Jared A. Pinkerton Named 2020 Reginald E.F. Colley Award Recipient
CARMEL, IN - Theta Chi Fraternity is proud to announce Jared A. Pinkerton of Kappa Zeta Chapter at Arkansas as the recipient of the 2020 Reginald E.F. Colley Award. Brother Pinkerton is Kappa Zeta’s first Colley Award recipient. The Colley Award is Theta Chi’s most prestigious collegiate honor and annually recognizes distinguished service to alma mater, Fraternity, and community.
Jared was the catalyst in establishing Theta Chi Fraternity at the University of Arkansas and made the initial phone call to International Headquarters staff, revealing a business plan and a PowerPoint presentation complete with statistical data and information from his campus. One of the defining points of that original business plan stated, “Other fraternities train their men to be ready for the workforce – Theta Chi trains their men to lead the workforce.”
He was elected President of the interest group, and later colony. He forged a vision where colony members wanted to establish and be the chapter of leaders at Arkansas who would end drug abuse, sexual assault, and other negative stereotypes in fraternity culture, while working with other Greeks to make a similar positive change. He established the mission of offering an Assisting Hand and a commitment to being a rising tide that would raise all ships.
When Jared approached the university about starting a new fraternity, he was met with resistance and opposition from fellow collegians as well as university administrators. Despite this cool reception, he networked, politicked, and established relations with other Greeks at Arkansas, including Phi Delta Theta, Delta Gamma, Phi Mu, and Kappa Delta. Thanks to their support, Theta Chi’s reputation grew on campus.
Jared’s leadership assisted with the adoption of Mt. Sequoyah, a popular hiking spot near campus; holding the colony’s first social events; winning their first intramural tournament; creating ΘΧtoberfest, an annual camping trip; raising money for the USO and completing a supply drive for Ft. Sill in Oklahoma by partnering with the local Miss Dogwood pageant; and recruiting a colony advisory board comprised of alumni from Eta Sigma/Arkansas Tech. The colony grew from 19 to 52 members and was ultimately installed as Kappa Zeta Chapter on November 11, 2017.
After Installation, Jared was reelected as Chapter President and led efforts to execute a major event known as "Row," bringing major artists such as Wes Walker and D.J. Baby Drew to campus; partnered with organizations to prevent sexual assault; and worked with the university's conduct office through their "Brotherhood Active Response” (BAR) bystander intervention training. When he realized BAR training was not being utilized by other fraternity men, Jared worked with his Vice President of Health and Safety to bring the BAR training to Kappa Zeta Chapter. More than 75 members of the chapter have been through BAR training and it is now incorporated into the pledge program.
Jared attended Theta Chi University on two occasions, the Sasser Presidents Conference twice, and the 162nd Anniversary Convention in Las Vegas.
Since Installation, Kappa Zeta Chapter has been recognized by the International Fraternity with the Grand Chapter Scholarship Award, the Chapter Achievement Award, and the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 Howard R. Alter, Jr. Award for Chapter Excellence. In 2020, Kappa Zeta Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity was one of six fraternity chapters to receive the North American Interfraternity Conference’s Chapter Award of Distinction which recognizes exceptional fraternity collegiate chapters that demonstrate excellence in operations, involvement in their fraternity/sorority and campus community, and a commitment to a positive fraternity experience.
Despite not being affiliated with Arkansas' IFC, Jared worked to build relationships with other fraternities and attended dinners as well as the Presidents Club, a leadership development organization for fraternity presidents. In 2018 and 2019, Jared was selected as one of the student lobbyists for the Fraternal Government Relations Coalition (FGRC) Congressional Visits where he traveled to Washington, D.C. and met with several U.S. Representatives and Senators on behalf of the greater Greek system, advocating for our single-sex status, due process rights of organizations, and other critical issues.
On campus, Jared was selected for and participated in the University of Arkansas' Freshman Leadership Forum where he was elected president and led efforts for a dodgeball tournament that raised $1,000 for the EOA Children's House. He later served as a staff member, assisting with philanthropic projects and mentoring new students.
He served as an Associated Student Government (ASG) Senator and led initiatives to have the University's Old Main Oath enshrined on campus; improved an abhorrent curb at Stadium Drive and Maple Street; supported the naming of the basketball court in honor of Coach Nolan Richardson; and upgraded and expanded WiFi service in the Union Bus Station. He was later appointed to serve as the Director of Academic Affairs for the ASG Executive Cabinet where he worked with the Vice Provost on reworking a conflicting class withdrawal policy and advocated for the use and implementation of Open Education Resources instead of traditional textbooks to help students with the rising costs of college education.
Jared Pinkerton (R) with 2018 Colley Award recipient Brandon McCoy (L)
Jared later ran and was elected Student Body President with the slogan "Unity: It's Time To Be Heard." He continued his efforts on his Open Education Resources initiative; reformed the ASG Executive Cabinet and ASG Executive Council; launched the Campus Unity Board to create a space where student leaders could speak about issues they are facing; transitioned a poorly utilized and costly campus-wide print newspaper service into an online subscription service that provided additional options, features, and considerable savings; and tirelessly worked to advocate for emergency changes to the grading policy and other initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting closure of the University of Arkansas during the spring of 2020.
Jared served as Chairman of the University's Program Allocations Board where he was tasked with representing students to ensure a fair allocation of their student activity fees and oversaw the allocation of nearly $1.8 million to student organizations.
He also participated in Model United Nations (MUN) and traveled to China as part of the university's team at the Inter/national MUN Conference. He and his partner competed against 40 other teams in the UN Industrial Development Organization committee and won the day, having their proposals passed. His team was awarded the title of "Distinguished Delegation."
Jared volunteered in his community during numerous trash pickups and river clean ups, tabled outside the student union to raise awareness for various causes, and assisted at several events around campus. He also participated in Hogs United Games (a Special Olympics event) and in Make a Difference Day, including leading cigarette butt clean-ups in downtown Fayetteville during his junior and senior years, collecting 20 pounds each year. In addition, he volunteered at Farmington High School blood drives as a collegiate; served as a "Buddy" at a Tim Tebow Foundation Night to Shine event which hosts a prom for those with special needs; and assisted with numerous political campaigns.
Jared worked on campus within the Conference Services department of University Housing and was promoted to the position of Senior Conference Ambassador where he was responsible for the hiring and management of staff, training, customer service, and facilitation of conferences throughout the summer.
As he established Theta Chi and became a servant-leader on campus and in the greater community, Jared made the Dean's List every semester and earned a 3.902 GPA. As a student in the Walton Honors College and the Walton College of Business, he was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. He received nearly $60,000 in scholarships and grants to support his education including four Sherwood and Janet Roberts Blue Memorial Scholarships from The Foundation Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity.
Prior to his graduation, Brother Pinkerton was recognized with Theta Chi’s Resolute Man distinction. As a Resolute Man, Jared truly demonstrated that he had developed leadership skills, learned how to work within a team, enhanced his social skills, and created a plan to support his university and Theta Chi in the years to come.
At the University of Arkansas, 71 outstanding graduating students are selected each year as Seniors of Significance. Out of this group, the top 10 male and top 10 female graduating seniors are known as the Razorback Classics. The top male senior and top female senior are announced at the end of the year as Senior Honor Citations. Brother Pinkerton was named the Senior Honor Citation in May 2020 and receives a life membership in the Arkansas Alumni Association, permanent recognition on a plaque at the alumni house, and he will be invited back to campus to represent the class of 2020 at events, including speaking at their Senior Walk dedication.
PJ Martinez, Assistant Director for Student Government Leadership said, "Jared is an innovative, critical thinking, and empathetic student leader who is determined to make a difference in the lives of others...I believe all the descriptors mentioned...all began from his work and involvement in Theta Chi. Jared wears his letters proudly throughout the campus and he adheres, represents, and serves the Fraternity well."
Dr. Robert Stapp, Professor of Economics at the University of Arkansas shared, “[Jared] is universally recognized in the academic community as one of our very brightest upperclassmen. The honors and awards that have been conferred upon him are truly remarkable...In addition to his academic skills...his emotional and intellectual maturity has manifested him with a serious diligence and sense of purpose that is extraordinarily rare in a student. Jared's peers recognize him as a very convivial person. His ability to work with others is simply unmatched and he has the capability to benefit from constructive criticism without malice.”
Kappa Zeta Chapter Advisory Board President W. Travis Warren (Eta Sigma/Arkansas Tech 1985) wrote, "Jared's accomplishments are numerous, varied, and impressive. Along with establishing Kappa Zeta Chapter on the campus of Arkansas' flagship university, he has embarked on several other missions to further enhance the lives of all students…Furthermore, he waged a successful campaign for the University of Arkansas Student Body President on a platform of UNITY. His efforts united students to bring a voice for positive change on many levels."
Kappa Zeta Chapter President Jake Carter (2021) wrote, “Many people across campus know Jared Pinkerton and the man that he is. The students know him as a friend and an ambitious leader as their student body president. Professors appreciate him as a leader in the classroom and as a bright young mind. Administrators respect him as the voice of the students and the captain of the campus. I have the honor of knowing Jared a little differently - as my chapter brother.”
Jake continued, “Jared has been a great leader across campus and is the reason we have been able to do the great things we have this year…He is resilient and refuses to take no for an answer when he puts his mind to something. He championed the power of a positive Greek experience and the ideals that make up the Resolute Man and not only built up our chapter but led a wider movement for all Greek Life at the University of Arkansas.”
Jake concluded, “Jared’s dedication for this chapter has shaped everything that it is today, and he pushes every one of our members to continue working to make it even better. He has been a mentor and an embodiment of an Assisting Hand. He lives to inspire and continually extends his hand to help brothers in need. As someone who knows him as a mentor, friend, and, most importantly, as a brother, I am proud to recommend Jared for the Colley Award.”
Jared received a B.S.B.A. in Business Management with a Concentration in Organizational Leadership and B.A. in Political Science in May 2020. He is currently attending graduate school at the University of Kansas and working towards a Master of Science in Education. His future plans include earning a doctoral degree and working toward becoming a chancellor or president of a college or university and to use education to continue to transform lives and/or being elected governor of Arkansas.
Jared shared, “I can remember going on the website in 2016 before we were given formal colony recognition by the Grand Chapter and reading through the Colley Award press releases for previous recipients. I was awestruck by the level of accomplishment and prestige that these men brought to themselves, their alma mater, and their chapter. At the time, my greatest wish in the world was to become a brother myself - just to be in the same ranks as them. They were my role models and the type of men I was determined to model (the future) Kappa Zeta Chapter after. Now, four years later, I have been selected as the Colley Award recipient. It is one of the most surreal feelings I have ever experienced. It means everything to my chapter and me. It is something that I will carry and wear proudly for the rest of my life.”
He continued, “My collegiate experience was life-changing and Theta Chi is the reason for it all. I had the honor and privilege of leading my school as the Student Body President and traveling to Washington D.C. on two occasions to represent fraternity and sorority members and meeting with members of Congress. Both of those were only because of the support and character-building driven by this brotherhood. My chapter brothers supported every step that I made and this award is only due to their constant investment in me. The same can be said for many of our IHQ staff. I can name at least five people who went out of their way to make sure our chapter and myself received the development that we needed.”
Jared concluded, “Theta Chi is special because it builds each individual into the best version of themselves. Each Resolute Man is bound together by a curriculum that encourages growth and by achieving success in his own unique and individual way…Theta Chi has been the greatest honor of my life. I have had the privilege of doing a lot of wonderful things in college but the most wonderful of them all was building a chapter that will stand the test of time with my best friends. Theta Chi changed my life forever and I am so thankful to call myself a brother of this Fraternity.”
Congratulations to Brother Pinkerton, our 2020 Colley Award Recipient – Truly, a Resolute Man.
Click here to check out the article on the 2020 Colley Award Runners-Up.
First presented in 1929, the Colley Award is named for Reginald E.F. Colley, a World War I veteran and past member of Theta Chi’s board of directors, the Grand Chapter. As a member of Phi Chapter, Brother Colley developed a celebrated reputation as a campus, community, and civic leader. He graduated in 1915 and eventually headed overseas to fight for the U.S. Army on the Western Front. Brother Colley died at the age of 39, but his legacy of leadership continues to inspire future generations of talented Theta Chis. Today, the Colley Award is treasured as the Fraternity’s most prestigious collegiate honor.
Founded in 1856, Theta Chi Fraternity is a men’s collegiate fraternity with more than 196,000 initiated members and has established 243 chapters. Leadership development, personal development, and service to alma mater are fundamental to Theta Chi Fraternity’s mission.