The following news release was issued by Centenary College in October, 2016, recognizing the achievment of one of our Brothers and applauding the arrival of Alpha Phi Delta. Contact:  Annamaria C. Lalevee (908) 852-1400, ext. 2238 laleveea@centenaryuniversity.edu
           
Hackettstown, N.J., October 20, 2016 – Keith Bassford felt that he wanted to provide an additional option for Greek Life at Centenary University.  Not being an athlete, he still yearned for the benefits of being part of a larger organization or a “team.”  As a result, he spearheaded an initiative to start a chapter of the first national fraternity on campus Alpha Phi Delta (Epsilon Iota Chapter) and serves as the President. 
 
Bassford is a Criminal Justice major from Clifton, N.J. with aspirations to become a civil or corporate lawyer.  One year ago, he consulted with his sister who is a student at Pace University who put him in touch with the Alpha Phi Delta Chapter.  Alpha Phi Delta appealed to Bassford because it was a smaller fraternity and he felt like he could make a positive impact on campus while connecting with fraternity brothers on other campuses.
 
He learned what he needed to do to start a chapter on the Centenary campus. As a result of his dedication, Centenary’s Alpha Phi Delta chapter has 20 members.  Bassford was recently recognized for his efforts with the Pioneer Award at Alpha Phi Delta’s national conference in Maryland.  In addition, he is the fraternity’s Assistant District Governor of New Jersey.  In this role, Bassford acts as a liaison the fraternity brothers and chapters within New Jersey.  Bassford is not the only Centenary student to hold a national position with the fraternity.  Zack Sjosward, also from Clifton, is the national delegate for the Undergraduate Coordinating Committee.
 
“I am very proud of this Chapter and its accomplishments in such a short period of time,” says Christopher Mancusi, Chapter Advisor and Former National President. “The Pioneer Award is bestowed upon key individuals to ensure that the Chapter is developed.  I cannot think of a more worthy person to have received this other than Keith.  We have 1,100 undergraduates nationwide and Keith would be considered in the top 1%, as far as leadership initiative.”   
 
As part of Alpha Phi Delta’s philanthropic efforts, the Chapter is participating in a walk for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at Rutgers University later this month.  Their chapter has also worked with the United Methodist Communities at Bristol Glen Nursing Home facility to host a “prom” for the residents.  The fraternity members helped with the planning and execution for the fun evening and have plans to spearhead this initiative again.  
 
“The administration at Centenary University has been so receptive to our efforts to help establish this chapter as a whole,” says Mancusi.  “As a result, the leadership opportunities will be abundant and Keith, Zack and the other members will be beneficiaries of that.”
 
Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary University is an independent, coeducational liberal arts and career studies university distinguished by an accomplished faculty, small class size and diverse student body.  Centenary is the only baccalaureate and master’s degree granting institution in northwest New Jersey.
 
Centenary University’s main campus is located in Hackettstown, N.J., with its equestrian facility in Washington Township (Morris County).  The Centenary College School of Professional Studies offers degree programs in two locations: Parsippany and Edison, and at corporate sites throughout New Jersey.  The School of International Programs recruits international students for study at Centenary and Centenary students for study abroad. 

Congratulations to the two newest entities of Alpha Phi Delta Fraternity, both chartered at our National Convention. The Delta Epsilon Alumni Association created to support the alumni of our Delta Epsilon Chapter and the Delta Rho Alumni Association created to support the Alumni of our Delta Rho Chapter. Their charters were presented to them at the National Convention on August 6, 2016 in Ellicot City, Maryland.

​With the addition of these two Alumni Association, the Fraternity now boasts 13 active Alumni Associations. This is most AAs active at one time since these entities were first created in 1991. Traditionally there have always been far more Alumni Clubs (regionally-based groups) than Alumni Association (chapter bases groups)... but the Associations are now catching up. The latest score: Alumni Clubs 15 - Alumni Associations 13.

The Brothers of our Centenary College Colony met with National Secretary, Fr. James Lentini on November 3, 2015. The colony members gave a tour of the campus to the National Secretary and then met with him. At that meeting Fraternity matters were discussed, as was the very bright future of this colony. Educational and recruitment materials were given to the colony. Following this gathering, the Centenary Colony brothers and Fr. Lentini made their way to Mama Italian Restaurant in Hackettstown, New Jersey (just down the road from the college) for a delicious Italian meal. 

Alpha Phi Delta's latest expansion project has resulted in the established of a Colony at Dowling College, in Oakdale, New York (Suffolk County, Long Island). The Colony had its first pledge class of twelve initiated in the presence of National President Christopher Mancusi, Expansion Chairman Salvatore Flagiello, UCC Chairman Samuel Bifulco and New York City East Governor Todd Cusato on April 11, 2015. We welcome our newest colony to the ranks of Alpha Phi Delta, with its founding members:  Zachary Baker, Reid Barnowitz, Omar Bravo, Steven D'Angelo, John Femoyer, Kevin Fernandez, Werlhens Francois, James Hourihane, Matthew McArdle, Bryan Nee, Herlis Reyes, and Tarik Zahran.