The Lambda Chi Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta was the brainchild of four individuals, Benjamin Ivan Kubaryk, Daniel Lawrence Burkard, Marshall Seaton Brown, and John Martin Capelle. While on a week-long leadership retreat in 2008 called Leadershape, the friends decided to start an organization on campus, one that would represent and stand for all the values they shared together. It was eventually decided that they would start a new fraternity. When the facilitators at the retreat overheard this plan, one in particular stepped forward and offered the idea of starting a chapter of Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI), of which he was a member.
Over the rest of the summer, each of the four chose a different fraternity to research and learn about its values and history. When they came back together on campus the following semester, they discussed what they had learned, and decided to start a colony of Phi Gamma Delta, agreeing that this particular fraternity shared all the values that they, each and severally, held dear. Over the course of the next few months, the four brought their closest friends into the group, choosing the most driven leaders on campus to be a part of an organization that would change Greek Life on CofC’s campus and break the cultural stereotypes often associated with fraternities.
Randolph Hall, The College of Charleston
On January 22, 2009, area graduate brothers and members of the International Headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky pledged 36 men into the Delta Colony of Phi Gamma Delta at the College of Charleston. On March 15th of the same year, the Alpha and Beta Classes were initiated into the Colony. The Delta Colony competed in CofC’s Greek Week 2009, and walked away as 1st place champions. The men also co-sponsored a Pig Roast in April of that year with their “sister” sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, with proceeds going to the American Red Cross and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). In total, over $1,000 was raised during the event. Later on in the semester, many Brothers were elected to executive positions in various organizations on their College campus, including the offices of President and Treasurer of the Student Government Association and executive positions in the Student Alumni Association, Honor Board, Chinese Club, and others. The election also marked the second consecutive time a brother of the Delta Colony was president of the SGA.
In the Fall, six men who exemplified the values of Phi Gamma Delta, were pledged and later initiated into the Colony. Soon after that, the Delta Colony co-sponsored an event with Phi Beta Sigma, an NPHC fraternity. This was ground breaking, as it was the first event between an Inter-Fraternity Council and National Pan-Hellenic Council fraternity for many years. Towards the end of the semester, the men put together two successful fund raising events, which generated money towards the chartering effort. After a great semester of volunteer work and philanthropy, the Colony finished strong with close to 600 community service hours.
Then, after only thirteen months of being the Delta Colony, the men’s hard work paid off. On the night of March 27, 2010, the colony was officially inducted into the national fraternity as the Lambda Chi chapter (Lambda Chi was chosen to represent “Lowcountry”). To end the semester with a bang, the chapter worked hard with Alpha Delta Pi sorority during Greek Week and walked away as champions for the second year in a row. Shortly after, at the annual CofC Borelli Awards, Phi Gamma Delta won the coveted ‘Chapter of the Year’ award, after being a chapter for only three weeks. Along with that distinction, brother Sean Bear was awarded ‘Greek Achiever’ for that year.
In the Fall of 2010, the Lambda Chi Chapter pledged its first class of 29 men, and in doing so, nearly doubled in size. With the increase in size, also comes an increase in power and in turn, responsibility. The brothers and pledges of Phi Gamma Delta at CofC are fully aware of this fact, and will continue to press on and set the bar for Greek Life ever higher by living according to the fraternity’s immortal values of Friendship, Knowledge, Service, Morality, and Excellence.
College of Charleston, Chapter History
The Lambda Chi Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta was the brainchild of four individuals, Benjamin Ivan Kubaryk, Daniel Lawrence Burkard, Marshall Seaton Brown, and John Martin Capelle. While on a week-long leadership retreat in 2008 called Leadershape, the friends decided to start an organization on campus, one that would represent and stand for all the values they shared together. It was eventually decided that they would start a new fraternity. When the facilitators at the retreat overheard this plan, one in particular stepped forward and offered the idea of starting a chapter of Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI), of which he was a member.
Over the rest of the summer, each of the four chose a different fraternity to research and learn about its values and history. When they came back together on campus the following semester, they discussed what they had learned, and decided to start a colony of Phi Gamma Delta, agreeing that this particular fraternity shared all the values that they, each and severally, held dear. Over the course of the next few months, the four brought their closest friends into the group, choosing the most driven leaders on campus to be a part of an organization that would change Greek Life on CofC’s campus and break the cultural stereotypes often associated with fraternities.
Randolph Hall, The College of Charleston
On January 22, 2009, area graduate brothers and members of the International Headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky pledged 36 men into the Delta Colony of Phi Gamma Delta at the College of Charleston. On March 15th of the same year, the Alpha and Beta Classes were initiated into the Colony. The Delta Colony competed in CofC’s Greek Week 2009, and walked away as 1st place champions. The men also co-sponsored a Pig Roast in April of that year with their “sister” sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, with proceeds going to the American Red Cross and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). In total, over $1,000 was raised during the event. Later on in the semester, many Brothers were elected to executive positions in various organizations on their College campus, including the offices of President and Treasurer of the Student Government Association and executive positions in the Student Alumni Association, Honor Board, Chinese Club, and others. The election also marked the second consecutive time a brother of the Delta Colony was president of the SGA.
In the Fall, six men who exemplified the values of Phi Gamma Delta, were pledged and later initiated into the Colony. Soon after that, the Delta Colony co-sponsored an event with Phi Beta Sigma, an NPHC fraternity. This was ground breaking, as it was the first event between an Inter-Fraternity Council and National Pan-Hellenic Council fraternity for many years. Towards the end of the semester, the men put together two successful fund raising events, which generated money towards the chartering effort. After a great semester of volunteer work and philanthropy, the Colony finished strong with close to 600 community service hours.
Then, after only thirteen months of being the Delta Colony, the men’s hard work paid off. On the night of March 27, 2010, the colony was officially inducted into the national fraternity as the Lambda Chi chapter (Lambda Chi was chosen to represent “Lowcountry”). To end the semester with a bang, the chapter worked hard with Alpha Delta Pi sorority during Greek Week and walked away as champions for the second year in a row. Shortly after, at the annual CofC Borelli Awards, Phi Gamma Delta won the coveted ‘Chapter of the Year’ award, after being a chapter for only three weeks. Along with that distinction, brother Sean Bear was awarded ‘Greek Achiever’ for that year.
In the Fall of 2010, the Lambda Chi Chapter pledged its first class of 29 men, and in doing so, nearly doubled in size. With the increase in size, also comes an increase in power and in turn, responsibility. The brothers and pledges of Phi Gamma Delta at CofC are fully aware of this fact, and will continue to press on and set the bar for Greek Life ever higher by living according to the fraternity’s immortal values of Friendship, Knowledge, Service, Morality, and Excellence.