Come join us at the Old Gal for Blue/White Weekend 2008

Join us at the Old Gal for Blue/White Weekend 2008!

Come see our progress and meet our 23 new members

April 18th-19th, 2008

Blue-White Weekend, presented by PHEAA, will take place April 18-19 in and around Beaver Stadium. On the 19th, the popular autograph session with the players will take place at 12:30 pm inside the stadium, with kickoff set for 2:00 pm. A Blue-White Game record crowd of 71,000 attended the 2007 contest. There is no admission or parking fee for the Blue/White Game, which will be part of Gridiron Bash, The Ultimate Fan Competition, featuring Beaver Stadium's first-ever concert and the chance for Penn State students and fans to compete against other major universities to earn $1 million in scholarship funding.

Friday	Open House at the Old Gal
Saturday	Tailgate at stadium (2:00PM Kickoff)
Saturday Evening	6PM - Alumni Board meeting (all brothers are welcome to attend) followed by a Chapter meeting with Chapter Advisory Council followed by an open House and an evening with the UG's

Please join us if possible and let us know in the form below if you can make it.

Spring 2008 Pledge Class Turki Alotaisham, Ben Krone, Jim Magee, Jason Masgay, Terry Rogers, Colin Schroeder

Spring Class makes a total of
23 New Pledges

Come meet our future leaders

Another successful rush campaign has come to an end. This spring pledge class consists of 6 fine young men who we are certain will represent Upsilon proudly. Between this pledge class and Falls’ pledge class our recruiting efforts have produced 23 new members. Alpha Sig has continued, and will continue, to recruit the best men on campus each semester. This year’s recruitment numbers have placed us in aligned with every other top fraternity. We look forward to the Fall semester where we can securely regain our position as a top fraternity on campus.

Steph Spagnol ’10, Paul Cowen ’08 morale Alpha Sig’s dancer Dan Davies ‘09

THON 2008 Report

Alpha Sig brothers and pledges are keeping the tradition alive

Dan Davies '09...

Last weekend, I had the privilege of dancing in this years dance marathon. My pledge brother Chris Carson '09 joined me in the endeavor, as well as alums Conor Moran '06 and Gary Ramsey '03. Chris and I were really thrilled by the support we received from the brotherhood throughout the 46-hour marathon. It was really comforting when we would see our brothers standing in the stands, even in the wee hours. Even more encouraging, though, was when our adopted THON family came to visit us in the Bryce Jordan Center. That was the first time I met our THON child: Jason Bosch, a 9-year-old boy. He seemed to be very impressed with the event, especially when the football team ran past us on their way to the stage during the pep-rally portion of the weekend. After THON’s conclusion, the brotherhood invited the Bosch’s to join us for a pizza party held at the house. It was a great opportunity for us to get to know the Bosch family better.

Scott Pringle ’09 dressed as the Thon cow for the 2nd year. As a moraler Scott energized the dancer through the 46 hours

Dan Davies ’09 (dancer) enjoying some late night hula hoping

It was a truly awesome experience. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I would like to thank all of the brothers who supported us during the 46 hours, and anyone who has dedicated their time to such a gracious cause.

Alpha Sig Dancers Chris Carson ’09, Dan Davies ’09 and Connor Moran ’01 pose outside the Ole Gal after Thon with our Four Diamonds family. Jason and Megan Bosch with their four children Jason,10, Louis, 8, Kane, 3, and Anna, 2. We are extremely excited to welcome the Boschs to our Alpha Sig family.

Jason Masgay...

This past weekend, I experienced one of the most famous and traditional events that Penn State has to offer: its annual philanthropy THON.  This world-renowned event is something that almost all students do their best to support and participate in. Not only was THON so rewarding because it was my first one as a student as well as the cause it supported, but it was a true bonding experience. As a member of the ’08 spring pledge class, the fraternity didn’t expect us to have too much of an interest in THON because we hadn’t been through all the strenuous philanthropy activities and canning weekends throughout the year. But as pledge class president, I suggested to my pledge brothers that we take this opportunity to show the brothers and fraternity representatives dancing in THON that we support not only the Four Diamonds families, but Alpha Sigma Phi as well.

Jason plays Wii with Thon Chairs Steve Baldwin ’10 and Kevin Viola ’10, both who did an excellent job rallying the troops this year

Our Four Diamonds kid Jason Bosch spends time with Dan Davies ’09 after Thon

Fall Pledges Matt Linn ’11, Dave Brazauskas ’10, Mike Rath ’11, Matt Golojuch ’10 and Steve Maseda ’11

Alpha Sig in the stands supporting the dancers

Thon ‘08  floor.. Dancing For Jason

We came up with a schedule that would have two of us at the Bryce Jordan Center supporting our dancers and representing Alpha Sigma Phi at all times throughout the 46 hours. Even though we had scheduled shifts, many of us found it so enjoyable that we devoted much more of our time to the event. I know that I spent over 21 hours at THON taking in the experience. Something that we pledges had not anticipated, was the acknowledgement and gratitude that our dancers had showed to us pledges during and after THON. They truly appreciated all the time and support that we showed them, the fraternity, and the THON cause. The time spent with my pledge brothers, most of us experiencing our first THONs together, as well as getting to know many of the Alpha Sigma Phi brothers, my first THON is definitely a memory that I will always have and cherish.

Jeff Reyes ’10 helps Alpha Sig dancer Chris Carson ’09 get through the late night hours

My First THON Experience...

It was initially difficult for me to understand why people became so excited about the Penn State Dance Marathon.  I did not understand the reason why one would stand for 46 hours straight.  I walked into the door of the Bryce Jordan Center at 9 PM, just to say hi to our dancers, and to the brothers.  But once I walked in, I did not want to leave.  The atmosphere was awesome, everyone was having a good time throwing beach balls around and meeting new people. The hourly line dances were incredible to watch and partake in. What started off as a planned walk through, turned out to be a night at the Bryce Jordan Center that lasted until 3 AM.

Paul Cowen ’08 coloring a picture for a Four Diamonds child

The next day ushered in other great moments.  I was able to meet our THON family, and our child Jason.  It was a great feeling to finally put a face to the name.  You realize why you spend those Saturdays canning in the cold in all corners of the state.  On Sunday I was able to be there for family hour.  It was an extremely touching and emotional event.  I saw tissue boxes getting passed around the dance floor, and heard sniffles from every direction.  As time went on, the BJC proceeded to fill up, and the entire stadium was dancing with anticipation for the final total.  When the dancers were able to sit, everyone was waiting to see what numbers they were getting ready to show.  As they flipped over the signs and the six for $6,615,318.04 appeared, the BJC erupted.  It felt good to be a part of something that helps out children with cancer.  Now I cannot wait for next year, and hope to get involved with THON even more, representing Alpha Sigma Phi.

The Bosch Family takes some time out from the pizza party to snap a picture with the brotherhood

Thon raises record $6.61 million!

DMAIG Hosts Thon Alums - Conor Moran ’03 and Gary Ramsey ’03

Alumni Insider (Penn State Alumni Assoc) February 2009

Thon smashed all records this year as the more than 700 dancers and thousands of student volunteers raised $6,615,318.04 for the kids. Coming back to Penn State to be a part of the largest and most successful student-run philanthropy in the world were hundreds of former Thon dancers and volunteers. The Thon alums connected with Thon 2008 through activities organized by the Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group (DMAIG).

The DMAIG weekend kicked off Friday night with Thon Alumni Night Out in downtown State College where alumni swapped stories of past Thons. On Saturday, Thon alumni helped out with the “slides of strength,” when weary dancers slide down long mats covered in baby powder before receiving a soothing leg massage at the end.

Former "Overalls" take a group shot backstage at Thon 2008

DMAIG dancers (L to R) Ramsey, Moran, Troskosky, and Corrado

Saturday evening saw the first-ever Diamond Zone, a new tradition organized by DMAIG. Modeled after the “S” Zone at home football games, the Diamond Zone provided a special Thon alumni-cheering section in the Bryce Jordan Center.

Sunday is always emotional as Four Diamond Fund families take the stage and tell their stories before Thon finishes by revealing the total raised—an amazing $6.61 million.

The DMAIG was also represented through its four alumni dancers, who did a terrific job: Daniel Frank Corrado ’07, Cathlyn Barber Troskosky ’07, Conor Moran ’03, and Gary Ramsey ’03. Congratulations to them, and to all of the other dancers and volunteers!

Can you join us...