Epsilon Tau Pi


Epsilon Tau Pi was founded in 1999 at the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. The fraternity was formed as a collegiate honor society for Eagle Scouts at universities and colleges in the United States.

History

The fraternity was initially founded by Michael Hammes and Michael A. Mahon, who joined with six other students at the University of Dayton to become the founding members of the Alpha chapter. This group of eight formally commenced operation of the Alpha chapter on April 28, 1999; This date is celebrated by the fraternity as Founder's Day.
In 2001, the Alpha chapter authorized the formation of a 5-member national executive board. The board serves to support and bolster the expansion of the fraternity, as well as to support existing collegiate chapters.

National executive board

The chairman of the national executive board is elected by all members of the fraternity at convocation and serves as the chairman and chief executive officer of the fraternity. The position was established in 2003, approximately two years after the formation of the board.
;Past chairmen
Start DateEnd DateNamechapter
April 2003April 2005Michael HammesAlpha chapter
April 2005April 2007William SteesAlpha chapter
April 2007April 2009John Meyer Jr.Alpha chapter
April 2009April 2011Benjamin WhiteAlpha chapter
April 2011April 2019Dr. Michael BrazeauAlpha chapter
April 2019PresentJacob LinderBeta chapter

Other elected positions on the NEB include vice-chairman, secretary, North Atlantic regional director, South Atlantic regional director, Midwest regional director, and North Central regional director. Appointed positions on the NEB include national fraternity education officer, financial director, marketing director, and IT director.
In 2003, the fraternity began to hold biennial convocations, where alumni and collegiate members alike could meet and conduct fraternity business. Officers and alumni delegates to the national executive board are elected at convocation.

Purpose

The fraternity was formed with several goals in mind. Foremost, the fraternity dedicated itself to upholding the high ideals of the Eagle rank. The fraternity enables its members to participate in and promote service to others, to Scouting, the community, their university, and the fraternity itself. Members of the fraternity must maintain strict academic standards, in addition to participation in individual, group, and chapter-wide service projects.
Epsilon Tau Pi was formed for five different purposes.
  1. To create a brotherhood of Eagle Scouts.
  2. To serve Scouting and the community.
  3. To uphold the principles of Scouting.
  4. To promote the achievement of the rank of Eagle Scout.
  5. To provide an example to all students of loyalty to the Alma Mater.

    Service

Merit Badge College

One of the more prominent activities of the fraternity is the Merit Badge College. The MBC is an event hosted by chapters and Colonies of Epsilon Tau Pi, and offers scouts the opportunity to earn merit badges not otherwise offered outside of summer camps. Badges such as Chemistry and Programming have the added advantage of college-level facilities, to which scouts would not otherwise have access.

Alpha chapter

The MBC at Alpha is an annual event held at the University of Dayton. The program is held in three Saturday morning sessions, and scouts may complete up to three merit badges during the course of the event. In 2008, over 400 scouts attended the event.

Beta chapter

The MBC at Beta is an annual event held at The Ohio State University.

Iota chapter

The MBC at Iota is an annual event held at Robert Morris University. The program is held in two Saturday morning sessions, and scouts may complete up to four merit badges during the course of the event. In 2016, over 200 scouts attended the event.

Chapters and colonies

The fraternity consists of eight active chapters, eight active colonies, and one pending colony. Three additional colonies have gone inactive for lack of membership and/or activity – these are indicated below.
DesignationTypeUniversityDate ColonizedDate CharteredStatus
AlphachapterUniversity of DaytonApril 28, 1999April 28, 1999Active
BetachapterThe Ohio State UniversitySeptember 9, 2015November 29, 2016Active
GammachapterWestern Carolina UniversityApril 23, 2005March 27, 2007Active
DeltacolonyIndiana State UniversityDecember 11, 2005N/AInactive
EpsiloncolonyCalifornia University of PennsylvaniaJune 4, 2007N/AInactive
ZetachapterWest Virginia UniversityOctober 6, 2008May 20, 2012Active
EtachapterAppalachian State UniversityNovember 9, 2009April 16, 2011Active
ThetachapterGeorgia Southern UniversityNovember 16, 2010April 17, 2014Active
IotachapterRobert Morris UniversitySeptember 18, 2012August 28, 2014Active
KappacolonyAugustana CollegeDecember 20, 2012N/AInactive
LambdacolonyMissouri Western State UniversityJanuary 30, 2015N/AInactive
MuchapterEast Carolina UniversitySeptember 26, 2017April 6, 2019Active
NucolonyNorthwest Missouri State UniversityNovember 13, 2017N/AActive
XicolonyKansas State UniversityFebruary 5, 2018N/AActive
OmicroncolonyUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillMarch 3, 2018N/AActive
PicolonyUniversity of South CarolinaMarch 7, 2018N/AActive
RhocolonyUniversity of CincinnatiSeptember 16, 2018N/AActive
SigmacolonyMiami UniversityFebruary 18, 2019N/AActive
TaucolonyNorth Carolina State UniversitySeptember 17, 2019N/AActive
UpsiloncolonyOhio UniversityMarch 1, 2020N/AActive
PhicolonyClemson UniversityN/AN/AActive

;Notes