PsiU Today

From The Archives – About our founders: Sterling Goodale Hadley

Sterling Goodale Hadley – Theta 1836 (Union College)
by Christopher Lawrence Tang ESQ, Gamma Tau ‘01 (Georgia Tech)

    A letter arrived on the desk of Psi Upsilon headquarters in late 1957 appealing on behalf of a gravestone. Brother Jeff C. Becker, Sr., Psi 1903 (Hamilton) described the sad state of affairs at the local history cemetery where one of the original founders Sterling Goodale Hadley, Theta 1836, (Union College) laid to rest in a poorly marked grave.¹ 

    Sterling Goodale Hadley arrived in this world on August 26th, 1812 in the town of Goshen, Connecticut. Born to Stephen Hadley and Laura Hadley nee Goodale, the young man spent much of his youth moving from place to place.² He attended Egremont Academy, the equivalent of a high school, then embarked upon higher education at storied Union college.

  Upon arriving at Union, young Sterling took up association with uncle (oft called cousin) Samuel Goodale, Theta 1836. Samuel soon introduced him to his coterie including Merwin Henry Stewart, Theta 1837, and George Washington Tuttle, Theta 1836. Sterling joined the Delphian society, as did most students of Union college, but found the goals of the Delphians at odds with their stated goals. Though the Delphian society claimed to be a literary society of friendship, Hadley recalled in later years that the Delphians in practice constituted a “political” establishment in which “we younger members were mere pawns.” ³ 

    Soon, discussion began among the young men of founding their own society whose purpose would conform to the ideals of friendship and literary enlightenment.

Hadley contributed in ways large and small, from coining the rejoinder “Good night thine always” to serving as the first President of our society. Such esteem by his fellow founders earned the moniker of being the “Father” of the fraternity and one can scarcely imagine what shape our society would have without his commitment and energy.

    Upon graduation from Union as Phi Beta Kappa, Hadley taught for a year, but soon he would read with the Representative Samuel Birdsall.¹ Possibly as part of his service to Birdsall, Hadley delivered a speech to the village of Waterloo, New York at their Independence Day Parade in 1937.4 Hadley settled into that humble village of Seneca Valley as his home for the rest of his life.

“We have had no occasion to regret our, start or growth, or the character of the men who have belonged to the society at Union and elsewhere.”

-Sterling Goodale Hadley, 
The Epitome of Psi Upsilon (1884)

    The New York Bar admitted Sterling Goodale Hadley in 1939 and soon he opened a law practice. In that same year, on October 2, he wed Ann Wells and their love bore the fruit of a long and happy marriage as well as many children. Over the next forty years, Hadley served and developed Waterloo in numerous capacities including multiple stints within various positions of government and committee for every public service whether it be railroads, gas lighting, or school boards. As a man of great business and industry, Hadley worked as a lawyer with various partners along the way and opened an insurance agency. He would serve as a judge also.

    Hadley’s service and accolades extended beyond the environs of Waterloo. In 1861, he helped assemble the Wright Guard to serve in the Civil War. Near the end of his career he served as state assessor and in so doing visited every county in the state.

    Along the hurrying years, Hadley’s bond with the brotherhood only grew stronger with age. Hadley frequently attended Psi Upsilon conventions later in life and served as honorary President twice. He remained close with his fellow founders, especially his kinsman Samuel Goodale who attended Hadley’s 50th wedding anniversary festivities in Waterloo.

    Sadly, a lifetime of remunerative industry did not save Hadley from cruelties of misfortune and references later in life note him having lost a fortune and returning to work. In those later years it is also noted that he had a particularly strong relationship with the brotherhood. 

    Sterling Goodale Hadley left this Earth in 1902 and lays interred a few plots away from his beloved wife Ann. A representative from the Psi Upsilon executive council attended the ceremony and flowers were sent.

Left: the new marker established by Psi Upsilon, and the clasped hands wreath laid at the graveside during the dedication. 
Right: John F. Bush Jr, Upsilon 1922 (Rochester) reading the dedication address.

    Fifty-Nine years later, in the fall of 1960, a gathering of brothers convened at Hadley’s grave. Responding to Becker’s letter, the executive council approved of funds to refurbish and restore the grave marker for the beloved father of the fraternity. Verses of Dear Old Shrine echoed through the tombstones that sunny afternoon showing once again that no time can part the brotherhood. 

1836 | Matriculates to Union college, co-founds Psi U, first President

1836 | Graduated from Union Phi Beta Kappa, teaches at Avon Springs academy

1837 | Reads/interns with a Representative Samuel Birdsall

1838 | Delivers speech at the Waterloo 4th of July parade

1839 | Sdmitted to the New York Bar and forms a law office with Samuel Birdsall

1839, Oct 2 | Marries Ann Wells

1843 | Declines invitation to Psi U Decennial due to court conflict

1840 | Founds an insurance agency in Waterloo

1845 | Co-founds Delphian Lodge house chapter in Waterloo

1853 | Elected to NY state legislature for the 1854 session

1855 | Mother Laura Goodale Hadley (sister of Samuel Goodale) dies at Egremont, MA – appointed to investigate gas and gas lights for Waterloo. Construction began the following year

1856 | Elected Judge, Surrogate, and Register in Bankruptcy, served four years

1860 | Headed campaign to build an Episcopal church with a subscription list “6 feet long”. Become one of the first Wardens of St. Paul’s Episcopal church.

1861 | Helped recruit troops for the Civil War for Capt. John F. AIkens “The Wright Guards” – Formed law office with Weaver to be Hadley & Weaver

1863 | Survey of the water rights of Seneca county

1865 | Appointed to the founding board of the Willard Asylum and Hospital, serves for over 30 years. Hadley Hall named after him, appointed to help revise the Waterloo, NY village charter

1867 | Delegate to the NY Constitutional convention

1871 | Founding member of the Board of the new Waterloo Union School (primary school)

1873 | State assessor of NY, serves till 1880

1875 | Buys the first typewriter in Waterloo – Board member of the Waterloo Historical Society

1878 | Recounts to the Diamond his account of the founding of Psi U, serves as honorary president of the Psi U convention -elected president of Waterloo Historical Society

1883 | Serves on the Board of Hobart College till 1893 -attends the Psi U Semicentennial Convention

1884 | serves as honorary president of the Psi U convention

1889, Oct 2 | 50th wedding anniversary celebration attended by Samuel Goodale, Theta 188X

1892 | Hadley Hall built at Willard Asylum

1895 | Retires

1898 | Attends Psi Upsilon Convention with the two other surviving founders. This will be the last time all three will be in the same room together.

1899 | Convention sends a telegram of greeting To Martindale, Tuttle, and Hadley as the 3 surviving members

1901 | death & funeral

Footnotes:

1. Diamond of Psi Upsilon Vol 1 No 47 (1961) https://psiu.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Diamond-of-Psi-Upsilon-1961-1.-Vol047-Num2-Win.pdf

2. Portrait and Biographical Record of Seneca and Schuyler Counties , New York (1895) https://www.mygenealogyhound.com/New-York-Biographies/Seneca-County-NY-Biographies/sterling-g-hadley-genealogy-seneca-county-new-york-waterloo.html

3. The Epitome of Psi Upsilon (1884) https://psiu.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/1884-The-Epitome-of-Psi-Upsilon-reprint-w-cover.pdf

4. A History of the Village of Waterloo by John E. Becker (1949) a Psi 1903 (Hamilton)

Click to access H007443.pdf

5. https://psiu.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/1884-The-Epitome-of-Psi-Upsilon-reprint-w-cover.pdf

From The Archives – About our founders: Sterling Goodale Hadley Read More »

Robert Corell, Epsilon Iota ’82 and James Cornacchia, Pi ’86 receive the Distinguished Alumni Service Award

The Distinguished Alumni Service Award was created at the 155th Convention in 1998 to recognize Alums who go above and beyond and make great contributions to their chapters and the mission and values of Psi Upsilon Fraternity. Since that time 32 alums have received this recognition of achievement.

Recently we have delivered this to two very deserving alums for their lifetime of service to Psi Upsilon and their respective chapters.

Robert Corell, Epsilon Iota ’82

Robert Corell, Epsilon Iota ’82 (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) was recognized at the Epsilon Iota Founder’s Day dinner on April 7. Bob was a founder of the Epsilon Iota Chapter, undergraduate President, has served as a President of the Alumni Association multiple times, and has served on the Executive Council of Psi Upsilon. From his recommendation: “Robert has been a true rock for the fraternity. Collegiate Undergraduate and Alumni associations can famously have short institutional memories as membership and active engagement turn over; Robert’s continuous presence at both business and social events has created persistent stability and a sense of continuous connection between many generations of Epsilon Iota brothers.”

James Cornacchia, Pi ’86

James Cornacchia, Pi ’86 (Syracuse) was recognized at the New York City Perfect Pint event on April 18th. Jim has served on the Pi Trust for over 25 years and has served as an advisor and fundraiser for the chapter – helping organize initiations, senior dinners, homecoming and other events for the Pi. From his recommendation: “Jim Cornacchia should have been given this award every year. He has gone above and beyond for the Pi chapter consistently semester after semester… He has a very unique passion and real enthusiasm for all things Pi and keeps old memories alive through a sheer force of will (for example) Jim found out about the passing of a brother who was a WWII flying ace. He immediately felt the right thing to do was find history and a photo of him and create a lasting tribute for him in the main room of the Pi…”

You can see all past recipients of this award on our recognition page and if you know of an alum who is missing from this list, and has done a lot for your chapter, please take a moment to recommend them to our Awards Committee as we know there are many alums who are doing great things for our chapters and haven’t been recognized yet!

Robert Corell, Epsilon Iota ’82 and James Cornacchia, Pi ’86 receive the Distinguished Alumni Service Award Read More »

Edward Marinaro, Chi ‘72 (Cornell) – A Life in the Spotlight

Edward Marinaro, Chi ‘72 (Cornell) – A Life in the Spotlight

Ed. Note: After this article was published, Ed graciously agreed to sit for a Fireside chat with Psi U. You can watch the full interview here; He talked about Psi U quite a bit! (If you just want to see those highlights, you can see them here.)

By Jerilyn Ericson, Gamma Tau ‘23 (Georgia Tech)

On the first day of his first career, there was a car. Brother Edward “Ed” Marinaro, Chi ‘72 (Cornell), had bought it with the $25,000 signing bonus he got from the Minnesota Vikings, and his teammates did not hold back from poking fun at him for pulling into the first day of practice in a beautiful purple Porsche.¹

One day, he noticed the car was missing and called the police. The officers that arrived quickly found the car, in Ed’s own words, “…under the goal post on the practice field. [Teammates] stole my car and put it under the goal post.”1 As it turned out, he had forgotten his keys in the ignition–the perfect lure for a bunch of Vikings looking for a laugh.

Before his run in the NFL, the New York City native got into Cornell University, where he joined the Chi chapter of Psi Upsilon and launched an illustrious career in college football. He started gaining attention early on, with a sophomore-year season that saw him gain the second-most yards in the country, at 1,409 yards, and run the highest per-game average in the country, at 156.6 yards.²

When asked in 1970 whether Cornell would put him on the field as much as in his previous season, offensive coach Carmen Picone quipped, “He’ll be carrying the ball plenty. You don’t use a cap pistol when you’ve got a cannon.”5 

And a cannon he would prove to be, shooting high enough to claim the Maxwell Award and the second place spot for the Heisman Trophy for his 1971 season.³ For such a run–all 4,715 rushing yards of it–he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991.4 All this coming from an Ivy League athlete long after those universities put much less emphasis on football–a seriously impressive feat.

Soon after graduating, he was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings. Despite the car prank, he got along well with his team. Some may say that Ed’s career was disappointing after college, but the man himself doesn’t look back on those days in such a light. In his own words, “I loved being in Minnesota. I played with some great teammates and some great coaches….”¹ 

And any career that includes two stints in the Super Bowl and places in three NFL teams can hardly be called disappointing.

On the first day of his second career, there was another car. As it turned out, his purple corvette had been stolen for real sometime in 1973. It was found two years later in Colorado, but by then, he had already bought a gold Porsche with the insurance settlement money, and that was the car he drove to Hollywood in 1978 when he took the leap into acting.¹

ED HIMSELF WRITES:

“ After my purple Porsche was stolen I got a gold one which I had for 13 years and it was stolen from my driveway in LA. That’s when I bought a Corvette in 1985. Kept it for 12 years. Loved that car.  

Ed’s first big break in Hollywood was a spot on Laverne and Shirley. It was slow going at first, but he eventually landed another big spot as Officer Joe Coffey on the Emmy-award-winning show Hill Street Blues. Anyone who watched it at the time is sure to recognize him from the over 100 episodes he appeared in.6 His character was actually supposed to die in his fourth episode, but thankfully Joe Coffey fit well enough with the other characters that the writers evidently decided to keep him.7

In 1987, he participated in a series of ads for Miller Brewing Company, which was noticed at the time for a reason you, too, have probably noticed. From the 1987 issue of the Diamond, “Surely Brother Marinaro feels a bit of guilt in plugging the competitor of Coors, which is headed up by Jeffrey H. Coors, Chi ‘67, and Peter H. Coors, Chi ‘69.”8 You may have also noticed the further layer of humor here, which is that Ed and both of the Coors brothers hail from the same chapter, and though I cannot confirm it, I’m reasonably sure they would have been undergraduate brothers at the same time.

Brother Ed would go on to feature in many other movies and TV shows, including Sisters, Dynasty, Amy Fisher: My Story, and Blue Mountain State.6 The last, a raunchy comedy show, saw him return to football in his role as Coach Marty Daniels. If that sounds much different from his previous shows, the man himself would agree with you. “It got me a whole new audience,” he said in a 2022 interview. “It’s crazy. I mean, I became so popular with this demographic of 18-to-32-year-old men.”¹ 

And in a strange turn of events, at least from the eyes of those fans, he is more well known as the football coach in Blue Mountain State than as a college football star, though it doesn’t much bother him.¹

BROTHER ED ON HIS ROLE IN BLUE MOUNTAIN STATE:

“It’s crazy. I mean, I became so popular with this demographic of 18-to-32-year-old men.” 

In total, he is credited for 66 acting appearances.6 This, along with his college football career, three NFL teams, and two Super Bowl appearances make for as much an impressive life and it is a varied one. This isn’t even mentioning his charity work, which includes hosting the Boca Grande Classic fishing tournament, which raised money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.9

Despite being in his seventies and no longer needing the money, Ed still does acting work because, in his own words, “… it’s just nice to stay sharp,…. It’s sort of fun. It gets your blood going.”¹ So do not be surprised if you go to see a new movie one day or turn on a new streaming show and find Brother Ed somewhere on the screen, catching the attention of yet another demographic.

Sources

1https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/22/from-football-to-hollywood-ex-vikings-rb-ed-marinaro-knows-the-limelight/
2https://psiu.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Diamond-of-Psi-Upsilon-1969-4.-Vol056-Num1-Fall.pdf
3https://web.archive.org/web/20200114065230/https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/page/cfb150players/the-150-greatest-players-college-football-150-year-history
4https://cornellbigred.com/news/2020/1/14/marinaro-named-top-150-player-in-college-football-history-by-espn.aspx
5https://psiu.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Diamond-of-Psi-Upsilon-1970-4.-Vol057-Num1-Autm.pdf
6https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0547544/
7https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/i-just-got-my-ass-broke-all-the-time-an-oral-history-of-hill-street-blues-26881/
8https://psiu.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Diamond-of-Psi-Upsilon-1987-2.-Vol073-Num3-Sum.pdf
9https://www.redbone.org/2016-boca_grande.html

Edward Marinaro, Chi ‘72 (Cornell) – A Life in the Spotlight Read More »

2024-25 Scholarship Recipients & Keynote


We’d like to congratulate the 21 brothers from 14 chapters who received scholarships for the 2024-25 Academic Year from the Psi Upsilon Foundation, including four graduate awards! Below is the list of recipients based on their award.

We held an online announcement for the Scholarship recipients on May 2nd hosted by the Psi Upsilon Foundation’s Chair and President, Alex Senchak, Eta ’06 (Lehigh), and our keynote speaker John Song, Omega ’91 (Chicago), offered comments on how Psi Upsilon has positively affected his life. You can view a transcript of that speech below.

We would like to thank all the generous donors to the Annul Fund and everyone who has helped make these named scholarships possible. Since 1959 The Psi Upsilon Foundation has awarded over 1.2 million dollars in scholarships to our members because of the generosity of our donors! As we are approaching the end of our fiscal year, please make a gift to support the scholarships and programs of Psi Upsilon today. If you already have, check here to see if your company will double your impact with a matching gift.

Graduate Scholarships

Lewis Finkelstein, Omicron 1983 Awards 
•Jack Patterson, Tau Epsilon ‘24 (Clemson)

FishFund Awards 
•Don Nguyen, Epsilon Nu (Michigan State) 

Henry B. Poor, Gamma 1939 Award
•Christopher Picard, Zeta ‘23 (Dartmouth)
•Dylan Rykert, Upsilon ’23 (Rochester)

Dr. Tony Kremer, Omicron ‘87 Award 
•Tuna Ergan, Gamma Tau ‘23 (Georgia Tech)

Undergraduate Scholarships

Albert C. Jacobs, Phi ‘21 Award  
•Arthur Anderson, Psi ‘25 (Hamilton College)

Benjamin T. Burton, Chi ‘21 Award 
•Kurt Mueller, Upsilon ‘25 (University of Rochester) 

Curtis J. Rettke, Eta ‘84 Award
•Brandon Dick, Sigma Phi ‘25 (St. Francis)

Earl D. Babst, Iota-Phi ‘93  
•Sherry Li, Epsilon Iota ‘26 (RPI) 

Eric W. Didul, Phi Beta ‘90 Award  
•James Wang, Phi Beta ‘25 (William and Mary) 

Gardner A. Callanen, Psi ‘29 Award 
•Andreas Matejka, Psi ’25 (Hamilton College)

Henry B. Poor, Gamma ‘39 Awards  
•Mark Bargout, Tau ‘25 (Pennsylvania)
•Skylar Fong, Tau ‘25 (Pennsylvania)
 

J. Russell McShane, Delta ‘32 Award  
•William Gordon, Pi ‘25 (Syracuse)

Jerome W. Brush, Jr.,Delta Delta ‘39 Award  
•Elisa Miller, Gamma Tau ‘25 (Georgia Tech) 

Jonathan E. Persky, Omega ‘85 Awards  
•Jack Leuker, Omega ‘25 (University of Chicago) 

R. DeWitt Wallace, Epsilon ‘14 Award  
•Zane Abdel, Epsilon Nu ‘25 (MSU)

R. Timothy Leedy, Phi ‘57 Award  
•V Verity, Gamma Tau ‘25 (Georgia Tech) 

Robert W. Morey, Pi ‘20 Awards 
•Christian Thack, Pi ‘25 (Syracuse) 

Robert W. Parsons, Xi ‘22 Award  
•John (Jack) Vigue, X I ‘25 (Wesleyan)

William P. King, Omicron ‘73 Award  
•Kevin Sanderson, Omicron ‘26 (Illinois) 

Psi Upsilon was pleased to give out 21 scholarships this year!

Psi Upsilon Foundation Scholarship Announcement Keynote 

May 2, 2024

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, and most importantly, our brilliant brother-scholars of the evening, welcome to the 2024 Psi Upsilon Foundation Scholarship Announcement. 

As we gather here tonight under the banner of our esteemed fraternity, we are reminded of the extraordinary privilege it is to belong to a community that values not only academic excellence but most importantly, the bonds that tie us together.

Now, I must confess when I was asked to present this keynote speech—I was surprised, as we have a multitude of accomplished and deserving brothers. 

 I AM  HONORED

When I think about what Psi U means to me, I think about two things: Timelessness and The Privilege of Our Bond.

THE BONDS

We have a bond.

Let’s face it, a fraternity can include a bond which is a roller coaster ride? From the drama of roommate squabbles to the delicate dance of navigating group projects, relationships in college can be… let’s say, eventful.

But despite the occasional turbulence, we must never lose sight of the fact that relationships are, indeed, a precious commodity. They enrich our lives, challenge our perspectives, and shape our futures in ways we may not even realize. Whether it’s the friendships forged over late-night study sessions or the mentorship of a wise professor, each connection we make adds depth and meaning to our journey.

And speaking of journeys, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the incredible odyssey each of our brother-scholars has embarked upon to reach this moment. The late nights spent poring over textbooks, the caffeine-fueled study sessions, the triumphs and setbacks—these are the building blocks of success, and each one of you has navigated them with grace and determination.

But of course, none of us reaches this level of achievement alone. Behind every scholar, there is a network of support—family, friends, mentors—who have stood by us through thick and thin, cheering us on when we needed it most. So tonight, let us not only celebrate our brother-scholars but also extend our heartfelt gratitude to those who have helped them along the way.

Now, brotherhood, this bond, does not mean blind loyalty.  If a brother messes up, we call him on it.  And, I have been called out several times, thankfully. We hold each other accountable.  Because true fraternity pushes you to be a better human.  Thank you Brother Sam Tinaglia!

PSI-U FOR LIFE

Brotherhood at Psi Upsilon is also about timelessness.  Brother Alexander Senchak coined the phrase, ”Psi-U for LIFE.”  Psi U does not end at college graduation.

A little bit on my journey, after I graduated college, I disengaged from Psi-U.  In fact, I viewed college and Psi-U with a little more than slight disdain, something in my past, because if I did grasp onto Psi-U, it felt as if I was not maturing.  

Thankfully, I returned later in life; Psi-U was there.

Piece of advice: do not make my mistake.

Because here’s the thing, brothers: brotherhood evolves.  As we graduate, step into careers, and navigate the uncharted waters of adulthood, the nature of our connection changes.  The late-night calls might be about deadlines instead of Doordash, the pep talks might be for job interviews instead of keg stands, but the core of our bond – that sense of shared experience, unwavering support, and genuine camaraderie – that stays the same.

Shared experience and perspective.  Brother AE of the Beta Beta chapter, Trinity College was introduced to me by a brother from the Omega, UChicago. I was chest deep in operations at a portfolio company. Brother AE came onboard and helped me resuscitate that company. He helped turn around an operation that was on life support. Brother AE bailed me out.  And all Brother AE does is thank me for the opportunity to work together. He thanks me?!?

In the early days of your career, this brotherhood is your launchpad.  It’s the network you can tap into for advice, the shoulder to cry on when that dream job application gets rejected (it happens to the best of us!), the cheering section that celebrates your first promotion or big client win.

As life throws its inevitable curveballs – marriages, mortgages, the occasional office crisis – our brotherhood becomes your support system. 

A story of support… There is Brother B who was blind-sided in the politics of the office.  Brother B came with energy, experience, and vulnerability to a Psi U event. Brother B engaged and asked for help. As simple as that.  Brother Patrick Gilrane of the Psi led the charge to help.  We coached Brother B on how to navigate those rough office waters.  With Brother B’s hard work and a little dash of support, Brother B is now at a fantastic new chapter of his work life.  Thank you, Brother Patrick Gilrane.   

PRIVILEGE OF OUR BOND

Now that we have spoken of the bond, let’s talk a little about the privilege of the bond.  I know that “privilege” is an uncouth word these days.  But grant me some license here. We receive a privilege in being members of Psi Upsilon.  The privilege that we hold as Brothers of Psi Upsilon is the bond that we enjoy and the responsibility that we carry.  

This privilege and responsibility is a burden. We have been blessed with opportunities that many can only dream of.  We have also been blessed by this burden to continue the privilege.  Nay it is our duty to pay it forward.  

And here is an example.  Brother Doug Hahn, an Omega, showed tremendous graciousness. I had committed more than a faux pas at a public event hosted by Brother Doug Hahn.  We did not speak for years.  But at a Psi U event, Brother Hahn paid it forward, forgave everything, accepted me with grace. We chatted without skipping a beat.  Talk about paying it forward.  Talk about bearing that burden.

So when we talk about privilege and the burden of Psi U,

I am thrilled to bear this burden!

PSI U FOR LIFE

My fellow Brother-scholars, as you embark on the next chapter of your journey, remember this: the bonds we forge, the causes we champion, and the impact we make on society—these are the true markers of our legacy. And as you continue to strive for excellence, may you always do so with humility, integrity, and a generous spirit.

Congratulations, brother-scholars, on this well-deserved honor. The world awaits your brilliance, and I have no doubt that you will continue to shine brightly, illuminating the path for generations to come.  And Psi Upsilon is here to provide fellowship and support for all  stageS of your life.  So I challenge you to bear your burden of brotherhood throughout your journey. And we will be reaching out to you for help. But also be there for your support. 

PSI-U FOR LIFE

There are so many more brothers that deserve recognition in tonight’s speech.  You know who you are. 

With great anticipation, I humbly say YOURS IN THE BONDS!

2024-25 Scholarship Recipients & Keynote Read More »

2024 Fishfund Venture Summit recap

Psi U brothers in the innovation and venture capital and investment spaces gathered in San Francisco in April from all around the country to learn about new
projects helmed by Psi Upsilon brothers. The venue was 3 Embarcadero Center San Francisco, CA

This year saw major format changes for the Venture Summit, including venue and focus of discussion – instead of short, pitch focused presentations, the presenters were invited to do a deeper dive into their area of expertise while including the type of help they needed from the Psi Upsilon network. We expanded the programming to include two informational afternoon sessions from subject matter experts: The Power & Magic of Humor: A Practicum presented by comedian Karen Buchanan, and AI For Everyday Use by Dr. Tamara Powell, PhD & Dr. Jeanne Beatrix Law.

We also had presentations from Risks, Opportunities, and valuations in the Craft Beverage Distillation sector with a focus on  Madrona Distillery by Tom Allan, Theta Theta ‘89 and on The Future of NFC Technology by Professor Monto Kumagai

The event had more hosts than ever before.
Thank you to:

Joseph Cillo, PhD, Delta ’61

Patrick Gilrane, Psi ’83

Oliver Smith, Beta Alpha ’93

James Volpentest, Theta Theta ’90

Craig Chaing, Epsilon ‘95

At the next programming and grants committee meeting will recommend creating a steering committee for this event. If you are local to San Francisco and interested in helping plan next year’s Venture Summit, please contact jonathan@psiu.or

2024 Fishfund Venture Summit recap Read More »

9.17.24 – All Psi Upsilon Golf Outing – Tuxedo Park

Register Individual
Register Foursome
$340 (Early bird rate of $301 until May 31)Golf and Reception
(Includes special PsiU golf mementos)
$1,100Discounted Foursome Golf & Reception
Includes above for each player plus embroidered shirt for foursome “captain”
$315Discounted rate available for Founders Society Members
$85Reception only
$1,500Corporate Sponsorship

The 18-hole, Robert Trent Jones, Senior-designed golf course at Tuxedo is consistently praised as being one of the most beautiful and challenging courses in the New York metropolitan area.

In August 2022, the Club completed a multi-million-dollar renovation of its historic course which included the creation of a new short game practice area, a new 9th hole, the renovation of all fairway and greenside bunkers, and the re-grassing of all necessary green surrounds.

Guests welcome. Caddies available per foursome. Ticket includes all special Psi U golf gear, greens fees, cart rental, and open bar reception. We are investigating embroidered Psi U golf polos and caps for advance purchase as well.
Two corporate sponsorship advertising opportunities available with proceeds defraying event costs and benefiting under-endowed Psi Upsilon scholarships and increasing award amounts.

Special thanks to Doug Hahn, Omega ‘89 (Chicago) for hosting.

Easily accessible from greater NYC/Northern NJ area. Newark airport is about 1 hour away.

9.17.24 – All Psi Upsilon Golf Outing – Tuxedo Park Read More »

September 2023 Psi U Today – Convention Edition

Sept 2023 – Convention Edition

Annual Communication of Executive Council
Annual Communication of the Foundation
Executive Council & Foundation Directors for 2023-24
2023-24 Undergraduate Advisory Board Members
The 2023 Leadership Institute Curriculum
Convention Photos
179th Convention Awards Banquet
179th Convention Records
2022 Annual Impact Report
Final Weeks! Oral History Project Continues
Psi U Archives Pages Redesigned
Speaker Series
Annual Fund Update
In Memoriam
Upcoming Events

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Annual Communication of Executive Council

Jeremy McKeon
Eta, ’08 (Lehigh) President of the Executive Council

Given by the Executive Council President Jeremy McKeon, Eta ’08 (Lehigh), to the Convention attendees, the Annual Communication of the Executive Council reports on the state of the Fraternity and addresses issues to be dealt with by the Convention.

179th Annual CommunicationDownload

Annual Communication of the Foundation

Alex Senchak
Eta, ’06 (Lehigh) President and Chairman of the Foundation

The Report of the Chairman of the Foundation, Alex Senchak, Eta ’06 (Lehigh), captures the state of the Foundation and the work being done to support the educational goals of the Fraternity.

2023 Foundation Annual CommunicationDownload

Executive Council & Foundation Directors for 2023-24

We would like to thank Brighten Meade, Phi Beta ’21 (William & Mary) for his work on the Executive Council last year, and welcome new term member, Steven Malinski, Epsilon Iota ’09 (RPI) who was elected for a one year term.

The 2023-24 Officers of the Executive Council were also installed at the Annual Meeting:
Jeremy McKeon, Eta ’08 (Lehigh), President
James Platner, Phi Delta ’10 (Mary Washington), Vice President
David Hollis, Gamma Tau ’11 (Georgia Tech), Secretary
Timothy Zepp, Chi Delta ’08 (Duke), Treasurer and President-elect

For a full list of members of the Executive Council please go here

The Officers of the Foundation were also appointed for the 2023-24 year:
Alex Senchak, Eta ’06 (Lehigh), Chairman
Matthew Eckenrode, Epsilon Nu ’04 (Michigan State), Vice Chairman
J. Martin Brayboy, Gamma ’84 (Amherst), Secretary
John Ong, Gamma ’82 (Amherst), Treasurer

For a full list of the Directors of the Foundation please go here

2023-24 Undergraduate Advisory Board Members

Ethan Francoeur, Delta Omicron Prov. ’24 (Purdue)
Isaac Lam, Theta Theta ’25 (Washington)

Another important business item at our Convention is the election of two brothers to the Undergraduate Advisory Board (UAB). This board serves to facilitate input from the undergraduate chapters to our Executive Council. We’d like to congratulate Ethan Francoeur, Delta Omicron ’24 (Purdue), and Isaac Lam, Theta Theta ’25 (Washington), on being the elected representatives for the 2023-24 Academic Year.

The 2023 Leadership Institute Curriculum

The keynote of the 2023 Summer Leadership Institute was Dr. Michael Dunphy who led a workshop on Situational Leadership and how to best lead given your individual skill set. Dr. Dunphy is a trained martial arts instructor and his highly interactive session incorporates martial arts with practical applications to help explain emotional intelligence, conflict resolution and leading highly effective teams in an engaging way. Dr. Dunphy currently serves as the VP for Academic Affairs at Walsh University and is a leadership coach who has worked with many companies and sports teams in his professional career.

The Psi U History and Archives Committee gave a presentation on the founding of the Gamma Tau Chapter at Georgia Tech and its prior locations through the current house it owns today led by Heather Burns Edmisten, Gamma Tau ’02 and Jonathan Chaffin, Gamma Tau ’00. International Office Staff reviewed programs and current operations, Psi Upsilon’s policies, and engagement opportunities. We also continued our roundtable programs and had discussions focused on recruitment, diversity and inclusion, utilizing the connects grant, chapter services programming, the Psi U Cares Program, and more.

In addition, after soliciting feedback from attendees, we had roundtable discussion groups covering topics asked for by the members; including recruitment, diversity and inclusion, the Psi U Cares Program, alumni fundraising, and more. You can read a more detailed summary of our programming and topics here.

Convention Photos

You can view the photos of the 179th Convention on our Flickr account album for the Convention. Thank you to Steve Malinski, Epsilon Iota ’09 (RPI) who served as our Convention Photographer and Tuna Ergan, Gamma Tau ’23 (Georgia Tech) for assisting.

179th Convention Awards Banquet

One of the most meaningful pieces of our annual gathering is our Awards Banquet where we are able to honor both individuals and chapters for their outstanding accomplishments to Psi Upsilon. We had the honor of Charles M. Hall ESQ, Nu Alpha ’71 (Washington & Lee University) as the keynote speaker to close our convention. Chuck is a former president of the Psi Upsilon Executive Council and Foundation and a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Service Award for his ongoing service with the Psi Upsilon Society of Georgia, including being instrumental in purchasing the Gamma Tau Chapter House.

This year we had three additional alumni in attendance who were able to receive their medallions for the Distinguished Alumni Service Award along with Brother Hall: Robert McIntire, Omicron ’68 (Illinois), Jesse Scherer, Gamma Tau ’05 (Georgia Tech), and David Hollis, Gamma Tau ’11 (Georgia Tech). You can read more about the award and their impact on Psi Upsilon here.

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In addition, chapters were recognized for Garnet and Gold Award for Academic Excellence, The Owl Award for Exceptional Academic Performance, the Clasped Hand Award for Outstanding Philanthropy and Service, the Award of Distinction and the Diamond Award for Exceptional Chapters was presented to the Gamma Tau Chapter at Georgia Tech. You can view all chapter award winners here.

179th Convention Records

Over the weekend Convention delegates split into five committees to discuss the work of the fraternity, these committees are: Nominations and Credentials, Awards, Budget and Development, Unfinished Business and New Business. The Convention Records below document the actions taken by the 179th Convention.

179th Convention RecordsDownload

You can also view an updated Psi Upsilon Constitution and the policies of the Fraternity on our website here and view the 179th Convention Binder – which includes items on the Fraternities Budget, Membership Statistics, Chapter Reports and more.

2022 Annual Impact Report

Thanks to many volunteers, the Foundation has been able to create exceptional opportunities as showcased in the following pages. A portion of those who we engage with in 2022 have returned after years or even decades of time away from brotherhood activities. It is a joy to bring them back into our programs and build new relationships and find new ways for them to share their expertise, nurture personal interests, and be inspired by other each other. We now turn to grow our relationships and look through these annual and more frequent programs, stay connected through these long-form journalistic publications and convene more forums for substantive discussion and deeper connection. We are indebted to our generous community of donors who play such an important role in supporting the Foundation’s work to make Psi Upsilon a place of connection, joy, renewal, and inspiration!
2022 Impact Report

Visit this page to learn more about how you can support our programs.

Final Weeks! Oral History Project Continues

This is your last chance to be a part of the Psi Upsilon Oral History Project, led by Publishing Concepts Inc. (PCI). This project will let us hear the unique experience from all our members, and also help update information and ensure your connection to Psi Upsilon remains strong.

The stories will be packaged in a book that is available for purchase and will live on forever in the history of our organization. Can you attribute your success to Psi Upsilon? Did a brother leave a lasting impact on you? What tales of leadership and camaraderie that brought the chapter together can you share with our younger brothers? All of these moments make up Psi Upsilon, and we want to hear them.

We urge every alum to please participate! It costs no money to share your story and you are under no obligation to purchase a book! Submissions close at the end of the month so please be sure to call 855-376-5979 today and share your story. To learn more details about the project visit here

Psi U Archives Pages Redesigned

The History and Archives committee has recently redesigned and expanded the presentation of the digital archives on Psi’s website. Go take a look!
If you would like to get involve with the committee, or have a research project about a chapter or brother, contact jonathan@psiu.org.

Speaker Series

Live via ZOOM webinar: Register Here

Bridging the divide: How best to honor one another as we engage in civil/political discourse. A fireside chat on engaging civil political discourse with Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith, Gamma ’73 (Amherst)

The author of Seeing the Unseen: Beyond Prejudices, Paradigms and Party Lines, Mark Beckwith is a co-founder of Bishops United Against Gun Violence, and a leader in Braver Angels, a national movement to depolarize America. He is passionate about helping people move beyond the confines of their political and religious silos in order to find common ground. He is a graduate of Amherst College and Yale Divinity School. A retired bishop in the Episcopal Church (Diocese of Newark, NJ), he is an avid hiker, tennis player and competitive swimmer. He lives in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. He blogs weekly on markbeckwith.net

Have a perspective or expertise to share? ♦ NOW BOOKING speakers for the 2023-24 Virtual Speaker Series
Direct inquiries to Director of Member Engagement Jonathan Chaffin jonathan@psiu.org

Annual Fund Updates

Please check to see if your company does Donation Matching for 501c3s. (Google, The Home Depot, Microsoft, and many more match 50 to 100%, some up to 500%!).
https://doublethedonation.com/psiufoundation

Make a Gift Here


Thank you to everyone who made a gift in 2023! Check out donors from your chapter here!
You can view the 2022 Founder’s Society Members here.

In Memoriam

See a listing of brothers whose passing has been reported to us since July 2022.

Upcoming Events

Click event title for more details

09.23.23 – Phi (Michigan) Homecoming

10.20.23 – Phi Beta (College of William & Mary) Homecoming

10.21.23 – Omicron (Illinois) Homecoming

10.28.23 – Virtual Speaker Series – Ret. Rev. Mark Beckwith, Gamma ’73

11.04.23 – Chi Delta (Duke University) 50th Anniversary Reunion Weekend

11.10.23 – Theta Theta (Washington) Founders’ Day

11.24.23 – Zeta Zeta (University of British Columbia) Founder’s Day Dinner

12.07.23 – Gilrane Economic Symposium – Greenwich, CT

Click here for a complete list of Psi U events. If you’re interested in sponsoring an event in your area or to have your event listed in the calendar please email Director of Engagement Jonathan Chaffin (jonathan@psiu.org).

Have news to pass along? We’d love to hear from you! Please contact Executive Director Thomas Fox (tfox@psiu.org) with anything you would like to share.

© 2023 Psi Upsilon Fraternity

September 2023 Psi U Today – Convention Edition Read More »

June 2023 Psi U Today

June 2023

2023 Outstanding Juniors and Griffin Award Winners Announced
Social Impact Fellowship Applications Now Open
Spring 2023 Garnet Report Published
Oral History Project Continues
From the Archives: Psi U and the First NFL Draft
Omega Alumni Honored by University of Chicago
2023-24 Scholarship Recipients & Keynote
Chapter Newsletters
Speaker Series
Annual Fund Update
In Memoriam
Upcoming Events

Time is running out to join us for the
179th Psi Upsilon Convention – Register today!
Atlanta, GA • July 28-21

2023 Outstanding Juniors and Griffin Award Winners Announced

Psi Upsilon has a tradition of recognizing upperclassmen who go above and beyond in their service to Psi Upsilon with the Outstanding Junior and Griffin Awards. Each chapter selects the recipients of this award and reports them to the International Office. You can click on the images below to read more about the award and see a photo gallery of the recipients. We would like to thank these outstanding individuals for their dedication and service to Psi Upsilon Fraternity and their respective chapters!

Social Impact Fellowship Applications Open

For 3 years the Psi Upsilon Social Impact Fellowship initiative has provided funds and development opportunities for some of our brightest lights striving for a better society. We’re excited to continue this initiative and announce applications for the 23-24 Social Impact Fellowship are open.

Apply now

The fellowship is granted to support the professional leadership development of emerging leaders striving for the common good. The fellowship is appropriate for brothers working or volunteering in the environmental, education, social equality, medical, and related fields for good of society (including chapter advisors needing training!)  

Make Nominations, meet more of our Fellows, and Apply here

Spring 2023 Garnet Report Published

The Psi Upsilon Foundation published their 2023 Garnet Report, an annual publication reviewing programs of the Foundation and a listing on contributors to the Annual Fund. 

Articles Include:

  1. The Scholarship Announcement Keynote presentation by Mark DiPasquale, Pi ’88 (Syracuse)
  2. The President’s Circle Annual Giving recognition
  3. Announcing Jay Riemenschnieder, Beta Alpha ’90 (Miami Ohio) joining the Foundation Staff
  4. Foundation Grants and Stipends
  5. Creation of the Charles Hall, Nu Alpha ’71 (Washington & Lee) Fund
  6. The 2023 Fishfund Venture Summit
  7. Donors to the 2022 Annual Fund

You can view the Spring 2023 Garnet Report online here.

All donors who are a Gold Member of the Founder’s Society and above receive printed copies of all the Psi Upsilon Foundation Publications – if you would like to make your gift and support Psi Upsilon please do so here.

Oral History Project Continues

Psi Upsilon has partnered with Publishing Concepts (PCI) to undertake a massive Oral History Project. This project will let us hear the unique experience from all our members, and also help update information and ensure your connection to Psi Upsilon remains strong.

The stories will be packaged in a book that is available for purchase and will live on forever in the history of our organization. Can you attribute your success to Psi Upsilon? Did a brother leave a lasting impact on you? What tales of leadership and camaraderie that brought the chapter together can you share with our younger brothers? All of these moments make up Psi Upsilon, and we want to hear them.

We understand that it’s not everyday that you receive a post card or an email asking you to call a number to verify your information and share your Psi U story – so to put you at ease, we’ve compiled some frequently asked questions below that should help to clarify the process. But we urge every alum to please participate! It costs no money to share your story and you are under no obligation to purchase a book!

To call and share your story use this toll free number: 855-376-5979. To learn more details about the project visit here

From the Archives: Psi U and the First NFL Draft

Jay Berwanger, Omega ’36 (Chicago), has a storied football history with the Chicago Maroons where he earned the nickname “The One Man Team”. While his position was officially halfback, he played all over the field even handling some of the kicking duties. His senior year he rushed for 577 yards, passed for 405, returned kickoffs for 359 and added five PATs. All his accomplishments led him to be the Big Ten Most Valuable Player, a unanimous All-American, and was the first recipient of the Downtown Athletic Club trophy in 1935 – which was renamed the Heisman Trophy in 1936. In addition, he was the first player ever chosen in an NFL Draft!
Read more about his career and influence here!

Doug Jackman, Omega ’89 and Ken Ono, Omega ’89, Honored by University of Chicago

The University of Chicago has a long tradition of honoring distinguished and committed alumni who have shaped the world and strengthened their global alumni community. This year two Omega brothers from the same class were recognized for their contributions: Doug Jackman, Omega ’89 received a 2023 Alumni Service Medal and Ken Ono, Omega ’89 received a 2023 Professional Achievement Award.

Read more here!

2023-24 Scholarship Recipients & Keynote

We’d like to congratulate the 30 brothers from 16 chapters who received scholarships for the 2023-24 Academic Year from the Psi Upsilon Foundation, including four graduate awards! Below is the list of recipients based on their award.

We held an online announcement for the Scholarship recipients on May 4th hosted by the Psi Upsilon Foundation’s Chair and President, Alex Senchak, Eta ’06 (Lehigh), and our keynote speaker Mark DiPasquale, Pi ’88 (Syracuse), offered comments on how Psi Upsilon has positively affected his life. You can view that speech in the video below.

We would like to thank all the generous donors to the Annual Fund and everyone who has helped make these named scholarships possible. Since 1959 The Psi Upsilon Foundation has awarded over 1.2 million dollars in scholarships to our members because of the generosity of our donors!

See all our winners
Watch Keynote

Chapter Newsletters

Eta Whippoorwill-2023-05Download
Gamma Tau-Golden-Cogwheel-2023Download
Phi-Owl-Summer-2023Download

Speaker Series

Have a perspective or expertise to share? ♦ NOW BOOKING speakers for the 2023-24 Virtual Speaker Series
Direct inquiries to Director of Member Engagement Jonathan Chaffin jonathan@psiu.org

Annual Fund Updates

Please check to see if your company does Donation Matching for 501c3s. (Google, The Home Depot, Microsoft, and many more match 50 to 100%, some up to 500%!).
https://doublethedonation.com/psiufoundation

Make a Gift Here


Thank you to everyone who made a gift in 2023! Check out donors from your chapter here!
You can view the 2022 Founder’s Society Members here.

In Memoriam

See a listing of brothers whose passing has been reported to us since July 2022.

Upcoming Events

Click event title for more details


07.28 – 07.31.2023
179th Psi Upsilon Convention
July 28th – July 31st, 2023
Atlanta Sheraton Downtown
Atlanta, GA
Hosted by the Gamma Tau chapter
Register Here

09.23.23
Phi (Michigan) Homecoming – Save the Date

10.21.23
Omicron (Illinois) Homecoming – Save the Date

11.04.23
Chi Delta (Duke University) 50th Anniversary Reunion Weekend
Details Here

Click here for a complete list of Psi U events. If you’re interested in sponsoring an event in your area or to have your event listed in the calendar please email Director of Engagement Jonathan Chaffin (jonathan@psiu.org).

Have news to pass along? We’d love to hear from you! Please contact Executive Director Thomas Fox (tfox@psiu.org) with anything you would like to share.

© 2023 Psi Upsilon Fraternity

June 2023 Psi U Today Read More »

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