Will Kansas Delta Bring Home the Founders Trophy for a Third Consecutive Year?
Kansas Delta, the Phi Delta Theta chapter at Wichita State University, has been a pillar of excellence and brotherhood since its founding on May 9, 1959. With over sixty-five years of history, the chapter has consistently set the standard for leadership, scholarship, and service. Winning the Founders Trophy two years in a row, Kansas Delta is striving for a historic third consecutive victory this summer.
Kansas Delta has earned several honors within the past year, including Gold Star accreditation, highest GPA, and recognition for excellence in risk management, recruitment, new member retention, academics, ritual, and philanthropy. As an Iron Phi and Triple Crown Chapter, Kansas Delta continues to exemplify chapter operations within Phi Delta Theta.
Phi Delta Theta General Headquarters reached out to current Kansas Delta President, Cooper Zimmer, ’26, to answer some questions about their chapter’s success in chapter operations.
What were some of the biggest challenges the chapter faced and how did you overcome them?
By far our biggest challenge was COVID. Like other organizations at the time, our operations had paused and we lost our campus culture and drive. However, our brothers took on the challenge to return to the heights of several years prior and navigate through the new atmosphere and campus culture. Our passion and commitment to the Fraternity led us to assist the ALS community with the Live Like Lou Foundation. Service helped us feel closer to our Cardinal Principal of Rectitude, which defined the culture we have today.
How has philanthropy and service efforts played into the chapter’s success?
The events we have participated in or hosted in prior years connected us closer to the Wichita community and fuels our members. The emphasis on philanthropic and service efforts is the key driver to our success. Before COVID, Kansas Delta hosted an annual philanthropic golf tournament. Due to the pandemic, we had to shut it down and was not reinstated until 2023. Despite the lengthy time between the golf tournaments, our inaugural tournament was a success and we raised roughly $16,000. The success from this event motivated our members to join a cause greater than themselves and to work collectively to ensure the success of this tournament for years to come. The philanthropic success has bonded our chapter, but as importantly, the impactful service events have placed our connections closer to the community—especially to individuals. We are a continued participant in the ALS Walk at our local minor league baseball stadium where we are the largest supporter of organizing, setting up, and tearing down the event. It has been a pleasure to take the burden off these individuals and leave ALS better than we found it.
