FarmHouse Again Sets GPA Record
For the second time in three semesters, Kansas State FarmHouse set the record for fraternity grade point average in a semester. The men recorded a house-wide 3.503 GPA. This number included perfect 4.0 marks from 23 individuals within FarmHouse. These men and others will be recognized at the chapter's semi-annual scholarship dinner in the fall.
"I think this is a great testement to the quality of men in our fraternity," said chapter president Tim Hadachek, "Sometimes we become so entangled with all of the other activities that go along with college life, that we forget about the primary reason we are here. I think this shows that FarmHouse remains relevant in all aspects of it's members lives."
FarmHouse Again Takes Home Top Chapter Award
For the fourth year in a row, FarmHouse Fraternity was named top chapter at Kansas State at the annual Greek Awards Banquet. Greek Affairs has moved to a new accreditation program that rates each chapter on their ‘relevance’. FarmHouse was named ‘relevant’ in all eight program areas, the most of any other fraternity. Also, FarmHouse was rated ‘clearly relevant’, the highest award level, in five of those areas.
Along with the overall chapter honors, several FarmHouse members were recognized for their outstanding achievement. Andy Gigstad, (Effingham, '07) was named Kansas State Greek Man of the Year. Also, Matt Ebert (Rossville, '06) was awarded a $500 scholarship from the Greek honorary Order of Omega.
Kansas State Chapter Sustains Storm
On Wednesday June 11, a tornado tore through the Manhattan community and the Kansas State University campus. There have been no reported fatalities in the Manhattan area.
The Kansas State chapter house of FarmHouse Fraternity suffered minor damages. A few windows were broken, some shingles torn off and minor water damage in the basement. There was a significant amount of debris in the yard from the surrounding area. A number of trees around the chapter house had been downed or damaged.
Active members and alumni of the chapter assembled this morning at the chapter house to begin clean-up efforts. Wade Wilbur (’99), Association President, and Andrew Harris (’07), Summer Facilities Manager, are leading the clean-up efforts at the chapter house.
A number of buildings on campus suffered significant damage. Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, neighbors of FarmHouse, suffered significant roof damage.
Matt Ebert (’06), chapter president, would like to thank all those members, alumni, and friends who have already begun clean-up and repair efforts.
Matt Ebert (’06)
Chapter President
mebert@ksu.edu
Fahrenholtz nominated for Goldwater Scholarship
News release prepared by: Cheryl May, 785-532-6415, may@k-state.edu
FOUR K-STATE STUDENTS NOMINATED FOR 2008 GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION
MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University students Michelle Higgins, Manhattan, William Carlson, Overland Park, Samuel Fahrenholtz, Tribune, and Scott McCall, Parker, Colo., are the university's nominees for the 2008 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship.
The Goldwater scholarship competition is for students who major in science, mathematics or engineering and plan a career in research. The scholarship provides up to $7,500 annually for a student's final one or two years of undergraduate studies. To be eligible, students must have at least a 3.0 grade point average. They also must complete four mini-essays and write a longer essay about a significant area of research in their field of study.
Fahrenholtz is a junior in physics. He is participating in undergraduate research with K-State physics professor Itzik Ben-Itzhak's research group. They are studying the physics of laser-ion and molecule-ion collisions. He is involved in the imaging of the team's experimental measurements and will be analyzing proton-water collisions this spring. He has received a Kansas State University Foundation Scholarship, a Linschied Scholarship, a Dragsdorf Physics Scholarship, and a College of Arts and Sciences Scholarship. At K-State, he has been active in Concert Band and the Brass Ensemble. He also is a member of FarmHouse fraternity. In his free time, he is training for a triathlon. A 2005 graduate of Goddard High School, he is the son of Dr. Randy and Janice Fahrenholtz, Tribune.
Morgan Parker Named 2007-2008 National FFA Central Region Vice President
INDIANAPOLIS -- When Morgan Parker, a member of the 2006 K-State FarmHouse pledge class, attended his first national FFA convention, he saw 50,000 FFA members united by not only a blue jacket, but also a common work ethic, enthusiasm for agriculture and determination to succeed. This ignited a passion in him to reach one of the organization’s highest levels of service. On October 27, the Limon, Colo., native achieved his goal as he was named the 2007-2008 National FFA Central Region Vice President during the 80th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. He was among six individuals selected from a field of 40 to hold national office. He is the son of Kipp and Paula Parker, and served as the 2006-2007 Colorado FFA State President.
Fulfilling his position will require taking a year off from school, traveling more than 100,000 milesÍž meeting top leaders in business, government and educationÍž visiting approximately 40 statesÍž and participating in an international experience tour to Japan. His responsibilities will include providing personal growth and leadership training for students, setting policies that shape the future of the organization and promoting agricultural literacy.
The national FFA officer selection process is intense and represents an assessment of years of academic and extracurricular accomplishments made by each student running for office. Nominees must first qualify on the state level to represent their particular state FFA associations. They then submit an indepth application, detailing their accomplishments and contributions to the community, along with an essay detailing why they desire to be elected to the position. Once at the convention, candidates participate in five rounds of interviews, take an indepth written test on the organization and agricultural education topics and complete two writing exercises.
A panel of nine state FFA officers comprises the nominating committee that proposes the slate of six officers for approval by the convention delegates. Morgan is a sophomore at K-State, majoring in agricultural economics. In addition to his involvment in FarmHouse, he serves as an Agriculture Ambassador and a member of the Kansas State Student Alumni Board.
For more information, including a video of the announcement of the 2007-2008 National Officer Team, visit http://www.ffa.org/convention/index07.html.
K-State FarmHouse wins Ruby Cup
After running in second place several years in a row, the Kansas State Chapter of FarmHouse Fraternity was named the top FarmHouse chapter in the nation this past summer, and will be presented with the Ruby Cup as a symbol of the chapter’s achievement.
“This is a great honor for us,” said Matt Begnoche, chapter president. “Winning the Ruby Cup has been a goal of ours for several years, and its great to see our efforts pay off."
The Ruby Cup is given out based on a checklist of recommended chapter activities, as well as written applications for programming in 12 areas. The chapter scored 98 out of 100 on the Chapter Award of Excellence, and finished in first or second place in 11 of the 12 programming areas.
This was the first time for the chapter to win the award in its 86-year history. The Ruby Cup will be presented to the chapter by FarmHouse International Executive Director Chad Harris at the chapter’s alumni banquet on October 6.
Wade Wilbur, president of the K-State FarmHouse Alumni Association, said, “All of the alumni are proud to have achieved this never-before-accomplished award. Hopefully this will be the beginning of many future Ruby Cup victories. A lot of hard work has gone in over the years to make the chapter as successful as it is, and we are very excited to finally be recognized for those efforts.”
The chapter has also won the top fraternity award from the Kansas State Interfraternity Council the past two years.
FarmHouse Fraternity was founded in 1905 at the University of Missouri, and the Kansas State Chapter was chartered in 1921. It currently has 85 members, and strives to be a “Builder of Men” by focusing on a four-fold program of spiritual, intellectual, physical and social/moral development.