Dear Tau Alumni & Parents, 

As the current Tau Chapter Grand Master, I want to provide updates on the Chapter and share our many accomplishments. Also, I want to thank the Tau Seniors and the previous Executive Committee, especially Michael Schultze ‘22 (past Grand Master), for their guidance and dedication to this Chapter. They left a lasting impact on those who will come after them.

I’m proud to report that the Tau Chapter once again had a great year. We signed 67 new pledges in the fall of 2026, bringing the Chapter roster to 173 undergraduates. Tau currently ranks 5th in size on the Inter-fraternity Council. Tau is performing well academically, earning an overall GPA average of 3.58, ranking above the current University average and an improvement from last year.

Kappa Sigma Tau has a strong presence in campus-wide organizations, most notably the Silver Spurs and Texas Cowboys. We currently have ten Kappa Sigs who are members of the Texas Silver Spurs, and eight of our brothers are members of the Cowboys.

The Silver Spurs participated in their annual Chili-Cook-Off and Spring Jam fundraising events, where our Kappa Sigma brothers helped raise nearly $250,000 for the Neighborhood Longhorns Program.

In addition, the Texas Cowboys hosted their Harvest Moon concert, followed by Spring BBQ. Collectively, the events raised over $100,000 to benefit underprivileged kids at UT Elementary. Grayson Balloon ‘23 (Grand Treasurer) was elected as a member of the Cowboys Selections Committee for this upcoming fall. Griffin Nash ‘23 was elected to serve as the New Man Educator this fall, and Avi Daftari ‘23 (Grand Procurator) was elected as the Philanthropy Chair.

Griffin Nash ‘23, currently serving as Tau’s Philanthropy Chair, organized another successful Heart of Texas with Alpha Phi. We have now raised nearly $5,000 to continue our enthusiastic support of Wounded Warriors and the SEAL Legacy Foundation.

For the third year in a row, Tau continued its much-storied Texas Independence Day celebration! We hope to continue this wonderful tradition uninterrupted for many years to come.

Tau also celebrated our Spring Formal by returning to New Orleans! This destination trip marked an exciting event to look forward to, and is something we hope to continue as an annual tradition.

With the end of June on the horizon, the Tau Chapter is knee deep in the rush process. We have been working on recruiting young men across the state of Texas and have many more events throughout the summer. Any contributions and recommendations made by our alumni would be greatly appreciated to aid in the recruitment process. You can donate by clicking the button below.

This fall, our outstanding alum Grant Pinkerton ‘07 will present in our popular Speaker Series. He will share the value of making your passion your work, plus unique life experiences across his career at the University of Texas and barbequing.

The Warren Residence Hall and Lodge are still among the most impressive fraternity properties on campus. They serve as the living space for undergraduates and a gathering place for our brotherhood to thrive and prosper. We are working with the Parents’ Association to bring capital

improvements to the property this summer. These ideas include:

● Constructing a covered outdoor cooking and lounge area

● Upgrading property security cameras

● Refurbishing our backyard fence

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to TKSEF for their persistent efforts to resolve the Residence Hall’s HVAC system issues. Air conditioning problems frequently plagued the Residence Hall. TKSEF persevered until they found a permanent solution. We can’t thank them enough for the time and resources they’ve invested to provide comfortable living accommodations.

We also owe a big thanks to Alumnus Advisor Matthew Ziemnicki ‘08 and Assistant Alumnus Advisor Grant Shaffer ‘19. They have been enormously helpful to the Executive Committee and the Chapter as a whole in our efforts to increase ritual proficiency. We will forever be grateful for their mentoring.

The Chapter sends huge shout-outs to Mike Chapman, Aubrey Brown, and Dennis and Dylan Fenn. They help keep the Chapter running smoothly, keep the properties clean, and keep us well-fed. We deeply appreciate their hard work and positive spirits. Tau also sends its prayers and condolences to the Taliafero family. Ernie left a lasting impact on everyone he met, and we thank him for all the memories and support he’s instilled in the Chapter.

All of your support has been instrumental to the success of the Tau Chapter. From rush referrals to donations, guidance, and more, your contributions make a significant difference. I want to personally acknowledge the dedication that parents and alumni have shown us. You make our time as UT Kappa Sigs incredibly special. Thank you for everything you do!

A.E.K.D.B.,

Wyatt Freeman ‘23

Grand Master

Kappa Sigma, Tau Chapter

texastaupresident@gmail.com