ΛΘ—ΚΚΨ
Lambda Theta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
Coastal Carolina University

he idea to form a chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi (ΚΚΨ) at Coastal Carolina University (CCU) was that of Director of Bands, Dr. J. Tully.  His motivation grew out of the needs of a quickly growing instrumental music program at CCU; a program that had doubled in size in only one year.

Much of that growth can be attributed to the addition of a marching band to the list of ensembles at CCU and much of the drive and direction for the CCU Colony at CCU came from within that ensemble.

In October 2003, Dr. Tully asked Carson Turner (Marching Band operations manager) to explore whether there was sufficient interest in forming a chapter and to initiate whatever steps were needed to bring an active ΚΚΨ presence to CCU.  At an open informational meeting in November 2003, nearly twenty band members expressed an interest in forming a chapter and that body of interested students elected officers and voted to apply for colony status.

The first colony president was Spirit of the Chanticleer Drum Major, Ryan Bailey.  Miss Bailey led the initial process of collecting the variety of information required to form a colony and to form a club on campus.

In December 2003, the new colony held elections for a full slate of officers.  Those were Miss Kathy Kee (President), Miss Ryan Bailey (Vice-President), Miss Jaclyn Pigate (Secretary), Mrs. Betty Turner (Historian), and Mr. Aarian Land (Treasurer).  A full slate of committee chairs was elected.  Randy Akers and David Graham (Fund Raising), among others.

With the assistance of the colony’s sponsoring chapter Zeta Chi (ΖΧ) at the University of South Carolina, we progressed through the initial stages of formation, developed a local constitution.  The Brothers of Zeta Chi visited the colony in February and by the end of the month conducted our first ritual.  Throughout the Spring ’04 semester, the CCU ΚΚΨ Colony provided continuous service to the university bands helping with daily band operations as well as special events.  Though a large number of colony members were participants in the 2004 Collegiate Honor Band ensemble, the colony was still able to offer support services to that event.  In 2003-2004, it was the Kappa Kappa Psi colony that could be counted on the Make it Happen...

Fall '04 saw the chapter grow through the transfer of new members from the Lambda Beta chapter and the growth of the bands as a result of the second season of the Spirit of the Chanticleer Marching Band numbering for the first time over 100.  A new slate of officers with Jodie Rowe at the helm directed the chapter through it's first year as an active chapter.  Chanticleer Football took the Big South Conference title!!!  By Spring '05, the chapter was well established within the music program at Coastal Carolina University and welcomed its first prospective class. 

The Alpha Class persevered through the learning process as chapter and prospective members alike worked through all of the kinks of field testing a chapter Membership Education Program.  Coastal Carolina again hosted the SC Collegiate Honor Band and the Lambda Theta chapter (again well represented in the ensemble) provided exemplary support the event.  Rockin' the Beach another year...

The Fall '05 year began in July as Randy Akers took the leadership seat.  Before the semester even started the chapter was pre-planning support for the third (bigger than ever) season of Chanticleer Marching Band History.  Raising the Bar in 2005!

Thanks to Carson Turner for putting our history into words.