News

On January 18, 2020, Delta Tau Delta celebrated the installation of Theta Kappa Chapter at the University of Nebraska at Kearney with 29 founding fathers.

Installation ceremonies at the Nebraskan Student Union in the Ponderosa Suite included the signing of the charter where International President Steven A. Paquette (Syracuse University, 1977) and International Secretary Anthony Albanese (American University, 1996) joined the founding fathers to sign the charter; an event live-streamed through Facebook. Paquette later gave the keynote at the installation banquet where many parents, siblings and significant others joined to celebrate.

Beta Tau Chapter from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln performed the Rite of Iris and Ritual, welcoming the founding fathers to the Fraternity. One colony graduate returned for initiation.

The Fraternity returned to campus to establish the Theta Kappa Crescent Colony in the fall of 2017 after a four-year absence. Theta Kappa Chapter was originally installed on October 16, 1993, and had been inactive for four years due to a decline in membership. Through the chapter’s first two decades, 266 men initiated, and the Fraternity recognized Theta Kappa Chapter with the Court of Honor distinction, as one of the top 20 chapters in the nation, eight times. Additionally, the chapter earned the Hugh Shields Award for chapter excellence in 2002, 2003 and 2004. The Hugh Shields Award is presented annually to the top 10 Delt chapters in the nation.

“All chapter installations are special. Personally, the installation of Theta Kappa is very significant—it is where I began my Delt career. The University of Nebraska at Kearney is a great place to have a strong Delt Chapter,” said Delta Tau Delta CEO Jack Kreman (University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2004).

Western Plains Division President Chris Wisbrock (University of Missouri, 1997) and Western Plains Division Vice President Dan Lindstrom (University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1982) joined Theta Kappa Chapter Advisor Tony Trausch (2010) and dedicated Theta Kappa Chapter alumni for the installation.

Delta Tau Delta Educational Foundation Leadership Gifts Officer Vince Russo (Robert Morris University, 2017), also attended. Russo was one of the Fraternity’s three original expansion team members, along with Adam Abbott (Morehead State University, 2017) and Bobby Mussa (University of Iowa, 2016).

“I am beyond proud to see these young men sign the charter and turn the page to a new chapter of Theta Kappa and humbled to have been a member of the fall 2017 expansion team. This group of young men has already grown more than any of us could have expected or anticipated. I am anxious to see how quickly they climb the ranks and become one of the organization’s strongest chapters. Kearney, Nebraska will always have a special place in my heart as will the people I interacted with and the men who have begun the new Theta Kappa legacy,” said Director of Growth Adam Abbott.

Valuable support from the chapter’s advising team comes from Faculty Academic Advisor Ben Brachle (University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2002), Ritual Advisor Ryan Caldwell (University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2002), Recruitment Advisor, Marcus Kloepping (University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2001), Risk Education Advisor, Nathan Buell (University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2007), and Financial Advisor, Andy Engel (University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2010). Caldwell, who serves as chapter advisor for Beta Chapter at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln also attended the installation.

Notable attendees at the installation included former Chapter Leadership Consultant and former Western Plains Division Vice President Jim Emanuel (University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1983), former Theta Kappa Faculty Academic Advisor Perry Evans (University of South Dakota, 1986), former Chapter Leadership Consultant Nick Yarbrough (Baker University, 2017), former Chapter Leadership Consultant J.J. Nelson (University of Nebraska at Kearney, 1997), Vice President of the UNK Alumni Association Lucas Dart, (University of Nebraska at Kearney, 1997) and Dean of the Division of Student Affairs Dr. Gilbert Hinga.