Students and Alumni Celebrate 100 Years of KD Excellence

Today, May 2, Kappa Delta Fraternity will celebrate its centennial with a formal dinner at the Sontag Greek Theatre. Close to 300 KD alumni are expected to attend the event as it honors one of Pomona College's oldest organizations, and its oldest fraternity. The eldest member in attendance will be Bill Fellows '33. There will be a pre-dinner gathering at 4:30 p.m. in the fraternity's room. This will be the largest integration of active and non-active members in KD's 100-year history, offering an opportunity for all members to reflect upon the fraternity's fabled legacy.

Established in 1903, the initial body of Kappa Delta consisted of only 8 members, including the notable Frank Seaver [19]'05. Not only has KD been an integral part of on-campus social activity, they have also been committed to serving the community by volunteering time and money to local and charity organizations. Kappa Delta has helped the young men of Pomona College develop a strong sense of camaraderie and brotherhood, planting the seed for lifelong friendships and ties to Pomona College. The fraternity sponsors those activities and events, which its members desire and which promote the welfare of the student body and community of Pomona College and are in keeping with the honor and ideals of the institution.

Graduated members have been actively involved in the welfare of the College as well. KD has had more representatives in the Board of Trustees than any other group on campus. Currently, Kappa Delta is undertaking fundraising to improve upon the acoustics, security and lighting for the Sontag Greek Theatre.

Parties, athletics and other informal functions are the principle realms of Kappa Delta activity. Participation in such college-sponsored events as intramural athletics, social service campaigns (blood drives, Habitat for Humanity, House of Ruth fundraising and similar service projects) are a fundamental aspect of fellowship, recreation and personal growth offered by the fraternity for its members. Also, earlier in the semester Kappa Delta raised over $1,800 for the Morgan McDuffee Youth Violence Prevention Program.

The most important member of Kappa Delta is Frederick Sontag who has been the fraternity's advisor since 1953, with fifty years of devoted leadership. Professor Sontag has helped preserve and perpetuate KD's longstanding traditions. He has also established a strong network of communication between active and alumni members of the fraternity. Without his efforts, the integrity of the fraternity would have diminished as maintaining contact with alumni has proven difficult for other organizations.

The journey to a century has been arduous. All members wish to see the organization remain as a viable entity of the Pomona College community. This weekend's milestone of one-hundred years will be enjoyable for all in attendance and will be a bright send off into the next hundred years of tradition.

Sincerely,
Jake Waasted '04, Ray Pearl '03, Jonathan Wicks '03