updated March 21, 2008

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology freshman Calvin Bush bleeds the color green as an outstanding member of the college’s Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and a National Guard soldier now serving in Iraq.

Outstanding Greek Chapter Leaders: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students honored at this year's Greek Leadership Banquet were (front row, from left) John Pinkus, Michael Krantz, Allison Terrell, Amelia Dasovich, Samantha Dick and Aaron Gerhardstein. In the back row (from left) were Matthew Hein, Alex Freeman (representing Calvin Bush), Timothy Hachfeld, Jonathan Rogers and Andrew Evans.

Those commitments to the campus and community made Bush among 11 students honored at this year’s Greek Leadership Banquet on March 19. The event is organized by the Office of Student Affairs to recognize one member of each fraternity and sorority organization for past good deeds.

This year’s list featured students that have made trips to Louisiana to assist cleaning homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina; designed agricultural buildings for a small village in Ghana, Africa; helped collect 400 pounds of items for a local food kitchen; helped campus Greek organizations win national recognition; raised $400 for Virginia Tech’s Department of Biomedical Engineering following last year’s campus shootings; and completed leadership positions in their chapters.

“These students’ contributions were and are essential to the quality of life in our Greek community. They bring out the best in all of us, help us face our challenges, and assist us in keeping our focus on what we face in the future,” stated Tom Miller, associate dean of students. “Rose-Hulman’s Greek community offers unparalleled academic achievements, and community and leadership experiences that contribute to the Rose-Hulman education.”

Bush made a quick impression on the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity after pledging earlier this school year. He stepped into an opening as social chair, planning events months in advance and organizing impromptu pizza parties when he thought members’ morale might have been low.

Earlier this year, Bush was called away to join an Indiana National Guard detachment that’s serving in Iraq through December.

“Now that he is overseas, I feel that we have lost a part of Lambda Chi (Alpha). We’re incomplete without him, like a piece is missing,” stated fraternity leader Alex Freeman.

Other students receiving Greek Leadership Awards were:

Amelia Dasovich

Amelia Dasovich, Chi Omega: The senior mechanical engineering major from Saint Paul, Minn., served as chapter president in 2007. At Rose-Hulman, she was captain of the women’s golf team for two years, was a tutor for the Homework Hotline and was a campus tour guide for visiting prospective students. Dasovich has accepted a position with Solar Turbines in San Diego, Calif., after graduation in May.

Samantha Dick

Samantha Dick, Delta Delta Delta: Served as president of Rose-Hulman’s Panhellenic sorority council in 2007 after being vice president, secretary and treasurer of the campus sorority. The senior mechanical and biomedical engineering double major, with a Japanese language minor, from Fort Wayne, Ind., was president of Rose-Hulman’s Biomedical Engineering Society. She helped organize events that raised $400 for Virginia Tech’s biomedical engineering department and set up an internship/research workshop to help undergraduates explore potential career options.

Andrew Evans

Andrew Evans, Sigma Nu: Served as chapter president in 2007, helping the fraternity achieve enrollment goals, house improvements and academic excellence. The junior computer engineering major from Indianapolis helped organize an art sale that supported a scholarship fund for future Rose-Hulman students.

Aaron Gerhardstein

Aaron Gerhardstein, Phi Gamma Delta: Has led by example as the chapter’s scholarship chair, maintaining a near-perfect 3.99 grade point average for four years as a senior mechanical engineering major. He also has led weekly bible study sessions at the Phi Gamma Delta house. The Fort Wayne native is committed to community service, organizing week-long trips to New Orleans to help with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Gerhardstein’s group helped build a Habitat For Humanity house in Louisiana last year and hopes to organize another service trip during this year’s spring break (March 29-April 6).

Timothy Hachfeld

Timothy Hachfeld, Pi Kappa Alpha: After joining the fraternity during his sophomore year, the senior electrical engineering major served as sergeant-in-arms for three years. He has helped Rose-Hulman become the only chapter in the nation to receive the Pi Kappa Alpha’s national award for utilizing correct procedures at all organizational meetings. On campus, the Detroit Lakes, Minn., native was a four-year starter as an offensive lineman on the football team and a three-year letter winner on the track team.

Matthew Hein

Matthew Hein, Theta Xi: The senior physics major from Escondido, Calif., is currently serving as chapter president and safety officer. He has helped the organization nearly double in membership during his college career. He attended Theta Xi’s district leadership academy. At Rose-Hulman, Hein has also been a diver on the swimming team for the past two winter seasons.

Michael Krantz

Michael Krantz, Triangle: Served as chapter president in 2007, helping to establish a better reputation for Triangle on campus. His leadership skills were also utilized as president of Rose-Hulman’s award-winning student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2006. The senior civil engineering major earned the ASCE Alumni Award (2007), ASCE Outstanding Student Award (2006) and Cecil T. Lobo civil engineering scholarship (2006 and 2007). The Hanover, Ind., native designed a building for an Engineers Without Borders’ project to help residents of Ghana, Africa. He plans to travel this summer to work on the project.

John Pinkus

John Pinkus, Delta Sigma Phi: Helped keep a permanent history of the fraternity chapter, as chapter historian. He created a Chapter Family Tree to record the names of all former and current Delta Sigma Phi members. This has become a popular landmark with alumni and prospective members. At Rose-Hulman, the senior chemical engineering major from Carmel, Ind., has served as leader of the Outdoor Venturing Club and Alpha Chi Sigma national chemistry fraternity, along with being a news reporter for student newspaper, The Rose Thorn.

Jonathan Rogers

Jonathan Rogers, Alpha Tau Omega: The sophomore mechanical engineering major from Terre Haute served as the chapter’s public relations chair in 2007. He organized Rose-Hulman’s annual Greek Night, a philanthropic activity during a home men’s basketball game that collected $500 and 400 pounds of food for the Catholic Charities food kitchen. Rogers has also helped the chapter receive national publicity on ATO’s national ATO Roadshow website. At Rose-Hulman, he is also a two-year member of the track team and has participated as a counselor for the Operation Catapult summer education program for high school senior interested in engineering and science.

Allison Terrell

Allison Terrell, Alpha Omicron Pi: Served as vice president in 2007 of Rose-Hulman’s newest Greek organization and is currently president of the Panhellenic Council. The junior computer science major from Burke, Va., is a member of a project team that’s using their computer programming skills to design “Rosie’s List,” a website that will allow Rose-Hulman students, faculty and staff members to share their experiences with local contractors and service providers.