Alumni go Champaign bound
Brothers make annual return to campus for Homecoming 09
By Adam Nekola
January 6, 2010
CHAMPAIGN – Returning to the University of Illinois, the first things an alumni notices are the differences - the towering apartments, new stores, a changed campus. And at Pi Kappa Phi, a new house - only four years old - and a young chapter.
But change is only skin deep some times, and the same Pi Kapp brotherhood was alive and well as alumni returned for Homecoming on Oct. 10.
“The house is what puts the home in homecoming,” said alumnus Kevin Jacobson (Y969). “It gives us a central meeting point to rally around and an image with which to identify. Things weren’t the same when we didn’t have a functional house at which to gather. Now the property lives and brings homecoming to life too.”
The property is certainly alive these days, with a chapter bordering on 80 members. But although it’s nice to hear how the chapter is doing, Homecoming is about much more.
“It’s worth it to reconnect with the brothers you went to school with and reminisce about collegiate years back on campus. For me, it just feels like going home, and has an appeal that’s hard to put in words,” said Gene Giannotta (Y1030), Alumni Chapter president.
This year’s event brought a large group of alumni to campus. Several decades of membership were represented, as alumni connected and undergrads heard stories about the chapter in it’s hay day.
In turn, the undergrads were given the opportunity to update alumni on their achievements as well - national awards, local awards, fundraising milestones and - perhaps most important - a full house.
“This has become the chapter we envisioned when we voted for recolonization. A lot of people paid a price for that decision but many more are benefiting now,” Jacobson said. “I can’t say enough about how far the undergrads have come so fast. I am so happy to hear that we have a vibrant and growing chapter, a full house and a very good GPA.”
With their focuses on many areas, alumni relations has been the one area the undergrads have struggled. With 2009 being the Alumni Chapter’s first year in existence, this past homecoming was still planned by the undergrads - who hoped for great attendance.
Problems with a printing company, however, eliminated the mailing of invitations.
“We continue to have some growing pains in the communications department, but by next year, all alumni should expect frequent contact from the alumni chapter including a formal invitation to Homecoming,” Giannotta said.
Despite the lack of that formal invitation, alumni who planned to come on their own liked what they saw.
“As the years have passed, the distance between even close alumni has increased with marriages, children and new jobs,” Jacobson said. “The opportunity, even once a year, to see people you rarely get to see, is priceless.”
The next Homecoming is set for Oct. 23 against Indiana. The Upsilon Chapter on that date will begin celebration of our 90th anniversary. The campus, meanwhile, will be celebrating the 100th Homecoming event.