A pair of Pi Kappa Phi members were honored recently as being among the most influential alumni during the first 150 years of fraternity, sorority and cooperative life at Purdue.
The Greek and cooperative community gathered the weekend of Sept. 26-27 to celebrate and honor those who had an impact on their organizations and after graduation. During a Sept. 27 banquet, 150 living and deceased members of the community were honored. Some 40+ honorees were in person and received a plaque made from a white oak tree that graced Purdue’s property when it was founded in 1869.
Phil Leslie (Omega 1506) and Pat Kuhnle (Omega 1197) were honored and inducted into the inaugural Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life Hall of Fame.
Leslie is a 2002 Purdue graduate in computer science and served the chapter in multiple terms as president.
“Phil founded and scaled multiple startups including ProOnGo and Havoc Shield, led InterviewStream to a 10x revenue increase and successful private equity acquisition, and later became a venture capital leader supporting dozens of early-stage companies,” the award presenter said at the banquet. “He has also given back through service on Pi Kappa Phi’s Ability Experience board and as a keynote speaker for Purdue’s chapter, completed the 4,000-mile Journey of Hope ride to support people with disabilities, and actively mentors young entrepreneurs through organizations like Founder Institute, Endeavor, and the Polsky Center at the University of Chicago.”
Kuhnle is a 1978 Purdue alumnus in communication. He was a member of Gemini Cooperative as an undergraduate serving as treasurer and president. Then in 1986, when he was publisher of The Purdue Exponent, he was recruited by a group of guys who worked at the Exponent to be chapter advisor at Pi Kappa Phi.
“Pat dedicated nearly 40 years as publisher of the Exponent, where he empowered generations of student journalists while earning numerous professional awards, including the College Media Association Distinguished Adviser Award,” the presenter said. “As Pi Kappa Phi’s chapter advisor for 39 years, he has guided the fraternity to 11 R.B. Stewart Awards as Purdue’s top fraternity and a national 2019 NIC Award of Distinction as one of the top Greek organizations in the nation.”
During his tenure, nearly $1 million was raised for The Ability Experience through chapter fund-raising and by participants summer cycling events – Gear Up Florida and the Journey of Hope.
“He has mentored thousands of students through his candid leadership, philanthropic partnerships, and lifelong commitment to Purdue’s FSCL community,” the presenter said.
Phil Leslie is presented a plaque from associate dean of students Brandon Cutler designating him as one of the Top 150 most influential alumni within Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life (FSCL) in the first 150 years of such at Purdue. Leslie was inducted in the inaugural FSCL Hall of Fame class.
Pat Kuhnle is presented a plaque from associate dean of students Brandon Cutler designating him as one of the Top 150 most influential alumni within Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life (FSCL) in the first 150 years of such at Purdue. Kuhnle was inducted in the inaugural FSCL Hall of Fame class.