Features

100 Years of Omega Chapter

By Andrea (Smithson) Benek —

Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity is proud to announce the re-chartering of the Omega Chapter at the University of Missouri in its 100th year of brotherhood.

Over the weekend of March 3 and 4, 2017, the men of the Omega Chapter hosted their centennial celebration and chartering ceremony. The ceremony was led by International President Norman M. Waas, Esq., Alpha Omega (University of Miami) ’82, and attended by Fraternity Executive Director Laurence A. Bolotin, M.Ed., CAE, Alpha Zeta (University of Florida) ’01, University of Missouri Interim Chancellor Henry “Hank” C. Foley, Ph.D., and many prominent Omega Chapter alumni alongside undergraduate brothers and guests.

“I was delighted to have spent a weekend celebrating the history and the re-birth of our historic Omega Chapter,” International President Waas said. “As the International President, I get the privilege of presiding over many wonderful and historic events. Being able to celebrate the 100-year history of Omega with alumni and undergraduate brothers was a highlight. I look forward to seeing the new brothers return Omega to its rightful place in the pantheon of our great chapters.”

Listen to a segment of the speech by  Chapter President Joshua I. Chodor, Omega (University of Missouri) ’19, at the ceremony:

 

Re-chartering signifies that the men of Omega Chapter have proven to be a strong brotherhood. They have met the standards that the Supreme Council has set forth and deserve to be recognized as a chapter of Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity. Since being re-established in April 2015, the chapter has grown to nearly 70 undergraduates, and brothers hold a variety of positions of leadership on campus.

“Our brothers have worked so hard to get to where we are today. It took us two years to get here; we know that Omega is capable of doing amazing things in the coming years,” Chapter President Chodor said.

More than 1,100 brothers have been initiated into the Omega Chapter in its 100 years. Dozens of alumni and their families were in attendance at a Shabbat dinner and networking on Friday as well as a centennial celebration banquet on Saturday.

The chapter established a volunteer award in honor of long-time trustee Jerome (Jerry) A. Sigoloff, Omega ’65, who also was the inaugural recipient of the award at the celebration.

“It was truly a pleasure coordinating our centennial and chartering weekend. As the founding vice president of our latest recolonization, it was an incredible feeling seeing this weekend come to fruition after two years of hard work. Seeing a chunk of our alumni from Omega’s rich past made the weekend that much more special,” said Brother Jacob A. Nabat, Omega ’18, the chairman of the weekend’s events.

Speakers at the ceremony included International President Waas; Executive Director Bolotin; Chancellor Foley; Jonathan Rummel, coordinator, Office of Greek Life; Jason K. Peiser, Omega ’18, founding chapter president; Dr. Thomas “Pop” Prater, former Omega Chapter house father; Brother Sigoloff, representing the Omega Housing Corp.; and Jeanne Snodgrass, executive director of Mizzou Hillel.

Join us

ZBT will continue the festivities in honor of the Omega Chapter, as well as the Alpha Alpha Chapter from Purdue University, at the 2017 International Convention. We will celebrate the centennials of both chapters at the Chapter Centennial Lunch on Saturday, July 22, 2017, in Indianapolis. Learn more and see the full schedule of 2017 International Convention here.

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