Alpha Gamma Rho - Alpha Kappa

     Alpha Kappa Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR), the national fraternity for agriculture, life sciences and related interests, is located at 1840 Fraternity Park Drive in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Better know as "AGR", the UT chapter was chartered at UT on  January 27, 1951.  UT's AGR chapter is one of four AGR chapters in Tennessee (the others are at UT-Martin, Middle Tennessee State, and Austin Peay State) and one of 70 AGR chapters across the country.  AGR has members from across Tennessee, as well as four other states.  AGR members have majors ranging from Turfgrass Management, Food and Ag Business and Animal Science to Engineering, Construction Science, and Marketing.

     The Vice-Chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture, Tim Cross, is an initate of Alpha Kappa Chapter of AGR. The past Chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Dr. Jimmy Cheek and the past Chancellor of the UT Institute of Agriculture, Dr. Larry Arrington, are both members of Alpha Gamma Rho.  Both Chancellors were initiated into the University of Florida AGR chapter.  AGR counts eight Tennessee Commissioners of Agriculture as members, seven are UT AGR alumni. 
    Alpha Gamma Rho is the only fraternity on Fraternity Row to own its own house.  An extensive $2.5 million renovation of the current chapter house ending in 2018 was conducted by the UT AGR Alumni Chapter to modenize and update the house built in 1967.   

     Since 1992, AGR has been a "hazing free" fraternity.  Pledging has been eliminated and what is expected of a new member is the same as a graduating senior. 

     AGR at UT is one of the strongest fraternity chapters on the UT campus.  Active chapter membership in Spring Semester of 2020 was 112 undergraduate members.  Since 1951, AGR has initiated 1405 brothers into the UT chapter.  UT's AGR chapter is one of AGR's largest collegiate chapters as well as one of UT's largest, if not strongest fraternity.  AGR has been named as UT's outstanding fraternity two of the past three years.  AGR's membership training, focus on academics and building better men into better citizens, social life and mentorship have increased AGR's status at UT and in attracting the highest quality best UT men for membership.

 

     Two $1000.00 scholarships for incoming male freshmen and transfer students with confirmed admission to the UTK College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and/or an interest in in agriculture and related fields is available annually. Concluding at Homecoming 2011 was the AGR Alumni Association's extremely successful Capital Campaign, "The Campaign for AGR-Make A Difference".  139 alumni and ten friends pledged over $815,000 towards scholarships for AGR members and future house needs.  In 2020, AGR members were awarded $52,000 in scholarships from the UT AGR Alumni Association. 

     The UT AGR House lives 30 brothers; 2 per room with A/C, internet, cable access. etc.  House rent per semester is $1000.00 per room.    

     AGR had 24 brothers graduate from UT in during the 2019/2020 academic year; in 2018/19, 26 AGRs graduated from UT.  Academics are important at AGR as the fraternity has manditory study hours for all new brothers as well as brothers who do not meet the chapter GPA for the previous semester.  AGR's GPA for Winter 2020 was 3.42 with 56 brothers making the Dean's list (3.50-4.0) and 14 collegiate brothers recording 4.0 GPS!  The Fall Semester 2019 GPA was 2.97 & Spring 2018 it was 3.19. 

     John Calvin Bryant was named as an UT Torchbearer for 2020, the second AGR to have been given UT's highest honor 2 of the past 3 years.

     AGR members are active on the UT Campus, both on the Ag Campus as well as "The Hill".  Members are active in leadership positions across campus as well as clubs, scholastic organizations and honorary fraternities and societies.  Since the late 1970s, AGRs have been honored as Smokey's Handlers, UT's bluetick hound mascot.  The Herbert College of Agriculture named AGRs as its Outstanding Junior and Senior for 2020.

     Intramural sports are a big part of fraternity life and AGR participates in such sports as football, basketball, and softball.  

      For 43 years, AGR members have been handlers for Smokey, UT's bluetick hound mascot.  AGRs has led UT's football team thru the "T" for every home game since 1977. 

     AGR alumni also assist the chapter by offering leadership, financial backing, and mentorship to collegiate members. 164 alumni in 2019/20 paid voluntary alumni dues of $17,875 to support AGR at UT. UT's AGR chapter has 1247 living alumni; over 900 in Tennessee with another 300+ scattered across the United States in over thirty states. 

AGR CHAPTER ADVISORS

     AGR's Advisors: L-R: Doug Craig, Tom Looney, Gentry McCreary, Evan Beech.

     One of AGR's strenghts at UT is its Chapter Advisors.  Since AGR's founding at UT in 1950 as an AGR Colony, onward to its establishment as a chapter in 1951 and continuing throughout its 70 years of existance, its Chapter Advisors have played an important part in its success.

     AGR is fortunate to have four alumni who live in the Knoxville area to serve as Advisors. These men share reasonabilities in helping the collegiate brothers manage and run the daily operations of the chapter.  They assist the chapter in preparing budgets, chapter activities, managing the chapter house and property, recruitment, and alumni activities.  AGR's advisors make a point to be around the house on a regular basis as well as attending weekly chapter meetings and Exective Council meetings with chaper leadership.  They also offer mentorship to individual brothers. 

     Doug Craig, AKSN-280, is AGR's senior Advisor, beginning as an Advisor in 2012.  Doug, a native of Marshall County, TN, is a 1966 AGR initiate and graduated from UT in 1968 with his degree in .  He begin his career as a Vo-Ag Teacher before becoming an Animal Health Products saleman and later as a Sales Manager for the Andersons Grain Company.  He retired as CEO & President of the Raw Material Procurement Company.  In 2018, Doug was recognized as an Outstanding Advisor by the National AGR Fraternity.  

     Tom Looney, AKSN-738, is serving his third term as an AGR Advisor (1994-1998, 2001-2004, 2014-present).  Tom, a native of Crossville, TN was initiated into AGR in April of 1989 and graduated from UT in 1993.  Tom has made his career at UT, starting in the Office of Public Relations.  After 11 years there, he became Development Director for the Institute of Agriculture in 2004.  His current position is Director of Advancement for the UT Institute of Agriculture.  Tom was AGR's liason with the Campaign for AGR and was actively involved in the house renovation project. Tom's focus as Advisor is with scholarship.

     Gentry McCreary, AKSN-856, joined the AGR Advisors team in September 2017.  Gentry is a native of Loudon County, where he was active in 4-H.  He was initated into AGR in September of 1997 and graduated from UT in 2002 with his degree in Food Science and Techology.  He has his Masters Degree in Higher Education Adminstration from the University of South Carolina and is PhD inHigher Education Adminstration from the University of Alabama.  While working on his Masters at USC, he worked in the Greek Life office.  He later served as Director of Greek Life at Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Alabama.  Gentry next served as Associate Dean of Students, Deputy Title IX Coordinator, at West Florida University from 2011-2015.  In 2015, he established Dyad Strategies, where he serves as Chief Executive Officer & Managing Partner. Dyad Strategies is a research, educational assessment, and strategic planning firm dedicated to helping organizations and universities measure and improve the impact of their work.  His company works with Greek organizations across the country.   Gentry's focus is on Membership Development.

     Evan Beech, AKSN-1128, a native of Pulaski, TN, was initiated September of 2011 and graduated December 2015 with his degree in Political Science.  Following graduation, Evan accepted a position with the UT Institute of Agriculture in the Development Office.  

     These UT AGR brothers offer the chaper and its collegiate members unequaled sources of experience and leadership to help them during their college lives.  AGR recognizes the value of alumni activity and leadership in maintaining a strong chapter with just as strong values and goals.

 

BROTHERHOOD: CAVE TRIP

  One of the important, and as well liked & enjoyed, parts of the Brotherhood Program, is the Cave Trip each Semester.  Brothers, newly initiated and the older guys, go to the Hensley Farm in Loudon County to the Cave where the new brothers are told about AGR and Alpha Kappa, and it’s history and traditions.  The ‘trip’ is one of the highlights of the Semester, informing new brothers about AGR and reminding older brothers of the traditions of the fraternity and it legacy.  In earlier years, the same event know as the River Trip:  Campfire, stories, songs, brotherhood & memories.