Presenting in front of a crowd of 400 other brothers of Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI), fraternity president and senior advertising major Elliot R. Kimball moved the audience to a unanimous vote in favor of approval for the newest fraternity to receive a charter at Appalachian State University.

“When I ran in November for president, I said my goal was to be efficient and be the best and to be considered for chartering within the year,” Kimball said. “In nine months we did it, we are probably one the fastest chapters to charter in Phi Gamma Delta’s history.”

FIJI held its annual national conference, Ekklesia, in Phoenix July 29 through Aug. 1.
Last semester, FIJI held the record for the year’s largest spring pledge class of all fraternities in Appalachian’s Interfraternity Council (IFC).

The fraternity also garnered awards for highest grade point average of any IFC organization and received third place overall in Greek Week last spring.

“Something we are extraordinarily proud of is [allowing an outlet for] anytime a group of students find that special way to be engaged on campus. FIJI is a perfect way for that,” Vice Chancellor for Student Development Cindy A. Wallace said. “Students came together and formed a fraternity. Formulating a charter for your colony is a great example of that.”

The petition to charter presented at Ekklesia was a review of Appalachian’s newest colony for all other national and international members of Phi Gamma Delta to assess.

“It was a huge overview of every piece of the chapter that they wanted to judge,” Kimball said. “From recruitment to campus involvement and finances.”

In celebration for receiving approval for the colony to fully charter, Phi Gamma Delta has planned a weekend of events for campus and community.

On Nov. 5, FIJI will host a welcoming to campus event with an initiation extended to campus organizations and campus leaders, with Phi Gamma Delta’s executive director speaking.

Nov. 6 will serve as the fraternity’s initiation date for brothers and a semi-formal and dinner banquet for families and dates of brothers
As treasurer of FIJI, Anthony C. Riccio has learned over the past nine months how to become part of a brotherhood.

“The past nine months we’ve been working to build up to this point and prove to be a successful colony and now that it’s coming to fruition in November, it means the world to me,” Riccio said.  “The brotherhood and the friends I’ve made, I know we will be friends for a lifetime. It has taught me a lot about dealing with people and about myself.”

Story: MARY ELIZABETH ROBERTSON, Lifestyles Editor