Duty, Honor, Country

Kappa Iota/U.S. Military Academy Installed

West Point, NY - On May 5, 2018, Theta Chi Fraternity installed Kappa Iota Chapter at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY. This is the Fraternity’s 11th active chapter in the state of New York.

During their sophomore year, Zain Shaikh (2018) and Mitchell Winey found themselves discussing the shortcomings of the West Point experience. The two realized that something was missing from what they believed the academy needed. The two spoke of other options at civilian universities, but the question arose again of how to obtain what was missing at West Point. Mitchell explained his dreams of creating his own legacy and founding something greater than himself. Zain recounted stories from his friends outside of the school finding brotherhood in fraternities. It was then the idea of starting a fraternity came about.

Later that same night, they sat down to discuss what fraternities to reach out to. Theta Chi was the first fraternity to be contacted and was ultimately chosen due to its ties to the military and the values that aligned with the original members of the colony. They found what they were searching for in the primacy of alma mater, Sacred Purpose, and the Helping Hand.

Shortly after beginning their Theta Chi journey, the group suffered through personal hardship. On June 2, 2016, Mitchell Winey died during a training accident at Fort Hood in Texas. With his spirit in mind, the remaining members worked together to fulfill his dream and to leave a legacy on campus. As they were able to accrue more members, the group was officially colonized on March 25, 2017.

During the process of trying to become a chapter, they found it difficult at first to build the membership. The combination of rigorous expectations, tight schedules, and a lack of free time did not make starting a fraternity an appealing endeavor to most cadets at first. However, the colony worked tirelessly to recruit new members and make the fraternity experience more appealing.

Colony leadership introduced standard operating procedures, regulations, guidelines, and better structure. The group also refocused their recruitment model to allow for quicker recruitment of new candidates without sacrificing their standards. The men also developed a calendar which included several smaller events rather than focusing all resources on a few larger events each semester.

With a new plan and sound leadership in place, the colony began improving the community in and around West Point. Members prepared meals and assisted the Boston Area Food Bank. The men also volunteered at the West Point Fallen Comrades Half-Marathon and provided water, Gatorade, and encouragement to hundreds of runners. The group completed several beach cleanup events on the coast of Rhode Island, covering nearly two miles and collecting multiple bags of trash. They also participated in replanting 2000 marsh grass plants in Rhode Island to combat erosion.

The men take great pride in Theta Chi’s national partnership with the USO because of its direct relationship to their profession following graduation. The men held cookouts to raise funds and led supply drives to collect items needed to support their brothers-in-arms.

The hard work and restructuring paid off and the colony nearly doubled in size. The colony held elections and transitioned leadership position to new members and prepared their petition to the Grand Chapter.

In the petition, Colony President Thomas Schuette (2019) shared, “I joined a brotherhood unlike any other I’ve experienced…This is not your stereotypical fraternity you see on social media and movies. This is a group of gentlemen focused on academics, class, and Alma Mater. After hearing and seeing the values, Sacred Purpose, traditions and origins of Theta Chi, I could not think of a better fraternity to join, let alone have at West Point. Theta Chi expands upon the values of the United States Military Academy and gives us the structure to reach outside the Academy and help others.” 

The 25 cadets that brought Theta Chi Fraternity to West Point include:

Steven Callas (2018), Christopher Clarkin (2018), Caleb Clay (2018), Justin Cooper (2020), Spencer Drakontaidis (2018), Ryan Grady (2020), Sam Heydinger (2018),

Devon Joseph (2020), Tsu Kreidler (2018), Peter Kusick (2020), Sean Martin (2019), Thomas Morin (2020), Kyle Murdy (2019), Tyler Picardat (2020), Franklin Pugh (2019), Matthew Rohleder (2019), Brody Rocque (2020), James Sayger (2019), Gino Saponari (2020), Thomas Schuette (2019), Tyler Sessinos (2020), Zain Shaikh (2018), Temuulen Sodgerel (2019), Alexander Voronovich (2018), and John Worthington (2019).

These men represent states from coast to coast: California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Wisconsin.

The cadets have a wide variety of majors and fields of study: African Studies, Arabic, Business Management, Chinese, Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Management, French, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Military History, Nuclear Engineering, Operations Research, Physics, Russian, Sociology, and Spanish

Campus and Community Involvement include: Arabic Club, AWANA, Bands Club, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Cadet Public Relations Council, Company Athletic Swim Coach, Club Bowling, Club Hockey, Club Soccer, Combat Weapons Team, Cultural Affairs Seminar, Drumline, Electronics Experimenters, French Club, Football Team Manager, Glasco Fire Company, Intramural Sports, Jazz Forum, Men's Boxing, New England Human Society, Orienteering Club, Powerlifting Team, Ring and Crest Committee, Sandhurst Military Skills Team, Scoutmaster's Council, Ski Patrol, Sodgerel Foundation, Special Olympics, Sports Analytics Club, Swimming and Diving Team, Team Handball, Unified Sports, USMA Writing Fellow, and WKDT Cadet Radio

Several men are Airborne Qualified, Combat Diver Qualified, and/or attended Air Assault School, and a few have earned a Recondo Badge.

Several members are on the Dean's List, with others recognized as Dean's Pentathletes. Our members have received the Superintendent's Award for Achievement, Stephen Childers Award, William T. Hornaday Award, John Peter Todd Memorial Award, and the Distinguished Cadet Award. Temuulen Sodgerel was named as Soldier of the Quarter (2017).

On May 5, 2018, (fittingly on Mitchell Winey’s birthday), the West Point Colony was officially installed as the Kappa Iota Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity. Fourteen of the 25 cadets were available for initiation; the remaining members were providing leadership and assistance at a Special Olympics event or performing other duties or obligations as cadets. Members absent were initiated at a later date by their Kappa Iota brothers.

The Installation Ceremony was held on the West Point campus at Thayer Hall and was presided over by International President Joseph Couch. Additional Official Family members included International Counselor Darick Brown, Past International President Doug Allen, Past International Vice President Joe D’Amore, Chief Operating Officer Ray Vanlanot, Director of Recruitment and Expansion Taylor Dahlem, Director of Education Shaun Hamlin, Field Executives James McGuire and Mitch Nolan, Counselors Rich Santoriello and Eric Shapiro, former Field Executive and Kappa Iota Chapter Adviser Will Maher, and Rattle Editor Ben Hill.

In total, 31 brothers from 19 different chapters attended the day’s ceremonies. Collegian Roy Velez (Zeta/New Hampshire 2020) met Cadet Zain Shaikh during Theta Chi’s summer 2017 Initiative Academy and came to show his support. Nine Rechartering Members of recently reinstalled Epsilon Rho/Rider proudly came to aid another new chapter. Kappa Beta/Long Island-Post was represented by one of their Charter Members, Michael Nicosia (2017), Roster Number 1. Other chapters represented included Chi/Auburn, Alpha Iota/Indiana, Gamma Rho/Florida State, Delta Beta/Georgia, Delta Eta/Colorado State, Delta Psi/Kansas, Epsilon Sigma/Wagner, Epsilon Psi/NJIT, Zeta Beta/Adrian, Zeta Xi/UC-Davis, Zeta Rho/Kentucky, Eta Gamma/Morehead State, Eta Kappa/James Madison, Eta Pi/East Stroudsburg, Theta Iota/UC-Santa Cruz, and Iota Delta/Southeastern Louisiana. Each brother who attended became an Honorary Member of Kappa Iota Chapter.

Scott McQuaig (Eta Pi/East Stroudsburg 1979) was reunited with his chapter brother, Joe D’Amore (1977), who he had not seen in many years. Brother McQuaig was eager to attend not only to see Brother D’Amore, but due to his career: he had served as an Army Infantry Officer and also led and trained Airborne Infantrymen. He had assignments in GA, NC, Vicenza, Italy and as a Tactical Officer at the United States Military Academy, where he mentored students and served as an assistant coach for the USMA Marathon team. His final assignment before retirement was at the US Army War College in Carlisle, PA.

Another reunion occurred when former Leadership and Education Consultant Kyle Griffis (Gamma Rho/Florida State 2012) traveled from Jacksonville, FL for the ceremonies. Griffis reconnected with chapter brother Eric Shapiro (Gamma Rho/Florida State 2011). It was also a homecoming for Griffis: He had studied at the U.S. Military Academy for two years until receiving an honorable medical discharge, ultimately transferring to Florida State.

Griffis was ecstatic and shared, “West Point is a very special place, but it is a brutal place. Cadet life is not an easy life. The typical aspects of Greek life that most of our brothers know and enjoy do not exist at West Point. To me that made the Kappa Iota venture all the more special. Their scenario was not unlike the scenario of our founders Frederick Norton Freeman and Arthur Chase at Norwich. They had it tough enough at a military school; they could’ve chosen to take the easy way out. They could’ve decided that it was too much work to start something new, that the payout wouldn’t be worth the effort. But like Brothers Freeman and Chase, the Kappa Iota brothers decided that they wanted to be a part of something bigger than themselves; something bigger than even their commitment to the defense of our nation; something tighter than even the bonds of those who serve in the military. Thankfully for all of us, Brothers Freeman and Chase chose the hard path, and the brothers of Kappa Iota chose the same.”

Griffis continued, “As a West Point cadet, the idea of joining a fraternity never crossed my mind because it was never an option. As a Theta Chi alumnus, I never thought I would see the day that West Point would have an active Theta Chi chapter. It was a surreal privilege to serve a small role in helping Kappa Iota become a reality. It really struck me just how much work and effort were required by these impressive brothers. Returning to West Point was a real honor for me. It meant a lot to see two important pillars from my collegiate experience blend together against the odds and I truly believe that this particular installation is one of the most special milestones to occur within our Fraternity. I am very proud of the brothers of Kappa Iota and I wish them the best of luck as they continue to grow and develop their chapter. This is only the beginning. BEAT NAVY!”

Following the Installation Ceremony, Kappa Iota brothers gave tours of their alma mater to visiting brothers, pointing out the history and remarkable alumni that attended since 1802.

Kappa Iota’s Installation Banquet was held that evening on campus at the Class of ’47 Train Station near the banks of the Hudson River. Speakers at the banquet included Chapter President Thomas Schuette, Vice President Zain Shaikh, and Chaplain Tsu Kreidler; staff members Ray Vanlanot, Taylor Dahlem, and James McGuire; Chapter Adviser Will Maher; and Past International President Doug Allen, Past International Vice President Joe D’Amore, International Counselor Darick Brown, and International President Joseph Couch.

Cadets shared their joy in joining a new brotherhood and vowed to maintain its standards at West Point and to make plans to initiate the remaining 11 men. Past International President Doug Allen shared the story of Capt. Francis Van Natter (Rho/Illinois 1916) who had valiantly led troops during World War I. International President Joseph Couch welcomed the men of Kappa Iota Chapter and challenged them to remain true to each other and to the Fraternity.

Kappa Iota presented awards to the following brothers:

• The Assisting Hand Award – the brothers working with Special Olympics
  
• Senior of the Year – Tsu Kreidler
  
• Scholar of the Year – Spencer Drakontaidis
  
• Brother of the Year – Thomas Schuette
  

Chapter President Thomas Schuette shared, “The Installation of the Kappa Iota Chapter on May 5 was a big day for my brothers and I. Our fruits of labor finally came to fruition and we are all honored and excited to become brothers in Theta Chi. Our main goal moving forward is to gain more brothers and spread the Assisting Hand here at West Point.”

Charter Member Zain Shaikh stated, “May 5 is of particular importance to us. Apart from being Kappa Iota’s birthday, it is also the birthday of our departed brother, Mitch Winey. However, it now also reminds us of the immense support we received from across the nation from brothers, from new chapters, and the Grand Chapter itself. We hope that you enjoyed your time at the Academy, the ceremony, and the banquet. It is a great time to be a Theta Chi and a great time to be a member of the U.S. Army. We hope both organizations can positively influence one another with their new connection. Thank you for your support and inspiration. We truly felt the presence of the Assisting Hand. It is in you, our brothers, that we find the faith to uphold the name of Dear Old Theta Chi.”

International President Joseph Couch said, “We initiated and installed an impressive group of men today. We are proud for Theta Chi to be represented at such an historic institution and are thrilled by the determination and drive displayed by our new brothers to establish a new chapter. I am personally humbled to see these men wear our Badge and at the same time be ready at a moment's notice to defend our great nation. I look forward to watching the Kappa Iota Chapter thrive in the years to come and more importantly, I am excited to witness Theta Chi's continued positive impact on the lives of these young men.”

Standing in the small, gothic train station one could only beam with pride at seeing the excitement of the new Kappa Iota brothers and the camaraderie that was developing between them and their civilian counterparts – both collegiate and alumni.

Black and white photos on the walls of the station depict cadets gathering to depart via trains and provided a subtle touch of reality. In an instant, these current cadets – these Kappa Iota brothers – could be called upon to serve their God, Country, and Fellow Man and placed in harm’s way.

It is our hope and prayer that these and future brothers of Kappa Iota Chapter remain safe, lead well, and stand resolute in their duty so that they may perpetuate our ideals and continue to fellowship with their brothers in Theta Chi for many years to come.

Congratulations and Well Done to the Resolute Men of Kappa Iota Chapter!

Congratulatory notes may be sent via email to Chapter President Thomas Schuette.

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point is a four-year, co-educational, federal, liberal arts college located 50 miles north of New York City. It was founded in 1802 as America's first college of engineering and continues today as the world’s premier leader-development institution, consistently ranked among top colleges in the country. Its mission remains constant—to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the U. S. Army. For more information, go to www.westpoint.edu.