February 7, 2024 – [Oxford, OH] – One year ago, on February 13, 2023, Michigan State University faced a senseless act of violence that tragically took the life of Phi Delta Theta brother Brian Fraser and two other Michigan State students. Today, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity reflects on Brian’s legacy and extends its heartfelt support to the Michigan State community.
Brian Fraser, who served as the Michigan State Phi Delta Theta chapter president, was known for his leadership, kindness, and unwavering commitment to his fraternity brothers and the broader campus community.
Following Brian’s passing, supporters across the United States and Canada joined forces to assist the Michigan State community. The collective efforts of over 1,400 supporters, including more than one hundred Phi Delta Theta chapters and campuses, raised over $150,000 in Brian’s honor.
These funds established two annual scholarships in Brian’s name. The Brian Fraser Presidential Memorial Scholarship, awarded to future Michigan Beta presidents to support their education, was first presented to Matt Quick, Brian’s immediate successor. “This scholarship has meant the world to me and has allowed me to fund my education at Michigan State University and carry on Brian’s legacy,” Quick said.
The inaugural scholarship was presented by Brian’s parents, Mary and Sean, and sister, Micaela Fraser, during the Phi Delta Theta Kleberg Emerging Leaders Institute in Oxford, Ohio, a leadership conference that Brian had attended the previous year. Ryan Bennett, the current Michigan State chapter president, was the most recent recipient of this scholarship.
“This scholarship has given me the ability to pursue my goal of graduating college with less debt than anticipated. Living out the rest of my college career through Brian with this scholarship only pushes me to work harder as well both in academics and the growth of my fraternity through my presidential position,” Bennett said.
In addition, recognizing the importance of supporting first-generation college students, Brian’s parents established a second scholarship for first-generation Michigan State Phi Delta Theta students. John Canelopoulos was the first recipient of this scholarship; another will be awarded later this year.
“Being the first person in my immediate family to go to college has been a very challenging process,” Canelopoulos said, “Phi Delta Theta and this scholarship helped my transition from a high school student to a first-generation college student immensely. I thank everyone involved and the opportunity to continue my college career through Brian and his legacy.”
As we commemorate the anniversary of Brian’s passing, Phi Delta Theta reaffirms its commitment to honoring his memory and supporting the Michigan State community. Through scholarships and acts of kindness, we strive to carry Brian’s legacy of leadership, compassion, and generosity.
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Founded at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, on December 26, 1848, Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity has 194 chapters and emerging chapters and 85 alumni clubs across the United States and Canada. To date, the Fraternity has initiated nearly 280,000 men into the society whose founding principles are Friendship, Sound Learning, and Rectitude. In 2000, Phi Delta Theta became the largest fraternity to implement an alcohol-free housing policy in all facilities. Guided today by its Phi Delt 2030 strategic plan, Phi Delta Theta’s vision is to be recognized as the premier fraternal leadership development society in North America.
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