Latest News from the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity of Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania

ATO Alumni Board Presents Fall Semester Academic Awards Checks and a Contribution to the College for the ATO-Eisenhower Institute Endowment Fund

GETTYSBURG -- Spring 2010
The ATO Alumni Board presented checks to ATO actives who had the highest grades in each class for the Fall 2009 semester and to the ATO student with the best improvement in his grades over the prior semester. A photo of the presentation of checks by Hal Kingsland, Alumni Vice President, to two of the actives who were present at the meeting is shown here. In addition, the Alumni Board made its first contribution to Gettysburg College for the ATO-Eisenhower Institute endowment fund started by Rod Tosten to name the boardroom at the EI office in Gettysburg for our Alpha Upsilon Chapter of ATO. As noted on our History page, EI has its Gettysburg office located in the former ATO Chapter House. Photos of Dave Raymond, Alumni President, presenting the Board's first contribution check for the ATO-EI endowment fund to the College is shown here.

GETTYSBURG -- Fall 2009
"The ATO alumni board presented the ATO Foundation Scholarship for 2009-10 to Bruce Evans '10 and the College ATO Senior Award for the ATO Senior with the highest overall GPA to Alexander Finley '10 at Alumni Board meeting on September 19, 2009. Photos of the presentation of the ATO Foundation Scholarship and checks for the ATO Board Academic Awards for the highest semester grades in each class are shown on the Gallery page. Alexander Finley is not shown in the photos."

GETTYSBURG -- Fall 2008
Photos of academic award presentations to two ATO Seniors and an ATO reception at the Eisenhower Institute in Gettysburg on September 20, 2008. Photos can be found here and on the Gallery page.

Chapter's 125th Anniversary
GETTYSBURG -- Fall 2007
To commemorate the 125th Anniversary of our Chapter's founding in 1882, a Founders Day dinner was held at the Chapter House during Homecoming Weekend on October 13, 2007 following the Bullets' victory over the Juniata Eagles.

After a reception for returning ATO alumni and wives, an Alumni/Chapter meeting was held at which Julie Ramsey, College Vice President for College Life and Dean of Students, and William Lafferty, Assistant Dean and Director of Greek Organizations, extended their congratulations on the Chapter's historic milestone on behalf of the College.

Terry Turman, ATO National Director of Alumni Services, extended his greetings and congratulations from ATO National Headquarters and told some stories about our Chapter's history that he retrieved from National's archives. Our Chapter was only the second Chapter established north of the Mason-Dixon Line (after the University of Pennsylvania Chapter), and Terry noted that ATO Founder, Otis Allan Glazebrook, actually visited our Chapter in the late 19th Century during an earlier anniversary celebration.

Dave Raymond, ATO Chapter House Corporation President, gave some other historical facts about our Chapter and noted that many in attendance were members of ATO before the current Chapter House was built in 1955. Those more senior alumni were recognized, and Dave noted that, when they were ATOs, the Chapter House was the same house located on Washington Street across from the campus that is now the local office of the Eisenhower Institute. Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower lived in the old ATO Chapter House during World War I when "Ike" was an Army Captain in charge of training soldiers in the use of tanks at a local Army base (Camp Colt).

Dave then honored this year's winners of the Gold Circle and Silver Circle awards: Alan Bauroth '60 was given the Gold Circle award marking fifty years since his initiation into ATO and Daniel Fearer '85 was given the Silver Circle award marking 25 years since his initiation.

Dave presented a commemorative clock to George Marguglio, alumni corporation Treasurer, recognizing George's outstanding contributions to the Chapter and the ATO alumni of Gettysburg College over recent years, including making the arrangements for the 125th Anniversary dinner. The other members of the Anniversary Dinner Committee, Tim Delaney '89 and Larry Coppock '76, were also recognized.

Following dinner, the Billy Walton Band featuring William Paris '90, ATO alum and member of our alumni board, performed at the ATO party that continued into the night. You can learn about this band of professional musicians at www.billywaltonband.com.

Alumni Board Establishes Award Programs for Chapter Members
GETTYSBURG -- Spring 2007
Three award programs were established by the ATO alumni board over the past year for members of the Gettysburg College Chapter: ATO Award for Academic Excellence endowed through the College, Gettysburg Alpha Upsilon Scholarship endowed through the ATO Foundation and ATO Alumni Board Awards granted by our Board each semester for grades earned during the prior semester. Click here for full details. It was announced in Fall 2007 by Dave Raymond, ATO Alumni President, that Kyle Luciano '08, Chapter President, is the first recipient of the Gettysburg Alpha Upsilon Scholarship from the ATO Foundation.

Chapter House named Luther Ritter Hall
GETTYSBURG -- Fall 2006
At the request of the ATO alumni corporation, the Gettysburg College Board of Trustees officially named the ATO Chapter House “Luther Ritter Hall” as of the fall of 2006 to honor the memory of Luther Ritter ’33, who passed away in April 2005 at age 94. Luther Ritter was the President of the ATO alumni organization when the present ATO Chapter House was built on the College campus in 1955. He was a member of the College Board of Trustees in 1955 and received a Meritorious Alumni Service Award from the College in 1995.

Total Renovation
GETTYSBURG -- Summer 2006
The Chapter House was totally renovated in the summer of 2006 to install a sprinkler system and upgraded fire alarms to meet the College’s Life Safety Standards, as well as to upgrade electrical and plumbing systems. Photos of the renovation can be found here.

New Front Porch
GETTYSBURG -- Fall 2004
In early June, 2004, ground was broken for a new front porch for the chapter house. The picture to the right (taken by Brian McNamara '89) shows the completed porch in November 2004.