12 Alpha Pi Brothers in LA for Community Service Spring Break

This past week was Temple's spring break. The international fraternity sponsored a community service trip to Los Angeles, CA. Out of the 25 brothers selected to participated for this FREE trip to LA were 12 Alpha Pi brothers. The group stayed at a Jewish camp in Malibu and went into the city daily to perform different types of service including painting community centers, preparing meals at soup kitchens, entertaining underprivileged children, etc. It was definitely an eye opening experience for the brothers who got to see a completely different side of life. The trip wasn't all work-everyone also got the chance to tour different parts of the city including Hollywood. The brothers were also there during the holiday of Purim and got to celebrate with not only others on the trip but also with brothers living in the Los Angeles area. Suffice to say, it made for one ridiculous bus ride. The group also had the chance to hang out with our AEPi chapters at UCLA and Northridge. Overall, it was an incredible trip and a great way to spend Spring Break.

Pictures: Above-Aaron Wolf (2012) puts a fresh coat of paint on a door at the Salvation Army in downtown Los Angeles. Below-The Alpha Pi brothers on the trip including Arkadiy Landa (2010), Brian Engle (2011), Joe Littman (2009), Alex Bord (2009), Mike Shulman (2009), Pesach Kessler (2010,) Mike Slutsky (2009), Dan Lyons (2012), Aaron Wolf (2012), Dan Snyder (2009), Eric Shelmire (2011), and Jon DeSantis (2010.)

AEPi: Top GPA on campus

Today, fraternity and sorority grade reports were released. For the second consecutive semester, AEPi had the top GPA amongst all 13 fraternities on campus. Our average GPA for Spring 2008 was a 3.05, while the average fraternity member's GPA was a 2.7 and the average Temple male got a 2.82. Our average GPA in Fall 2006 was a 2.63, and for the past 3 semesters we have worked hard to raise that score.The second place fraternity was way behind us with a 2.8 average GPA for the Spring 2008 semester. AEPi is leading the campus both academically and socially. Congrats to our top ten GPA getters (with a tie for the tenth spot) for the Spring 2008 semester who in no particular order are: Arkadiy Landa, Eric Shelmire, Ben Nadell, Jon Kriner, Brad Hoffman, Joe Raffanello, Paul Minkovich, Oleg Grapp, Steve Auerbach, Harry Rosenblum, and Mike Slutsky.

AEPi Helping the Community

Last year, Alpha Pi participated in many philanthropies around the Philadelphia region benefiting the Jewish community. In November, 15 brothers participated in Mitzvah Mania sponsored by Philadelphia Hillel and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. We went to South Philly and cleaned up a park by removing trash and planting new gardens. In mid-February, 30 brothers participated in Super Sunday where we called Jews around the Philadelphia region asking for donations to benefit the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Every month, between 20 and 30 brothers participate in the Jewish Relief Agency's food packaging and delivery events. We go to their facility in the Northeast and help package food supplies for needy Jews around the Philadelphia area. Then, we put the packages into volunteer's cars and our own cars. Afterwards, we personally deliver the food. Last year, we also participated in large scale Temple community service projects in which we went out and cleaned up our local North Philadelphia community. We participate in Temple Greek only philanthropies including raising hundreds of dollars for Alex's Lemonade Stand an organization which raises money for cancer research.

Pictures: Top left-Ross Klinger makes a phone call on Super Sunday. Top right-Mike Abrams picks up a package of food to put in a car at a Jewish Relief Agency event. Below (L-R) Arkadiy Landa, Jon Kriner, Jon DeSantis, a lucky female, Drew Wenning, Gabe Toran, and Oleg Grapp have rakes ready to plant at Mitzvah Mania in South Philadelphia.