Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity held a chartering banquet this past Saturday to celebrate their new chapter at the University of Pittsburgh.
Seventy Six men were initiated into this new brotherhood and shared this milestone with their families, friends, and the Pitt administration. Although they were just started, the Delta Upsilon chapter’s presence has been on Pitt’s campus for about a year and a half.
So who’s the man who started it all? Junior, Sean Zajdel.
“Starting a chapter was originally a joke between me and my roommates at Albright College when I told them I was transferring to PITT,” said Zajdel. He went ahead with the plan ultimately because he wanted to be a part of something bigger than himself.
Zajdel looked into some statistics and got a group of 5 gentlemen in towers. The word spread to more friends and the newly inspired brother told the recruits what needed to be done for this happen.
After over a year, Zajdel has been through every emotion in the books. But with a pre-initiated class of 21 men, Zajdel kept pushing on. The strongest emotion he has felt through this process? Excitement.
“I had the best time of my life while starting this chapter,” said a proud Zajdel.
While it is hard to assimilate into Greek Life, the growing brothers of Pi Kappa Phi proved themselves on campus time and time again. They held a bike-a-thon, won first place in a Greek dodge ball tournament, and participated in the Pitt Dance Marathon with other Greeks.
Oh yes, they also raised $6,000 for their Philanthropy, Push America, a charity for people with disabilities.
The men of Pi Kappa Phi were accepted to charter on March 23, 2012 and will officially be a chapter on Pitt’s campus April 4, 2012. They even have another Push America fundraiser lined up for April 13-15.
All kudos and congratulations aside, Sean Zajdel remained humble at the chartering banquet where he stood before family, friends, alumni, and 76 new members of Pitt’s Pi Kappa Phi.
The most rewarding thing of them all?
“Hearing the guys that decided to join your fraternity say that you have changed their lives for the better,” said the chapter President and founding father.