National President, Doug Dilling to Speak Friday 10/23

The L.E.A.D. SERIES is an event hosted by Evolution of Leadership, where leaders and entrepreneurs from a diverse range of industries are invited on the Evolution of Leadership Platform as guest speakers to empower enthusiasts of leadership and entrepreneurship by sharing their personal leadership journey.⁠ ⁠

Our National President, Doug Dilling, is a featured speaker at this event!

To show our support, the first 10 brothers to use the code: PKT100 will be registered for FREE. ⁠

Click here to register.

A Legacy of Leadership

Excellence has its ripple effects. And today, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Jeb Vavak’s dedication to excellence is echoing in the lives of the chapter brothers to whom he’s passed the baton of leadership.

From left to right: back row, Caston Stack 17, Cole Jedlicka 20, Jeb Vavak 19, Brenden Owens 19, Father Robert Matya,NE-Pi chaplain and founder, President Adrian Gonzalez

Front row, Cameron Downey 22, Joshua Froeschl 20, Ian Wollway, 22, Jacob Sullivan 21, Jacob Baumert 20

This past spring, as president, Brother Vavak accepted the Founder’s Cup for Phi Kappa Theta’s most outstanding chapter. He credits others with helping him bring Nebraska Pi to new heights. Specifically, he points to Dr. Michael Brown’s guidance during the Foundation’s IMPACT 18 (revamped Regional Leadership Conferences), along with his chapter’s campus chaplain.

“I think we’ve been a good, strong chapter as far as programming. But a couple years ago we were struggling with members not living in the house in their junior and senior years. That hurt us financially.”

Jeb had been attending the Regional Leadership Conferences, and says that since the introduction of curriculum by DMB, it’s become transformational. “I got really excited after IMPACT 18 to take on more leadership roles. It is evident to me that the national fraternity really does care about our development.”

Coupled with suggestions from the Nebraska Pi chaplain, Jeb introduced changes to inspire more brothers to live in the house. A spring “Signing Day” ceremony, coupled with discussions about the importance of sustaining their in-person daily bond, made a big difference. “Last fall, we filled the house to capacity. And that allowed us to finally start focusing on more of our goals – the pillars that matter most.”

For Brother Vavak, chief among the fraternity’s pillars is the SPIRITUAL.

“I am proud to be part of an organization that embraces and values spiritual development. A new curriculum called Beyond Belief, developed by the Fraternity, is another great example of Phi Kappa Theta investing in developing well-rounded, passionately driven men. I believe this dedication will allow us to truly distinguish ourselves as the premier organization for developing servant leaders who passionately serve society, Fraternity, and God.”

Brother Vavak commends alumni for their generous support of the Phi Kappa Theta Foundation’s educational initiatives that promote and encourage excellence at every level.

Jeb Vavak graduated in 2019 after serving Nebraska Pi Chapter as President, Philanthropy Chairman and Recruitment Assistant. He has accepted a missionary role with Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) beginning this fall at the University of Washington-Seattle. Brother Vavak was involved with FOCUS at Nebraska. He looks forward to hosting Bible studies, forming committed disciples, leading mission trips, and engaging with students by inviting them into a community of people who share similar values.

The Evolution of Leadership

by Nathan Dorer
RPI, ‘18

Brother Angel Roman (California State University - Dominguez Hills) speaking

Brother Angel Roman (California State University - Dominguez Hills, ‘20) found his passion for leadership in the form of community advocacy.

Through his roles in the campus Peace Club and the professional society Pro World Life, Roman found himself in communities focused on bringing about social change.

However, Roman found himself questioning why so much of the leadership community was targeted towards Higher Education and working professionals.

In an effort to make the empowerment of leadership platforms available to a more general public, Roman created the conference Evolution of Leadership, with the mission of awakening motivation and inspiration within demographics that have typically not been represented in leadership conferences.

Evolution of Leadership provides attendees with skills to become managers and business owners, as well as opportunities to connect with industry leaders. Through this, Roman hopes that he can empower people to achieve their personal goals.

Roman credits Phi Kappa Theta with much of his inspiration for Evolution of Leadership; he currently serves as Vice President of his chapter, and stated that his experience in the Fraternity has challenged his leadership in a way that it had never been challenged before.

Phi Kappa Theta has been key in his development of a mindset of continuous self improvement, and he has worked to extend that mindset toward the community at the Dominguez Hills colony.

His role within the house demands that he target his leadership to allow people to achieve their highest potential, and has contributed to his personal development as a student and a professional. “I’m more organized as a person,” Roman said, “I wake up every morning and reflect on what needs to happen in the next day.”

For Roman, the Fraternity comes as an entity that allows members to achieve their best.

In the future, Roman hopes that Phi Kappa Theta will allow him the resources and opportunities to develop Evolution of Leadership into a larger entity with an even broader scope of impact.

Why Conferences Are NOT Worth It

Are Conferences Really Worth the Cost?

by Nicholas Reid
University of Iowa, ‘21

From left to right: Nic Reid, Dr. Michael Brown, and Isaac Kracht at the Naperville BBLA.

Usually people see conferences as a waste of a weekend. Time spent away from their normal, fun weekends. In all honesty, who wants to sit in a meeting all weekend?

Many members of a fraternity would rather stay home, spend the weekend with their friends and have a good time. What people don’t understand is actually how enjoyable Phi Kappa Theta conferences are.

By having the opportunity to attend our weekend meetings, whether regional or National, I have learned more about myself and have been able to change my life for the better.

The first time I went to a Phi Kappa Theta conference was last August in Orlando. I had recently finished my freshman year, was working full time, taking summer classes and having to finish writing our petition to charter.

My first thought was, “I am the only one who can go to this meeting and how in the world am I going to find the time and money?” The answer of time was helped by my boss, who allowed me to take two days off (when I really wasn’t suppose to have any days off) to go to Orlando. The money aspect was funded by our alumni, who I am so thankful to this day that they did. It seemed as if there was a reason, an outside force that wanted me to go to Orlando, and I am so grateful I got the opportunity.

Travel became a hassle to arrive at Orlando (I had a total of 7 hours of delay), so I unfortunately missed the opening on Friday. The next day, I entered the room with no idea of who anyone was, as I was the only representative from the University of Iowa there (which is the best school in Iowa, but that’s another article).

The first man I met at breakfast was an alumni named Ross Walters (University of Louisiana, ‘02). As he offered me the top-secret, highly classified, shall not be named handshake of Phi Kappa Theta, he did not realize that I was from Iowa and had not yet been initiated.

As I did not know the handshake, he reached back in shock as if he had just touched a leper and started questioning if I was a Phi Kap. I explained that I was from Iowa and we were currently rechartering, and he laughed and joked with me the rest of the weekend.

Over the weekend, I made connections that have carried on throughout my life since. I met BRUCEEEE, legally known as Bryce Frey (Iowa State University, ‘20), the Iowa State representative. We have gone on to continue communicating and planning Iowa vs. Iowa State events.

Another important person I met, who I recently saw again at the Naperville BBLA, was Dr. Michael Brown. If you have not met Dr. Brown, I recommend that you make every effort to. Not only is he the only man I know that puts peanut butter on cheez-its, but he is extremely intelligent and a great brain to pick.

He is also one of the most caring people you will ever meet and always ready to have a conversation. I also was able to meet all the National Staff and several Alumni who I had never met in person, including Johnny Hohenstein, Robert Riggs, Doug Dilling, Adrian Gonzalez, Sarah Everhart and so many more.

The most impactful part of the trip were the meetings, but the most memorable part were the nights. Brothers from all over the country would gather at the pool or in the lounge, telling stories of their own chapters and talking about solving theirs and others chapters problems.

Of course, at the same time joking with each other and becoming close friends. I can honestly attest to that being one of the best weekends of my life, and I am still in contact with many people who I met at IMPACT18 in Orlando, FL.

The reason that I brought up Orlando was that recently my brother, Isaac Kracht from the University of Iowa, and I attended the Naperville BBLA.

I’m sure when I told him to go with me he thought the same thing as me: “oh great a weekend away from Iowa city, why in the world would I want to leave here for Naperville?” But being the kind guy he is, he accepted to come with.

I knew from talking to Johnny Hohenstein, that Dr. Brown was going to be there, and Isaac was going to love talking to him.

The weekend went very much the same way as Orlando, a great experience with a large impact on my life and good times with other chapters. Talking throughout and after the weekend with Isaac, I could see it had a resounding impact on him too.

We talked about deeper things that we had never talked about before, and he seemed energized and excited to start a new approach to life.

If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend making a trip to a regional or national conference. If your chapter can, implement it into dues so that everyone can go! Or, you could plan to have Dr. Brown come for a weekend and speak to your chapter.

Regarding my clickbait story title? Phi Kap conferences are indeed worth it. Whether you desiring to become a better version of yourself, or interested in meeting other brothers from around the country, I promise it will have a lasting impact on your life.

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Register for our remaining BBLA:

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Brother Reid is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering with a focus in Business Management. He is the current Vice President of Fraternal, Recharter Head and Social Media Chair for Phi Kappa Theta Iowa Delta. Nicholas grew up in Peoria, Illinois, attending St. Vincent de Paul grade school and Peoria Notre Dame High School. He was involved and active in many things, including scholastic bowl, numerous sports with his primary being soccer, key club and French Club. Nic also received the Presidental Award, National Honors Society, Old Gold Scholarship and an Illinois State Scholar. He is the first person of his family to move out for college, attend a big 10 school and join Greek life. Knowing nothing of what Greek life is about graduating, Nic has since taken a strong passion towards Phi Kappa Theta and bettering himself, along with his brothers. Nic is also involved in Dance Marathon and Intramural Sports, along with numerous service projects through the Fraternity. In his freetime, he loves to workout, play sports, hunt, fish, play video games and hang out with friends.