NATCHITOCHES – The Beta Omicron chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity at Northwestern State University broke ground on a new fraternity house with active members, alumni, friends and NSU administrators joining the occasion, held in conjunction with Homecoming festivities.
The new house will be located on NSU’s Organization Row with an expected completion date of July 2020.
“This is a red letter day for Pi Kappa Phi Beta Omicron chapter,” said David Morgan, a 1973 NSU grad and long-time supporter of the fraternity and the university.
Tudor Construction is the contractor for the 5,300-square-foot house, which will cost an estimated $1,100,000, funded by Pi Kappa Phi alumni donations and Sabine State Bank. The house will feature 12 single bedrooms, four study lounges, a large meeting room, den, full laundry and a kitchen.
NSU’s Beta Omicron Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi was an outgrowth of Phi Kappa Nu Fraternity founded in the 1920s at Louisiana State Normal College, as NSU was then known. Pi Kappa Nu became part of Pi Kappa Phi is 1956. Jack McCain of Natchitoches was president at the time and was initiated as member Number One. The chapter was reorganized in 2000 and, with assistance from alumni, purchased a house on University Parkway.
“Pi Kappa Phi’s Beta Omicron Chapter is the oldest fraternity at Northwestern State, dating back to 1956,” said Wes Breeden, alumni board president. “Over the years, Pi Kappa Phi has attracted some of the very best students on campus who have excelled in the classroom, on the athletic field and in numerous elected organizational positions while at NSU. Once they graduated from our institution, many contributed Pi Kappa Phi as an instrumental building block to their post college success.”
Breeden said the chapter’s alumni have not only provided members with financial support through scholarships but have also mentored students active in the organization.
“This type of service work has earned the Pi Kappa Phi’s Beta Omicron Alumni Association the top alumni chapter award from its national fraternity about a dozen times over the last 19 years,” Breeden added. “The alumni chapter believes that building the new Pi Kappa Phi house is the next step in helping our active chapter continue to grow as well as help secure its future for many years to come.”
