Continuing Building Exceptional Lives: Chapter Wins Malcolm

For its outstanding overall chapter operations, academic achievement, strong leadership, diversity programming, and commitment to community service, the Kansas State Chapter was recognized as the recipient of the 2014 – 2016 Malcolm Award, an honor given to the top chapter of Acacia.

K-State Acacia earned the award, the second time in the last three Conclave sessions, at the 59th Biennial Conclave in Louisville, KY on July 30, 2016. In addition, this marked the fourth consecutive Conclave in which the Kansas State Chapter was recognized with either the Superior Chapter Award or with the top Malcolm honor.

At the Historic Brown Hotel in Downtown Louisville, Kansas State Acacia brought home six individual awards in the following areas: Alumni Programming and Advisory, Campus Leadership, Dining Operations, Good of the Fraternity, House Management, and Officer Organization.

Br. Venerable Dean AJ Wertzberger ’15 recalled his anticipation when Kansas State was announced as the Malcolm-winning chapter.

“When they were reading about each chapter, I realized that there are so many deserving chapters amongst us, and I recognized how special our achievements are. Over 80% of the brothers are active on campus. We have the best active alumni organization in the nation. When ‘Kansas State’ was announced, I was speechless.”

Three executive council teams spanned the past biennium and worked to make Acacia exceptional.

“We are always looking at achieving the next goal, and we get to do it as brothers and best friends,” Wertzberger stated.

K-State Acacia has thrived at achieving its mission of personal growth, lifelong friendships, and human service in the past several years.

 Acacia members recently earned a 3.341 all-chapter grade point average. It marks the seventeenth consecutive semester of placing in the top quartile among fraternities at Kansas State. The chapter members have also developed personal bonds with each other, and with the diverse Kansas State Student Body, using diversity training as a part of the CORE program.

In addition, the past biennium featured a new partnership with the Manhattan Boys and Girls Club and Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority to host the 5K Color Dash philanthropy event. This new event complements the Acacia Claus toy drive and builds on the foundation of the Kansas State Chapter’s strong belief in community service.

Furthermore, our undergraduates held multiple campus leadership positions in the Student Governing Association, departmental and University honorary societies, student clubs, and design teams.

Faculty Advisor Br. Cody Kennedy ’12 has watched the chapter blossom over the last two years, especially in its motto of Human Service.

“Kansas State has developed successful and consistent philanthropic events over the last two years in the Color Dash and the Acacia Claus,” said Kennedy. “I’ve seen how excited and committed the undergraduates are to our cause. Partnering with the Boys and Girls Club of Manhattan has created a very strong bond with the community.”

Kennedy also praised the Men of Acacia for cultivating lifelong friendships among each other.

“Brotherhood has continued to be a very common theme, and this has been at the forefront of their minds in all of the chapter’s events. To see the brothers working so diligently towards this reminds me of why I joined Acacia and solidified how proud I am of their desire to continue to improve.”