Jacob Beavers, Beta Epsilon (Missouri), is the 2023 recipient of the Dr. Phillip M. Summers Student of the Year Award. This award is named in honor of Dr. Phillip M. Summers, Alpha Psi (Indiana), who served as National President from 1992-94 and was named Mr. Pi Kappa Phi in 2003. Each year, this award recognizes the overall most outstanding student member of Pi Kappa Phi, someone who best exemplifies the ideals of the Fraternity in his chapter, on his campus and in his community.
Beavers, a founding member of the Beta Epsilon Chapter (Missouri-Columbia), was one of 12 undergraduate Fraternity members in the country to be recognized with the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) Undergraduate Award of Distinction. In addition, he has served as archon of his chapter and was selected to serve on the 2022-23 Council of Archons, a Pi Kappa Phi national student leadership committee, where he served as the liaison to National Council and chairman of the Council of Archons. Furthermore, Beavers has been a recipient of three national scholarships for academic success
Beaver’s accomplishments are numerous, including financially stabilizing the chapter as the treasurer through the pandemic by working with members to maintain an unprecedented 100% collection rate, spearheading the chapter’s War of the Roses philanthropy event, one of the leading events on campus, helping double the chapter in size through recruitment and retention initiatives and fostering a culture of campus involvement among his chapter brothers. Jake Henderson, Pi Kappa Phi’s chief executive officer said, “Often we are unable to witness firsthand what a student is truly capable of when given opportunities, and much less so when they create opportunities for themselves. On paper, we can track the status of a student chapter and identify what leaders are able to have an impact on the continued success of their organization, but to be able to witness Jacob working with his chapter, community, interfraternal peers and nationally with alumni and fellow students in Pi Kappa Phi chapters has been a true testament to who he is.”