Greek News
Two Greeks Win Memorial Weekend Tournaments
A playoff victory at the BMW European PGA Championship over Memorial weekend has elevated Luke Donald, a member of Sigma Chi at Northwestern University, to the number one ranking as the world's top player. The Englishman beat out Lee Westwood, who was ranked number one, with an approach shot within a few feet of the cup before Westwood sent his shot into a water hazard. Donald's best round of four in the tournament was a 64 first round score. Two other outstanding longtime Greek pros were among the top four finishers at the Senior PGA Championship in Louisville. Tom Watson, a member of Alpha Sigma Phi at Stanford University, took top honors after winning the first playoff hole and $360,000. The 61-year old Watson became the oldest player to win a major tournament since the seniors tour was created in 1980. Finishing fourth at the Senior PGA evevent was Hale Irwin, a member of Phi Gamma Delta from the University of Colorado, who had an eight under 280 total and earned $96,000.
College Stars Chosen for NFF College Football Hall of Fame
The National Football Foundation has announced its Bowl SubDivision Hall of Fame Class for 2011. Selected were the following players from NIC member fraternities: End Carlos Alvarez, Alpha Tau Omega from the University of FloridaFullback Bill Enyart, Phi Gamma Delta from Oregon State UniversityHalfback Eddie George, Kappa Alpha Psi from Ohio State UniversityQuarterback Sandy Stephens, Alpha Phi Alpha from the University of MinnesotaLinebacker Darryl Talley, Kappa Alpha Psi from West Virginia University Players and coaches from other NCAA divisions will be announced later and enshrinement of all new members will take place this fall.
SAE Horse Trainer Wins his Fifth Preakness Stakes
At the 136th running of the Preakness Stakes, Bob Baffert, a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon from University of Arizona, saw his horse, Shackleford, lead wire-to-wire to beat Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom. Baffert, one of the top trainers in the United States, previously saw his horse finish fourth at the Derby and will watch Shackleford shoot for a second straight win at the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of horse racing's big three events, on June 11th.
Nominate Star Baseball Players for the NIC All-American Team
The NIC is taking nominations of leading players and head coaches to be considered for the 2011 All-Fraternity All-American Team, which will be announced on this website in June following the College World Series. Please send names, schools and fraternity affiliations to Jay Langhammer at Jlangha132@aol.com. Players and head coaches from all NCAA and NAIA schools are eligible and nominattions are welcome from fraternity headquarters, Greek advisors, alumni or undergraduates.
Six Greeks Chosen in NFL Draft
The recent National Football League draft of college football stars saw six Greeks from NIC member fraternities selected. In the fourth round, Lehigh offensive lineman Will Rackley of Delta Upsilon was chosen by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fourth round picks were Miami FL linebacker Colin McCarthy of Pi Kappa Alpha, chosen by the Tennessee Titans, and Stanford fullback Owen Marecic of Delta Tau Delta, who went to the Cleveland Browns. Selected in the draft's sixth round were Cal-Berkeley linebacker Mike Mohamed of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, who went to the Denver Broncos, and Stanford wide receiver Ryan Whalen of Delta Tau Delta, who was picked by the Cincinnati Bengals. In the seventh round, Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy of Sigma Alpha Epsilon was chosen by the New York Jets.
Join The Greek Relief Effort In Alabama
In the historic aftermath of a devastating tornado in Alabama, it didn't take long for sorority women and fraternity men to gather forces and roll up their sleeves.
"It's just like an assembly line here," said Ashley Getwan, a Chi Omega who is behind the scenes promoting an all-out online presence on Facebook, Twitter and with the UA Greek Relief website.
Four fraternity houses on campus are now serving as an open kitchen, said Patrick Morris, a Delta Kappa Epsilon who reported the effort began by just cooking and preparing food and getting it out into surrounding neighborhoods.
As of this week, the UA Greek Relief Fund effort based at the University of Alabama is serving 10,000 hot meals a day - providing enough food and meals to cover nearly a third of the affected area torn by the devastating storm.
As Morris reported from campus: "The entire Greek community is involved."
More than 342 people were killed in the wake of the tornado outbreak, according to news reports, and hundreds may still be missing.
With classes and exams cancelled due to the devastation, Getwan said everyone reached into the food stocks at the houses to make sure the food did not go to waste. She also pulled an alumni database to get the word out electronically-asking for any kind of donations that could be put to use.
"It's coming in and we're sending it out," she said, noting the supplies and donations have included everything from Ramen noodles to cookies and even grills to keep cooking the donations that are pouring in.
Sixteen sororities on the UA campus are NPC member groups. Senior and Delta Delta Delta member Meg McCrummen was also featured recently on NBC Nightly News.
To read a current article from the Tuscaloosa News online, click here.
If you can assist, please do the following:
Send a Tweet of encouragement
On Twitter (2,964 followers to date)
Join the conversation on Facebook
On Facebook (1,103 members to date)
Make a donation
The UA Greek Relief Fund is organized by the Greek community at Alabama, in conjunction with Greek Resource Services and Delta Kappa Epsilon's national education foundation, and the Rampant Lion Fund.
Tax deductable donations to the Greek Relief Fund will go to purchase food and other supplies desperately needed by those in the community.
To donate to the UA Greek Relief Fund, click here.
