Category Archives: Fraternity News

Spring 2023 Petitioning Group Announcement

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Brothers –

On behalf of the National Council of Kappa Kappa Psi, I am honored to announce the acceptance of three petitioning groups and their advising teams for the Spring 2023 semester. Please see below for more information about each group.

Colorado State University – Kappa Rechartering – Midwest District

The Colorado State University band program is under the leadership of their Director of Bands, Dr. Rebecca Phillips, and Associate Director of Bands, Dr. Jayme Taylor. The band program offers a variety of ensembles for students and community members to participate in including their Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, CSU Marching Band, Presidential Pep Band, “Rampage” Basketball Band, and many more. To learn more about the Colorado State University band program, please visit their website.

The Colorado State University group will be a rechartering group in the Midwest District. The group will be instructed by an Advisor Team, which consists of the following members:

  • Dr. Nicholas Rorrer (Life Member, Eta Beta & MWD Governor) – Lead Advisor
  • Justin Chesak (Life Member, Gamma Iota & Past CFR, 2016-2018)
  • Makenzie Chesak (Life Member, Alpha & Expansion Committee Vice-Chair)
  • Christian Heck (Alumni Member, Iota Kappa & Graduate Student at CSU)
  • Joey Sacino (Life Member, Iota Kappa & DEIA Committee Member)
We are excited to welcome back our friends at Colorado State University to Kappa Kappa Psi! You may send notes of congratulations to Director of Bands, Dr. Rebecca Phillips (rebecca.phillips@colostate.edu), and Associate Director of Bands, Dr. Jayme Taylor (jayme.taylor@colostate.edu).
 
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Florida Memorial University – New Petitioning Group – Southeast District

The Florida Memorial University band program is under the leadership of their Director of Bands, Dr. Richard Beckford. As one of the newest HBCU bands in the country, “The ROAR” Marching Band strives to bring innovation to the band world and empowers students to go into the world as leaders. To learn more about the Florida Memorial University band program, please visit their website.

The Florida Memorial University group will be a new chartering group in the Southeast District. The group will be instructed by an Advisor Team, which consists of the following members:

  • Arupa Gopal-Campbell (Life Member, Kappa Tau & SED Governor) – Lead Advisor
  • Tar-Shae` Odom (Active Member, Zeta Eta & National VP for Student Affairs)
  • Kadeem Sabari (Life Member, Zeta Chi & ΚΚΨ AABOD Member)
  • Joe Figliolo (Alumni Member, Mu Eta & Expansion Committee Member)
  • Alyssia Price (Active Member, Gamma Nu & Curriculum Development Committee Member)
We are excited to welcome our friends at Florida Memorial University as they start on this journey with Kappa Kappa Psi! If you would like to send a congratulatory note, please email Dr. Richard Beckford at richard.beckford@fmuniv.edu.
 
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Widener University – New Petitioning Group – Northeast District

The Widener University band program is under the leadership of their Director of Athletic Bands, Dr. Iain Moyer. The band program offers a variety of ensembles for students and community members to participate in including their Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, and the Widener Band & Color Guard. To learn more about the Widener University band program, please visit their website.

The Widener University group will be a new chartering group in the Northeast District. The group will be instructed by an Advisor Team, which consists of the following members:

  • Aaron Moore (Life Member, Alpha Rho & National Database & Membership System Coordinator) – Lead Advisor
  • Marci Jones (Honorary Member, NED & NED Governor)
  • Ali Beidler (Life Member, Eta Rho & Data & Assessment Committee Member)
  • Ayleen Sanchez (Life Member, Alpha Chi & Curriculum Development Committee Member)
  • Michael “Ike” Ireland (Life Member, Nu Omicron & Expansion Committee Member)
We are excited to welcome our friends at Widener University as they start on this journey with Kappa Kappa Psi! If you would like to send a congratulatory note, please email Dr. Iain Moyer at imoyer@widener.edu.
 
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To learn more about Kappa Kappa Psi’s Petitioning Process and how to start a chapter, please visit the Expansion page on our National website. For further inquiries, please email our National Vice President for Membership and Expansion, Bang Co, at bangco@kkpsi.org.

Chapter Installation Announcement – Fall 2022

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On behalf of the National Council, I am proud to announce the successful chartering and installation of the Xi Delta chapter at Stony Brook University! The process started earlier this semester with a petitioning group of nineteen band members, which was led by Marco Melendez and their Director of Bands, Dr. Justin Stolarik. The initiation and installation ceremonies took place at their institution on Sunday, December 4th, 2022.

This process would not have been possible without the help of our dedicated Advising Team, which was led by NED Governor, Rassii Elliott. The Advising Team consisted of several NED alumni members, who are listed below. Thank you to these Brothers for their guidance and leadership in this process. We are deeply grateful for their service and support. 

Stony Brook Advising Team

  • Michael Napolitano (Life Member, Kappa Upsilon & Sponsor/DOB Committee Co-Chair)
  • Laura Borzellieri (Life Member, Lambda Delta & Curriculum Committee Member)
  • Evan Choy (Life Member, Kappa Gamma & Chapter Ops Committee Member)
  • Mia Harvey (Alumna, Nu Zeta & Communications Committee Member)

Lastly, I would like to give thanks to everyone else who assisted with this process: thank you to the Eta Rho chapter at West Chester University for providing the Ritual gear; thank you to Michael Coppola (Life Member, Kappa Upsilon) and Collin Alekson (Alumnus, Nu Zeta) for their assistance; and thank you to our HQ staff for all of their support in making this possible. It was extremely heartwarming to see everyone come together to welcome our new Brothers. We are excited to transition to the post-installation process with Xi Delta and for the opportunity to have these students represented at the upcoming NED and National Conventions. Please help us congratulate and welcome them to the Brotherhood! AEA.

If you or anyone you know has questions about our petitioning process, please visit our Expansion page or email me at bangco@kkpsi.org. 

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Bang T. Co (He/Him/His/他)
National Vice President for Membership & Expansion
2021-2023 Kappa Kappa Psi National Council
Life Member | Alpha Zeta Chapter at Indiana University

Month of Musicianship Message

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Brothers,

Our annual Month of Musicianship is not and should not be the only month where we celebrate music.  It is, however, the one where we pay extra and deserved homage to truly the greatest of the arts. As well we should! And as we do, I encourage you to think about these questions:

  • As we finish a membership class or start to think about recruiting a new one, how can we use music to showcase Kappa Kappa as an organization that people will be eager and proud to join?
  • As we come closer to the end of a semester and, for many, a marching band season, how can we bring our music to its greatest height?
  • As we look at our fellow band members and our band directors, how are we helping them build a program that will produce music for years to come?

How does your Chapter answer these questions?  During November, please share your answers, your stories, your pictures, and your performances on social media using the hashtag #strikeupthebands.

You can also join us in celebrating music on November 6th at 8:00 p.m. ET as we have a panel with music educators and past A. Frank Martin Award winners Tony Falcone, Amy Heavilin, Dr. Craig Aarhus, and Denali Pearce-Alt as they share their experiences as music professionals.  Finally, stay tuned to social media throughout the month with experiences and performances from your National leadership on the value of music in their lives.

Brothers, please celebrate our precious gift of music and, in so doing, remind others and yourselves of what this great Brotherhood has in store for us all!

AEA,

Ed Savoy
National Vice President for Programs

Call for 2022 – 2023 Volunteers

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Brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi:

 

As Brothers, we all have an important role in supporting the future of Kappa Kappa Psi as we work to reCHARGE our Brotherhood!  In order to help ensure a wide variety of voices and perspectives are represented, I have reopened the volunteer application.  The purpose of this volunteer application is to add committee members to committees that have already been working this biennium, and to begin to build committees for the 2023 National Convention in Orlando, Florida.  Attendance at the National Convention is not required to serve on any committees.

This application will remain open until 11:59 pm Central Time on November 18, 2022 and Brothers will be contacted in November/December to discuss roles and responsibilities.  If you do not receive an email, then you have not been chosen for a role.  (Please note that the Nominations Committee has already been appointed.) In whatever way you can serve, thank you.  Kappa Kappa Psi is better because of you and your desire to continue to Strive for the Highest.

 

PLEASE NOTE:

Volunteers are required to hold either active status for active members or must apply for membership in the Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association.  This recognition of your commitment to the organization is also a notice to our membership that you have identified yourself as being engaged in the alumni experience in Kappa Kappa Psi.   You can find out more information on joining the alumni association here: https://www.kkpsiaa.org

Your voice and representation matters.  Please consider this opportunity if you have the time and desire to be a part of the national conversation and direction of the fraternity.  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!

 

AEA,

Jessica Lee
2021-2023 National President
jessicalee@kkpsi.org

Fall Updates & National Committees

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September 29, 2022

Brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi, Chapter Sponsors, and Directors of Bands,

I hope the start to your school year has been full of the joy of being in person and playing MUSIC!  In order to help you throughout the semester, you can find information for the 2022 – 2023 school year here:  2022 – 2023 Fall Update.   Please take time during your Chapter Meeting to review this document with important updates and reminders, including information about Membership Calendars, The Founders’ Circle Leadership Development Program, and our Strive for Five Recruitment Initiative.  This will help ensure a strong start to the school year! If after reviewing the PowerPoint you have questions, please feel free to reach out to the National Council by emailing council@kkpsi.org.  

*As a reminder – the Chapter Personnel report, Chapter Fee, and your Active Member dues are due TOMORROW, September 30th!  If you need assistance, please contact National Headquarters at 403-372-2333 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm central time.*

While most chapters are operating in person, if your chapter needs to operate virtually for any reason, your chapter can utilize the PIVOT Guidance document as needed.  The National Council knows that each campus continues to have their own unique procedures in place for virtual operations. It is our hope that the information outlined in PIVOT! continues to be easily adaptable to every Chapter’s situation.  If your university moves to virtual operations during the school year, we ask that each Chapter send any official documentation from your university to our Health and Safety team at healthandsaftey@kkpsi.org.  Additionally, we are watching the ever evolving Hurricane Ian.  Please reach out if your chapter has been impacted by the storm and needs any assistance or deadline extensions!

Linked below is an application for those interested in serving Kappa Kappa Psi on the national level, helping to replace open positions on current national committees, as well as committees that will be preparing for the 2023 National Convention.  The application will outline details on various roles, time commitments, whether traveling may be involved, and our volunteer expectations.  

2022 – 2023 Kappa Kappa Psi Volunteer Application

Application will close October 23, 2022 at 11:59 pm CST.

*Note: To be considered for the National Nominations Committee, please submit your application by October 10, 2022 at 11:59 pm CST.

If you want to review what current committees have been doing, please see their reports and charges here: 2021 – 2023 National Committees

More than anything, I hope this fall that as a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, you will take the time to rededicate yourself to the ideals of the order, lean in heavily to our ritualistic values, and be intentional about living our purposes in your band programs.  If we can do these 3 things – then we are working together to reCHARGE our Brotherhood and build a better Kappa Kappa Psi.

On behalf of the entire Kappa Kappa Psi National Leadership Team, I hope that you have a fantastic start to your academic year, and we wish you the best of luck on your upcoming performance season!

 

Striving with you,

Jessica Lee
48th National President of Kappa Kappa Psi 

Fall 2022 Chapter Field Representative Program Schedule

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Brothers –

We are excited to share with you our Chapter Field Representatives’ schedules for the Fall 2022 semester. You can access these using the links below. To learn more about the CFR program, please visit www.kkpsi.org/cfr/. Please feel free to check out our new Instagram account @cfr_kkpsi.

  • Jake January (kkycfr@kkpsi.org | 405.612.2047) – SCHEDULE
  • Kennedy Struck (cfrkky@kkpsi.org | 405.747.5867) – SCHEDULE

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Jake and Kennedy. They will be hitting the road soon so please send them your best wishes!

Fall 2022 Petitioning Group Announcement

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Brothers –

On behalf of the National Council, I am excited to announce that we have voted to approve a new petitioning group at Stony Brook University for the Fall 2022 semester.

The Stony Brook University band program is under the leadership of Dr. Justin Stolarik. The band program offers a variety of ensembles for students and community members to participate in including the “Spirit of Stony Brook” Marching Band, jazz ensembles, chamber groups, and the Wind Ensemble. To learn more about the Stony Brook University music program, please visit their website.

Stony Brook University – New Petitioning Group – Northeast District

The Stony Brook University group will be a new Petitioning Group in the Northeast District. The group will be instructed by an Advisor Team, which consists of the following members:

  • Rassii Elliott (Life Member, Eta Omega & NED Governor) – Lead Advisor
  • Michael Napolitano (Life Member, Kappa Upsilon & Sponsor/DOB Committee Co-Chair)
  • Laura Borzellieri (Life Member, Lambda Delta & Curriculum Committee Member)
  • Evan Choy (Life Member, Kappa Gamma & Chapter Ops Committee Member)
  • Mia Harvey (Alumna, Nu Zeta & Communications Committee Member)

We are excited to welcome our friends at Stony Brook University as they start on this journey! If you would like to send a congratulatory note, please email Dr. Stolarik at justin.stolarik@stonybrook.edu.

To learn more about Kappa Kappa Psi’s Petitioning Process and how to start a chapter, please visit the Expansion page on our National website. For further inquiries, please email our National Vice President for Membership and Expansion, Bang Co, at bangco@kkpsi.org.

Launch of The Founders’ Circle

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Kappa Kappa Psi is excited to formally launch our leadership development program The Founders’ Circle.  This program includes written lessons and resources developed by Past National President Dr. Kirk Randazzo, guided questions, and in person presentations at our District and National Conventions.  You can go to www.kkpsi.org/founderscircle to access these materials (the password for accessing these materials is the Fraternity password.  Once you complete a level of The Founders’ Circle, let us know HERE and we’ll recognize you for your achievement!  We are currently working on a process for applying to be a presenter for The Founders’ Circle, so stay tuned for more information!

Chapter Installation Announcement – Spring 2022

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On behalf of the National Council, I am proud to announce the successful re-chartering and installation of both the Lambda Upsilon chapter at Savannah State University and the Zeta Pi chapter at Tennessee State University! The process started in late January of this semester with a petitioning group of ten band members for SSU and twenty-six band members for TSU. The Savannah State group was led by DeAnte Hillman with the support of their Director of Bands, Dr. Gabriel Arnold. The Tennessee State group was led by Curtis Olawumi with the support of their Director of Bands, Dr. Reginald McDonald and their Sponsor, Professor Larry Jenkins. Both installations took place at their respective campuses on Sunday, March 20th.

   

This process would not have been possible without the help of our dedicated Advising Teams. The group advising the SSU process was led by SED Governor, Arupa Gopal-Campbell and the group advising the TSU process was led by SED Governor, Kalem Graham. Both Advising Teams consisted of several alumni members, who are listed below. Thank you to these Brothers for their guidance and leadership in this process. We are deeply grateful for their service and support. 

Savannah State Advising Team

  • Tar-Shae Odom (Active Member, Zeta Eta & National VPSA)
  • Greg Boike (Life Member, Kappa Mu & KKPsi AABOD Chair)
  • Marina Peña Guiot (Life Members, Nu Alpha/Kappa Mu & KKPsi AABOD Vice Chair)
  • Jordan Barnes (Life Member, Iota Xi & Past NED Historian/Alumni Liaison)

Tennessee State Advising Team

  • Rassii Elliott (Life Member, Eta Omega & NED Governor)
  • Atia Aroonsakulwongse (Life Member, Theta Theta & Past SED Sec/Treas)
  • Jessica Needham (Alumna, Eta Sigma & Past SED VPP)
  • Bryan Flippin (Alumnus, Theta Tau & Past Chapter President)

Several chapters offered to help out by providing supplies for the Ritual and installation. We would like to extend our appreciation to the following chapters for their assistance:

  • Zeta Eta (South Carolina State University) and Nu Alpha (Georgia State University) for lending their Ritual gear for the Savannah State University chapter installation.
  • Theta Theta (University of Alabama-Birmingham) for lending their Ritual gear for the Tennessee State University chapter installation.

Lastly, we would like to give thanks to all the chapters and alumni members who made the trip to provide support in the installation ceremony for the Lambda Upsilon and Zeta Pi chapters. It was extremely heartwarming to see everyone come together to welcome our new Brothers. We are excited to transition to the post-installation process with both chapters and for the opportunity to have both groups represented at the upcoming SED Convention. Please help us congratulate and welcome them to the Brotherhood! AEA.

    

If you or anyone you know has questions about our petitioning process, please visit our Starting A Chapter page or email me at bangco@kkpsi.org.

Bang T. Co (He/Him/His/他)
National Vice President for Membership & Expansion
2021-2023 Kappa Kappa Psi National Council
Life Member | Alpha Zeta Chapter at Indiana University

Chapter Installation Announcement – Spring 2022

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On behalf of the National Council, I am proud to announce the successful chartering and installation of the Xi Gamma chapter at Cleveland State University on Sunday, January 30th! The process started at the beginning of last semester with a petitioning group of twenty-three band members, led by Maddie Baldwin and with the support of their Director of Bands, Dr. Birch Browning.This process would not have been possible without the help of our amazing Advising Team. This group was led by NCD Governors, Marc Reanud and Michelle Banis and consisted of three additional advisors. Thank you to these Brothers for their guidance and leadership in this process. We are deeply grateful for their service and support.

  • Akilah Thomas, Past NCD VPM (Beta Kappa)
  • Viet Nguyen, Past NCD VPM (Eta)
  • Jack Gornick, Past NCD President (Alpha Zeta)
We would like to extend our appreciation to the Iota Lambda chapter at the University of Mount Union for providing Ritual supplies for the installation.
Lastly, we would like to give thanks to the several chapters that made the trip to support the installation of the Xi Gamma chapter. It was extremely heartwarming to see everyone come together to welcome our new Brothers. Thank you to the following chapters:
  • Beta Kappa (Bowling Green State University)
  • Beta Psi (Kent State University)
  • Zeta Omicron (University of Akron)
Maddie and Dr. Browning will start this semester as Chapter President and Chapter Sponsor, respectively. Please help us congratulate and welcome them to the Brotherhood! AEA.

If you or anyone you know has questions about our petitioning process, please visit our Starting A Chapter page or email me at bangco@kkpsi.org.

Bang T. Co (He/Him/His/他)
National Vice President for Membership & Expansion
2021-2023 Kappa Kappa Psi National Council
Life Member | Alpha Zeta Chapter at Indiana University