Are you ready for the next 100 years of PA Theta glory? At our 2024 Annual Event, we made history with our largest turnout ever and the official rechartering and return of the active chapter. With more than 100 members today, our active chapter is thriving, and our annual event is your chance to meet the next generation of Phi’s!
The Pennsylvania Theta Alumni Association is proud and excited to announce that the time has come to RSVP for the 2025 event, which will further perpetuate our bond throughout our chapter’s rich history. The event takes place Friday, Sept. 5 through Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. You can RSVP for the event now through June 30. Official registration opens July 1.
Now in its fifth year, our event grows stronger each year. Last year, nearly 300 people came out to reminisce and celebrate. Past attendees can attest, this is the can’t-miss event of the year—your chance to reminisce with classmates, meet the active chapter, and support its growth.
Last year’s event kicked off on Friday with an early round of golf, where 25 actives and alumni supported the Inaugural Stan R. Zenda Memorial Golf Tournament. The event was able to raise $500 to support the family of Stan’s (Class of 2010) fallen brother in the bond, Sean Mitchell ’09. By the late afternoon, our then “emerging” chapter of 66 members entered private quarters to be formally initiated into the brotherhood—a 6-hour spectacle!
PA Theta’s dedicated Recruitment Specialist Bryan Lyke said of his experience recruiting the members of the newly installed active chapter:
“The bread and butter of recruiting is personal relationships building. For me it comes through 1 on 1 conversations. I wanted to know the guys beyond just their major, and hometown so we’d have conversations on their personal goals, their family lives, what motivates them and their favorite experiences at Penn State. All these conversations would happen before even mentioning Phi Delt! Everyone I recruited needed to show me that they were what we call 5-star recruits. People who are motivated, friendly, emotionally intelligent, academically driven, and open minded. After these conversations I would start to sell the idea of joining an organization with a rich history, expansive network and most importantly a brotherhood of like minded individuals. After these conversations we had all these wonderful people wanting to take a risk and to start a fraternity.”
Our event resumed on its normal schedule with our annual meeting (minutes and video here), where we discussed the future of the active chapter, an update on our investments, and election of a new alumni board and executive changes.
After our board meeting, we ventured off to the Katz Building to our new tailgate spot, where new brothers and alumni mingled over food and drink before the big game. About 100 alumni sat together to watch Penn State defeat Bowling Green, 34-27.
The festivities were just getting started though, as we returned to the Wyndham Garden in Boalsburg (our home away from home) to celebrate the installment of the active chapter.
At the time of installment, the brotherhood was 66 members strong. When outgoing Vice President Tommy McLaughlin ’25 stepped onto campus in August 2021, he wasn’t just starting college—he was picking up a torch lit by his father, Bill (Class of 1991), decades earlier. In a letter published in The Penn Stater, Tommy shared the story of how he helped reestablish Phi Delta Theta at Penn State, inspired by the brotherhood that once shaped his dad’s life. What began with a single call to general headquarters quickly became a movement, gathering steam as fellow students stepped forward, eager to build something lasting.
Three years later, that spark has become a fire. The chapter is fully reactivated, new members continue to join, and alumni—old and new—stand together again in Blue and White spirit! Tommy closes his letter not just with gratitude, but with pride: proud to be a part of PA Theta, proud to carry the legacy forward, and Proud to be a Phi!
To celebrate that sentiment, Phi Delta Theta’s installment ceremony kicked us off as we were wined and dined in the Wyndham’s banquet hall. Keynote speakers included:
- Phi Delta Theta Senior Growth Coordinator Brian Lyke
- General Council President J. David Almacy
- Penn State Assistant Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life Carly Walter
- Outgoing Chapter President Braden Raymond ’25
- Chapter Advisory Board President Paul Mittan ’04
- Pennsylvania Theta Alumni Association Outgoing President Joe DiRenzo ’06
- Pennsylvania Theta Alumni Association Incoming President Kevin Haslam ’10
- Pennsylvania Theta Alumni Association Board Member Pete Culp ’61
- Phi Delta Theta Executive Vice President and CEO Sean Wagner
DiRenzo was also presented the PA Theta Alumni Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his more than 10 years of dedicated service to the chapter.
What’s more, the alumni association, in partnership with general headquarters, awarded $11,200 in scholarships to first-generation college students from our active chapter. Recipients included:
- Derek Lyons ’25
- Joseph Aiello ’26
- Pret Patel ’26
- Shahid Khan ’26
- Shaun Anderson ’25
- Coleton Geibel ’26
- Matt Moyer ’26
- Vinny Cascone ’26
Read more about the scholarships and what the actives had to say here.
Additionally, the event raised nearly $3,000 for the chapter’s annual fund to support operational costs, thanks to the kind support of generous alumni. We hope to top that amount at the 2025 event!
What an event it was, and if you missed it, you won’t want to miss future events. Our active chapter only continues to give us more reason to celebrate, and this event is a great time to not only hear all about it, but to witness it for yourself!
Speaking of that momentum, in the latest issue of The Scroll, Phi Delta Theta highlighted a record-setting year across the board—and PA Theta earned mention for its part in both recruitment and philanthropy milestones. Our chapter contributed to the more than 3,000 new members welcomed this fall, helping the Fraternity move past the halfway mark toward its 5,000-member goal. The piece acknowledges Pennsylvania Theta’s reinstallation and the steady momentum that’s followed.
On the fundraising front, PA Theta also appeared among the top chapters for foundation giving. That recognition reflects a strong showing of support from our alumni and undergraduates alike—an encouraging sign as we continue investing in the next generation of leaders.
So, mark your calendars and save the date. This year’s event takes place Friday, Sept. 5 through Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. Penn State football faces off against Florida International University, time TBD.
We heard your feedback from previous years’ events and are working to make even more improvements to an already action-packed, fun-filled weekend. Therefore, we would like to get a preliminary headcount to ensure we have enough food, beverages, activities, accommodations, and space for our attendees!
If you are planning on attending, please let us know by clicking the button at the bottom of this page and filling out a brief, 2-minute survey.
RSVP’s for the event are open until Monday, June 30, 2025. Once the RSVP period closes, we will open official registration the next day, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, where you’ll be able to secure your spot on the golf course, room for the weekend, football tickets, and more. Keep your eyes on your inbox for more information as the date approaches.
If you have any questions, want to share updates with us, or would like to contribute to our efforts, please don’t hesitate to reach out to news@pathetapsu.org.
If you’re not subscribed to our mailing list, please let us know by emailing us, too. That way, you’ll receive all of the latest updates coming from both our alumni base and our emerging active chapter!
We are looking forward to seeing you this fall, Friday, Sept. 5 through Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, at Penn State! Again, please RSVP using the button below by Monday, June 30, 2025.
