Robert "B.J." Clark, Jr. 33, of Indianapolis, passed away on Wednesday, May 28, 2014.  He was born April 6, 1981 to Robert, Sr. and Cynthia Clark.

B.J. was a graduate of Mt. Vernon High School and attended Vincennes University, where he pledged the Alpha Chapter of Sigma Pi in the Fall of 1999. He was in management with his family owned business, Clark Appliance, for many years.  B.J. was a born again Christian who was attending Warren Baptist Church.

Visitation will be Sunday, June 1, 2014 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Shirley Brothers Washington Memorial Chapel, 9606 E. Washington Street in Indianapolis with funeral services Monday at 12 noon at Franklin Road Baptist Church, 51 N. Franklin Road in Indianapolis with visitation there from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.

B.J. is survived by his parents, Robert, Sr. and Cynthia Clark; wife, Michelle Clark; grandmother, Shirley J. Clark; parents-in-law, Jeff and Angela Legner; several cousins who were like brothers and sisters; and two nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Trinity Mission House, 817 N. 12th St., Lafayette, IN 47904.

Obituary for Robert "B.J." Clark can be found here.

On Saturday, May 10th, the leadership of the Alpha Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity, International successfully launched its new website to commemorate its 50th Anniversary of the re installation of Chapter.  Originally founded on February 26, 1897, the Chapter was closed in 1911 due to low enrollment at Vincennes University.  After a 55 year hiatus, the Chapter was reinstalled on February 26, 1965.  Next year marks the 50th Anniversary of the re installation of the chapter.  The Chapter is busy planing next years Founders' Day, which will be held on February 28, 2015 in Vincennes, Indiana.

In keeping with this year’s theme, “A Vision Forward,” the new website will showcase aesthetic, functional and structural enhancements to make communication easier with the chapter and alumni. The goal was to develop a more resourceful tool for all members of the chapter, both undergraduate and alumni, while reinforcing their identity to the public.

The new website is one of many steps Alpha Chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity, International is taking towards “A Vision Forward.” In celebration of the chapter's 50th anniversary since being reinstalled, the organization welcomes everyone to visit www.sigmapivu.org.

The site also has a mobile platform built in for users to view on their mobile and tablet devises.

Attention Indianapolis area alumni...you are cordially invited to join Indiana Province Archon, Kevin Carey, for an alumni gathering to kick-off the Indianapolis Regional Alumni Club.

This "happy hour" event will serve as the start of the new Indianapolis Regional Alumni Club.  The regional alumni club is for all Sigma Pi brothers, regardless of chapter.  This is your first opportunity to meet Sigma Pi brothers from chapters all across North America, who just happen to live and work in the greater Indianapolis area.

DATE:  Saturday, July 19, 2014
TIME:  3-6pm (EST)
LOCATION:  Hard Rock Cafe, Indianapolis
               
Network with other Sigma Pi brothers in the region.  Catch up with old friends, or make some new ones.  Rekindle the spirit of Sigma Pi Brotherhood as well as reliving "the good ole days" from your undergraduate years.

Please RSVP by July 1st by emailing Kevin Carey, Indiana Province Archon.

For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact Kevin Carey.

During the Vincennes University commencement exercises this past weekend, eight brothers of Alpha Chapter turned their tassels as they became alumni of Vincennes University and went from undergraduate brothers of Sigma Pi to alumni brothers.
Congratulations to the following Alpha brothers on their recent achievement.

• Hans Bernabe '11 - AS, Business Management
• Antonio Hernandez '13 - AS, Personal Training & Wellness
• Thommy Garcia '09 - AAS, Fire Science & Safety Technology
• Chris Lane '12 - AAS, Environmental Science
• Ari Miller '12 - AS, Construction Technology
• Chase Minick '09 - AS, Restaurant Management
• Kyle Nash '09 - BS, Homeland Security
• Jake Simpson '09, - BS, Homeland Security

Pictures from graduation can be seen here.

Since January 2009, the Alpha Alumni Association and a few key Alpha Alumni, have been working tirelessly to raise $10,000 to endow the Ryan M. Donnoe Memorial Scholarship.
What started as a vision from Jason Tinker '97, came to fruition in 2009 when the Alpha Alumni Association officially became a chartered organization.  Since then, a few key alumni, including Tinker, have carried the torch on raising the funds to endow the scholarship.  Those key alumni & friends have been:

Brian Alley '00, Covey Detmer '06, Sandy Donnoe (Ryan's mother), Brad Ferguson '07, Blake Hollins '07, Christian Irvine '99, Jason Tinker '97 and Ryan Waldroup '99.

If you have not yet contributed, please consider a tax-deductible gift today to help a future VU Student.  Several Alpha Alumni have stepped up and joined the 1897 Society by contributing $18.97 a month, for a yearly donation of $227.64...only .62 cents a day!  Join the other Alpha Alumni by supporting this important cause and honor Ryan's memory by making a difference in a student's life by donating today.

"I would like to personally thank all the contributors of the Ryan M. Donnoe Memorial Scholarship. Although the number is not as large as I would like, the people listed above are committed not only to helping Sigma Pi undergrads achieve their academic goals, but in honoring such a great brother as Ryan Donnoe.  Ryan and I were pledge brothers.  Even though we grew up in Vincennes and attended the same school as kids, it wasn't until we rushed Sigma Pi together that a special bond between us was established.  He was very special to so many people.  Ryan's dedication to both his academics and Sigma Pi Fraternity inspired countless brothers to do their best academically and make the most of their college careers.  As long as I'm around, I'll strive to share Ryan's story and assist, in anyway I can, any brother who wishes to excel in their studies and within the Fraternity itself.  This is what Ryan would want all of us to do," said Jason Tinker '97.
With your help, we can easily raise the remaining $1,000 of our $10,000 endowment goal, which would qualify the scholarship to be a self-sustaining endowed scholarship, earning interest to fund the scholarship for years to come.

"If you haven't already, please consider donating to Ryan's scholarship.  We are so close to the endowment goal; it would mean so much to his family and the brothers of Alpha Chapter if his legacy lived on through this scholarship," added Tinker.

To donate to the Ryan M. Donnoe Memorial Scholarship, please visit alumni.vinu.edu/give and select the last bullet point (an existing Scholarship or College Fund).  From here, you can search for 'Donnoe'.
All donations to the Ryan M. Donnoe Memorial Scholarship are tax-deductible to the full extent allowable by law.

You can find more information on the Ryan M. Donnoe Memorial Scholarship here.

In just three months, the James L. Hills Memorial Scholarship has raised over $6,000, which is 60% of the initial endowment goal.  Thank you to everyone who has helped to make this happen!

If you have not yet contributed, please consider a tax-deductible gift today to help a future VU Student.  Several Alpha Alumni have stepped up and joined the 1897 Society by contributing $18.97 a month, for a yearly donation of $227.64...only .62 cents a day!  Join the other Alpha Alumni by supporting this important cause and honor Jim's memory by making a difference in a student's life by donating today.

Give now at alumni.vinu.edu/give (select the 5th scholarship listed).

All donations to the James L. Hills Memorial Scholarship are tax-deductible to the full extent allowable by law.

You can find more information on the James L. Hills Memorial Scholarship here.