The Pi Kapp 100, now in its 19th year, is a 100-kilomter cycling trip from the Indianapolis area to the Purdue campus. This year, the ride which raises money for the national philanthropy, included 28 riders and crew.
Ability Experience CEO Basil Lyberg was among the riders as was chapter alumnus Mike McBride, who is the regional director of chapter services. The trip included Journey of Hope and Gear Up Florida participants for regional cycling training. Representatives from five chapters – Grand Valley State, DePaul, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana – participated in the ride and got to see the Moms Day activities.
In addition to the Pi Kapp 100 team arrival, Moms Day consists of a reception, charity auction and banquet.
Lyberg was the keynote speaker at the banquet in front of more than 250 people.
“Your work at Lafayette Jefferson High School (special needs class) is among some of the most impactful I have seen,” he said at the banquet. “Between the time that you give and the resources you provide through your Circle of Giving grant, you are impacting the lives of those students. You are also providing non-disabled peer interactions that provide tremendous value.”
It was the third time someone from the Ability Experience addressed fraternity moms over the years.
“I have heard about Moms Day weekend for years,” Lyberg said. “My old boss Chad Coltrane came up here and had a great experience and I can tell you that this as exceeded all of my expectations. But I can’t leave here without taking a second to thank all the moms here for your work in raising some tremendous young men. You set them on this path put this service on their hearts.”
Lyberg presented a $6,500 check from the chapter’s Circle of Giving grant for Lafayette Jefferson to support the special needs program there.
The banquet gave the chapter an opportunity to celebrate the school year.
- Archon Nate Longo outlined some of the 2017-18 chapter achievements including:
- No. 1 in fraternity philanthropy dollars raised in Summer/Fall 2017 with $112,354
- No. 1 in fraternity service hours with nearly 5,400
- No. 2 in average fraternity grades with 3.26
- No. 6 in chapter size at 145, when the fraternity average was 86
- Various national awards including Star of Hope
- 2018 winner of the RB Stewart Award as Purdue’s top fraternity, and
- IFC Philanthropist of the Year
“We are so grateful for everything these members are able to accomplish, bettering our community and bettering ourselves as men in the process,” Longo said. “I’d personally like to thank all of the moms and families, either with us this evening or not, for raising such a great group of young men.”
Chapter Journey of Hope rider in 2017, Drew Rudman, talked about his experience riding cross-country as well as the various things the chapter does in service to others.
“The Journey of Hope and the Ability Experience have been paramount in my development as a man and growth in sympathy, empathy and compassion,” Rudman said. “It has shown me what it looks like to care for others, walk in joy and bridge gaps between people who appear to be very different from you, but actually have so much to say about your life and teach you. It showed me the vast array of limitations I place on myself and hinder my own growth as well as what I have to offer.”
Mary Moeller, mother of two Pi Kapps – alumnus Erik and undergraduate Jacob, talked about her love for the fraternity and its outreach programs.
“I am proud that both of my sons are part of an organization whose mission is to develop and encourage service to others and the vision of putting service before self are truly embraced,” she said. “I love that Erik and Jacob are brothers with an Omega Pi Kapp bond.”
Chapter advisor Pat Kuhnle spoke about the chapter’ successes.
“I thought I would spend some time letting you know what makes this chapter so strong on this campus,” he said. “The simple part is this: recruit quality men, have good leadership and outstanding programming. The hard part is innovation and execution.”
“We have to keep re-inventing what we do as fraternity and then making the plan happen. It has happened a lot over the years and is particularly true this year. Almost every event that you heard Nate and Drew talk about was an improvement over the past. You add something here, expand something there and make it happen … All these events – Bike a Thon, Arctoberfest, second chance prom, special needs class assistance, War of Roses and Pi Kapp 100 – were created by undergraduate chapter members. They were the innovators of their time and now the continued innovation and execution is of this time.”
Basil Lyberg, Ability Experience CEO, addresses an Omega (Purdue) Moms Day crowd of more than 250 on April 14.
Chad Hellan (front left) and Sam Ragsdale, both 2018 Journey of Hope riders, lead the arrival of the 19th Annual Pi Kapp 100 hosted by the Omega (Purdue) chapter. There were 28 riders and crew on the ride that raises money and awareness for the Ability Experience.