The Utah Alpha Chapter and the Salt Lake City Alumni Club co-sponsored the annual Founders Day Dinner, April 18th, at the Alta Club in downtown Salt Lake City. In doing so, those gathered celebrated Phi Delta Theta’s founding 165 years ago, and at the same time recognized the granting of a charter for the Utah Alpha Chapter on the University of Utah campus in 1914, 99 years ago. We also celebrated the initial establishment of the Salt Lake City Alumni Club in 1891. Utah Alpha is just one year away from celebrating the centennial of the chartering of the chapter. Many thanks to Utah Alpha Alumni Secretary, Zachary D. Slagowski (Utah ’13), for organizing this year’s Founders Day celebration.

During the evening several key recognitions took place. Brother James J. Bailey (Utah ’66) was inducted in the Golden Legion. Brother Bailey is the father of two Utah Alpha Phis; Bart J. Bailey (Utah ’94) and Josh A. Bailey (Utah ’99). His son Josh was in attendance at the Founders Day dinner and sponsored him for the ceremony. Brother Thomas E. Davis (Utah ’74) was also honored and received his Silver Legion pin. This was the first Founders Day dinner Brother Davis had attended in over 40 years.

Several of the top annual chapter awards were also presented during the dinner. The prestigious “J. Willard Marriott Outstanding Leadership and Scholarship Award” for 2013 was awarded to Utah Alpha Chapter President Stuart A. Johnson (Utah ’14); the 2013 “Phi of the Year Award” went to Ricardo N. Mejias (Utah ’13); and the 2013 “Gary D. Palm Rallyman Award” was awarded to Julian V. Lipio (Utah ’15).

Recognitions were also given for the top Phikeia GPA as well as for those Phis who achieved a GPA above 3.0 for the Fall, 2012 semester.

The evening concluded with the recognition of graduating seniors by welcoming these new alumni into the Salt Lake City Alumni through the Alumni Induction Ceremony.

Next year will be an important year for Utah Alpha as it celebrates the 100th year since its charter was granted by the 1914 General Convention. Plans are well underway for the Centennial Celebration – one to which all Utah Alpha alumni will want to try and attend. For more information on getting involved in the planning of the Chapter’s Centennial please contact the planning committee at: utahalphacentennial@gmail.com