Alumni Gathering at Lake Anna

Alumni Secretary

(L to R – mostly): Annette Mashburn, Mike Zigler, Bill Mashburn, Carol Kessler, Woody Kessler, Brenda Moorefield, Mike Moorefield, Eric Noonkester, Beryl Norman, Bill Norman, Bob Bragg, Brian Behringer, Jerry Reiley, Tracy Behringer, David Bowles, Kevin King, Ann Holcombe, Pat Matus, Samantha Matus, Eddie Holcombe, Dave Rice, Jenny Rivers, Ann Rice, Dennis Parsons, Linda Parsons, Bill Comer, Sallie Noonkester, John Windsor, Cindy Windsor, Trish Comer, Bill Harksen, Mark Rivers, Nicole XX, Tim McDermott, Esther McDermott, Connie Gragnani, Pauline Elliott, Rudy Gragnani, Brenda Kyle, Ray Kyle, David Elliott.

ΣΛ Two Year Review

zachlansbury

“You can’t really know where you’re going until you know where you have been” – Maya Angelou

The past two years have been a period of amazing growth and revitalization for our brotherhood; but with growth comes challenges. Please take a minute to download and review this presentation of the active chapter’s progress over the past two years, including our steps forward.

The file is linked below.

Highlights:

  • May ’22 | After having been off-campus for five years, James Fink, Zach Lansbury, and Joe Pisciotta accept first three bids
  • Sep ’22 | 14 associate members go through the AM Ceremony conducted by an alumni Ritual Team at the University Club
  • Nov ’22 | 27 brothers are initiated
  • May ’23 | Outstanding Alumnus awarded by FSL
  • Oct ’23 | Received ΛΧΑ Charter in 12 months
  • Jan ’24 | Recognized for blood drive participation at the High Alpha / Neville Alumni College
  • May ’24 | Awarded Emerging Fraternity of the Year by Fraternity and Sorority Life
  • Aug ’24 | Placed second in the Lambda Chi Academy Gold Division and earned $1,000 from ΛΧΑ headquarters
  • Aug ’24 | The chapter received the Warren A. Cole Recruitment Award
  • Aug ’24 | Jack DiFilippo selected to join the 21 brother International Ritual Exemplification Team and acknowledged for his leadership by ΛΧΑ headquarters
  • Aug ’24 | The chapter successfully nominated Tim McDermott as High Pi of the Year, and he was also inducted into the ΛΧΑ Order of Merit
SigmaLambdaTwoYearDownload

S. Gregorie Venning, III – Omega

Alumni Secretary

Greg Venning’74 ΣΛ41, 72, of Roanoke, VA, passed away January 4, 2024. Greg was raised in Key West, Florida during his early childhood, and later moved to Roanoke, VA, and graduated from Cave Spring High School. He studied at the University of Miami School of Oceanography and finished his education with a business degree at Virginia Tech. Greg made Smith Mountain Lake his home since soon after he graduated.

Greg was a member of the fraternity when it selected Lambda Chi Alpha as the successor fraternity to our founding as Sigma Omega Tau and was the 41st initiate of Lambda Chi Alpha at Virginia Tech.

Throughout Greg’s 50 years living at Mountain Lake, he fished nearly every morning and embraced his passion for lake living by designing and building waterfront communities, homes, and decks.

Click here to read more about Greg’s life and his family.

Fall 2023 Active Chapter Update

zachlansbury

With the fall semester underway and rush quickly approaching we would like to provide an update of the active chapter’s accomplishments in the past year and our upcoming plans. 

First and foremost we would like to announce that as of August 11th, 2023, the Grand High Zeta has approved our charter application! This means that on September 8th, 2023, one year after our first Associate Member Ceremony, the Sigma-Lambda Zeta will officially be chartered again and permitted use of 413 E. Roanoke St. for chapter functions. This is a momentous accomplishment and was achieved in record time. The brotherhood is extremely proud. 

We would like to highlight the strength of our brotherhood. This has been evident in every aspect of our operations, notably in our remarkable recruitment of 45 active brothers and our dedication to philanthropy. We made giving back a priority and were able to place first in Alpha Phi’s Cupid Heart Health Week as well as top three in multiple other sororities philanthropy weeks. Our brothers also volunteered with the Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry, raising a total of approximately $1,000 and 2,500 pounds of food. We are excited to continue our volunteering and philanthropy efforts, including hosting our annual pumpkin smash.

Internally, the chapter has seen incredible growth. After our first group of brothers were initiated by the Epsilon-Omicron Zeta (UTK), our High Phi, Jack DiFillipo ’25 ΣΛ837, instructed the first ritual team and led a flawless initiation for our second class of brothers. Our brotherhood and accountability contributed significantly toward this accomplishment. The High Iota, Bill Young ’24 ΣΛ853, has also done a phenomenal job and kept the chapter without incident. Even throughout all of this hard work the brothers remained focused on academics, resulting in a significant chapter GPA increase from 3.07 to 3.27, placing us in the top 10 IFC fraternities. Thanks to generous alumni contributions we were able to award four undergraduate brothers with academic scholarships. 

Our High Alpha, James Fink ’24 ΣΛ840, is back from a semester in Spain. The Interim-High Alpha, Braxton Duvall ’24 ΣΛ838, will be serving as Co-High Delta with Joe Ferguson ’25 ΣΛ839. New officer elections will be held at the end of the fall semester. We are planning a Chartering Banquet to be held on the 28th of October during our Homecoming and 65th Anniversary Weekend. We want to meet as many brothers as possible! More details will be posted soon.

It’s a great time for Lambda Chi and the Sigma-Lambda Zeta. If you have any questions or would like to contact the active chapter, please contact High Rho, Joe Pisciotta ΣΛ848, listed below. 

In ZAX, ΣΒ,

Zach Lansbury ’25 ΣΛ844, High Beta

Joe Pisciotta ’25 ΣΛ848, High Rho

(919) 437-5430

josephp21@vt.edu

George W. Lester, IV – Omega

Alumni Secretary

George Washington Lester’97 ΣΛ401, IV, 48, of Cornelius, NC, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, February 27, 2023. He was born in Martinsville, Virginia, on December 30, 1974, the son of George Washington Lester, II and Beatrice Worrell Lester.

George greeted each day with gladness and brought spontaneity, adventure, wisdom and laughter into the lives of those who knew him. George found peace and joy on the water, even in childhood, and made his home on the shores of Lake Norman in North Carolina for most of his adult life. He loved music and could often be found strumming a tune on his ukulele. He was an Eagle Scout, a graduate of Virginia Tech, and a veteran of the United States Navy. 

More information on George can be read here.

Initiation Ritual Spring 2023

Hello Everyone, 

We are excited to announce that our second initiation ritual, the first performed by our own Ritual Team, will take place at 10:00 am on Saturday, April 1st, at Blacksburg Baptist Church located at 550 North Main Street. We would love to have as many alumni brothers come out to the Ritual as possible. Please contact High Phi Jack DiFilippo’24 ΣΛ837 (jcdifilippo44@gmail.com), High Pi Tim McDermott’77 ΣΛ64(tamcdermott@me.com) or myself, Ash Umaselvan, if you can make it and for more information and/or coordination. You can also register by clicking here.

Vir Quisque Vir,

Ash Umaselvan’24 ΣΛ850, High Rho

571-458-9453

High Zeta introductions and contact information- Sigma Lambda

High Zeta introductions and contact information- Sigma Lambda

James Fink-High Alpha (President) (Currently on hiatus as he is doing a semester abroad in Spain)

My name is James Fink, and I am a junior here at Tech, double majoring in psychology and Spanish. I am from northern Virginia, more specifically Hamilton in Loudoun County. My ultimate goal is to open my own clinical psychology practice somewhere in Loudoun County and to be able to take on Spanish-speaking clients in addition to English-speaking clients. I joined Lambda Chi because I saw a unique opportunity to form a brotherhood here at Tech. I have always felt like I was part of the community here, but I wanted to help create a group with a close connection. Through this, I hope to make a difference at Virginia Tech and the surrounding community.

Phone: 571-353-0619

Email: jamesdf@vt.edu

William Gene Young, Jr. – High Iota (Risk Manager)

Gentlemen, I hope this message finds you well! My name is William Young, and I am a junior attending Virginia Polytechnical Institute majoring in Political Science: National Security Option. I am a member of the Virginia Tech Corp of Cadets, and I am aspiring to commission into the US Air Force as a Special Operations Search and Rescue Helicopter Pilot. My reason for undertaking the journey of becoming a member of Lambda Chi Alpha is that although the Virginia Tech Corp of Cadets and AFROTC prepared me for general leadership, I found something lacking within their curriculum. “Every Man a Man ” are the words echoed from Lambda Chi Alpha’s motto. I found this to be an attractive endeavor; to become a man of merit is a necessity if I aspire to lead others effectively. The tenets of Lambda Chi Alpha speak of specific competencies I can work on to become an Ideal Man.

Phone: (757) 570-6079

Email: williamy01@vt.edu

Zachary Lansbury-High Beta (VP, internal)

My name is Zach Lansbury, and I’m a sophomore majoring in finance. I’m from Arlington, right across from DC. I joined Lambda Chi because I recognized the great opportunity of bringing the chapter back offers. Once I met the other guys, I knew that we would be able to accomplish big things. I also saw the chapter’s history and support of the alumni, and that convinced me that this is something worth putting my effort toward. I’ve already gotten so much value from this fraternity in my unique experiences, and I’m very motivated to continue.

Phone: 202-604-5441

Email: zachlansbury@vt.edu 

Jack DiFilippo – High Phi (Ritualist)

Hello, my name is Jackson DiFilippo, but I prefer to go by Jack. I am a sophomore here at Virginia Tech and am set to graduate in the fall of 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Horticulture. I am from Spotsylvania, Virginia, and have lived there my whole life (outside of college). With my Horticulture degree, I would like to end up breeding or making new plant species, specifically native perennials of Virginia, that would be able to survive the worst of climate change.  I joined Lambda Chi Alpha because my dad was a member when he was in college, and I always heard stories about how much he enjoyed it, so I thought I would try it out for myself. Once I met the other members here, I immediately knew it would be something I would definitely enjoy being a part of.

Phone (540) 621-9458

Email: jdif44@vt.edu

Braxton Duvall – Interim High Alpha & High Delta (Recruitment)

Dear Alumni, 

Hello, my name is Braxton Duvall. I am a junior here at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; I am majoring in Political Science with the Legal Studies option. I am from Winchester, Virginia, and was born and raised there. With my degree in Political Science, I plan to continue my education and apply to Law School. After that, I am looking to join the military and apply for the Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG) Program. Eventually, I hope to practice constitutional law because I value the protection of individual rights above all else within the field. My story with Lambda Chi Alpha started during my first year of college. I was an associate member at the Mississippi State University Chapter before transferring to Virginia Tech. As an associate member, I learned about the fraternities’ high values of tradition, brotherhood, religion, and patriotism. Throughout my first year (sophomore year) here at VT I felt a void missing where Lambda Chi Alpha used to be. As soon as I heard about Lambda Chi returning to VT, I instantly jumped at the opportunity. After meeting with the associate members already involved, I knew it would be an excellent opportunity to get back into the fraternity. With my previous experience and my current passion for the fraternity, I hope to help as much as possible to restore Lambda Chi and have its values and name respected and recognized campus-wide. I also hope to get to know the alumni more and learn from their experiences and stories to help better the fraternity and, more specifically, our chapter. 

Phone: (540) 247-4464

Email: braxtond@vt.edu

David Cox – High Theta (VP, external)

Dear Alumni,

My name is David Cox and I am a current Junior over here at VT. I am currently a dual degree major in Economics and Political Science (Legal Studies Option) with a minor in philosophy. Currently, I have an internship lined up with the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), a wall street firm, where I will be a Sales and Trading Intern. Throughout my past two years here at Virginia Tech, I made a large name for myself by being involved in a multitude of experiences. From the Student Alumni Association, and Class Office, to even being an RA I have made numerous connections and overall impacts on the university and individuals as a whole. I wanted my college experience to be one where I can make a difference and impact others and I believe that I have done that well thus far. Nonetheless, I felt like I have not left a legacy, one where I return back years from now, who will remember my name? That turned me over to Greek Life and thus Lambda Chi Alpha. Before I made my decision to join Lambda Chi, I wanted to look at what we have done in the past here at Virginia Tech. From old photos, conversations I have had, and even text forums, it would be an understatement to say that reviving and revising what we once had back to that greatness won’t be the easiest task. However, if one group of men could do it, it would be us! I am proud to get started, I am proud to make this Fraternity reach its full potential, and I am more than proud to have you all beside us to back us up. Please let me know if you have any suggestions, questions, or comments pertaining to us – we are really an open door trying to make this the best it can be. Thank you all for your help and I look forward to meeting you all and showing you all that we can do!

Phone: (571) – 919 – 8396

Email: davidc02@vt.edu

Nick Cheshire – High Sigma (Scholastic Chair)

My name is Nick Cheshire, I’m a junior from Leesburg, VA studying Multimedia Journalism with a minor in Creative Writing. At Virginia Tech, I’m involved in a handful of clubs ranging from sports writing to student radio, but I saw joining a fraternity as something that could elevate my college experience like no other organization could. As soon as I began talking to the brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha, I knew it was going to be a good fit. This is a group of smart, well-meaning men who are truly dedicated to re-establishing this storied brotherhood here at Virginia Tech and are always willing to go the extra mile to make sure that operations are running smoothly. We are excited to have the support of the Alumni and promise to do our best to represent the entirety of Lambda Chi with dignity and honor, day in and day out. 

Phone: (703) 431-7950

Email: nickc01@vt.edu 

Ashwin(Ash) Umaselvan- High Rho (Alumni Chair)

My name is Ash Umaselvan, I am a junior from Chantilly, Virginia double majoring in criminology and sociology. My plan for postgraduate studies is to attend law school and either go into family or corporate law. I am interested in combining the experiences and ideas of Lambda Chi Alpha brothers both alumni and active in order to create a brotherhood and fraternity that everyone can be proud to affiliate with. Fraternities are a very unique aspect of college life that creates memories and friendships that last a lifetime and when I have presented an opportunity to be a founding father it was too good to pass up on. The chance at restarting an illustrious fraternity here at VT has given all of us a unique opportunity to create a culture and cement a legacy that hopefully will stand the test of time. I am honored and excited to serve as the first High Rho and I will do my very best to set a standard for the generations of Rhos to come. I am generally available by phone or email so please do not hesitate to reach out and contact me for whatever reason. 

Cell: 571-458-9453

Email: aumaselvan24@vt.edu

Soham Kapadia – High Tau (Treasurer)

My name is Soham Kapadia, and I am a sophomore at Virginia Tech, studying computer science. I moved from Dubai to Blacksburg at the start of my freshman year at Virginia Tech. When offered to join Lambda Chi Alpha, I saw an opportunity to bring back to life a fraternity – an environment where men with high moral standards stand together to create a community of intelligent men. As the High Tau and a founding father, I look forward to acquainting myself with a diverse variety of members with different backgrounds in the future. With the support of the other Officers and Alumni, I see a potential for greatness, the potential to write a legacy that can stand the tests of time. 

Phone: (540) 449 8376

Email: sohamk@vt.edu

Joseph Pisciotta – High Epsilon (Social Chair)

My name is Joseph Pisciotta, and I am a sophomore studying Management, Consulting, and Analytics. I live in Raleigh, NC. I joined Lambda Chi Alpha because I wanted to take part in this unique opportunity. As the High Epsilon, I will be looking to get our chapter involved with lots of organizations on campus. Once again I am looking forward to this lifelong commitment! 

Phone: (919) 437-5430

Email: josephp21@vt.edu

Saksham Chawla- High Gamma (Secretary)

My name is Saksham Chawla and I am a Junior from Chantilly, VA. I am currently majoring in Computer Science and I plan to pursue a master’s in computer science and a career in software development. Last school year, when I received an email to attend an interest meeting for Lambda Chi Alpha, I was extremely open-minded. After learning everything about the fraternity and what it had to offer, I became extremely excited to bring back culture, tradition, and brotherhood back to the Virginia Tech Campus. My experience, thus far, has empowered me to continue to build bonds, make friendships, contribute to the community, and create everlasting memories. Lambda Chi Alpha is something that inspires me to continue to grow this brotherhood, and as High Gamma, I look forward to continuing to get involved with the school, community, and fraternity. Ultimately, I am honored to be a part of this illustrious group of young men, and I hope to continue to make an impact within this fraternity.

Phone: (571) 325-9817

Email: schawla2@vt.edu

J. Allen Roberts – Omega

Alumni Secretary

Allen Roberts ’65 ΣΩΤ, 80, of Matthews, North Carolina, died Tuesday, November 23, 2021. Born and raised in Bristol, Virginia, Allen graduated from Bristol Virginia High School. He then attended Virginia Tech and joined Sigma Omega Tau and was a valued brother. He graduated with an Industrial Engineering Degree and received and MBA from Widener University.

He went to work with the DuPont Company in Camden, South Carolina as an engineer and later transferred with DuPont to Wilmington, Delaware After a long career with DuPont, Allen retired, then joined The Forum Corporation of Boston as a Director. Along with that came a move to Pittsburgh on a contract with Mellon Bank, where he became a vice-president. When Allen retired from Forum, he and Patty moved to Camden.

Allen liked the beach, the mountains and traveling. He especially liked Europe, particularly Sicily, Italy. He enjoyed old historic houses and buildings, antique furniture and silver, a glass of good wine, the music of Mozart, and the Rolling Stones.

A Celebration of Life for Allen will be held at a later date. His full obituary can be found here:

https://www.kornegayfuneral.com/obituary/james-roberts

Ivan Hall – Omega

Alumni Secretary

Ivan Nelson Hall, Jr. ’71 ΣΛ16 passed away on October 31, 2021, at the age of 73 with his only son and wife by his side.

Ivan was the first-born son of Ivan Nelson Hall, Sr and Hazel Crowder Hall in Danville, Virginia. He was the eldest brother of three siblings.

In 1966, he graduated from Thomas A. Edison High School in Fairfax County, Virginia. In 1971, he graduated from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia with a degree in Electrical Engineering and as a brother of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Later he would go on to earn two post-graduate degrees, one at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California as one of the first civilians to do so, and another at the University of Southern California.

He met and married his wife, Patricia, at Virginia Tech. Their love never faltered over the 50 years they were married until his death. They have a single son, Ivan III.

Ivan was a career civil servant for the United States Navy which began as a co-operative student in college. Over the course of 30 years, he was named a Chief Engineer and appointed as a member of the Senior Executive Service. Ivan was well-respected and considered a hero to many people with whom he worked because of his courageous and servant leadership approach.

Ivan’s dedication to his son forged his passion for youth sports which led him to become Vice President of the Southwestern Youth Association (SYA) of Fairfax County, Virginia. He was part of the leadership team that laid the groundwork for the SYA Sports Park, at the time referred to as the Field of Dreams. He believed that all children should be able to experience the joy, health benefits and camaraderie of sports.

Although Ivan is no longer with us, he would have encouraged us all to remember the great times and move forward into our future with energy and compassion for others. He will be deeply missed because he showed great love to all his family and was there to lend a helping hand and advice whenever needed. Ivan loved life and always lit up a room with his big smile and encouraging words.

Ivan was predeceased by both his mother Hazel and father Ivan. He is survived by his wife Patricia, son Ivan III and his wife Rita, brother Michael, and sister Donna. Private services will be held for immediate family only.