CARMEL, IN – Theta Chi Fraternity is proud to announce Kyle R. Goodban (2023) of Gamma Phi Chapter at Nebraska Wesleyan University as the recipient of the 2022/2023 Reginald E.F. Colley Award. Brother Goodban is Gamma Phi’s fourth 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.
Brother Goodban served Gamma Phi as Chapter President for two terms and as Scholarship Chair. He was selected among all of Theta Chi’s Chapter Presidents for the Fraternity’s Chapter Presidents Advisory Council and served from 2021 to 2023. During spring 2023, he completed his journey and earned his distinction as a Resolute Man.
He was also the second-ever Greek leader to be awarded Chapter President of the Year twice by the Nebraska Wesleyan Greek community.
During his time as Chapter President, Goodban opened the chapter’s Sacred Purpose events to campus with topics such as sexual misconduct awareness. He has also been a member of Theta Chi’s “Howl Like Hell” performance in conjunction with other sororities, where Theta Chi and their sorority partners have placed first the past two years. Goodban’s presidency also placed emphasis and importance on Greek Week and maximizing involvement in the campus community for his chapter. During his two terms, Theta Chi was the highest ranked fraternity during Greek Week for both years andGamma Phi Chapter received the 2021/2022 Howard R. Alter, Jr. Award and the 202/2021 Chapter Achievement Award, which recognizes the top chapters in Theta Chi.
As a Chapter President at NWU, he was selected by campus to attend the Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values (AFLV) Central conference both terms during his presidency. During the first conference, held virtually, provided key insights as a first-term President with topics such as leadership, recruitment during COVID, and retaining members during COVID. Inclement weather prevented Goodban from attending the second conference, but
A member of Order of Omega Greek Honor Society, Blue Key Honor Society, and Phi Epsilon Kappa Honor Society, and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Goodban graduated with a 3.99 GPA while pursuing his bachelor’s degree in athletic training. His outstanding academic success earned him a place at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. Goodban completed his final semester Nebraska Wesleyan University, in junction with his clinical rotation with NWU’s off-season sports and obtaining his certification to practice athletic training in the state of Nebraska.
In 2022, Goodban had the opportunity to travel to the Republic of Ireland and study Irish History, Culture and Sport. During this time, he travelled all around Ireland, learning from top scholars in the fields of physiotherapy, faculty at Trinity College & University College Dublin, and members of the Irish Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).
Goodban was also placed on Nebraska Wesleyan’s Academic Honors List every semester he has attended. He was also listed as a winner of the NWU Student Life Award. Goodban was recognized by The Student Life as a “Who’s Who” among the senior class after being nominated by a Student Life staff member and selected by a committee of staff and students. Goodban was also listed as a “Platinum Prairie Wolf,” an award gifted during homecoming week as a high honor for the contributions of graduating seniors.
Erin Hoffman, Ph.D., the Vice President for Student Life at Nebraska Wesleyan shared “the Reginald E.F. Colley Memorial Trophy is awarded to the “best of the best” fraternity men who have been a catalyst for success of their chapters and haver been strong examples of fraternity men on campus. This is a perfect description of the impact Kyle Goodban has had at Nebraska Wesleyan. He has garnered respect from his fraternity brothers, from students across campus, and from faculty and administration. As he graduates in one week, he most certainly left Theta Chi and Nebraska Wesleyan University better than he found it. From his first semester to his last, he has shown dedication to and care for the community and his fraternity.”
Gamma Phi Chapter President Michael Biertzer shared “Since I met Kyle when I pledged Theta Chi in the Fall of 2020 and as my Marshal, I can confidently say that he is the true ideation of what a Theta Chi should be and what every brother should strive to be.”
Gamma Phi Chapter Adviser Dustin Bartley (2003) wrote, “Brother Goodban was integral to Gamma Phi Chapter’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, taking a strong leadership role in navigating changing campus/community restrictions and members cycling in and out of quarantine and isolation. Mr. Goodban took the lead in determining whether events would be held in-person, virtually or in a hybrid manner, guiding the entire chapter through constant change during his first term. His tireless efforts to keep members safe while also still having fun kept morale high during tense moments and kept the chapter stable into his second term as campus and community restrictions allowed for a more traditional college experience.”
Goodban shared “I was in disbelief when I found out I won. When I submitted my award application, I did not think I had a chance to win it. Meeting other brothers from other chapters across the country, I know there are amazing brothers doing amazing things. When Brother [Michael] Mayer called me, I was at work and had to step outside to take the call and the feeling was unreal. I thought back and remembered in the summer of 2021 in Lexington, KY, at the 165th Anniversary Celebration when my Chapter Brother Hunter Smith won the Colley Award. I remember after the ceremony and thought about how cool it would be to be up there some day. I can't thank Hunter enough for being my inspiration throughout my time in Theta Chi.”
Goodban is currently at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, beginning year one of three, and is excited to graduate so he can extend his Assisting Hand to those who need it.
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.
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Founded in 1856, Theta Chi Fraternity is a men’s collegiate fraternity with more than 200,000 initiated members and has established 245 chapters. Theta Chi’s mission is to develop college-age men into successful students, good citizens, lifelong brothers, and resolute leaders.