The chapter didn’t waste any time getting back into the swing of things after Christmas break! The semester opened with an exciting initiation ceremony at a local Mexican Bar and Restaurant. The celebration included a buffet line, free drinks, great music, and the induction of 35 new members to the chapter!

The announcement of the Dean’s Excellence list for the fall semester in January allowed Houston Psi-O’s to display their academic sides as well, with near or above 50% representation by the fraternity in both the first and second year classes. In addition, Sanaz Ekhlassi (‘09), incoming president of the chapter, was awarded an AADR Fellowship for Research at the International Association for Dental Research March meeting in New Orleans for her work on chemotactic mediators during periodontal inflammation.

In February, the chapter organized and sponsored a blood drive for member, Jill Rosellini (’08), in support of an emergency heart surgery. The turnout by her friends, fellow students, and faculty helped us all to support her through the difficult time. Psi-O members again pulled through for those in need by helping out as assistants and volunteers for the Give Kids a Smile Day at the Dental Branch on February 24 and working at the Texas Mission of Mercy project in Dallas on February 11.

We kicked off March with our very own version of “March Madness”, hosting a happy hour and basketball themed party at a local pub after members returned from Spring Break. Colin Lathrop (‘09) returned from his own spring break travels with great news for the chapter: after attending as our representative to the Psi-O Conclave in St. Louis, Missouri, Colin announced that Delta Upsilon had been honored with the Regional Award for Chapter Excellence, and brought back many great ideas for the new officers. Several other members of the chapter spent some of their break in the nation’s capital, lobbying along with ASDA members for important dental issues at Lobby Day in March!

To celebrate the end of another school year and the start of summer, Psi-O’s challenged the Delta Sigma Fraternity to a Kickball game on Cinco de Mayo! The game ended in a tie, but was later determined an official Psi-O victory via a tie-breaking arm-wrestling effort led by incoming vice president, Ryan Loveless (‘08)! To celebrate our victory, we hosted a pool party for the team aptly named “Cinco de Psi-O!”

A senior dinner graciously hosted by our Alumni at El Meson restaurant honored graduating seniors and officers, with the Academic Excellence Award granted to Sueginn Cho (’07) and the Fraternal Achievement Award to Justin Mund (’09), chapter Treasurer.

We officially kicked off the lazy days of summer with a crawfish boil in Galveston hosted by Trey Latiolais (’08) and family! Games, great food, and plenty of good fun in the sun made the event a hit!

With the start of the school year just around the corner, the chapter is looking forward to Rush Week in August and many new and exciting projects for 2007-2008!

Psi-O’s enjoyed crawfish galore at the
Latiolais house in Galveston, TX.

Melissa Lent, Secretary (’08), Niki Benamoz, President (’08), and Justin Mund, Treasurer (’09) lead 35 new members at chapter initiation.

Psi-O members from the class of 2010
having a good time at “March Madness.”

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