ALPHA PHI DELTA FRATERNITY
AN ITALIAN HERITAGE FRATERNITY
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Top row (left to right): Otto Gelormini, Nicholas Frunzi, Joseph Cangiamila, Anthony Frascati,
Bottom row (left to right): Cesidio Ferdinand DiBartolo Cesidio Guarini and Dominic Ciolli.
Counting Down to our 109th Anniversary on November 5
On November 5, 2023, Alpha Phi Delta Fraternity will proudly celebrate the 109th anniversary of its founding. It was on that day, in 1914, seven students at Syracuse University -- Joseph Cangiamila, Dominic T. Ciolli, Ferdinand F. DiBartolo, Anthony T. Frascati, Nicholas Frunzi, Otto Gelormini and Cesidio A. Guarini -- swore a mutual Oath of Brotherhood on a sword, at Syracuse University to create our brotherhood: Italian in heritage, American in loyalty, and family-like in nature.
Since its founding over 22,000 men have been initiated into Alpha Phi Delta on over 110 campuses. November 5th is Alpha Phi Delta's Founders Day -- and on that day it is especially appropriate for members to wear a white carnation ("garafano") to honor our founding, and our founders.
Alpha Phi Delta evolved from our seven founders first establishing "Il Circolo Italiano" (an Italian Club) on the campus of Syracuse in 1913. However, realizing that they wanted to create something that they would be able remain part of after graduation, and in their lives ahead, they decided to form a fraternity, Alpha Phi Delta on November 5, 1914.
About a year and a half later, in June of 1916, the brothers of Alpha Phi Delta at Syracuse merged with another Italian fraternity at Columbia University (Sigma Gamma Phi) and from that merger Alpha Phi Delta, a national fraternity was formed. Our Chapter at Syracuse became known as our "Alpha Chapter" and our Chapter at Columbia became known as our "Beta Chapter."
National Convention '23:
Huge Turnout, Lots of Awards,
and Boat Loads of Brotherhood
The 100th National Convention of Alpha Phi Delta was the highlight our 108th year of brotherhood. With over 225 in attendance -- alumni and undergraduates alike -- our five-day convention at the Villa Roma Restort in Callicoon, New York was nothing short of amazing. Gathering for meals (in the Italian family tradition), playing trivia, bocce and baseball; honoring our military brothers; celebrating our 50 years brothers; remembering our deceased; educating our undergraduate members; and capping of a great year with our awards banquet was all part and parcel of our 2023 National Convention.
In our National Award program, the Upstate New York District won the Outstanding District Award, while one of that District's Chapters, Epsilon Pi (SUNY Cortland) walked off with the Outstanding Chapter Award. Gamma Mu Chapter (Stockton University) won the Most Improved Chapter Award, while Gamma Iota (Pace University) won the Outstanding Community Service Award. The Staten Island Alumni Club won the Outstanding Alumni Club and the Epsilon Gamma Alumni Association won the Outstanding Alumni Association Award.
In individual honors, Jake Shoemaker (Delta Theta) was named the Outstanding Undergraduate of 2023, while Past National President Todd Cusato won the Outstanding Alumnus Award.
The Conventioneers are shown here on the main stairway at the entrance to the Villa Roma Resort (Callicoon, New York). While not every conventioneer is in this picture, this is a good share of them. After this picture was taken the entire crowd made their way to the Villa Roma's Club House where the National Awards Banquet was held and awards winners for 2023 were announced.
Vincent Verdile as a young alumni in the Fraternity in 1994.
Vincent Verdile, 1964-2023
The Fraternity regrets to announce the passing of Brother Vincent N. Verdile, long-serving Florida District Governor. Brother Verdile was initiated into Beta Phi Chapter in 1986, and served in various roles in the Fraternity, including South Jersey District Governor, and most recently Florida District Governor. He is predeceased by his father, Benjamin Verdile (Beta Delta '57) who was a former National Vice President of the Fraternity (1976-78). He is survived by his mother, Rose Verdile, who is a frequent face at National Convention, and his brother Anthony. Brother Verdile worked as a school teacher in Florida, and previously in New Jersey. He will be missed. Faciamus!
Alpha Phi Delta by the Numbers
108
Number of Years of Brotherhood
22,471
Number of Brothers
Initiated since 1914
38
Number of currently active
Chapters and Colonies
26
Number of currently active
Alumni Clubs and Associations
3.27
Our Average Undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA)
81%
Our College Graduation Rate
25-percentage points above United States all-male grad rate
24.4%
% of Members
attending College on Scholarship
99.2%
1st year to 2nd Year of College Retention Rate
75 Scholarship Winners Announced
The Alpha Phi Delta Foundation's Scholarship Trustees award 75 scholarship awards, ranging from $500 to $5,000, to worthy applicants. The scholarship winners were announced at the 100th National Convention of Alpha Phi Delta. The number of scholarships awarded represent a new high for the Foundation's Scholarship program. Of the 75 winners, 61 were brothers of Alpha Phi Delta and 14 were children or relatives of fraternity brothers. Scholarship have been awarded annually in this program since 1975. Click the button below to view our online Scholarship winner booklet showing the name of all of our 2023 Scholarship award winners.