2023 – 2024 William H. Rouse Award Winners Recognized at InDeed Institute

The William H. Rouse Award was created in 1997 to recognize an outstanding Chapter president who has made an impact in his Chapter and on his campus. This award is named after Rev. Founder William H. Rouse, the first Chapter president of the Fraternity.

In order to be nominated for this award, the Brother must be a former resident (undergraduate) Chapter president and be nominated by an advisor or Graduate Brother. All of the nominees are well deserving of this recognition. The nominees are:

Hunter McCollough, Alpha Phi

Joseph Rufolo III, Phi Gamma Chi

Jacob Appler, Phi Zeta Chi

Luca Scotto, Phi Eta Chi

Griffin Ungerleider, Theta Chi Phi

Elias Miller, Lambda Chi Phi

This year, the Fraternity is happy to present two Rouse Award recipients.

Jake Appler – Phi Zeta Chi

Jacob Appler (Phi Zeta Chi): Jacob “Jake” was elected president during a difficult time in the Chapter. During the first month of his presidency, the Chapter was brought before the National Council to discuss a suspension and possible closure of the Chapter due to no programming, financial management, and communication with the National Office or alumni. Jake accepted the constructive criticism, rallied his executive board and members, and solicited help from Graduate Brothers and National staff to change the Chapter’s culture. After working diligently, the Chapter’s operations, communications and financial management vastly improved and continues to improve. Throughout the entire process, Jacob was always honest, dependable, and willing to hold his members and himself accountable. Through Jake’s leadership, his Chapter was not suspended or closed and is still improving through the next generation of leaders.

Jacob, upon receiving the award, said, “I am both grateful and honored to have been nominated and selected as a recipient of the William H. Rouse award. I would like to thank the Fraternity for making this award a possibility for me as well as available to all undergraduate presidents of the Fraternity. I’d also like to give a big thanks to my guys over at the Phi Zeta Chi Chapter in Geneseo for assisting the Chapter and myself in all of our efforts as an organization during my time as president. They are some of my lifelong friends outside of everything else. Lastly, I would like to show appreciation towards our Chapter’s National staff member Nicholas Ramos and during my time as president Nicolas Hewgley for always working with our Chapter to help us stay afloat in times of need. Alpha Chi Rho has provided me with opportunities, knowledge, and relationships that I could not have expected to obtain going into my undergraduate studies and for that I am forever grateful.”

Joe Rufolo, III, Phi Gamma Chi

The second recipient this year is Joseph Rufolo, III, from the Phi Gamma Chi Chapter at The College of New Jersey. Joseph “Joe” joined the Fraternity in fall 2021 and in December 2022, he was elected as Chapter president. He served in that position until December 2024. He was elected after running on a platform to improve programming for the Chapter. After attending the 2023 Winter Conclave with his fellow officers, he and his board made sure that the Chapter was on top of everything and increased their programming events on campus and in the community. These events increased the Chapter’s reputation in a positive way and correlated to their higher recruitment numbers in the following semesters. The Chapter’s advisor wrote, “I met Joe when he was a Postulant. Since then, I have seen him grow and develop into a great leader and awesome Brother. He enhanced the Chapter with his leadership. He always had a smile and we had great conversations. His fellow Brothers respected him and even more so, others on campus respected him. I was proud to see him graduate; and after the ceremony he introduced me to his grandparents and family – a special moment for me. Joe is not a flashy leader, but a calm, steady, and dependable one. He is what an advisor wants to see as a President of the Chapter.”

After receiving the award, Joe said, “I am honored to receive the William H. Rouse award for my leadership as president of the Phi Gamma Chi Chapter. Words cannot express how grateful I am for the opportunity to represent my Chapter and my Brothers in receiving this prestigious award. I would like to thank my family, friends, and Brothers for their support and for pushing me to be a better leader, Brother, friend, and man every day. I would also like to thank Spence, Nicolas Hewgley, Nicholas Ramos, Matthew Dapiran, and everyone from the National Office who has supported and assisted me throughout this journey. While it is unfortunate that my time in the [undergraduate] Chapter has come to an end, I am immensely proud of all our Chapter’s accomplishments and anticipate its continued growth in the years to come.”

Congratulations again to Jacob and Joseph!