The Official Newsletter of Alpha Nu
The active brothers of Alpha Nu welcome you to the Spring 2026 newsletter. The actives and alumni have been up to a lot these past few months, so read below to stay in the know about the Rho.
Staying in the Know with the Rho
The Alpha Nu Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho has been hard at work throughout the past academic year. Our brothers have dedicated their time and energy to agriculture, proudly demonstrating what it truly means to “Make Better Men.” From events on and off campus to outreach across the state of Connecticut and beyond, our involvement spans and covers every corner of the agricultural field. This newsletter celebrates the journeys of our brothers, showcasing their dedication and commitment to the agricultural community. As brothers they brainstorm meaningful ways they give back to the agricultural community that continues to support and inspire them.
Spring 2026 Rush Class
Recruitment this year remained strong in both quantity and quality. Last fall, the chapter welcomed 11 new members, marking one of the largest classes in recent years. This spring, we continued to bring in consistent numbers while maintaining our focus on selecting men who reflect the values of Alpha Gamma Rho.
All new members completed Membership Development, during which each brother selected a project within the chapter house. The purpose was to contribute to the upkeep of the facility, work as part of a team, and gain practical skills under the guidance of an older member serving as a mentor.
Projects included:
- Repainting the AGR letters on the exterior chimney
- Spackling and repainting all three bathrooms
- Reorganizing and improving storage areas to increase functionality
We appreciate the work completed by the new members and hope the experience helped them better understand the importance of maintaining the chapter house and the role it plays in our organization.
Left to Right: Devon McCarty (Animal Science), Teague Watson (Mechanical Engineer), Aiden Custer (Animal Science), Tyler Hackett (Business), and Tyler Hudson (Animal Science)
2026 UConn Dairy Show
On April 11, 2026, brothers participated in UConn Dairy Club’s 76th annual spring Dairy Show. Brothers Devon McCarty, Tyler Huston, Luke Lightbown, Joseph Caron, Oliver Przech, and Jacob Niemczyk showed in the ranked classes, with Jacob winning first in the Intermediate A Class. Brother Mike Fenton and Alumni Brother Ty Bentley showed in the “Over the Hill” class. Many brothers, including Jake Darras, Lucas Strain, and Ruy Fernandez assisted with the setup and logistics of this event. Brothers worked for 8 weeks to train their heifer how to walk on a halter, set up for show, and behave in the ring. This required multiple practices a week, as well as extra shifts as Herdsmen for some brothers, which involves supervising and mentoring less experienced showmen during their practices.
This culminated in a week of washing and clipping heifers to get them ready for the ring, as well as a practice show. AGR has had a long-standing involvement with UConn Dairy Club, and we were happy to foster this relationship another year.
Pink Rose Formal
The annual Pink Rose Formal served as the chapter’s year‑end celebration for the 2025–2026 academic year. This year’s event included the recognition of our Sweetheart, Faith Neault, and the presentation of the first New Brother Award and Brother of the Year Award, both supported by the Nutmeg Alumni Association Award Fund.
The chapter also recognized the fall and spring rush classes and presented a series of brotherhood superlatives. In addition, brothers had the opportunity to participate in the traditional pinning of their girlfriends, acknowledging the support these individuals have provided throughout their undergraduate career.
The evening consisted of dinner, dessert, awards, and dancing, marking a formal conclusion to the academic year.
Nutmeg Alumni Association Award Fund
New Brother of the Year
New Member of the Year – $500 Award
The Sheaf symbolizes the harvest, and this award recognizes excellence in how a new member of the Order of Alpha Gamma Rho uses what has been given to him. The recipient of the New Member of the Year award exemplifies dedication, initiative, and service to the chapter, demonstrating what it means to honor fraternity membership. The award reflects the chapter’s belief that kindness and reward follow those who live according to the principles of Alpha Gamma Rho.
Recipient- Cristian Walworth, Mechanical Engineering Major, Freshman
“Being new member of the year means to me that I’ve put my faith and support into an organization that has supported and help me grow in the past year. I truly appreciate this honor and I’m thankful to receive this award.”
Brother of the Year
The Shield represents Alpha Nu’s prestige, unity, and reputation within Alpha Gamma Rho. The green symbolizes agriculture, while the gold signifies aspirations, ambition, integrity, loyalty, and industriousness. The Brother of the Year serves as an example to others, protecting Alpha Nu’s reputation and helping ensure a strong future for the fraternity.
Recipient- Michael Fenton, Plant Science Major, Senior
“Being Brother of the Year means a lot because of the recognition given to me by my brothers in Alpha Gamma Rho. I am deeply humbled by the award because of the work so many of us do for the fraternity. I hope that I have been an example for people in the Fraternity like the brothers is used to look up to when first joined. Overall think Alpha Gamma Rho has been the best decision of my college career and has made me into the person want to be.”
2026 Graduates
Every active brother eventually completes his undergraduate journey, but his place in our Brotherhood never ends. When a man becomes an alumnus, the impact that they leave behind is not forgotten and they forever remain a brother in our order. Brotherhood is for life, and these men will always be part of Alpha Nu’s legacy. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the graduating seniors of Alpha Gamma Rho. Your leadership, character, and commitment have shaped this chapter in lasting ways.
- Left to Right-
- Ryan Tomis, Natural Resources and the Environment
- Ruy Fernandez, Plant Science
- Liam Moran, Natural Resources and the Environment
- Ben Rickle, Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Mike Fenton, Plant Science
- Not Pictured-
- Jacob Niemczyk, Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Joshua Grimm, Business
- William Harper, Plant Science (Hicks)
National AGR Report
Brothers of Alpha Nu,
Congratulations on another successful year as the premier Professional/Social Agriculture Fraternity at the University of Connecticut!
I have had the privilege of working with the Alpha Nu Chapter many times during my tenure on the Alpha Gamma Rho Home Office staff, and I am extremely impressed with the growth I have been able to witness from the chapter! The brothers of Alpha Nu represent a diverse and impactful brotherhood that has the capability to become one of Alpha Gamma Rho’s strongest chapters in the Northeast. I am confident that with continued undergraduate leadership, a committed alumni base, and a passion for developing brothers into excellent examples of collegiate and alumni leaders, the Alpha Nu Chapter will continue to pursue our purpose and “Make Better Men” each day!
Alpha Gamma Rho chapters across the country are growing and making great strides in their agricultural communities! It should be the goal of every brother to ensure they play a role in this success and to help shape each of our brothers into the leaders we know they can be! Take pride in your brotherhood experience and share it with those around you!
Fraternally,
Ben Willoughby
Alpha Gamma Rho
Educational Programs Coordinator
UConn IFC Report
Since arriving at UConn in Fall 2021, one of the most rewarding parts of my role is helping the community grow and helping organizations build meaningful connections within our community. I first learned about the Alpha Nu chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho in the summer of 2024 after driving past the house and realized there was an opportunity to reconnect the organization with the university and IFC community. What followed was a year of relationship-building and collaboration that ultimately led to AGR officially joining our community again, and I could not be more excited about the chapter’s future.
Over the past year, the chapter has done an outstanding job adapting to the expectations and responsibilities that come with University recognition and IFC membership. The progress made by the chapter has been noticeable, and that success is a direct reflection of the commitment shown by both the undergraduate leadership and alumni advisors. I have been especially impressed by the chapter leadership and the support of Chapter Advisor Matt Syrotiak, whose dedication to both AGR and the larger community earned him CFSD Advisor of the Year recognition this year.
I am incredibly proud of the work your chapter has accomplished in a short amount of time, and I look forward to seeing Alpha Gamma Rho continue to grow and thrive as a recognized IFC chapter. The momentum your organization has built is exciting, and I have no doubt the chapter will continue making a positive impact on the UConn community for years to come.
The Alpha Nu Chapter has been hard at work this past semester, and we take great pride in all we’ve accomplished throughout the academic year. As we look ahead to future semesters at UConn, we remain grounded in our history, founded in 1922 and rechartered in 1958, and excited about the impact we continue to make.
Last year, we reached a major milestone in our brotherhood: welcoming our 600th member. Brother Parker Nelson earned the honor of stud number 600, and while he humbly joked, “I felt bad for everyone else I rushed with when we found out our numbers,” his achievement symbolizes the enduring tradition of excellence that defines Alpha Nu. This milestone reflects the dedication and hard work of generations of brothers who have kept our chapter thriving. The brothers thank the UConn, faculty, staff, alumni, families, and friends for supporting Alpha Nu and making it the home it is today.
The University of Connecticut may be known as the “basketball capital of the world,” but the brothers of Alpha Nu are ready to show the community that UConn is also becoming the agricultural capital of the world. Through our dedication, leadership, and passion for agriculture, we’re bringing visibility to a vital industry and proving that UConn’s impact reaches far beyond the basketball court.