Beta Tau Crescent Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Summer 2013 http://msstateagr.com Mississippi State Dr. Randy Little has been advising this Chapter for many years. This year he was recognized for his work around campus as an advisor to all students. A well-respected and popular professor in Mississippi State University s Department of Agricultural Economics has received a national award for his excellence in student advising. Little is a professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences who has formally guided the career paths of more than 300 undergraduate students since he began at MSU in 1990. He has informally advised more than 1,000 students during that time, as students value his wisdom and seek his guidance. The National Academic Advising Association chose Little for the honor based on an extensive nomination procedure that included recommendations from current Award Winning Advisor Dr. Randy Little and former students, letters of support from colleagues and administrators in the agricultural economics department as well as other MSU departments, and materials demonstrating his professional contributions and accomplishments. He will accept the award at the annual NACADA conference in October in Salt Lake City, Utah. Dr. Little understands and accepts the pivotal and influential role an adviser can play in a student s life, said Steve Turner, head of MSU s Department of Agricultural Economics. His advising success begins with careful listening, as he really cares about the person sitting in his office. Every new student in the department, whether a freshman or a transfer, meets with Dr. Little and immediately knows the department and Mississippi State care about them and want them to be successful. Brother Working with the National Board While serving as an Undergraduate Director, Brother Dominic Avioli represented the Beta Tau Chapter and all other undergraduate chapters on the national board. He voiced concerns that undergraduate brothers had and provided counsel to the National Board members on matters directly affecting undergraduate chapters. Brother Avioli was able to give a face to our Chapter on the National Board. We continue to encourage brothers in Beta Tau to apply and serve in national service capacities. What s in This Issue New Member Bios Summer Recruitment Executive Council And More...
New Members Front row, from left: Chase Waldrip, Charles Richey, Chris Warren, Brandon Myers, Jacob Oakley and Clay Perkins Back row, from left: Nathan Montgomery, Sam Bicket, Cody Parks, Justin Hall, Parker Hamlett and Kelly Davidson The Chapter has had extensive growth over the past year with an initiate class of 12 exceptional men, one of the largest classes in almost a decade. Even without a physical house, high caliber men still flocked to the Beta Tau Chapter because of all the opportunities that are available to them upon joining our brotherhood. Sam Bicket Brother Bicket is a freshman from Biloxi, Miss., majoring in business administration. Upon finishing his time here at Mississippi State, he hopes to open his own livestock insurance company, as well as a charter boat business. Kelly Davidson Brother Davidson is a senior from Bruce, Miss., majoring in agriculture information science with a concentration in agricultural leadership. Brother Davidson was highly involved with FFA throughout high school. He also served as the Collegiate FFA treasurer and vice president. Brother Davidson s career goals are to work for the MSU Extension Service as a county agent while working on getting a master s degree. He hopes to eventually receive his doctoral degree and work as an extension professor at the collegiate level. Justin Hall Brother Hall is a sophomore from Molino, Fla., majoring in animal and dairy science with a pre-vet concentration. Brother Hall was highly involved in FFA New Member Bios all through high school. He even worked on the district level in Florida his senior year. Brother Hall is not only involved with Alpha Gamma Rho, he is also 3rd degree Master Mason of the Masonic Order. Brother Hall s plans upon graduating from Mississippi State are either to continue on to vet school or obtain a master s degree in animal and dairy science. Whichever path he chooses, he would either like to stay in Mississippi and become a large animal vet or move back to Florida to become an ag teacher and an FFA advisor. Parker Hamlett Brother Hamlett is a freshman from Memphis, Tenn. At this time, he is an undeclared major. Brother Hamlett is highly involved in shooting sports. In fact, he has won many state and national titles in competitive trap shooting. Nathan Montgomery Brother Montgomery is a junior from Collierville, Tenn., double majoring in international business with a focus on management information systems and Chinese, and he is also receiving a minor in Spanish. Na-
New Member Bios (Cont.) than has shown he has no problem getting involved right away by serving as our VNR-Planning. He planned one of the most extravagant Pink Rose Formals that we have seen in this Chapter in nearly a decade. He plans to move back to Tennessee upon graduation. Brandon Myers Brother Myers is a sophomore from Ruston, La., majoring in wildlife and fisheries science with a concentration in wildlife agriculture conservation. Brother Myers was highly involved with FFA all throughout high school. He has shown great promise as one of our new members so much so that he has been given the honor of serving as our VNR-Membership Development. He has been highly motivated in this position. He is making sure that, even though we don t have a house, the entire Chapter has many bonding events throughout the week to strengthen our brotherhood. Brother Myers hopes to continue his education beyond undergraduate and receive a master s degree in wildlife agriculture conservation and hopes to work for Ducks Unlimited as a waterfowl biologist after his time here at Mississippi State. Jacob Oakley Brother Oakley is a freshman from Wetumpka, Ala., majoring in agriculture information science with a focus in teaching. Brother Jacob is a legacy within Alpha Gamma Rho; his grandfather, Brother Gregory Lewis Oakley, joined AGR when he was a student at Auburn University from 1934-1938. Brother Oakley was highly involved with FFA throughout high school, even on the national level. After Brother Oakley s time at Mississippi State he plans to continue his education at the University of Troy and receive a master s degree in agriculture education. From there he hopes to return to his hometown of Wetumpka and teach agriculture. Cody Parks Brother Parks is a freshman from Pell City, Ala., majoring in agriculture information science with a focus in teaching. Cody was highly involved in FFA at the district and state levels. Brother Parks has shown a passion and love for this Chapter that has not been seen in many years. He is always representing Alpha Gamma Rho in a positive light. He s constantly on the lookout for men who would make exceptional brothers. That is why he serves as our VNR-Recruitment. Upon graduation he plans to teach agriculture in high school and work as an FFA advisor. Clay Perkins Brother Perkins is a freshman from Dyersburg, Tenn., majoring in agronomy with a focus in integrated pest management. Brother Clay has shown a great desire to get involved in leadership and serves as Co-VNR- Alumni Relations. Brother Perkins has plans of obtaining a master s degree in agronomy. Upon finishing his master s degree he would like to work for a chemical or a seed company with a focus on pest management. Charles Richey Brother Richey is a freshman from Hattiesburg, Miss., majoring in civil engineering with a minor in international studies. He is highly involved with intramural sports. Brother Richey is also exceptionally creative. This is why he serves as our VNR-Activities. Brother Richey s goals upon graduation are to have his own excavation business and a small trucking company on the side in Hattiesburg. Chase Waldrip Brother Waldrip is a freshman from Southaven, Miss., majoring in animal and dairy Science. He is on the pre-vet track within that major. He is also a member of the Early Entry Program. This program is a program that allows certain students with high GPAs and more than 1,000 hours of service in a veterinary clinic a guaranteed slot in the Vet School at Mississippi State. Seeing as how he is ranked first overall among all freshmen currently attending Mississippi State, it is fitting that Brother Waldrip serves as our VNR-Scholarship. Brother Waldrip hopes to have his own veterinary clinic in Southaven upon graduation from vet school. Chris Warren Brother Warren is a freshman from Florence, Miss., majoring in biological sciences. Brother Warren has wasted no time getting involved here at Mississippi State. He was recently given the honor of serving on the IFC as a Rho Chi. A Rho Chi works directly with the IFC during recruitment events; most specifically during fall and spring rush.
Brother Working for AGR s Home Office We are honored to announce that we have a brother of Beta Tau working for AGR s Home Office. Our very own Brad Garrison, BTSN #114, joined the Alpha Gamma Rho Home Office staff as Director of Development Jan. 21, 2013. In this role, Brad will oversee all fundraising efforts on behalf of the Educational Foundation of Alpha Gamma Rho, including the annual appeal, capital campaigns, planned giving and more. He is very excited about representing Beta Tau on the national level and has been dedicating most of his time to the current capital campaign, the Campaign for AGRconnect, a $3 million campaign which funds the development, launch, implementation and future enhancements of AGRconnect, an online-based educational platform for Alpha Gamma Rho. Brad can be reached on his cell phone at (816) 522-1105 or via email at brad@alphagammarho.org. Brad Garrison Brother Being Honored around Campus Brother Hunter Garnett received the John E. Lee Leadership Award for the 2012-2013 school year. This award is given to one student in the department of agricultural economics in honor of former department head Dr. John E. Lee. It is decided through a vote by the faculty of the department and given to the student who best exemplifies leadership among his or her peers. This is the third year in a row that a brother of our Chapter has won this prestigious award; last year Brother Dominic Avioli won the award, and two years ago Brother Josh Maples received the same recognition. From left: Dr. John E. Lee, Hunter Garnett and current department head Dr. Steve Turner. Crescent Publishing Service This issue of the Beta Tau Chapter Crescent was published through the Crescent Publishing Service (CPS). This is a special project of the Alpha Gamma Rho Home Office to assist chapters in improving communications with alumni. Chapters pay a small fee for the service below the actual production cost to encourage regular contact. This project is made possible by donations from alumni like you. Please consider contributing.
Brother Jeff Cancienne was elected by the Greek community to serve as the Interfraternity Council president. As president, he will serve as the liaison between MSU s 16 fraternities and University staff and administration. The IFC also hosts fall and spring formal recruitment and hold various philanthropic events throughout the year. Brother Cancienne was also recently awarded the Holmes Culture Diversity Summer Recruitment Brother Cody Parks has been working very hard on recruitment for Beta Tau setting up home visits with potential new members over the summer. He has all sent out our scholarship form to all of the extension agents and FFA advisors in the states of Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Arkansas, Florida and Tennessee. Our Chapter will also have an information booth set up at all freshman and transfer student orientations. Additionally, we will hold recruitment events throughout the summer. Scholarship Program For the past two semesters, the Beta Tau Chapter has found itself in the top five academically among all fraternities on campus. Our VNR-Scholarship, Brother Chase Waldrip, has instituted a new program for our Chapter. This program is an academic accountability program. The program states that all brothers who have a GPA below a 3.0 must meet with Brother Waldrip once a week to plan out their study plans for all upcoming assignments. This program has been highly beneficial to our Chapter by allowing us to maintain the pillar of scholarship. Brother Involved in Leadership around Campus Center Spirit of HCDC award for all his hard work on campus. When asked how he feels about what he has accomplished while at MSU he said, I would never be where I am today without my fraternity brothers especially my big brother in AGR, Clay Dean. Whether it s telling me I m messing up or supporting me when I am doing well, the my fraternity brothers have always been here for me. Contact the Chapter Jeff Cancienne The brothers of Beta Tau are always actively looking for exceptional, young men to enhance our brotherhood. If you know of any such men, please feel free to contact our Brother Cody Parks, VNR- Recruitment, via email at cnp126@msstate.edu or by phone at (205) 441-8018. When you contact Brother Parks, please include the potential recruit s name and contact information. You can also complete and return the Recruitment Recommendation form on the back of this Crescent. Noble Ruler: Hunter Garnett (256) 221-8967 hsg26@msstate.edu Executive Council VNR-Finance: Josh Striplin (901) 826-1160 jds816@msstate.edu VNR-Scholarship: Chase Waldrip (901) 692-4211 tcw140@msstate.edu VNR-Planning: Nathan Montgomery (901) 233-9077 cnm153@msstate.edu VNR-Recruitment: Cody Parks (205) 441-8018 cnp126@msstate.edu VNR-Membership Development: Brandon Myers (318) 245-0458 bwm122@msstate.edu VNR-Alumni Relations: Leonard Hugh Nichols, III (601) 954-4091 lhn28@msstate.edu VNR-Activities: Charlie Richey (601) 620-3668 cjr258@msstate.edu
Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity 10101 North Ambassador Drive Kansas City, MO 64153-1395 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Kansas City, MO Permit No. 4092 Beta Tau Chapter Crescent Alumni News Wanted The next issue of the Beta Tau Chapter Crescent should be full of news about alumni brothers. Please send us your updated contact information and the latest on your accomplishments (marriage, family, jobs, etc.) to: Beta Tau Chapter, Alpha Gamma Rho, Attn: Alumni Relations, PO Box 6078, Mississippi State, MS 39762.. Recruitment Recommendation Please help us recruit the best of men. If you know someone who would make a good addition to our Fraternity, please let us know so we can contact him and enhance our brotherhood. Name: Age: Address: Email address: Phone - home: School: Classification/Major: Comments: Your name and address: Please Mail to: Alpha Gamma Rho Beta Tau Chapter, Attn: Recruitment, PO Box 6078, Mississippi State, MS 39762