Delta Chapter at Purdue raised $20,000 that was part of a $200,000 donation for breast cancer research. The chapter participated in a variety of events as part of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority’s Big Man on Campus competition and philanthropy.
Brother Seth McClaskey, VNR-Activities, and Brother Seth Plummer, Vice Noble Ruler, both played key roles in the chapter raising the funds and winning the talent show portion of the competition.
Brother McClaskey was selected to run for the Big Man on Campus Award for the 2025 competition. The competition runs from September to March of the following year. The brothers said the competition is something they have participated in for several years.
“We take a lot of pride being very involved in it,” Brother Plummer said.
Brother Plummer said that the chapter will take groups of brothers to participate in different events throughout the competition including softball games, basketball tournaments, cornhole tournaments, a 5k and more.
The brothers also bought tickets to participate in or attend events that went towards the $20,000 they raised. Some brothers even bought tickets for their families to attend and support them in whatever tournament or event they were participating in.
Brother McClaskey said he requires that all the brothers participate in what are called the Think Pink Tents, which is where the brothers hang out on campus and pass out pink breast cancer ribbons to raise awareness.
The brothers also posted on social media about raising funds for breast cancer, as well as email blasts to alumni, which helped boost their fundraising.
Brother McClaskey said the AGR class of 1968 held a reunion last summer where they gathered $2,000 that was donated to the fundraising efforts.
“They appreciated what we were doing on campus and that was really cool,” Brother McClaskey said.
The biggest event they participated in was the talent show portion that wrapped up the Big Man on Campus competition. The chapter’s talent was a choreographed dance with the theme, Dancing with The Stars. The chapter did various dances to various popular songs together and with partners. Brothers Plummer said the chapter practiced several days a week for more than a month to prepare for their performance. Their hard work paid off when they won the talent show, which was a first for Delta Chapter.
Although Brother McClaskey didn’t win the Big Man on Campus competition, he did receive the award for Mr. Think Pink, which is given to a participant who is most active during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. He accredited the chapter and their dedication to philanthropy as part of his award.
The brothers said they look forward to the competition every year because of how much fun everyone has and the fact that it benefits something that impacts several people in the chapter and on campus.
“A lot of our brothers have been impacted by it, one way or another,” Brother Plummer said. “It’s a mom, a grandma, it could be anyone.”
At the end of the talent show, Zeta Tau Alpha does a walkthrough of all of the members of their Fraternity that have a relative who have been impacted by breast cancer.
“It’s kind of special to realize what all that work you put into goes towards,” Brother McClaskey said.
The brothers said they look forward to next year’s competition and are hoping to win Big Man on Campus as well as the other events.
