UPCOMING DATES  


JUNE
4: Car Wash
4: BOG Meeting
5: OAA Picnic On The Mall

AUGUST
8: First Meeting
9-14: Kappa Work Week
15-21: WVU Band Camp
23: First Day of Classes

SEPTEMBER
5: No Meeting
6: Meeting


CONTACT US
K.K.Psi Omicron
PO Box 6111 West Virginia University Morgantown WV
.26505-6111

kkpsi.omicron@gmail.com

On the campus of West Virginia University, there was a great tradition beginning, the tradition of a marching band that would gain the respect of bands across the country. In 1925, this marching band was made up of only ROTC members until the spring when George Saari, with his group of 11, joined. The group learned that the ROTC members were getting paid for the marching band’s public performances at football games and at ROTC functions. The non-ROTC members were not being paid a cent. Because of these discriminations, Saari and the others decided to form their own marching band. The rebel band of musicians obtained permission from band director Walter Mestrezat and the athletic director Charles Stansbury to perform during half time at the WVU football games. Things started to look up until the news of the rebel band reached the office of Frank Trotter, the President of West Virginia University. Trotter wanted the dispute to end very quickly, thus banning the newly formed band. Saari and his group realized how much trouble they were in and promptly sought to make them a legitimate student organization.  On June 26, 1926, the Kappa Kappa Psi-Zeta Chapter from Penn State put through the twelve “rebels.” The chapter of Omicron at West Virginia University was born. Omicron lasted for almost ten years, but when the ROTC band merged with the “rebel band,” the need for Omicron was no more. The last class was put through in 1933. In 1940 brothers from Cincinnati put through a new Omicron class, but unlike before, the ROTC band was a part of Omicron. In 1943, the Omicron chapter was suspended because many of its members were being shipped overseas to fight in World War II. In 1947, many Brothers returned and restarted the Omicron chapter. This same year band director, Lawrence Intravia was plagued with many illnesses and many temporary directors took over his position of WVU band director. People soon began to lose interest in the bands and with Omicron. In 1964, the Brothers of Alpha Omega, the Kappa Kappa Psi chapter at the University of Pittsburgh, reinitiated Omicron. Since Kappa Kappa Psi was a “fraternity,” no girls were allowed. Thus, a Tau Beta Sigma (the sister organization of Kappa Kappa Psi) chapter was established. Omicron and Delta Beta got along for a while, working together to better the bands at West Virginia University, but competition arose and friction inside the band resulted from the competition. In 1990, the squabbling became too much for the “Pride” to handle. Don Wilcox, the band director and sponsor of Kappa Kappa Psi, gave the two organizations an ultimatum: merge into one organization, form a non-Greek affiliated “band club,” or abolish both organizations. After hours upon hours of negotiating, the Brothers and Sisters voted that the Tau Beta Sigma chapter would consolidate into Omicron. Delta Beta became no more and Omicron gained some powerful assets to their chapter. Today, Omicron is as strong as ever! The newest members are always full of energy and ideas, just as Saari and his group were so long ago. All of us in Omicron have a love of music and a love of Brotherhood in Kappa Kappa Psi. We have over 700 Alumni across the nation and world. For 82 years, the Omicron chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi as served the bands and continues to carry on the tradition of striving for the highest! Omicron has won the Chapter Leadership Award 11 times.  Some Brothers of this chapter are DSMM, A. Frank Martin and J. Lee Burke Award winners.  Listed below are even more accomplishments that Omicron has had over the years.

1965 -1967, 1991-1993, 1995-2009~ Chapter Leadership Award

1995-1997 DSMM Don Wilcox 

1999, 2009- A. Frank Martin Award

2001 Boh Makovsky Memorial Award, Don Wilcox

2001- Host to NED District Convention           

2001~ Outstanding Sponsor Award, Deb Eakins

2001~ J. Lee Burke, Vicky Lancaster 

    Adam Cantley 2002   

    Tesla Hartsog 2007

    Lauren Eakins 2008

2003~F. Lee Bowling Participation Award---Largest amount of members in NIB

2003, 2006~ Service Showcase Award

2005~ Commissioned a piece by Julie Giroux for the retirement of Don Wilcox            

2008~ Governor’s Cup

Scholarship Creations

       1992- Andrea L. Smith Memorial Scholarship- $500
                   2004- Frank “Doc” Stevens Memorial Scholarship- $500
                   2009- Don Wilcox Concert Band Award- $500
                   2007-James C. Dunbar, III Memorial Rank Leader Award
                  

-2007- Chapter Development Fund created

 Omicron is a Big Brother Chapter to: WV Tech 1972/1988, Syracuse-1982, Fairmont-1987, Waynesburg-1990, 

       Shenandoah 1995, Shippensburg-2003, George Mason-2009

-2010- NED Central Precinct Host Chapter