this event. We have some big plans to have even more alumni events next semester, such as an Open House Event at #2 Fraternity Row! The brothers of PSK would be honored to invite the alumni to visit our, and your, chapter house. We all can't wait for more alumni events and I am so proud of the alumni network of our chapter. Damn Proud! Brother Alex Krucoff Class of 2026 Government and Politics Crofton, MD December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 7

Improving Our Community 8 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE Philanthropy & Community Service Brothers of the Eta Chapter remain highly active in philanthropy and community service. In the Fall of 2023 we put together a team composed of brothers, friends, and family to participate in a charity run. The Race for Every Child for Children's National Hospital is a 5K race that aims to unite the community around helping children grow up stronger. Brother Jacob Sandler, a long time volunteer at Children’s National, brought forward the amazing opportunity and spearheaded our campaign. Garnering 23 runners and raising $1,665.00, this event was a massive success! All proceeds were donated to the hospital. To learn more about Children's National Hospital and how you can make a difference, visit them at https://www.childrensnational.org/make-adifference. The Fall semester saw the brothers of the Eta chapter active within the community, registering over 400 hours of community service! Brothers could be found all over, volunteering for organizations like Open Door Sports, providing high-quality sports programming to ALL kids - regardless of physical ability, financial need or location; or Capital Area Food Bank, an organization that serves meals to those in need while addressing the root causes of hunger through education programs and service delivery partnerships. The spring semester can not come soon enough. The brothers of the Eta Chapter are eager to build upon the work we have done this semester and expand our service network. This semester our Philanthropy chairmen Chase Clark, Matthew Laddy, and Aiden Fletcher organized a bed sheet fundraiser to benefit the Special Olympics. The partnership for this fundraiser was unique as it not only provided us with the opportunity to raise donations for the Special Olympics, but to grow our own philanthropy base. The Eta Chapter raised $592.00 for future philanthropic events. This will go a long way in making sure we can host bigger and better philanthropy events for semesters to come! (above, left and right) Brothers of the Eta Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa at the University of Maryland helping to keep College Park green. Photos courtesy of Lukas Einberg

Photos courtesy of Lukas Einberg December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 9 (above) Brothers and friends make their way to Washington, DC via Metro in order to participate in the Race for Every Child - and (at right) Brothers seem none the worse for wear at the finish line.

Eta Chapter Roster - 71 Members Strong! Member Name Hometown Corey Althoff Bel Air, MD Griffin Anderson Odenton, MD Daniel Ashbeck Millersville, MD George Baldwin Rockville, MD Ishan Bansal Mars, PA Kyle Bedard New Market, MD Arnav Bhatia Piscataway, NJ Matthew Biondi Riva, MD Ethan Boyce Catonsville, MD Nicky Bradford Annapolis, MD Andrew Bubnis Millersville, MD Anthony Caporale Odenton, MD Andrew Cardillo Annapolis, MD Chase Clark Columbia, MD Ely Cohen Richboro, PA Nick Condrasky Mount Airy, MD Ian Cone Glen Rock, PA Kenny Conway Oak Park, IL Vishal Dalavayi Plainsboro, NJ Xander DeLoureiro Canton, CT Lukas Einberg Bethesda, MD Aidan Ellwanger Fairfield, CT Aiden Fletcher Castleton, NY Nate Frenkel Baltimore, MD Member Name Hometown Michael Gardiner Odenton, MD Ishan Gopalani College Park, MD Jack Haines Potomac, MD Brady Henegar Gaithersburg, MD Parker Homann Holland, PA Tom Hyland Short Hills, MD Ben Jernejcic Frederick, MD Craig Johnson Ellicott City, MD Sawyer Jones Sparks, MD Alex Krucoff Crofton, MD Matt Laddy Jericho, NY Jackson LaFever Eldersburg, MD Jared Leonard Westport, CT Kyle Libonate Frederick, MD Ryan Lomax Edgewater, MD Aryan Mahajan College park, MD Aneesh Manne Centreville, VA Michael Marsicano Lincroft, NJ Luis Ferraez Rockville, MD Conor McCue Monkton, MD Phil Mercado Laytonsville, MD Ryan Morris N. Bethesda, MD Gibson Murray Severna Pk, MD Brendan O'Boyle Rockville, MD Member Name Hometown Noah Ocasio Manchester, MD Kevin Osei-Boateng Bel Air, MD Sarkis Pakhchanian Gaithersbrg, MD Hunter Park Kensington, MD Vraj Patel College Park, NJ Daniel Paz Davie, FL Porter Porter Gaithersburg, MD Andrew Potts N. Potomac, MD Kyle Richardson Davidsonville, MD Tommy Rose W. Palm Bch, FL Andrew Ross Shelton, CT Jacob Sandler Bethesda, MD Peter Santella Syosset, NY Jake Schwartz Ellicott City, MD Chris Sharkey Columbia, MD Jake Shidlofsky Austin, TX Dan Siino Morristown, NJ Hayden Sweeney Hagerstown, MD Mark Thackery Morristown, NJ Koushik Thiyagarajan Herndon, VA Jack Van Dopp Quantico, MD Jared Watenberg Mamaroneck, NY Luke Wergeles Easton, CT Happy Holidays from the rearranged and decorated Chapter Room at #2 Fraternity Row in College Park! Photo courtesy of Lukas Einberg 10 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE

Scenes from the Semester (above, left) Brothers of the Eta Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa at the University of Maryland participating in the Midnight Mile to celebrate the start of the basketball season. (above, right) Brothers from the Chi class enjoy lunch at RJ Bentley's to kick off the semester. (below, left) Brothers take a mental health trip down to the National Zoo to see the pandas one last time. (below, right) Brothers outside of the Armory after winning a volleyball game. . Photos courtesy of Lukas Einberg December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 11

http://alumni.psk-eta.com/events/ Upcoming Events Sponsored by the Eta Alumni AssociaƟon of Phi Sigma Kappa OPEN HOUSE at the Chapter House The next Eta Chapter Grand Reunion will be combined with an Open House and Founder’s Day Celebration and be held at our Chapter House. Those who attended our previous spring events have enjoyed a really fantastic time. A lot of the Brothers will be seeing each other for the first time in many, many years. We sincerely hope that you will RSVP with the number of persons in your party. Paid members and their family members attend for FREE. The non-paid rate is $45 per person at the door (so, it makes a whole lotta sense, and saves a whole lotta money, to be a member in good standing). Please be aware that neither the Spring nor the Homecoming events are possible without the help of an active and vibrant Alumni Association. We encourage every Eta Brother, if you haven’t already joined for this year (our membership year runs July 1 to June 30), to contact us and join the association or renew your membership. DATE: 03.02.24 - TIME: 1 pm - 4 pm Eta Alumni Events Member in Good Standing? RSVP TODAY with the Number in Your Party to [email protected] 12 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE

MORE Scenes from the Semester (above, left) Brothers of the Eta Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa at the University of Maryland participating in the TerpThon fundraising event. (above, right) Halloween 2023 - Brothers dressed up as Super Mario characters: Waluigi, Luigi, Mario, and Wario. (below, left) Brother Anthony Caporale carving out a pumpkin in the chapter basement (Go Ravens!). (below, right) Brothers dressed up as Bert and Ernie . Photos courtesy of Lukas Einberg December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 13

Eta Alumni Association News Eta Alumni Association Receives Ninth “Alumni Club of the Year” Award in 13 Years The Eta Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Kappa is pleased to announce that the organization has been named as an “Alumni Club of the Year” for 2023. The announcement of this award was made by the Grand Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa during its 69th General Convention, held in New Orleans, Louisiana. This announcement marks the 9th time that the association has received the prestigious “Alumni Club of the Year Award” - having previously been recognized in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. The Eta Chapter President Parker Homann ‘25 related his impressions from New Orleans: “Stepping into the vibrant atmosphere of the 150th General Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, was an exhilarating experience. The highlight of the event was undoubtedly the recognition bestowed upon the Eta Alumni Association, as we were honored with the highly coveted Alumni Club of the Year award. All Eta Chapter members should take pride in knowing our strength is recognized not only by the University of Maryland, but by the entirety of Phi Sigma Kappa. The enthusiasm surrounding the Eta Alumni Association was infectious, with advisors and Grand Councilmen alike commending our association for its exceptional achievements. The convention became a stage for the celebration of our commitment and dedication, with the Eta chapter standing out as a beacon of strength and unity within the Phi Sigma Kappa community. A personal highlight for me was the opportunity to chat with Grand President Chris Hoye, who expressed his hope that other Alumni Associations could grow to match the robustness of ours. This conversation underscored the significant impact of the Eta Alumni Association on our active members. After the convention concluded, the crowning moment was when we proudly hung the Best Alumni Association award on our chapter house wall – not just a symbol of recognition, but a powerful inspiration for Phi Sigma Kappa alumni striving for excellence as they join the third degree.” Following the announcement, the association received several messages of commendation: Brother Christopher J. Hoye, ‘91 (Ferris State), Grand President of Phi Sigma Kappa at the time of the award, wrote: “It is an honor and privilege to be your Brother and to have served Phi Sigma Kappa as its 14 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE

Photo courtesy of Phi Sigma Kappa Grand President. Brothers such as the men of Eta Chapter, whether undergraduate or alumnus, have always been ones I have been Damn Proud of and happy to meet. You men are some of our Best and I am happy you are Phi Sigs! Keep up the great work on making Phi Sig better each day!” Dr. Matthew Supple, Director, Department of Fraternity & Sorority Life at the University of Maryland wrote: “Congratulations! Well-deserved recognition once again for all of the hard work and dedication you and your team put into this organization! They should award you the Alumni Club of the Decade!!” Incoming Eta Chapter President Lukas Einberg ‘25, said, “Securing the "Alumni Club of the Year" award is an extraordinary acknowledgment of the tireless efforts and remarkable contributions of our dedicated alumni within the Eta Chapter. This prestigious accolade is a reflection of the collaborative spirit and commitment to excellence demonstrated by our alumni community. It underscores the substantial impact of our alumni-driven initiatives which have significantly enriched the experiences of both current students and fellow graduates. Winning this award serves as a validation of the meaningful connections forged by our alumni, showcasing their ongoing dedication to the Eta Chapter's values and the cultivation of a thriving and supportive network. As we celebrate this achievement, we extend an invitation to our alumni to join us at our upcoming Open House in the spring, where they can view the award alongside our many others, and continue to be a part of the legacy that makes the Eta Chapter exceptional." The Executive Committee of the Eta Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Kappa wishes to thank the Grand Chapter and International Headquarters for this highly-coveted award, the undergraduate chapter at the flagship campus of the University of Maryland at College Park, Maryland for the impetus to organize and to excel, and to deeply and sincerely thank each and every one of our members for their steadfast dedication to the goals and objectives of the association and for providing continuing support to, and daily evidence of, the theme of “Fraternity for Life”. (above) Chris Hoye, Ferris State ’91, Grand President of Phi Sigma Kappa (left) presents the “Alumni Club of the Year” award for 2023 to Eta Chapter President Parker Homann ‘25 at the 69th General Convention, held in New Orleans, Louisiana. December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 15

Eta Alumni Association - By The Numbers 205 ALUMNI MEMBERS IN “YEAR 13” 400 OUR GOAL FOR “YEAR 13” 342 PAST MEMBERS DID NOT RENEW Historical Membership Totals: Year 1: 2010-2011: 328 Year 2: 2011-2012: 257 Year 3: 2012-2013: 262 Year 4: 2013-2014: 334 Year 5: 2014-2015: 342 (highest) Year 6: 2015-2016: 337 Year 7: 2016-2017: 300 Year 8: 2017-2018 283 Year 9: 2018-2019 271 Year 10 2019-2020 234 Year 11 2020-2022 271 Year 12 2022-2023 221 Year 13 2023-2024 205 (lowest) Year 13 Membership Data in Detail: Total Past Year 13 % Decade Members Members Renewed 40's-50's 44 11 25% 60's 95 54 57% 70's 64 33 52% 80's 107 50 47% 90's 84 20 24% 00-present 153 37 24% TOTALS 547 205 37% Help to Grow Your Alumni Association! Help a Brother in Need (of a Gentle Reminder) TODAY! Greatest Decade Awards Most Members Gold 60’s Silver 80’s Bronze 70’s Total Contributions Gold 80’s Silver 60’s Bronze 70’s Avg. Contribution/Member Gold 80’s Silver 70’s Bronze 60’s Paid Members as a % of Viable Alumni per Decade Gold 60’s Silver 70’s Bronze 80’s Fewest Lost Brothers Gold 70’s Silver 60’s Bronze 50’s 16 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE

Membership Notes A Special “Thank You” to Our “Terrific Thirteen’s” Warren J. Tripp 1950 James C. Pearson 1952 Eugene E. Langellotto 1956 Carter F. Schwartz 1956 Lowell B. Hinchliffe 1957 Stewart C. Bushong 1958 Robert G. Pemberton 1958 Wayne H. Bethards 1959 Robert E. Geiger 1959 Drury G. Bagwell 1961 John P. Bailey 1961 Lance W. Billingsley 1961 Lucian S. Heflin, Jr. 1961 John M.C. Willin, III 1961 William B. Binch 1962 Warren B. Wimer, Esq. 1962 Edward G. Banks, Jr. 1963 William F. Funk 1963 Donald J. Ahern 1964 John F. Donnelly 1964 Vaughen H. Link 1964 Gerald F. Moentmann 1964 William E. Nichols 1964 Ronald G. Rayne, Esq. 1964 Adrian G. Teel 1964 Robert C. Mister 1965 John N. Rever 1965 Joseph E. Spinella 1965 Albert W. Zahniser, III 1965 Brian L. Harrington 1966 Joseph E. Smith, Jr. 1966 Robert E. Masterson 1967 Cecil A. Given, III 1968 Gerald D. Haser 1968 Roland L. MacDonald 1968 William D. Palmer 1968 James C. Hyatt 1969 Robert H. Stropp, Jr. 1969 Mark W. McNutt 1970 Stephen L. Miller 1970 David J. Crowley 1971 David H. Whitehill 1971 Leon A. Boulavsky 1975 Jack O'Brien 1975 Morgan A. Connor 1976 Thomas G. Dimka 1976 William B. Gable 1976 Stephan P. Malloy, Esq. 1976 James E. Allen 1977 Eugene A. Atwell 1977 David G. Bourdon 1977 William R. Walsh 1977 Stephen O. Cooper 1979 John B. Ostaffe 1980 Dennis G. Phelan 1980 Matthew R. Smalley 1980 Harry L. Geller 1981 Russell R. O'Haver 1981 Joseph E. Criscuoli 1982 Todd B. Hoffman 1982 David E. Lamolinara 1982 John J. B. Wright, Esq. 1982 Albert T. Stultz, Jr. 1983 Clyde E. Taber 1984 John M. Arena 1985 Richard M. Schindel 1985 Jack G. Williams 1985 Ronald J. Williams 1985 Daniel C. Curry 1986 Glenn F. Jaggard 1986 H. Christopher Malone 1986 Joseph Eric Vinson 1986 Roger L. Boothe 1987 James A. Charanis 1987 John H. Parsons 1987 Fredrick D. Straub 1987 Andrew D. Cameron 1989 James W. Lomker 1989 Louis J. Schwartz 1989 Eduardo C. Curlett 1990 Naresh G. Sunderraj 1990 Jeffrey V. Odom, Jr. 1991 David M. Schwartz 1991 Albert R. Shanefelter 1991 David A. Shirey 1991 Eric G. Madden 1994 Joseph A. Campanella III 1997 Peter J. Della-Croce 1999 The Brothers listed below are in a class all to themselves - Eighty-Nine Alumni who have maintained their membership in the Eta Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Kappa throughout our first thirteen years. We offer our sincere thanks for their consistent support for all that we have done, are doing, and have yet to do. The Brothers listed below are our “Terrific Thirteen’s” and to them we dedicate this issue of “The THIRD DEGREE”. December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 17

Their Membership in the Eta Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Kappa 342 Brothers TO RENEW of the Eta Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa We need you now. Help us to continue to be the #1 Phi Sig Alumni Association in the usa.

It’s a Numbers Thing... Each July, we open our membership recruitment and renewal campaign. By our calculation, 132 Brothers of the Eta Chapter have passed away since our alumni association was revitalized 13 years ago. Saying goodbye to these Brothers has been very difficult. And, with an eye on maintaining our position as the largest alumni group of Phi Sigs in the nation, replacing these lost members is a daunting task. This year (“Year 13” of our association), 43 Brothers did not renew their membership from “Year 12”. It is also worth noting that, since 2010 (when we revitalized our alumni association): 547 Brothers have held membership in our association at one time or another 390 Brothers have maintained their membership for 9 or fewer years 279 Brothers have maintained their membership for 4 or fewer years 89 Brothers have maintained their membership in each of our 13 years 280 Brothers have graduated/become alumni (the Eta Classes of 2010 - 2023) 286 of the Brothers for whom we have an e-mail address (and who thus may be reading these words) have never joined our alumni association Our alumni association was revitalized in 2010 in order to be of assistance to the effort to re-charter the Eta Chapter. Since then, we have done a lot of stuff. Here are just a few of the highlights: Published 18 issues of an award-winning fullcolor magazine averaging 48 pages in length Hosted an annual Alumni Homecoming Tailgate event (except during COVID) Hosted several very successful Open House and Alumni Reunion events Established and maintained our own Website, Facebook page, Twitter feed and LinkedIn group Been awarded “Alumni Association of the Year” by the Grand Chapter 9 times Raised $139,126.00 for our capital improvement fund - the largest capital improvement fund in the Greek System at UMD Raised over $130,000.00 for our Scholarship Fund (now an “Endowed” scholarship fund) - the largest scholarship fund in the Greek System at UMD Of the 280 alumni who make up the Classes of 2010 through 2023 (since the re-chartering of the Eta Chapter): Only 37 Brothers are active members this year 243 have never joined our alumni association It is with these Brothers in mind, both the dearly departed and the recently graduated, as well as those from all the decades, that we invite ALL the Brothers of the Eta Chapter to step forward and, like the Cavalry of old, charge in the direction of joining our association or renewing their membership - where help is needed the most and only YOU can make a difference. Damn Proud. Eta Alumni Association News 205 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 19

It’s a Numbers Thing...Charts & Graphs Eta Alumni Association News 20 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE

December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 21

Eta Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Kappa 12806 Silverbirch Lane Laurel, MD 20708 301-802-6464 [email protected] http://alumni.psk-eta.com/ OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP REPORT ETA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION “YEAR 13” JULY 1, 2023 - JUNE 30, 2024 Please scan the following list of Brothers who, at one time or another, have been members of our association Look for names in blue (not yet renewed) that you recognize Send an e-mail to [email protected] with the names you recognize - or the years or decades with which you are familiar We’ll send you contact information for each name Drop these Brothers an e-mail or make a call encouraging them to renew their membership! YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! If Your Name is in Blue, It’s Time to Renew! If your name Is not here, please join us and make this your 1st year. 22 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE

Eta Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Kappa 12806 Silverbirch Lane Laurel, Maryland 20708 301-802-6464 [email protected] www.alumni.psk-eta.com Robert P. Haines 1949 Hugh T. Gouldman, Jr. 1950 Warren J. Tripp 1950 Francis E. Harman 1951 William S. Mitchell, Jr. 1951 Bruce P. Smith 1951 James C. Pearson 1952 Allen J. Krowe 1954 Robert A. Margulies 1954 Joseph B. Creegan, Jr. 1956 George H. Harrison 1956 Eugene E. Langellotto 1956 Donald R. Lewis 1956 Carter F. Schwartz 1956 David V. Swann 1956 Walter L. Bohorfoush 1957 Boyd I. W. Bounds 1957 Lowell B. Hinchliffe 1957 Robert S. Locker 1957 Robert C. Pearson 1957 John H. Treadway 1957 Joseph D. Brown 1958 Stewart C. Bushong 1958 Eugene E. Kelley 1958 Robert G. Pemberton 1958 Charles M. Barlow 1959 Wayne H. Bethards 1959 Robert E. Geiger 1959 H. Richard Hodgson 1959 John J. Humbert, III 1959 Calvin T. Hook 1960 Robert M. Payne 1960 Robert A. Yellowlees 1960 Drury G. Bagwell 1961 John P. Bailey 1961 Lance W. Billingsley 1961 Cyril V. Childs 1961 Phillip A. Cole 1961 Lucian S. Heflin, Jr. 1961 David T. Ryan 1961 John L. Towers 1961 John M.C. Willin, III 1961 William B. Binch 1962 Terry H. Chapman 1962 Arthur F. Hermann 1962 Nicholas Limar 1962 Warren B. Wimer, Esq. 1962 Leslie David Young 1962 Edward G. Banks, Jr. 1963 Terry J. Billingsley 1963 Anthony L. Birch 1963 William F. Funk 1963 Richard E. Mellinger 1963 Michael J. Stevenson 1963 Donald J. Ahern 1964 John F. Donnelly 1964 James F. Foley 1964 Robert H. Heller, Jr. 1964 Warren F. Kaufman 1964 Vaughen H. Link 1964 Leonard J. Megby, Jr. 1964 Gerald F. Moentmann 1964 William E. Nichols 1964 Ronald G. Rayne, Esq. 1964 James W. Sullivan 1964 Adrian G. Teel 1964 Nicholas L. Wasileski 1964 Thomas W. Arata 1965 Matthew Arbutina 1965 George H. Buck 1965 Robert F. Haynes 1965 Russell T. McFall 1965 Robert C. Mister 1965 John N. Rever 1965 John P. Smith 1965 Joseph E. Spinella 1965 Elwood V. Stark, Jr. 1965 Albert W. Zahniser, III 1965 Robert A. Berry 1966 Michael A. Grieb 1966 Brian L. Harrington 1966 Joseph E. Smith, Jr. 1966 Robert A. Smolinski 1966 Robert E. Masterson 1967 Dennis W. Sirman 1967 Gregory B. Barber 1968 William H. Brewster 1968 Arthur H. Brzostowski 1968 Denis P. Casey 1968 Robert L. Charamella 1968 Francis N. Denvir 1968 Frederick A. Gawlick 1968 Cecil A. Given, III 1968 Gerald D. Haser 1968 Denis J. King 1968 Roland L. MacDonald 1968 Harry T. Murphy 1968 James L. Myers 1968 William D. Palmer 1968 Cameron C. Stearns 1968 David S. Stofa 1968 Charles F. Trayers 1968 Roland S. Adkins 1969 P. Richard Anderson 1969 James P. Bieber 1969 Thomas G. Gallagher 1969 Harvey J. Gannon 1969 James C. Hyatt 1969 John S. Mathews III 1969 Michael W. Moore 1969 Jack P. Morris 1969 William J. Niziolek 1969 Robert H. Stropp, Jr. 1969 Edward P. Becker 1970 Claude A. Bogley 1970 Louis D. Chacos 1970 Marvin E. Compton 1970 Mark W. McNutt 1970 Stephen L. Miller 1970 David J. Crowley 1971 William J. Furber 1971 Mitchell A. Roffer 1971 David H. Whitehill 1971 Michael P. Dipietro 1972 Raymond J. Filasky 1972 James J. Kirlin, Jr. 1972 Kenneth C. Kohler 1972 Michael S. Tucker 1972 Anthony J. Ambridge 1973 Anthony D. Cina 1973 Russell S. Follin 1973 Kenneth T. Kelley 1973 Leon A. Boulavsky 1975 Philip F. Catania 1975 Theodore M. Fuchs 1975 James H. Lamont 1975 Jack O'Brien 1975 Michael D. Robinson 1975 Bruce W. Beitzer 1976 Heinrich K. Brandt 1976 Stephan H. Burgess 1976 Morgan A. Connor 1976 Thomas G. Dimka 1976 Roy F. Feaga 1976 William B. Gable 1976 Joseph P. George 1976 Willard W. Hennemann 1976 David G. Idas 1976 Kevin M. Kelly 1976 Edwin L. Lamont 1976 Stephan P. Malloy 1976 Daniel S. Newell 1976 John C. Sauer, Jr. 1976 Membership Report - Eta Alumni Association - “Year 13” July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024 KEY: New Members / Renewed Members / Not Yet Renewed * Deceased Todd B. Hoffman ‘82, Secretary J. Victor Alonso ‘13, Treasurer John J. B. Wright, Esq. ‘82, Second Vice President Christopher M. Flood ‘13, First Vice President Joseph E. Criscuoli ‘82, President This report was updated on December 2, 2023

James E. Allen 1977 Eugene A. Atwell 1977 Michael A. Boulavsky 1977 David G. Bourdon 1977 Paul B. Brown 1977 Roger L. Collins 1977 Steven A. Leslierandal 1977 William R. Walsh 1977 Douglas P. Bach 1978 Robert G. Coffman 1978 William R. Gross 1978 Peter F. Madonna 1978 John F. Mattingly 1978 Richard C. McClain 1978 Keith M. Calta 1979 Stephen O. Cooper 1979 William D. Kee 1979 Michael W. Miller 1979 Keith S. Pumroy 1979 Richard A. Brown 1980 Gary A. Fuchs 1980 Michael J. Mondonedo 1980 John B. Ostaffe 1980 Dennis G. Phelan 1980 Matthew R. Smalley 1980 Anthony D. Becker 1981 Guy L. Copperthite 1981 Harry L. Geller 1981 Michael K. Miller 1981 Paul C. Miller 1981 Russell R. O'Haver 1981 William Smith 1981 Steven P. Baker 1982 Mark L. Coppola 1982 Joseph E. Criscuoli 1982 John J. Guthrie 1982 Todd B. Hoffman 1982 John R. Larkin 1982 David E. Lamolinara 1982 Joseph M. Mastrianna 1982 John J. B.Wright, Esq. 1982 Michael G. Albers 1983 Todd M. Lang 1983 Michael L. McGown 1983 Daniel H. Nadash 1983 Michael Reed 1983 John K. Schneider 1983 Robert C. Smith 1983 Albert T. Stultz, Jr. 1983 Brandon S. Wagoner 1983 Greg Young 1983 Gregory P. Zurmuhlen 1983 Lawrence G. Kinsey 1984 Patrick L. McNamara 1984 John W. Meadowcroft 1984 Joseph C. Morton 1984 Max R. Peterson 1984 Clyde E. Taber 1984 David G. Tilley 1984 John M. Arena 1985 John R. Fields 1985 Patrick L. McGeough 1985 John D. McLean 1985 Roberto M. Mondonedo 1985 George L. Peabody 1985 Richard M. Schindel 1985 Tim Vojtasko 1985 David Wildermuth 1985 Jack G. Williams 1985 Ronald J. Williams 1985 Scott D. Crown 1986 Daniel C. Curry 1986 Norb Garrett 1986 Thomas M. Gart 1986 Michael Gold 1986 John A. Hesse 1986 Glenn F. Jaggard 1986 H. Christopher Malone 1986 Michael T. McLean 1986 Glenn E. McNeelege 1986 James Miller 1986 Nicholas D. Mirabile 1986 Gregory Ostaffe 1986 Christopher X. Papariello 1986 John W. Pflugrad 1986 Phillip N. Scott 1986 Robert M. Troyano 1986 Joseph Eric Vinson 1986 Kirk D. Bell 1987 Roger L. Boothe 1987 James A. Charanis 1987 Joseph R. Daiger 1987 Kenneth A. Hall 1987 James P. McNeill 1987 Jeffrey W. Oliu 1987 John H. Parsons 1987 Andrew Rondepierre 1987 Daniel Schnur 1987 Gary F. Smith 1987 Fredrick D. Straub 1987 Stuart A. Turner 1987 James D. Vinson 1987 Jonathan L. Esler 1988 Scott M. Frosch 1988 David P. Henry 1988 Frank J. Isola 1988 Robert W. Lynn 1988 Paul R. McGown 1988 John P. McLane 1988 Thomas V. Miller III 1988 Lawrence W. Neukam 1988 Thomas E. Walters 1988 David M. Zwick 1988 Joseph C. Bryce 1989 Andrew D. Cameron 1989 Craig E. B.. Carter 1989 James M. Deorio 1989 Peter S. Krucoff 1989 Brian E. Le Gette 1989 James W. Lomker 1989 Martin J. Mitchell 1989 Paul J. Pykosh 1989 Louis J. Schwartz 1989 Scott P. Shaul 1989 M. Kemal Tuncer 1989 Gregory P. Collins 1990 Eduardo C. Curlett 1990 Kevin A. Duffy 1990 Jack S. Herling 1990 Michael T. Lawes 1990 Jeffrey W. Lloyd 1990 John P. McPartland 1990 Marcus A. Morissette 1990 Kenneth D. Parr 1990 Eduardo Pena 1990 Michael C. Peterson 1990 Andrew J. Plenn 1990 Lance G. Richardson 1990 Richard M. Schindler 1990 Sorin Schwartz 1990 Naresh G. Sunderraj 1990 Steven M. Weiss 1990 William D. Castleberry 1991 Glenn A. Hall 1991 Bryan C. Kissinger 1991 Jason S. Krucoff 1991 Alan K. Kuwabara 1991 Eric E. Lawver 1991 John T. Lester, Jr. 1991 Richard W. Myers 1991 Young W. Nam 1991 Jeffrey V. Odom, Jr. 1991 Jeffrey M. Rosenberg 1991 David M. Schwartz 1991 Albert R. Shanefelter 1991 David A. Shirey 1991 Daniel J. Soso 1991 Kevin J. Spangler 1991 Christopher R. Sugra 1991 Blake M. Wetzel 1991 Robert W. Williams 1991 Charlie D. Windle 1991 Gary A. Blumberg 1992 Peter A. Gobell 1992 Etan Z. Gopstein 1992 Larry R. Lawrence 1992 John C. Maerz 1992 KEY: New Members / Renewed Members / Not Yet Renewed * Deceased Membership Report - Eta Alumni Association - “Year 13” July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024 KEY: New Members / Renewed Members / Not Yet Renewed A Generous Gift by an Anonymous Brother has been made in Memory of Jim H. Fields, Jr., Esq. - Class of 1985 A Generous Gift by an Anonymous Brother of Six Gift Memberships has been made in Memory of Robert T. Reese - Class of 1976 Sherod M. Cooper - Class of 1977 Donald G. Gies, Jr. - Class of 1978 James L. Blackledge - Class of 1979 Bruce Lars Gordon - Class of 1979 Mark J. Tischler - Class of 1979

Terence S. Masterman 1992 George J. Stathis 1992 Tyson T. Swigart 1992 Stephen A. Borger 1993 Daniel J. Feinstein 1993 Todd E. Lemon 1993 David H. Taub 1993 Jason W. Brafman 1994 Edward E. Brunins 1994 David A. Gertz 1994 Jason T. Grant 1994 Donald J. Kennedy 1994 Andrew B. Krucoff 1994 Eric G. Madden 1994 John T. Neher 1994 Erik Steinman 1994 David P. Trivett 1994 Ryan R. Wagner 1994 Michael Battaglia 1995 Jay B. Gibbon 1995 Henry L. Long 1995 Robert W. Neighoff 1995 Dean P. Pinson 1995 William A. Schwacke 1995 Charles T. Walter 1995 Timothy Radigan 1996 Joseph A. Campanella 1997 Michael P. Di Stefano 1997 Michael J. Fekete 1997 Seth A. Friedman 1997 Joshua Halpern 1997 Christopher M.Heine 1997 James E. Legat 1997 Christopher M. Sheeler 1997 Craig M. Starling 1997 Neel R. Bhattacharjee 1998 Christopher I. LaBonge 1998 Thomas R. McElroy 1998 Dev D. Shah 1998 Peter J. Della-Croce 1999 Scott J. Kline 1999 Michael D. Kautz 1999 Avi BenMoshe 2000 James A Goldstein 2000 Gino A. Miraglia 2000 Jason Gaertner 2002 Christopher P. McBeth 2002 Jonathan Kohen 2003 Michael P. Cator 2010 Nathan I. Blaker 2011 Jonathon Shover 2011 Omer Ad 2012 Zach Boldyga 2012 Sean Bur 2012 Dom Cercone 2012 Jay Gobeil 2012 Zach Gorrell 2012 Eric Harvey 2012 Ryan Kief 2012 Garrett Lewis 2012 Jared Lindenberg 2012 Scott A. Manski 2012 Mark Matovich 2012 Chris Monteil 2012 Miraj Y. Patel 2012 Andrew J. Roberts 2012 Roshan Shah 2012 Steven Albright 2013 J. Victor Alonso 2013 Philip Andemicael 2013 Douglas Astler 2013 Gavin Bedell 2013 Bunty Bhatia 2013 Christopher M. Flood 2013 William Hobson 2013 Scott Hoffman 2013 Jonathan Lee 2013 Ryan Leikin 2013 Seth McCullough 2013 Mark Megaw 2013 Cameron Merriman 2013 Logan Miller 2013 Charles Ng 2013 Keaton Pavier 2013 Cameron Vollmuth 2013 Raymond Bounds 2014 Austin Carroll 2014 William Glatz 2014 Scott Irace 2014 Joseph Keenan 2014 Michael Kroeker 2014 Andrew Macaluso 2014 Brandon Madsen 2014 Noah Mandell 2014 Zachary Neigh 2014 Justin Ohneiser 2014 Eric J. Phelps 2014 Evan Schroeder 2014 Austin Sichling 2014 Yaniv Stern 2014 Eric Struder 2014 Shawn Adams 2015 Joshua Bernstein 2015 Steven Brandt 2015 Rafael Casellas 2015 David Gagner, Jr. 2015 Frank Hackenburg 2015 Michael Hughes 2015 Joshua Lee 2015 Antonio Lulli 2015 Gian Marcano 2015 Zachary McHugh 2015 Nick Pirolli 2015 Alexander Raul 2015 Adam Schnitzer 2015 Matthew Shea 2015 Sean Shiang 2015 Daniel Strauss 2015 Trent Testa 2015 Brian Trainor 2015 Dennis Tran 2015 George Triantis 2015 Kevin Valdivia 2015 Jordan Washer 2015 John L.P. Wright 2015 Alexander Yee 2015 Kevin Zhu 2015 Allen Alfonso 2016 Joseph Ayoub 2016 Michael Barnette 2016 Luke Barsotti 2016 Eli Bergman 2016 Steven Lopez 2016 Daniel Mackey 2016 Nick Martinazzi 2016 Mitchell Parrish 2016 Zachary Portnoff 2016 Nathaniel Rodgers 2016 Jesse Bengel 2017 Michael Cassano 2017 Max Cislo 2017 Ryan Connors 2017 Peter Danis 2017 Zachary Goldman 2017 Paul Hazan 2017 Richard Hodge 2017 Matt Labib 2017 Zachary Lessner 2017 Jared McKee 2017 Santiago Noguera 2017 Brandon Segal 2017 Anthony Starego 2017 Gunnar Terjesen 2017 Brian Tran-Dac 2017 Zachary Yale 2017 Elias Yishak 2017 Kurt Barsotti 2018 Mark Bedanov-Pack 2018 Connor Bell 2018 Hugo Caldwell 2018 Harry Culleton 2018 Benjamin Fleury 2018 Shawn Glabach 2018 Brandon Kao 2018 Michael Kelleher 2018 David Klotz 2018 Robert D. Lewis 2018 Alexander Littlehales 2018 Jordan Riese 2018 Colin Wagner 2018 Michael Berhane 2019 Ryan M. Boyd 2019 Jacob Chavis 2019 Joseph Cipolla 2019 Benjamin Eapen 2019 Liam Fulling 2019 Perry Ganz 2019 Nicholas Garibaldi 2019 Joseph Hathway 2019 Brandon R. Kleinmann 2019 Harrison Kraus 2019 Sebastian Lecha 2019 Brian McKeon 2019 KEY: New Members / Renewed Members / Not Yet Renewed * Deceased Membership Report - Eta Alumni Association - “Year 13” July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024 KEY: New Members / Renewed Members / Not Yet Renewed

Joshua Schnitzer 2019 Tyler Weiss 2019 Nick Abbott 2020 Jacob Boyer 2020 Kyle Chojnacki 2020 James Corley 2020 Tommy Deliso 2020 Dylan Fox 2020 Justin Frankle 2020 Nolan McNeill 2020 Zackery Miller 2020 Naveenkumar Paranthaman 2020 Dylan Redfield 2020 Jack Schemmel 2020 Ryan Scott 2020 Matt Shein 2020 Ethan Winters 2020 Alexander Dulla 2021 Konstantinos Nakas 2021 Ross D. Ward 2021 Antonio Karides ???? * Deceased Eta Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Kappa 12806 Silverbirch Lane Laurel, MD 20708 301-802-6464 [email protected] alumni.psk-eta.com If Your Name is in Blue, It’s Time to Renew. If your name’s not here, please join us. And make this your 1st year. KEY: New Members / Renewed Members / Not Yet Renewed Membership Report - Eta Alumni Association - “Year 13” July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024 KEY: New Members / Renewed Members / Not Yet Renewed OUR GOAL: 400 MEMBERS THIS YEAR !!

JOIN THE ETA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF PHI SIGMA KAPPA YEAR 13 - 07/01/23-06/30/24 - JOIN TODAY!! ACT NOW...IT’S AS EASY AS 1-2-3 I paid via Venmo Send me info on the: PSK Scholarship Fund “Six Columns” Capital Campaign I want to help with: Undergraduate Recruiting Alumni Recruiting Alumni Events Fundraising Alumni Leadership Magazine I do not want to be a member. Remove me from your mailing list. Once complete, and even if you use Clover or Venmo, please mail this document to: Eta Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Kappa / 12806 Silverbirch Lane / Laurel, MD 20708 ACT TODAY!! DON’T MISS OUT ON THE MAGAZINES, E-MAILS, EVENTS, INFO, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!! MAG 18 1About You: ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF “FRATERNITY FOR LIFE” - JOIN THE ETA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION TODAY!! 2 3 Choose How You Would Prefer to Pay Your Dues: Write a Check: Please make your check payable to: “Eta Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Kappa” and mail your check with this document to our address at the bottom of this page. Via Venmo: Use your SmartPhone and the FREE venmo application to send your dues donation to: @Eta-Alumni (you may have to search by e-mail “[email protected]”) Dr. Mr. _____ First Name: _______ M.I.: Last Name: Home Address: City: State: Zip: Home Phone: Cell Phone: Email Address: Spouse: Birthday: No. of Children: Retired from: Currently Employed by: Company: Title: Type of Business: Work Phone: Work E-Mail: There are Internship Opportunities at My Company: Yes No Degrees: Type: __ Major: Year: ____ From: UMD (Other): Type: __ Major: Year: ____ From: UMD (Other): Type: __ Major: Year: ____ From: UMD (Other): This info will not be published, or provided to any party outside of Phi Sigma Kappa Eta Chapter and our National HQ, without your prior approval. Determine Your Dues Donation: Any amount will be most welcome and greatly appreciated. If your gift is $40 or more, we’ll activate your Membership in our association and remit $5 to PSK Headquarters in your name (which will qualify you as a Sustaining Member), retaining just $35 for the operations of our association. FYI - Our average “dues donation” was $72.00 in “Year 12”. My Dues Contribution: $50 $75 $100 $____

New 5-Year Pin Recipients Announced The Association has also distributed a total of 268 Five-Year Membership Pins to Brothers of the Eta Chapter. Here is a listing of the Brothers who recently earned their 5-Year Pin when they renewed their membership for “Year 13.” Eta Alumni Association News Eugene E. Kelley 1958 Robert A. Berry 1966 Dennis W Sirman 1967 Francis N. Denvir 1968 Frederick A. Gawlick 1968 Michael W. Moore 1969 Anthony D. Cina 1973 Kenneth T. Kelley 1973 Philip F. Catania 1975 James P. McNeill 1987 Andrew J. Roberts 2012 Christopher M. Flood 2013 Scott B. Hoffman 2013 Keaton W. Pavier 2013 Robert F. Haynes 1965 Robert L. Charamella 1968 Denis J. King 1968 James J. Kirlin, Jr. 1972 Robert G. Coffman 1978 Joseph R. Daiger 1987 Stuart A. Turner 1987 Scott J. Kline 1999 Luke J. Barsotti 2016 Paul B. Hazan 2017 Robert D. Lewis 2018 Here’s a listing of Brothers who will earn their 10-Year Pin when they renew their membership for “Year 13.” If you recognize a name listed above in black, please drop your Brother a note of congratulations...and thanks. If you recognize a name listed above in red, please “help a Brother in need” and drop a reminder that a pretty attractive little keepsake and memento is available to those who choose to renew. NOTE: Brothers who are interested in acquiring either pin (or both of these pins) are also able to “back-pay” their dues for years when, for whatever reason, they did not, or were not able to, renew their membership. For more information about this, please drop an e-mail to [email protected] New 10-Year Pin Recipients Announced The Eta Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Kappa has distributed a total of 160 commemorative pins celebrating 10 years of membership in our association to Brothers of the Eta Chapter. Here is a listing of the Brothers who recently earned their 10-Year Pin when they renewed their membership for “Year 13.” Donald R. Lewis 1956 John J. Humbert, III 1959 Michael J. Stevenson 1963 William J. Niziolek 1969 Allen S. Kogut 1975 Douglas P. Bach 1978 John J. Guthrie 1982 Michael G. Albers 1983 John A. Hesse 1986 Here’s a listing of Brothers who will earn their 5-Year Pin when they renew their membership for “Year 13.” John H. Treadway 1957 Calvin T. Hook 1960 John P. Smith 1965 Bruce W. Beitzer 1976 Willard W. Hennemann 1976 Keith S. Pumroy 1979 Andrew Rondepierre 1987 William D. Castleberry 1991 Gary A. Blumberg 1992 Peter A. Gobell 1992 Etan Z. Gopstein 1992 Henry L. Long 1995 Eric M. Harvey 2012 Christopher A. Monteil 2012 Douglas Astler 2013 Raymond Bounds 2014 Brandon Madsen 2014 Noah R. Mandell 2014 Eric J. Phelps 2014 Austin Sichling 2014 Alexander T. Raul 2015 Zachary J. Portnoff 2016 Gunnar N. Terjesen 2017 28 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE

GIVE THE GIFT OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE ETA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF PHI SIGMA KAPPA!! GIVE YOUR GIFT TODAY! ...IT’S AS EASY AS 1-2-3 Once complete, please mail this document to: Eta Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Kappa¨ 12806 Silverbirch Lane¨ Laurel, MD 20708 or scan/save and e-mail this document to: [email protected] Name: Class of Home Phone: Cell Phone: Email Address: ACT NOW! Gift Memberships Run July 1st 1 Through June 30th Provide Your Contact Information: 2 Select Your Recipients: Recipient Name: Contribution: Total: Anonymous Gift?: 1. $35.00 $ Yes No 2. $35.00 $ Yes No 3. $35.00 $ Yes No 4. $15.00 $ Yes No 5. $15.00 $ Yes No 6. $15.00 $ Yes No My Total: $ We will remit $5 per gift to our Fraternity’s Headquarters in the name of the recipient (which will qualify them as a Sustaining Member), and entitle them to receive the Signet while they are a paid member. 3 Choose How You Would Prefer to Purchase Your Gifts: YOU CAN HELP US TO BREAK A RECORD - DON’T DELAY - GIVE THE GIFT OF MEMBERSHIP TODAY!! Contact info will not be published, or provided to any party outside of Phi Sigma Kappa Eta Chapter and our International HQ, without your prior approval. The Benefits of Alumni Membership! Award-Winning Magazine Value: $35.00 SIGNET Subscription Value: $25.00 Homecoming Tailgate Value: $35.00 Open House Event Value: $30.00 E-Mail Updates Value: $25.00 Eta Alumni Website Value: $35.00 TOTAL $185.00 Their Cost: FREE Not Sure Who Needs a Gift? If you’d like, the Executive Committee can send you a list of candidates (just shoot an e-mail to [email protected] and ask). We can even select a worthy Brother for you! Instead of filling in names, just write the Class Year or even a Decade from where your gift recipient should be selected and we’ll do the rest! An e-mail will be sent to you informing you of the identity of the recipient(s) of your gift(s). Write a Check: Please make your check payable to: “Eta Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Kappa” and mail your check with this document to our address at the bottom of this page. Via Venmo: Use your SmartPhone and the FREE Venmo app to send your payment to: @Eta-Alumni (you may have to search by e-mail “[email protected]”) 4-Pak: $120 6-Pak: $150 Special Package Pricing! December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 29

Eta Alumni Association News Our Favorite Social Media Posts from 2023 http://alumni.psk-eta.com/join/ https://www.facebook.com/ https://twitter.com/ETAAlumni https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3179975/ 30 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE

Alumni Notes Answering the Call In response to a call from our Editor-in-Chief for “Alumni Notes” for this issue, Brother Lance W. Billingsley ‘61 wrote: “ Hi Joe: I'm not sure what you're asking of me other than to report my continuing efforts to stay out of the obits. I am in touch with Brothers of my era occasionally, but I am a bit limited in the range of my travels. I believe my membership in the alumni club is current and that I have kept Terry, my brother -brother, and Phil Cole out of trouble thus preventing phone calls from the campus police. I hope all is well with you and the history of my term as the pledge master has been destroyed. Lance, a wearer of the Tumbling Tees” Editors Note: Sadly, all records associated with Brother Lance Billingsley’s tenure as Pledge Master were lost in a fire. Just yesterday. In the Editor’s back yard. Lance was a member and past chairman of the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, former member of the Board of Governors of the Maryland State Bar Association, past chairman of the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation, past chairman of the BWI Development Council, past chairman of the Prince George’s County Democratic Party, City Attorney for the City of Hyattsville, MD and, and bond counsel for Prince George’s County and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. And THAT is what starts fires. A Life of Service Brother Morgan A. “Drew” Connor, ‘76 writes: “The weekend of November 4th, 2023 The St Vincent de Paul Society of St Gregory's Catholic Church in Plantation, FL held our 2nd Annual Food Drive. Second only because of a 2 year interruption brought on by COVID. We do the Food Drive to help fill the 14 Food Pantries of various Catholic parishes and organizations in South Florida. We collected nearly 15 tons of non-perishable foods. I had been asked to head up this years collection. In 2022 when we conducted the Food Drive we had about 12 volunteers and collected around 13 tons of food. During this years Food Drive we had well over 40 volunteers and collected much more food plus $2000 to go towards Gift Cards to be used by our "Neighbors in Need" to purchase a Turkey for their Thanksgiving meals. When encountering a homeless person on the street don't turn a blind eye to them, for by the grace of God go I. Instead don't give them money, but instead a snack or water. I have a box of Natures Best Granola bars in my back seat that I handout. Merry Christmas to my Fellow Phi Sigs and Damn proud to be an Active Alumni of Eta Chapter. Editors Note: Drew, We are constantly reminded that our motto “Fraternity for Life” is displayed in so very many ways. Damn Proud of You! Who Did Decide? Brother Steven A. Lopez, ‘16 writes: “Dear Brother Criscuoli, I am writing to give an update that you may or may not want to feature in the upcoming issue of The THIRD DEGREE. In the past year, I have turned 30, I bought a house and have been promoted as a Senior Surgical Neurophysiologist here at the University of Maryland Medical Center. I am also damn proud to say that I work along with Brother Brandon Madsen ‘14 who is an attending anesthesiologist now. I just recently received the Employee of the Month Award for Perioperative Services in July here at UMMC. Damn Proud, Steven “Who Decided That I Should Be in an Operating Room?” Lopez Editors Note: Who indeed. Chapter Eternal - Brother Dr. Vernon M. Briggs, Jr. - Eta Class of 1959 Brother Phillip A. Cole, ‘61 writes: “Losing brother Vernon saddens me greatly. Vernon was two years ahead of me when I pledged Eta Chapter and he was a great example of brotherhood and moral values, and he was a great friend. I have had rare contact with Vernon in the last 50 years but I feel a great sense of loss upon hearing of his death. He symbolized Phi Sig brotherhood for me.” Photo Courtesy of Glenn Jaggard ‘86 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 31

The Eta “Fridge” After nearly 40 years apart, Brother Clyde E. Taber ’84 and Brother Todd M. Lang ’83 have been reunited near Todd’s home in Connecticut. But...how were the eggrolls? Inquiring minds want to know. Brother David M. Schwartz ‘91 seems to be holding a check for over one million dollars. Read the whole story in the “Alumni Notes” section of this issue. This Space, too! This Space for Rent. Ladies and Gentlemen, Brother Francis N. “Bones” Denvir, Eta Class of 1968 32 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE

December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 33

A Tale of Brotherhood BREAKING KRUCOFF NEWS On August 9, 2023, the Eta Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Kappa was pleased to announce that two (2) of the three (3) Krucoff Brothers (Brothers Peter S. Krucoff ‘89 and Jason S. Krucoff ‘91) had renewed their membership in this award-winning organization, the largest group of Phi Sigma Kappa alumni in the nation. The announcement made all the more special this 13th Year since the organization was revitalized in support of the re-colonization of the Eta Chapter at the University of Maryland, College Park. The last time that two (2) of the three (3) Krucoff Brothers were active members of this organization was in "Year 6" - 7 years ago. "7" was the number of the Eta Chapter's home on Fraternity Row at the times when Krucoff Brothers roamed freely in College Park, approximately and pretty continuously from 1986 through 1994. The only time when all three (3) Krucoff Brothers were active members of this organization was in 2010, also known as "Year 1". That was twelve years ago. Twelve being the number of hours on a clock, the Department of Homeland Security was notified that, should all three (3) Krucoff Brothers sign up for membership in "Year 13" that civil unrest of the kind not seen since the January 6th insurrection may indeed be forthcoming. Stay Tuned.... Then, on October 14, 2023, Brother Andrew B. Krucoff ‘94 wrote: “You got me! It finally happened. Cornered under a tailgate tent on a rainy homecoming day, I was (lightly) browbeaten into renewing my long lapsed membership. Mobile phone in hand with the Venmo app open, I feared I would not escape College Park (or even get past the track & field complex) that day unless I went deep. And so I did - a three-figure Triple T hundy on the spot.” Four Krucoffs, including current Eta undergrad alumni chair Brother Alex Krucoff ’26, son of Brother Jason S. Krucoff ‘91, were on hand and photographed commemorating this momentous occasion. Editors Note: Browbeaten is such an unsavory word. We prefer “persuaded”. BTW, the association is now in negotiations with all four Krucoff’s to be on hand at the Open House to sign autographs. Bring cash. . Below: Jason S. Krucoff ‘91, Alex Krucoff ’26, Peter S. Krucoff ‘89 and Andrew B. Krucoff ‘94 gather beneath the Eta homecoming tent to celebrate Andrew’s wise decision. Alumni Notes (cont’d.) 34 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE

And About That Last (printed) Issue… Our Editor-in-Chief received more than one e-mail message about “Issue 16” of our magazine - The Scholarship Issue. Brother David A. Shirey ‘91 wrote: “Joe, Great job on The THIRD DEGREE! One of the best. Liked the story on the pocket watch. Chapter Eternal is sad and getting close to home with some young guys Gary [Albert ‘91] & Chris [Reed ‘89] & Daniel Tatum [’15]. Also liked the story of Arthur Farnham 43. Dude knows that he is going to be drafted after finishing his degree and found Phi Sig along the way. And the write -up about Tom’s Dad [Thomas Vincent (Mike) Miller, Jr. ‘64] was great and had great pics. Thank you.” In response to Brother Shirey, Brother Fredrick D. Straub ‘87 wrote: “Agree, great issue. Damn proud.” Brother Robert G. Pemberton ‘58 wrote: “I just finished your outstanding copy of The THIRD DEGREE and thoroughly enjoyed it. Without a doubt, this was the best issue of The THIRD DEGREE you have put out. Chocked full of interesting info on brothers and fraternity activity. It took me days to read. Thanks for the picture of me and my fellow residents. I was especially impressed by the Chapter Eternal Section and all the work that went into it. If you have an extra copy, can you send one to Nancy Vickers, wife of late brother Grady Vickers? She would enjoy pictures of Vickers in Third Degree. I truly believe this was the finest of your work and we all appreciate it and the great work you have done over the years in making Eta Alumni Association and chapter the success they have become.” Editors Note: Glad to hear that the read was enjoyed. Now, if you only knew how long it took to put it all together. As you do know, the Editor is responsible for notifications sent to our International Headquarters concerning Brothers who have entered the Chapter Eternal. In each case, the Editor also sends a letter of condolence to the next of kin on behalf of the association, signs the on-line “Memory Book” on behalf of the association, prepares and posts announcements to our social media channels (Facebook, X, and LinkedIn), sends an e-mail to the Brothers who graduated with, as well as those who graduated four years before and four years after, the departed, and makes sure that the next of kin receives a copy of the magazine in which the Chapter Eternal presentation about their loved one appears. Complete listings (both alphabetically and by graduation year) of the Brothers of the Eta Chapter who have entered the Chapter Eternal is available to members in good standing upon request. And, finally, you can see all the issues (or, at least the cover arts) on the back cover of this issue. Here’s hoping that you’ll tear off the back cover and slap it on your refrigerator. Thanks, David, Fred and Bob, for your continuous support for all thirteen years of the existence of this association and for all our fraternal endeavors, and for taking the time to write and to be a part of this 18th issue. PEMBERTON STRAUB SHIREY December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 35

Expose Yourself to Fake News In virtually every issue of The THIRD DEGREE, there is something not quite right. Inserted on purpose, just to see if the members in good standing are awake and reading each word, or simply flipping the pages, scanning the titles and looking at the photos, will be some little thing a bit out of whack with reality. The photo on the right (from page 32 of Issue 16) caught an eye or two. Brother Fredrick D. Straub ‘87 wrote: “Not sure who this imposter is but it’s not Snips [“Snips” is the nickname associated with Brother John H. Parsons ‘87, wrongly identified in the image]… the injury looks consistent with a falling USPS mailbox.” We are not sure about the details associated with a “falling USPS mailbox” but the comment received a quick reply from your vigilant Editor-in-Chief: Fred, So, you're telling me, um, either I got the wrong photo - or Snips was not cross-country skiing when I called to shake him down for a donation to the Scholarship Fund? It appears that the next issue may have some kind of correction in it. Well, THAT will be a first. And you are the first to make mention of it. Damn Embarrassed, - Joe To which Brother Straub replied, “Ha. That's Brother Greg Hogan following a tumble he took while we were all skiing in Wyoming. Too funny.” More funny is that it was actually Brother John H. Parsons ‘87 who put together the fake news plant in cooperation with your Editor-in-Chief, and that Parsons was actually cross-country skiing when the Editor-in-Chief reached him by phone for the purpose of soliciting a donation to our Endowed Scholarship Fund. Not so funny is that Brother Greg Hogan is not a member in good standing and may never see this at all. Surely a cautionary tale for all those whose names appear in blue, or not at all, in our Membership Report located elsewhere in this issue. Out of the Blue In response to our remembrance on Facebook of Brother George Dwight Mock, Jr. ‘57, his daughter, Elizabeth Mock, wrote: “I am overcome with emotion seeing this remembrance of my sweet dad; my hero. It's so heartwarming to see he is still thought of by those who knew him. When I was in high school, he took me to College Park - Fraternity Row. He knocked on the door of the frat house and asked the young man who answered if he could show his daughter inside. As a teenager, I was just excited to be where St. Elmo's Fire had been filmed. Today, it's a cherished memory shared with my dad where I got to have a little glimpse of his college days at University of MD. If his Phi Sigma Kappa brothers are ever at Arlington National Cemetery, they will find him resting in Section 81, appropriately situated behind the Marine Corps Chapel.” You can see Elizabeth’s heartfelt tribute to her Father in the Chapter Eternal section of this issue. Alumni Notes (cont’d.) IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO COULD HELP TO RECRUIT ADDITIONAL MEMBERS FOR YOUR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PLEASE SEND AN E-MAIL TO: [email protected] 36 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE

Or One Could Play the Lottery (part 1) In virtually every issue of The THIRD DEGREE, there are tales of miraculous achievements. And most of these items are actually true! Here’s one: Congratulations to Brother Robert E. "Bat" Masterson, ‘67, a co-owner of "National Treasure", the winner of the 148th Preakness Stakes. "Bat" is a generous donor to both our Capital and Scholarship funds and 13-year member of your Eta Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Kappa! https://sports.yahoo.com/national-treasure-ownersexcited-victory-234430172.html Robert Masterson is the owner of 2015 Breeders' Cup Mile winner Tepin, a filly who beat the boys in that race and won three other graded stakes for the year, finishing 2015 with five wins and a pair of second-place finishes from seven starts, clinching the Eclipse Award for champion turf mare. Other graded stakes winners owned by Masterson include Another, Sheets and Nefertini. Masterson is a retired CEO of several worldwide computer services corporations after getting his start in the same field in Nebraska, where he first ran horses at the now-defunct Ak-Sar-Ben race course. He grew up going to tracks in Maryland. December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 37

Or One Could Play the Lottery (part 2) Brother David M. Schwartz ‘91 writes: “I fish every summer out of Ocean City, MD on a 60’ Sportfish called the Reel Tight. The boat is owned and captained by a friend of mine and our crew is a bunch of guys who all have regular jobs with a passion for offshore fishing. We fish 4 major tournaments every year and the White Marlin Open (WMO) is the biggest one. The WMO is the largest and richest billfish tournament in the world with total prize money reaching 10 million dollars in recent years. Each year hopes are high that we will win big and last year we were in first place for two days until we were knocked down the leaderboard several times later in the week. With the taste of that success the team was full of confidence this year. This was our 3rd tournament of the summer and we had done well in the previous two. The tournament is a 5-day event (Monday through Friday), and each boat can only fish 3 of the 5 days. 2023 was the 50th anniversary of the tournament and so there was a buzz this year that was just a step up from previous years. 400 boats registered with over 3,500 anglers participating. Sunday before the tournament arrived and we were busy doing all our regular tournament prep when our captain pulled me aside inside the salon to show me a new lure he had just purchased for the tournament. He was unusually excited about this lure as he had seen this specific lure catch many Big Eye tunas on YouTube videos. Big Eye Tuna is our targeted species for this tournament most years. Monday morning came and we steamed 3 hours to the canyon in which we wanted to fish and at 8am lines were sent overboard. The “special” lure was sent out on our left flat line. Within 20 minutes that rod was down and tight with a Big Eye. 20 minutes into the tournament and the lure had already produced. Our main angler for bigger tournament fish settled into the fighting chair anticipating a long fight but it was not to be. 10 minutes into the fight the line snapped. When the line was reeled back in, the lure was gone. We speculated that the fish had swallowed the lure entirely and the line itself chaffed off on the tuna’s sharp teeth. Devastating. Not only did we lose a huge fish that could have been worth a lot of money, but we also lost the lure in which we were so confident. Prior to the season we purchased and installed a Starlink Satellite (thanks Elon Musk) so that we could have internet and cell service while offshore. I immediately began scouring the web for a replacement lure in hopes of buying one and maybe getting it in time for the last one or two days of the tournament. After striking out on 4 different sites I had to break the bad news to my captain. He told me to try one more site…Capt. Harry’s Fishing Supply in Miami, FL. Thankfully they had one…in fact, they had 2 in stock! I immediately purchased them both and paid for expedited shipping. 30 minutes later I checked my email and noticed that on the confirmation they were being shipped to my home address instead of my beach address. Oh no! I reached out to customer service and explained the situation. Thankfully, they were able to re-route the order to the correct address and offered me overnight service for a few extra bucks which was not available on the website. Sure enough, they showed up the very next day which was a lay day (non-fishing day) for us. Fishing was slow on Monday so we decided to sit out Tuesday and Wednesday in hopes that fishing would improve by Thursday or Friday. Our calculations were right as the fishing got hot Thursday with lots of fish weighed and some big ones posted. The biggest tuna on the board was a 247.5lb Big Eye which is a huge fish. We caught some fish on Thursday but not the right one. Friday came and our favorite lure was deployed again in its same spot. Just before 9am….bam and bam! 2 fish on at once. We got a look at both fish early in the fights and we knew one of them was a monster. As fate would have it, that monster was on the lure that we purchased and had overnighted. We got the smaller fish in after about 30 minutes and measured it while our main angler continued fighting the bigger one. We estimated that first fish to be about 170lbs. Nice fish but not a tournament winner. After an hour of fighting, the fish was still green and not ready to give up, but we got him close to the boat. We had one shot, and we could not afford to miss as these fish can break off at any moment. My captain grabbed the leader and pulled the fish close to the boat and I reached over and stuck a gaff in him and held on for dear life. We were able to get a second gaff in him and it took 4 of us to get him over the rail and into the boat. We knew right away this fish was at least 250lbs. We had caught a 256lb Big Eye the year before and we felt this one was bigger. We fished for about another hour or so then decided to head in to be first at the scales when they opened. Word had spread that we had a monster on board, and we had heard over the radio that 2 other boats were fighting huge blue marlin. Friends and family had all driven to the scales to be there for our arrival. The crowd was bigger than I had ever seen in all my Alumni Notes (cont’d.) 38 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE

years attending and fishing the WMO. It was incredible to hear the crowd cheering for us as we tied up to the dock. The dockhands pulled our fish off the boat and hooked it up to the hoist on the scale. We all are waiting anxiously for the digital scale to stop moving and when it did, the crowd went nuts. Everyone was screaming hugging and congratulating each other as the scale read 265 lbs!!! The last fish weighed on the final day of the tournament was a 640.5lb Blue Marlin that took first place and 6.2 million dollars. Our fish was good enough for First Place Tuna and a check of 1.09 million bucks. Of the 400 boats that participated, only 25 cashed a check of any amount. A day and week I will never forget.” Chapter Eternal - Brother John P. Scancarella - Eta Class of 1963 Brother Robert F. Haynes ‘65 wrote: “John Scancarella was a big part of why I pledged Phi Sigma Kappa. He was president when I rushed and he and the Rever brothers and a few others were the epitome of the kind of person I wanted to become. Their leadership, both within the house and across the entire university, set the pattern for great success for the chapter the entire time I was at Maryland. I was proud to be in the fraternity of which he was a leader.” And Brother Lucian S. “Buzz” Heflin, Jr. ‘61 wrote: “We lived in New Jersey for a couple of years, and used John and his medical practice partner as our family doctors. After we moved to Pittsburgh I lost track of him until the alumni association got going. He was a good doctor and a fine brother.” Brother Phillip A. Cole ‘61 wrote: “John Scancarella was a great friend and fraternity brother. His passing is cause for great sadness. I graduated with the class of '61 but stayed in touch while I was in law school. I deeply regret the sadness his death brings to his family. Life is temporary but memories are not. John will live in the memories of his family and his brothers.” And Brother Edward G. Banks, Jr. ‘63 wrote: “I shared a 3-man room for 2 years at the old Phi Sig house at No. 7 Fraternity Row, the center of the horseshoe. You get to know people living in a fraternity house; to the power of 10 when it’s 3 in 1. John knew everybody in the Greek system, and almost everybody on campus. He definitely knew every female on campus. If there had been an ACC competition for the most popular male on campus, at least in ’62 and ’63, John would have won at Maryland. We could have entered him in the year-end tournament and John would have taken it into overtime. But we would still have lost to Duke, and the guy from Duke would soon have been following John around by the end of the week. Our senior year, John, Brother Joe Smyles and I blew out of College Park, heading for New Orleans and Mardi Gras in George Ralph’s new 1962 Thunderbird. John assumed the Ferris Bueller role, Smyly and me our customary Jax beer roles, with musical girls who remembered our names. Of course we stayed too long. We missed too many classes. John successfully negotiated some excused absences from gullible and vulnerable instructors. I successfully negotiated nothing and fooled nobody. My Law of the Press instructor failed me for excess absences. John’s mother and father had welcomed us with homemade antipasto at his Clifton, NJ home. The three of them were clearly the source of his strengths. Terry Billingsley got us together a few times over the last 10 years and it was delightful to see John and Karol’s success and happiness. After almost 82 years he remains one of the most likable and interesting people I ever knew. And I keep him in a deep pocket of my heart.” December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 39

Quite the Reply In response to our recent request that Eta Alumni Join or Renew for Year 13, we received a special response from Brother Albert R. Shanefelter ’91. With his permission, we are Damn Proud to share his words with you: Done!!! Get on board Brothers and let's make the 2nd Half of '23 (including Homecoming) and the 1st Half of '24 ours!My family doesn’t have much these days but we always have funds for what's important. DAMN PROUD!! My family and I have been blown away by the overwhelming love, encouragement, and support of the Phi Sigma Kappa Eta Chapter Brotherhood over the past 18months.Especially through the darkness and despair of the worst days on top of the crushing reality of living with TN (trigeminal neuralgia) and a never-ending stream of ridiculous medical costs of fighting Stage4 prostate cancer #NOQUIT #NEVERGIVEUP #NEVERGIVEIN We got this! #strongertogether #cancerKILLA. I will right this ship and, mark my words, before I’m done we will use this journey as a FORCE for GOOD. My Plan is 3 fold: 1) Global Best Selling Author - as a resiliency expert, I penned a chapter for the forthcoming '23 version of the Experts Cure due out by Labor Day. My own book "the Battle Proven Path to Living Better TODAY" is moving on a slower track but stay tuned for updates I will get it done and launched in 2H '23 2) World Renowned Inspirational Public Speaker - going through public speaker training now. They believe a TEDx talk is a slam dunk and just booked my very first public speaking gig down in St Aug in Sept with Meeting Planners Intl, which is an on ramp to more gigs. BAM!! 3) Adaptive Golf Champion - my mobility has degraded but found I can still twist, turn and smack that ball. ADJUST --> ADAPT --> PLAY --> LEARN -- > REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT Turns out using the Handicap flag saves a ton of energy and golf comes with a built in cane (flip the club and BOOM I'm good). Was so proud to represent Maryland, UMD and PSK at both the 2023 PGA US Disabled Golf Championship - finished 5th in SportClass8 neuro impairment - and just back from Pinehurst at the 2023 USGA Adaptive Open Championship where I was the 2nd alternate. Only 1 got called up so the USGA & Pinehurst put on a 54-hole side event across #5, #7 #8 for the rest of us alternates who showed up ready to play. This guy tied for first BAM!! The best loser hahahaha Although, we had a blast! Playing in the early morning then at the main event cheering on our adaptive brothers and Sistas and hanging around the bar on the 18th green of #2 as the North South Amateur players came through. As well side afternoon games on the par3 Cradle and the 18hole Thistle Dhu putting course that comes with built-in drink holders. I even made the local paper down there sporting my loud and proud Uncle Sam's nephew 'Merica get up. If you haven't ever seen one of these adaptive golf events, you must go. I play with guys with one arm, one leg, no legs, paralyzed from the waist down, little guys (dwarfs?) and Neuro challenged folks like me that are scratch golfers. Hitting 280+ bombs. Overall winner at the USGA was -1 of 54 holes on #6 in the 90+ heat and 90+ humidity and that was with a double bogey on the final hole. What the what? My goal is to play in one of the US Adaptive Golf Association ranking recognized tournaments around the US each month. I'm always looking for sponsorship (travel costs, clubs, training equipment, gear, braces etc). Individual, corporationsp or organizations are all welcome. Still putting together packages so ping me directly if interested. BeStrong, BeWell and BeKind 3Bs to Be Unstoppable Let's GO!!! Cheers and join or renew your membership today, it's literally 3-4 clicks. Damn Proud, Brother Albee Shanefelter, Eta Class of 1991 [email protected] 301-717-8286 Resiliency Expert Chief Cancer Killer Chronic Pain Warrior Author & Speaker Adaptive Golfer Public Safety Officer Founder of 3Bs.org Alumni Notes (cont’d.) 40 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE

Into the Vault In response to a request from the International Headquarters of Phi Sigma Kappa and the Grand Chapter, your Eta Alumni Association packed up the items shown in the photo above and stroked the required check need to place these items into a commemorative time capsule. Included is a souvenir button (far right) and a length of the commemorative ribbon (background) that was cut at the very first Eta Chapter Open House. Also included were a 5-Year and a 10-Year membership pin. The problem is that our Alumni President can’t remember what he had for breakfast, let alone when the time capsule will be opened. So, we guess stay tuned for some great and glorious time capsule opening somewhere in your future. Expose Yourself to (More) Art Here is a follow-up to an item in our last issue. (lower left) Thirty-plus years in the making, “River Valley” is a 24” x 20” acrylic painting on a prestretched canvas. (lower right) “Patrol Pals” is a 28” x 22” painting executed in acrylic paint on a pre-stretched canvas. The paintings are the work of our Editor-in-Chief, Brother Joseph E. Criscuoli ‘82 . You can see more at www.JosephCriscuoli.com December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 41

WANTED: Eඍൺ Cඈආඉඈඌංඍൾඌ We're looking to complete our collection of Eta Chapter Composites. We Need: Anything 1951 or earlier 1954 1979 - 2023 Brother, Can You Help Us? If you have any of the needed composites listed above, please do one of these two things: 1. scan the image and e-mail it to [email protected] or 2. mail the item to “Eta Alumni Association of Phi Sigma Kappa” at 12806 Silverbirch Lane / Laurel, MD 20708. Your item will be scanned and your original will be mailed back to you. 42 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE

Homecoming Tailgate 2023 - Once More... ...with a nod to St. Crispin’s Speech from Henry V - by John J. B. Wright, Esq. ‘82 and William Shakespeare The word went out; “Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;” And Phi Sigs, Eta Alumni, gathered again on the scholarly grounds of our Alma Mater. This day was called the feast of Homecoming. He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, Will stand on tip-toe when the day is named, And rouse him at the name of Terrapin. So, once again, with great zeal and anticipation, not to mention drizzle and rain, Many Phi Sig alumni gathered under the Eta Alumni Homecoming tent and Banner. Conversations could be heard and all sounded a familiar tone. He that shall live this day as a Phi Sig undergrade, and see old age, Will yearly on this Homecoming day join with his Brothers and say ‘Today is Maryland Homecoming:’ Then will he strip his memories’ sleeve and show his scars. And say ‘These wounds I had on forged on past Homecoming day.’ Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot, But Phi Sig Alumni will remember with advantages What feats he did those days gone by: then shall our Brother’s names. Familiar in our mouths as household words, Phillip of Catania ‘75, Cecil the Given ‘68, Steven the Baker ‘82 H. Christopher of Malone ‘86 Andrew of Plenn ‘90 Kevin the Spangler ‘91 Stephen the Borger ‘93 and Steven of Lopez ‘16 Were in our flowing cups freshly remember’d. As was this day, the story of current undergrade, Alex Krucoff ‘26, who had the honor of welcoming back three other members of his family, Phi Sig all; His Father, Jason S. Krucoff ‘91, an Uncle on time, Peter S. Krucoff ‘89 and an Uncle somewhat delayed Andrew B. Krucoff ‘94. (continued on yonder next page) December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 43

Homecoming Tailgate 2023 - Once More... (L to R) Larry Neukam, Jim McNeill, Glenn Jaggard, John Parsons, Kevin Spangler, Chris Malone, Andrew Plenn, Peter Krucoff. These stories shall the good man teach his son; And Homecoming shall ne’er go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remember’d; We few, we happy few, we band of Phi Sig brothers; As a few brave souls ventured forth to brave the rain and cheer on their fighting Terps to a hopeful victory this Homecoming Day against the woeful Ilini. So that they may celebrate the Terrapins becoming Bowl eligible. While, those warm with the memories and presence of their Brothers from days gone by, remained under the Eta Alumni Homecoming tent, swapping stories, updating the news and admiring the Maryland Cheerleaders Alumni Tent. Needless to say, there was more ‘celebrating’ and good cheer under the Tent, as the Terrapin faithful would have to wait another 4 weeks for a win to earn a Bowl spot. For he to-day that sheds his memories with me Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition: And gentlemen in remaining in their homes now a-bed Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That gathered with us upon this Homecoming day. (Literary credit to : WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE) 44 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE

http://alumni.psk-eta.com/join/ https://www.facebook.com/ https://twitter.com/ETAAlumni https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3179975/ December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 45

The generous donations of our alumni have made possible tremendous improvements in our Chapter House – and continuing to make these improvements will make it possible for our active members to compete for new members and become more widely known as the finest fraternity at the University of Maryland. We began raising funds in earnest just three days after the Eta Colony was re-chartered. Since then, over one hundred and eighty Brothers have donated generously. You can join these Brothers right away. Learn more about the Six Columns Fund, and make the commitment to build a better Chapter House by visiting our website at: http://alumni.psk-eta.com/giving-back/sixcolumns/ The “Bullet Points” for this fund are: $139,126.00 Raised To-Date Tax-Deductible* Contributions to the “Six Columns” Fund are still being accepted. Exclusive Naming Rights in the Chapter House are Still Available !! Make a Pledge and Take Up to 3 Years to Complete Your Donation. Dial 301-802-6464 to Discuss Your Gift and Claim Your Naming Right. Perfect for Eta Classes, Associate Classes, and Memorial Dedications! Our Campaign - by the Numbers * Gifts in support of the University of Maryland are accepted and managed by the University of Maryland College Park Foundation Inc., an affiliated 501c(3) organization authorized by the Board of Regents. Gifts are tax deductible as allowed by law. Please consult your tax advisor. Donations by Eta Class 1985 $13,700.00 1963 $11,250.00 1962 $7,975.00 1986 $7,650.00 1957 $7,000.00 1964 $5,680.00 1958 $5,275.00 1982 $5,200.00 1973 $5,100.00 1961 $5,000.00 1960 $4,950.00 1977 $4,950.00 1956 $4,700.00 1981 $4,450.00 1965 $3,800.00 1987 $3,491.00 1954 $3,400.00 1959 $3,350.00 1966 $3,065.00 1970 $3,000.00 1979 $2,650.00 1952 $2,200.00 1980 $2,200.00 1984 $2,050.00 Non-Eta $2,050.00 1955 $1,900.00 1976 $1,900.00 1968 $1,650.00 1975 $1,490.39 1953 $1,100.00 1967 $1,100.00 1978 $1,100.00 1971 $700.00 1989 $700.00 1950 $640.00 1994 $550.00 1999 $500.00 1951 $400.00 1969 $300.00 1990 $300.00 1992 $150.00 1945 $100.00 1988 $100.00 1991 $100.00 1997 $100.00 1983 $50.00 1995 $50.00 Donations by Decade 40’s 1 $100 50’s 41 $29,965 60’s 56 $44,780 70’s 25 $20,890 80’s 41 $39,591 90’s 8 $1,750 00’s 0 $0 10’s 0 $0 Non-Eta 9 $2,050 Missing in Action... These Eta Classes have not yet made their first donation: 1972 1974 1993 1996 1998 2000 2001 2002 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Will You Be First in Your Class? Top-Ranked Chapter House Funds 1. PSK Six Columns Campaign Fund 2. Alpha Chi Omega Chapter House Fund 3. Beta Theta Pi Chapter House Fund Maintaining Our “Castle on the Row” 46 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE

December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE 47

In March of 2017, the Phi Sigma Kappa Scholarship Fund was unveiled, designed to assist undergraduate members of the Eta Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa at the University of Maryland. The fund was created by the Eta Alumni Association and the Eta Housing Corporation, in accord with the University of Maryland College Park Foundation - just like the "Six Columns Fund" - to which some of our members have already been most generous. And, like the "Six Columns Fund" the Phi Sigma Kappa Scholarship Fund is monitored by the Eta Alumni Association and the Eta Housing Corporation. The Division of Student Affairs Development Staff at the University of Maryland collects and evaluates essays, written by the undergraduate members of Phi Sigma Kappa who seek to earn scholarship awards from this fund. The Eta Alumni Association and the Eta Housing Corporation determines the annual "theme" for the essays, and reviews and approves the evaluation of the essays done by the Division of Student Affairs Development Staff at the University of Maryland. As a result of our first 7Giving Day appeals, we have raised almost $135,000 and reached “endowment” status - enabling distribution of scholarships to Eta Chapter undergrads in perpetuity without any reduction in the “endowed” amount. On our 8th Giving Day (March 6, 2024) we hope that each of our members will make a taxdeductible* contribution and help us to reach our NEW goal of $200K. Why not join with Brothers from many different decades, all of whom want to aid in the efforts to create scholarship opportunities for the members of the Eta Chapter by contributing to The Phi Sigma Kappa Scholarship Fund, and to support improvements to the Chapter House through the Six Columns Fund. You can read more about this fund, the terrific success we have encountered to-date, and both ways to “Give Back” when you visit http://alumni.psk-eta.com/giving-back/ Top-Ranked Chapter Scholarship Funds 1. Phi Sigma Kappa Scholarship Fund 2. Phi Kappa Tau Terrapin Scholarship 3. Sigma Nu Fraternity Scholarship 4. Kappa Alpha Order Fund 5. Alpha Epsilon Phi Scholarship Fund 03/06/24 Could be Another Big Day! 03.06.24 *Gifts in support of the University of Maryland are accepted and managed by the University of Maryland College Park Foundation Inc., an affiliated 501c(3) organization authorized by the Board of Regents. Gifts are tax deductible as allowed by law. Please consult your tax advisor. Looking Forward to Our 8th Big Day of Fundraising on March 6, 2024! OUR GOAL FOR 03.09.23: REACH OUR NEW GOAL OF $200K PSK Scholarship Fund Donations by Year 2017 $8,712.00 2018 $4,413.00 2019 $7,344.60 2020 $26,230.20 2021 $11,485.29 2022 $68,745.00 2023 $7,937.63 Total $134,867.72 (Total does not include contest winnings) 48 December 2023 The THIRD DEGREE