The 64 re-founding fathers of Pennsylvania Eta are thrilled to have been accepted as Brothers in the Bond and installed as an official chapter at Lehigh University. The installation banquet, held on April 12 at the Blue Grillhouse Event Center in Bethlehem, was a festive affair attended by Pennsylvania Eta’s alumni, parents of the newly initiated members and members of the Lehigh Greek community. It was a momentous milestone for the re-founding fathers who had spent the past year since their colonization last April working relentlessly to reach this point.
Pennsylvania Eta’s alumni were also thrilled to see their chapter return to Lehigh after ten long years of absence. A number of them came to the installation banquet to celebrate with the re-founding fathers, who, for many of the alumni, are already familiar faces as a result of strong alumni involvement and support over the last year.
Chris Brussalis, Member at Large on the General Council, presided over both the initiation and installation ceremonies. The chapter’s charter was presented following the installation ceremony by Brussalis to JJ O’Brien and Gorgi Pavlov, President and Vice President of PA Eta respectively.
Tim Wilkinson, Director of Fraternity & Sorority Affairs at Lehigh, was a guest speaker at the banquet. He praised the chapter for having reached this milestone so successfully. Having seen the chapter’s accreditation presentation to the University earlier that day, Wilkinson said that he was very impressed with how far the chapter had come in just one year of existence, and even said that the chapter is three years ahead of where most new chapters would be at this point.
In just one year since becoming a colony last April, Pennsylvania Eta has achieved many accomplishments, including the following:
- Recruitment of 22 new members in both fall and spring recruitment, which is above average for Lehigh fraternities
- Achievement of the second highest average GPA among all fraternities during the fall semester
- Raised the second most amount of money for Relay for Life
- Hosted Strike Out ALS to raise over $600 for The ALS Association
- Volunteered at the Jewish Relief Agency in Philadelphia
- Organized multiple events for the freshman orientation experience
- Raised over $400 for a family who lost their young child to epilepsy
- Organized a benefit concert to aid the victims of Typhoon Hainan
Founded originally in 1887, but disbanded in 2001, Pennsylvania Eta has now officially returned to Lehigh. In the words of David Morrison ’73, Past President of the Chapter House Association, “May this grand Fraternity flourish for generations to come, and may our actions always reflect honorably on the memory of our noble Founders.” Moving forward as a chapter, the brothers of Pennsylvania Eta are dedicated more than ever to becoming the greatest versions of themselves. They are committed to carrying on the traditions of Phi Delta Theta that began at Lehigh more than one hundred years ago. May that tradition continue for another one hundred years and beyond!
