The Edward R. Solvibile Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor awarded to a Fraternity brother and is voted on by the National Fraternity’s Board of Trustees. The award recognizes brothers who have demonstrated outstanding service and leadership for the betterment of Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity.

Phi Kappa Theta’s Distinguished Service Award was renamed in honor of Brother Solvibile in 2023.

2023 Recipient

KEVIN J. LAMPE

School: Western Illinois University
Chapter: Illinois Kappa Mu
Graduated: 1983

In 1979, Lampe joined Phi Kappa Theta at Western Illinois University. As a collegiate, Lampe served as his chapter’s president, recruitment, and chapter installation chair, as well as ritual chair. He began his service to the National Fraternity on the Undergraduate Advisory Council (UGAC) in 1980. First elected to the Fraternity Board in 1999, he served as National Fraternity President from 2009 to 2011. Lampe currently serves on the Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity Foundation Board of Trustees.

Lampe is recognized internationally as a political strategist, media/speech trainer, and media relations expert. He co-founded Kurth Lampe Worldwide, a strategic communications firm with clients across the United States, Europe, and Africa. He is well-known as a crisis manager helping his clients through difficult and complex situations.

In his career, he has worked on campaigns from US Presidents to local school boards. A few of his clients include civil rights icon Rosa Parks, former President Barack Obama, and President Joe Biden.

RECIPIENTS

  • 2023: Kevin J. Lampe (Western Illinois University, '83)

  • 2015: Michael T. McSweeney (Northern Illinois University, '61)

  • 2010: Stephen J. Hollander (Kansas State University, '82)

  • 2003: James F. Dickow (Purdue University, '65)

  • 1997: Edward R. Solvibile (Temple University, '63)

  • 1993: Gregory E. Stein (City College of New York, '70)

  • 1992: Anthony R. Zinnante (University of Houston, '62)

  • 1991: Leo Patrick Hays (Oklahoma State University, '53)

  • 1989: Michael A. Duplantier (Loyola University, '68)

  • 1989: Robert S. Bailey (Purdue University, '52)

  • 1984: Rev. J. Raymond Favret (The Catholic University of America, '57)

  • 1979: Edward J. Kirchner (The Ohio State University, '35)

  • 1977: Charles H. Meyers, Jr. (University of Cincinnati, '39)

  • 1975: Ronald F. Becker (Missouri University of Science and Technology, '50)

  • 1974: George V. Uihlein, Jr. (Worcester Polytechnic Institute, '45)

  • 1973: Dr. Earl A. Reynolds (The University of Mississippi)

  • 1972: Rev. Vincent A. Lawless (University of New Hampshire, '66)

  • 1970: William A. Hoffman, Jr. (Lehigh University, '51)

  • 1970: Helen G. Stone

  • 1969: Rev. Christian H. Malone (University of Georgia, '65)

  • 1969: Frank S. Flick (University of Illinois, '27)

  • 1969: Rudolph A. Damico (Case Western University, '48)

  • 1967: Rev. Edward J. Weisenberg, S.J.

  • 1967: Rev. James A. McInerney, O.P. (Northern Illinois University, '68)

  • 1966: Joseph A. Zimmerman (The University of Arizona, '60)

  • 1965: Joseph L. Osberger (The Ohio State University, '35)

  • 1965: Frank L. Chinery (University of Kansas, '16)

  • 1965: William R. Grogan (Worcester Polytechnic Institute, '46)

  • 1965: Dexter L. George (University of Houston, '56)

  • 1964: Jerome S. Koehler (University of Kansas)

  • 1963: William C. Zeuger, Jr. (Penn State University, '32)

  • 1963: Pierre F. Lavedan (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, '20)

MMcSweeney18B.jpg

Past recipients; Greg Stein (CCNY, '70) (left), Edward R. Solvibile (Temple University, '63) (middle left), Mark McSweeney (NIU, '88) (middle right) and Stephen J. Hollander (Kansas State, '82) (right).

Mark McSweeney (NIU, '88) accepted the 2015 D.S.A. award on behalf of his father, Michael T. McSweeney (NIU, '61), who passed away in 2015.