The 1996 National Fall Pledge Class
Namesake Honoree encourages all
Thomas H. Kean Pledge Classes across
the country to consider service to youth at
risk through mentoring projects when
planning pledge class service programs."I'm thrilled to be associated with Alpha Phi Omega's fall pledge class in this very special way and to have this opportunity to suggest mentoring to youth at risk as a service emphasis for the pledges to consider. This is an important area of service often overlooked in today's busy world. I look forward to hearing how the outstanding pledges of Alpha Phi Omega have helped to address this need."
Kean, president of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, and former governor of New Jersey, was selected for the pledge class honor during the National Board of Directors' July meeting. In their nominating materials, the Brothers of Pi Upsilon Chapter wrote "We can think of no one who has exemplified our cardinal principles of Leadership, Friendship and Service more in both his public and private life than has Governor Kean. ... On top of his outstanding record of service, Tom Kean has been a very supportive Advisor of Pi Upsilon Chapter and active Brother of our Fraternity."
Kean was inducted into Pi Upsilon at its rechartering in the spring of 1995. Before becoming Drew's president in 1990, Kean was New Jersey's governor for eight years. He was rated by Newsweek magazine as one of the nation's five most effective governors.
He holds numerous awards from environmental and educational organizations and has been awarded more than 25 honorary degrees from colleges and universities.
He serves on the boards of such prominent organizations as the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the World Wildlife Fund, the United Health Care Corporation, and the National Endowment for Democracy.
He earned a B.A. from Princeton University and an M.A. from Columbia University Teachers College, of which he is a trustee.