1. 1
Alpha Kappa Psi
Psi Upsilon’s
April/May Newsletter
Committee Updates
Initiation Committee:
As the pledging process slowly
comes to an end, the Initiation
Committee is preparing for Court of
Honor. Court of Honor is still
scheduled for April 19th
. Court of
Honor dinner will also be the Yellow
Rose Banquet. An email will be sent
out soon to every alumni with more
information about Court of Honor. If
any alumni would like to attend,
please RSVP or contact the Chapter’s
Vice President of Alumni, Dianna
Lam at dlam@ucmerced.edu.
Before Spring Break, the Initiation
Committee organized Secrets Week
and the Big and Little Reveal. During
Secrets Week, pledges were surprised
with little hints that symbolized their
Big, all leading up to the reveal. On
that day, the Bigs were hiding in the
backyard of Anthony Pham’s house
waiting for their little to find them.
To the right are pictures from the Big
and Little Reveal taken by the
Chapter’s historians.
Professional
Committee:
Partnered with the Center for
Career & Professional
Advancement, the
Professional Committee
planned Flash Talks which
allows the opportunity to
share your success story.
Brotherhood Committee:
Brotherhood Committee is
currently in the process of
planning a Yosemite Retreat
for the Chapter on April 26,
2014 for us to create a
stronger brotherhood.
In addition, Brotherhood
Committee has brought back
Brother of Month.
Congratulations to February’s
Brother of the Month Kristen
Wong from Iota Class.

2. 2
Fundraising Committee:
Fundraising Committee has been going a great job organizing numerous fundraisers to benefit the
chapter. During the month of April, fundraising committee hosted several events which included partnering
with McDougal Kettle Corn, selling thai tea at Cowchella (UC Merced’s Annual Spring Concert), selling
Ice Cream with Espresso, and a tentative food eating contest.
Philanthropy Committee:
The Philanthropy Committee has been preparing for the first Spring Fling which
will be on April 11, 2014. There will be a photo booth, J&R catered food, and the
winner of Battle of the DJ. All profits will be donated to Women’s
Empowerment.
As a Chapter, we have decided that our philanthropy is Women’s Empowerment.
Below is a link that will allow people to donate anything they can to support
Women’s Empowerment. They are an organization who educate and empower
women who are homeless with the skills and confidence to get a job, create a
healthy lifestyle, and regain a home for themselves and their children.
http://www.gofundme.com/82jgs4
In addition, we are continuing Stampout Homelessness. For this event, the
chapter will be tabling for either money/change or actual stamps in order for
women to send their resumes to firms to try and find a job.
April2014

3. 3
Two Alpha Kappa Psi Brothers from the XI Psi
Chapter at Illinois State University appeared on
ABC’s Shark Tank on Friday March 21, 2014.
Kacey Gandham ’13 and Mike Shannon ’12 pitched
their Packback book idea which allows students to
get the best value when buying, renting, and selling
textbooks. Successfully, Mark Cuban, owner of the
National Basketball Association’s Dallas Mavericks
invested $250,000 in exchanged for 20% equity in
the company. With the hardwork from our Vice
President of Membership, Diana Huynh, the Psi
Upsilon Chapter has a corporate partnership with
Packback. Below is the link to the Packback website
which will allow you to find out more information
on the company. Alpha Kappa Psi Psi Upsilon
Chapter would like to congratulate Kacey and Mike
on their startup.
http://www.packbackbooks.com/?srcType=a
ffiliate&ID=175
Bobcat Day is on April 12, 2014 from 9:00 AM –
4:00PM. It is a special day for admitted freshman,
interested transfer applicants and their families. Our
chapter will be tabling to welcome new potential
members and show them the core values of Alpha
Kappa Psi.
The Gauntlet is an event hosted by the Philipino
American Alliance for all clubs and organizations
on campus to compete against each other in 5
different physical and mental games in hopes of
winning the Gauntlet Trophy. Last year, The
Gauntlet is on Sunday, April 13, 2014. Last year,
Alpha Kappa Psi placed 4th
and this year we want to
win the trophy while showing off our brotherhood
and club spirit, while having fun.
Thanks to our Director of Public Relations, Kaylyn Nicolas,
we were invited to University of Southern California’s
Midcourt of Honor. Five of our brothers represented the Psi
Upsilon Chapter and said that they had an interesting
experience and recommend Brothers to attend other chapter’s
midcourts. Also, we have been invited to Fresno States Court
of Honor on Sunday April 5, 2014.
Thank You!
The chapter would like to thank the alumni who attended Midcourt of Honor. We understand that you are all
very busy, so we really appreciate that you are still willing to support the chapter. Observing the fraternity’s
lifelong brotherhood shows our core values through your continued actions.
Chapter Updates