EPAA April Newsletter
Epsilon Pi Alumni Association Newsletter: 2023, Volume 2 Brothers Working for the Good of All April 2023
We have added a new article to highlight one of our Epsilon Pi Brothers. In this edition we have Max Vickerman (2013), who is one of our distinguished EP Scholarship recipients. Learn why Max couldn’t join our 30th year anniversary celebration of the Scholarship Fund.
Clemente Museum and Pittsburgh Pirates Game – April 22nd Dave Brown (1982) is leading a group of EP Alumni and Actives on April 22, 2023 for an Open House tour of the renowned Roberto Clemente Museum at 1:30 p.m. followed by a tailgate picnic at Builders Exchange Benefits (courtesy of Scott Tovissi, 1983), and then on to see the Pirates host the Reds at 6:35 p.m. at PNC Park. Brownie may have 2-3 tickets left so contact him at djbrown21@comcast.net or 724-312-7221 to reserve your spot. Our cost is only $50 and includes all three events, plus $10 of stadium concession value. Brownie is also accepting additional donations to sponsor an Active for the day. Let’s Go Bucs!!
EP Golf at Grove City Country Club – July 22nd The EP Golf Outing begins with a shotgun start at 2 p.m. at Grove City Country Club on July 22nd followed by a picnic dinner, and fabulous prizes. Contact Tom Tuchnowski at 412-600-4265, or tommyt9951@gmail.com about event/hole sponsorship opportunities and to reserve your foursome. This event sells out quickly every year so get your registration and payment in early. Preferred payment by Venmo to @EPAA-GCC. EP Scholarship Reunion On March 31st, the EPAA and Vice President Tom Tuchnowski (1987) hosted several previous EP Scholarship award recipients and other distinguished EP Alumni for a reception at the South Hills Country Club in Pittsburgh. It was a pleasure to honor these EP Alumni.
EP Active Members The fraternity is actively preparing for full reinstatement by participating in a series of learning blocks on Academics, Leadership (presented by Jack Kopnisky), Risk Management, and Excellence followed by a presentation to the GCC Admin Council on March 20th by the outgoing and incoming EP Presidents. A formal decision on reinstatement will not occur until the April 24th meeting of the Admin Council. Meanwhile, visible support by EPAA was deemed to be a positive factor in the appeal process. Specifically, EPAA review of reinstatement materials, the emerging EP Mentorship Program, and even our social event at the Pirate game were viewed favorably. Incoming EP Officers are Ayden Gutierrez, President; Joseph DeLuca, V.P.; Bryce Spolnik, Treasurer; Max Muncy, Secretary; Justin DeMild, Webmaster; Aaron Phillips, Chaplain; and Trevor X. Beck, Sargent at Arms. Congratulations to these future leaders of Epsilon Pi. EPAA and EP Career Connections Our EP Actives are talented, hardworking young men and some are actively looking for summer internships or that first career opportunity after graduation. Please visit the Members page on the EPAA website for an opportunity to see the LinkedIn page for our Active EPs. You can also contact EP Past-President Noah Yeck yecknt19@gcc.edu for information on graduating seniors. EPAA and EP Mentorships Chris DeMaio (1987), an experienced professional (Coca-Cola, Tropicana, etc.) and previous mentor is leading an initiative to pair EP Active members with experienced Alumni, who are willing to guide young men into successful adulthood. Contact demaio.chris2@gmail.com to volunteer for this mutually rewarding opportunity. Our goal is to establish connections before the end of this school year so that they are in place for next fall. EP Homecoming 2023 – September 29th and 30th Homecoming will be celebrated September 29th and 30th with graduation classes ending in 3 and 8 having milestone anniversaries, so start working on getting a big group of your brothers together now. The weekend begins with a golf outing on Friday the 29th at Grove City Country Club. Contact Dave “Horse” Mannion at dave.mannion@lancastersafety.com for details and to register. On Saturday afternoon, the Grove City Wolverines, featuring several Active EPs on both sides of the line of scrimmage, will take on the formidable W&J Presidents. During the game, the EP Tent (in our usual premier spot) will feature items hot off the grill from Executive Chefs John Miller (1991) and Scott Mossgrove (1989). This event is free for all EPs and their guests. Contact Jeff Burd jlburd14@gmail.com about Navy Blue and Gold Sponsorships. Homecoming dinner on Saturday evening will be at the Grove City Country Club and a block of rooms are reserved at the nearby Hampton Inn (by the Outlets). Please contact Jeff Burd at jlburd14@gmail.com to make your dinner reservations. EPAA Board Update The EPAA elected a new slate of officers to include Nathan Herring (1985), President; Tom Tuchnowksi (1987), Vice President; Drew McCandless (1984), Treasurer; and Scott Mossgrove (1989). Secretary. New board members include Jerry Aubel (1986), David Auker (1983), and Marty Dietz (1990). The remaining members of the board include Dave Brown (1982), John Miller (1991), and Past President Jeff Burd (1979). Contact your EPAA Board Members. EPAA Members from the 2000s The EPAA seeks to keep you connected to your EP roots during your early years out of college and we’re seeking graduates from the past few decades to take more active roles in EPAA events and activities. Send a note to EpsilonPiAlumni@gmail.com if you are interested in taking on a formal or informal role, even if it’s just to help plan or support a single event. Grove City Field House Project GCC has big plans to build a new athletic Field House near the football field and prominent EP Alumni, including Jack Kopnisky (1978) and John “Doc” Ellis (1977), are working directly with the College on fundraising projects in honor of certain EPs for their lifetime contributions to the Grove City football program through naming rights on or within the new Field House building. To make tax-deductible donations to the Field House Project, please see the Donation link on the EP website homepage: EP Donations to make your gift. More information is available through Doc Ellis at jwellisjr@hotmail.com. Epsilon Pi Documentary New EPAA Board member David Auker (1983) and Active EPs, Aaron Phillips (2023) and Ayden Gutierrez (2024) have been interviewing prominent EP Alumni and weaving segments of the interviews into a documentary of the common EP experience across generations. This film is scheduled to debut at Homecoming 2023. Epsilon Pi Bible Study Fellowship Please join EP Bible Study on the first Wednesday of every month at 7 a.m. for time in God's word with fellow EPs. This virtual (TEAMS) meeting is open to all EP Actives and EP Alumni. For more information contact Tom Tuchnowski at 412-600-4265 or tommyt9951@gmail.com. Call for Vintage EP Jackets
Generations of Epsilon Pi brothers proudly wore these vintage EP jackets while on campus and handed them down to underclassmen. The EPAA is looking to outfit modern EPs with these vintage jackets, so please look in your closet to see if you can return one to circulation. There is also consideration of buying a new set of jackets and we are looking for sponsors for this worthwhile endeavor. Contact Dave Auker at dauker22@yahoo.com if you can assist.
EP Hoops March 2024 EP Hoops will return on March 9, 2024, with D1-level skills on display in the GCC gym, followed by a reception. Contact Steve “The Hammer” Hamel at steven_hamel@msn.com for more info. Website Update Justin DeMild (EP 2024) created the new EPAA website to provide timely updates on EP events, news from the EP Nation, and access to information on the Active members of Epsilon Pi. And Justin has grander plans to build out a Career Center for Actives (and Alumni). Further in the future, the website will provide links to repositories of EP archives (photos and archival documents) and access to obituaries for our fallen brothers.
Featured EP Alumni
– Captain Max T. Vickerman (2013)
My wife Erin and I grew up near Pittsburgh and went to Seneca Valley High School
together. We have lived in the Shenandoah region of WV/VA since 2015, where I have served in the West Virginia Air National Guard since 2018. I am a C-17 pilot in the 167th Airlift Wing based in Martinsburg, and have been flying the "Moose" since completing my training in 2020. Although Erin is a decorated athlete and academic, her greatest accomplishment is raising our 18-month-old daughter, Roxanne, as well as baby #2, due in October.
I attended GCC because of its Christian values as well as the opportunity to play college baseball. Like many freshmen, I didn't show up on campus with a notion that I had to join a fraternity. However, after getting to know a few baseball teammates and befriending some football players, pledging EP was an easy choice because it kept me with the guys I looked up to and wanted to be around. That turned out to be a great decision, and I keep regular contact with those guys a decade after graduating. The C-17 is the most versatile and reliable airlifter in our military and the 167th Airlift Squadron provides strategic airlift capability to the active-duty Air Force and serves other Air National Guard units by transporting personnel and equipment to participate in military exercises or specialized training. We transported the Presidential motorcade to Europe, delivered supplies to U.S. Embassies, and hauled armored vehicles into Afghanistan, where I served in June of 2021, two months before it fell to the Taliban.
Our most recent trip precluded me from joining the EP Scholarship 30th Anniversary Reception, but it was a solemn success as we hauled priority cargo to Zambia in support of Special Ops. From there we flew to Qatar for a Dignified Transfer for a fallen (retired) soldier, who died in Syria in an Iranian drone attack. His remains were transferred to our C-17 for a 16-hour flight to Dover AFB where his family took custody. I was honored to be the pilot to fly him home. Since earning my wings in 2020, I've flown to 24 different countries and accumulated 1,000 flight hours in the aircraft. I love flying the Moose and I wouldn't trade the job for any other. [Thank you for your service.]
EPAA Newsletter
Contact EPAA President Nathan Herring (1985) at bigbadnate9@yahoo.com to provide additional content for future editions. Thank you.
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