Delta Kappa Epsilon - Penn State University

About the Phi Rho Chapter of DKE

The Phi Rho Chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon was founded at Penn State in 1991. We are a young fraternity at Penn State, and we are becoming well-established on campus. Penn State Dekes have held significant roles in campus leadership, including Interfraternity Council President and IFC Homecoming Chair, Greek Week Captains, Homecoming Captains, THON Captains, along with others.

We always put brotherhood first at Deke. We have a lot of fun and we're pretty relaxed, but our fraternity is about a lot more than beer and girls. We're a tight group of guys and we know truly know each other as brothers. We define what Deke is; it doesn't define us. We excel as individuals in many areas, from music to athletics. We have brothers in majors ranging from English to engineering. Beyond our shared values of being a gentleman, a scholar, and a jolly good fellow (along with just being cool people in general), none of us are the same - and we wouldn't want it any other way.

Following is some information about DKE International:

A brief history of Delta Kappa Epsilon...

Delta Kappa Epsilon was founded at Yale in 1844 and is the oldest international secret college fraternity of New England origin.

In 1844, Yale University had two fraternities, Alpha Delta and Psi Upsilon. Due to undergraduate policies and a division in the sophomore class, a number of men of high character and scholastic attainment did not receive bids from these two societies. They believed that the selection process was so unfair and unjust, that several of the men who did receive bids refused to pledge. These men got together and decided to form their own society. This society would be more fraternal in nature and less restrictive (unfair) in their membership criteria than that of their rivals. So, on Saturday, June 22, 1844 these men met in No. 12 Old South Hall and established what we know today as Delta Kappa Epsilon. The admission criteria were simply to be a gentleman, a scholar, and a jolly good fellow.

These 15 young founders are:

  • William Woodruff Atwater
  • Edward Griffin Bartlett
  • Fredrick Peter Bellinger, Jr.
  • Henry Case
  • George Foote Chester
  • John Butler Coyngham
  • Thomas Isaac Franklin
  • William Walter Horton
  • William Boyd Jacobs
  • Edward Von Schoonhoven Kingsley
  • Chester Newell Righter
  • Elisha Bacon Shalpeigh
  • Thomas Du Bois Sherwood
  • Orson William Snow
  • Albert Everett Stetson

Early Growth of DKE:
By 1854, the Yale chapter had granted 18 chapters. Yale, having a variety of students from all over the nation, allowed DKE to branch out across the nation, especially in the South. So many chapters were started in the South that DKE became known as the Southerners' Fraternity. Delta Kappa Epsilon (commonly
referred to as Deke and DKE) was the first fraternity to colonize heavily in the South.

The Early 1900's:
On April 6, 1909, Robert E. Peary became the first man (also a Deke) to reach the North Pole. The cold was so intense that a flask of brandy that he carried under his parka froze solid. With him he brought an American flag and a Deke flag to represent the things that he loved most in life- his country and fraternity. World War I and II saw the participation of DKE brothers. The brothers of DKE gave their service in both of these wars. Over 400 fought in WWI, with 35 giving their lives. WWII saw even more participation of Dekes with over 6,000 serving and over 300 giving their lives. On November 19, 1969, Allan Bean of Texas, DKE's first astronaut reached the Moon. A small DKE flag was taken with him on his journey into outer space. This flag is now proudly displayed in the Smithsonian Institution, in Washington D.C.

Recent DKE History:
In recent years, DKE has continued to expand. Nine more chapters have been founded along with the revival of some previously chartered chapters. During this time period, DKE saw two brothers become president of the United States- Gerald R. Ford and George H. W. Bush.

Prominent Alumni and their Chapters:
Rutherford B. Hayes, Delta Chi
Theodore Roosevelt, Alpha
Gerald R. Ford, Omicron
George H. W. Bush, Phi
George W. Bush, Phi
Joe Paterno, Upsilon - Penn State football coach
Dick Clark, Phi Gamma - hosted American Bandstand
Melvil Dewey, Sigma - devised the Dewey Decimal System
Charles A. Ellis, Gamma Phi - designed the Golden Gate Bridge
Robert A. Peary, Theta - first man to reach the North Pole
Alan Bean, Omega Chi - Apollo astronaut, walked on the moon