Phi Epsilon Kappa History
Phi
Epsilon Kappa Fraternity (PEK) was founded on April 12, 1913 at the
Normal
College
of the American Gymnastic Union in
Indianapolis,
Indiana. Fourteen (14) students
and faculty of the college became the charter members of the Fraternity. In the following month, the first pledge
class was initiated.
In
1917, the Fraternity applied for and received a charter as a non-profit
organization under the laws of the State of
Indiana. In 1920, the Fraternity became a
national organization when the Beta Chapter was installed at the
American
College
of Physical Education in
Chicago.
Membership
in Phi Epsilon Kappa was limited to males until March, 1975 when the National Council
voted, unanimously, to extend membership to women. Males continued to serve as the National
Council Presidents until 2001 when Dr. Debra S. Berkey was elected to this
office. Currently, there are three women
on the National Council, Dr. Cathy Houston- Wilson, Eastern District
Representative, Dr. Leta Hicks, Southern District Representative and Berkey,
Past- President. Dr. John Zody is the
current President. Dr. Ray Cool is the
Midwest District Representative and Dr. Steve Sedbrook serves as the Central
District Representative. Dr. Jeff
Vessely is the Executive Director of PEK. There are 75 active chapters of PEK
across the nation.
Western
Michigan
University initiated its first pledge class to the Epsilon Alpha Chapter on
January 11, 1998. The chapter was installed by Dr. Gary Arbogast, then-National
President and Mr. Steve Babbitt, then- Midwest District Representative. The advisors were Dr. Deb Berkey,
Dr.
Ray Cool and Dr. Jeanne Wiest.
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