The local Tau Kappa Epsilon chapter at Lycoming College weren't trying to break any records, its brothers were just doing what they always do - giving back - when they lead all 300 chapters of the fraternity around the nation and Canada in volunteer hours last year.
Actually, the brothers of TKE didn't even know they had done so until they read about it in the fraternity's magazine.
"Honestly, it just kind of happened," said Luke Reed, chapter president.
Reed recalled how his brothers were sitting around, looking at the magazine, when one member told them to flip to a certain page. To their astonishment their chapter was listed at the top of the page for volunteer hours.
"We're like, 'That's really freaking cool,' " Reed recalled.
Reed explained the students were just trying to fulfill the fraternity's values of giving back without expecting anything in return.
He added that he was submitting the group's volunteer hours to its headquarters, but wasn't keeping track of them for himself, so he had no idea that his chapter had amassed nearly 5,000 hours last year.
"It's kind of a really big accomplishment," Reed said.
And asked if there's a certain group of events the organization does every year, Reed said it tries to change things up each year.
At the beginning of the school year, brothers sit around and talk about what events and causes they would like to help.
"You name it, they do it," Reed said. "This year we're trying to focus on the local community."
And the local group hasn't become content after reaching the top of the list last year. If anything, Reed said it's motivation.
"It motivated us this year to do it again," he said. "We're trying to beat our hours from last year."
Reed explained the group focused more on the campus community than Williamsport and the surrounding area.
So far, Reed said the group has loved its experience interacting more with the community.
"It's actually been a lot of fun being at First Friday. I was never there," he said.
Participating at First Friday, the group made connections that allowed them to get involved with the city's Christmas parade, as well. They also have helped with the Walk to End Alzheimer's.
With all the attention from the community, Reed hopes that other Greek organizations will attend TKE events.
Reed added that being involved in the community more has given them the opportunity to break a stereotype of Greek organizations.
He said most Greek organizations aren't like those depicted in movies and television shows.
"That's movies," Reed said. "Hopefully, we're breaking that and showing everyone we're more than (what television depicts). We'd love to break that stereotype."
