More than 30 brothers of the Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity that attended Lock Haven State College (LHSC) in the 1970s returned to Commonwealth University-Lock Haven for their 33rd consecutive LHSC TKE alumni annual reunion from August 6-9. During that time, the brothers raised more than $10,200 for the Tau Kappa Epsilon Alumni Scholarship and the TKE "Friends of Finken" Fund.
What started as a small gathering of alumni at JJ's Mountain Retreat in the Poconos in 1991 has grown into a legendary tradition, attracting as many as five dozen alumni in recent years since transitioning their annual reunions onto Lock Haven's campus.
Highlighted by two golf tournaments, this year's outing featured a variety of activities, including a corn hole competition and card games, along with swimming and backyard cookouts at Lock Haven's off-campus apartment complex, Evergreen Commons.
The money raised during the three-day event will directly benefit the TKE Alumni Scholarship, which awards three $1,000 athletic scholarships each academic year. This year's recipients include Jenadia Jordan, a junior basketball player from York; two-time recipient Trinity Monaghan, a junior wrestler from Harleysville; and three-time recipient Bella Schmitt, a senior softball player from Dillsburg.
Additionally, the Friends of Finken Fund, named in honor of the late frater Gary Finken '71, will continue to support non-scholarship initiatives at CU-Lock Haven, including the Student Retention Fund, the Haven Cupboard and other niche student needs.
The golf tournaments were a highlight of the event, with the Annual Robinson Cup taking place on Aug. 7 at Clinton County Club. The team led by Bill "Ducky" Devlin '71 were the winners with a score of three under par. The following day, 35 golfers competed in the Richard Weede Golf Tournament at Belles Springs Golf Course, where the team of Ed "Pokey" Wright '71, Lock Haven's director of athletic operations Erica Pooler '15, head soccer coach Patrick Long '08 and head wrestling coach Scott Moore claimed the top prize with a score of eight under par.
The event concluded with announcements for the next TKE alumni gathering during Lock Haven's Homecoming celebration from Sept. 25-29. Alumni and friends are encouraged to stay connected through the Lock Haven TKE Facebook group, Big Brown House - TKE - LHU