Pig Dinner 2022 Wrap Up
We celebrated Upsilon Alpha’s traditional Frank Norris Pig Dinner this year on Friday, October 28th, during Homecoming at the University of Arizona. Phi Gamma Delta’s Norris Pig Dinner is the most widely observed annual tradition and the longest running chapter-based graduate event in the Greek world. The first Pig Dinner was held at Cal Berkeley in 1893 and has been celebrated yearly ever since. BCA President Jeff Derickson ’72 served as Master of Ceremonies of this year’s memorable event.
Almost 200 members and guests were present at the Sands Club on the fifth floor overlooking the football stadium. A no-host bar greeted everyone as we gathered to meet up with old friends, reminisce, and enjoy the festivities surrounding the entire Homecoming weekend.
Members of the 2022 Upsilon Alpha Hall of Fame were inducted by Building Corporation President Jeff Mongan ’83. The newest members included Rob Dicus ’63, Wainwright Fishburn, Jr. ’75, David Scholl ’81, Scott Douglas ’84, and Jason Rowley ’94.
Gold Owl recipients were honored for 50 years of initiated service, awarded to brothers initiated in 1972. Silver Owls were awarded to those brothers who had 25 years of initiated service and were initiated in 1997. Each received a pin and a certificate. New Purple Legionnaire Trevor Henson ’19 read off the names of those brothers who passed Ad Astra since the last Pig Dinner.
Chapter President Brooks Fanger ’23 gave the State of the Undergraduate Chapter Report which highlighted achievements in scholarship, recruitment, philanthropy, community service, pledge education, intramurals, social events, and graduate relations. We were recognized in five different award categories at this year’s Ekklesia and are one of the top fraternities on campus!
The Smith-Cheney Spirit Award was presented to Ben Atkinson ’24 for “inspiring all undergraduates to self-sacrifice for their brothers.” The Outstanding Pledge Award was given to Nick Burns ’25 of the Lamba pledge class.
The newly endowed George Heidler Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Nathan Miller ‘24. Applicants for this $5000 scholarship are judged on their leadership style, integrity, outlook on life, extracurricular activities, and fraternity involvement, as well as academics.
UABC President Jeff Mongan ’83 gave the State of the House Corporation Report. He highlighted all of the improvements made to the facility and thanked those who were instrumental in making it happen. He also thanked those brothers who have contributed to the Upsilon Alpha Capital Campaign and that it is not too late to donate to the Campaign. We are still short of our goal of $2.5 million dollars. Check out our website for more information.
The traditional “Bringing in the Pig” ceremony ensued with the Fall pledge class doing the honors. The oldest brother in attendance was J. Emery Barker ’57 who kissed the pig’s snout. The youngest was Bardia Mostafizi ’26 who had the pleasure of kissing the other end. Emery Barker ’57 then presented a brief history of Frank Norris and gave a rousing rendition of the Exile’s Toast. You don’t want to be an ‘exile’ of this annual tradition, so plan on coming next year!
Fiji Brothers from the Fall 1959 UA Pledge Class gathered at Tucson CC, on the eve of the Pig Dinner, to celebrate the induction of Rob Dicus, DDS (Center) into the Fiji UA Hall of Fame.