Vernon O. Drake '25
Vernon O. Drake '25
The Vernon O. Drake scholarship fund is named for one of Alpha Rho's earliest alumni. His involvement in the fraternity began as a freshman in 1925 in Phi Delta Zeta, continued when the chapter became Alpha of Alpha Kappa Pi, and then as we became Alpha Sigma Phi. Vernon stayed in closed contact with the Alpha Rho chapter throughout the years, and contributed some of our history through his letters. Brother Drake joined Omega chapter in March of 1994 at the age of 86.
At the summer Meeting of Members of 1996, the chapter scholarship was unanimously voted to be known as the Vernon O. Drake Scholarship. You can read about it in the newsletter article from 1996.
The Board of Directors is proud to announce that the annual Vernon O. Drake Knowledge Award for 1999 is presented to Shaun Cronen, '97. A Computer Engineering major, Stu has completed his junior year at NJIT with a 3.55 cumulative GPA and made the Dean's List every semester. He is a member of the Albert Dorman Honors College, Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society and is involved with the NJIT Nucleus Yearbook. Last summer Shaun interned with Casio and he is working for NJ Transit this summer. Shaun pledged the Alpha Rho chapter in the fall of 1997, with the AK pledge class, and has since served as Corresponding Secretary, Service and IFSC Chairman, and Vice President.
The Alpha Rho Alumni Scholarship was officially renamed after Vernon O. Drake at the 1996 annual Meeting of the Members. Brother Drake pledged Phi Delta Zeta, a local fraternity, at Newark College of Engineering in the fall of 1925. Phi Delta Zeta became the Alpha Chapter of AKPi, which as you all know later merged with Alpha Sigma Phi. Through years of correspondence Brother Drake imparted much of the early history of AKPi to Marty Lyons, '82. Brother Drake entered the Omega chapter in March of 1994. To honor both his contributions to our knowledge of the history of our chapter and his generous donations to the Alpha Rho chapter and the Alpha Sigma Phi National headquarters the award was renamed for him. The $200 award is presented annually to an undergraduate applicant chosen by the BOD who demonstrates leadership and dedication in the fraternity and participation in other extra-curricular activities, in addition to academic achievement. Funding for the award comes directly from the dues paid by alumni association members.
Shaun is a true example of our commitment "to foster education" and "maintain high scholarship". He is a valuable asset to the fraternity and truly deserving of this honor. The Board offers its congratulations on behalf of the entire fraternity and would like to encourage more undergraduates to apply for the award in future years. (For more information about the award or Vernon O. Drake please visit our web site.)