Vice President Emeritus Tom Tillar receives national award for service to Pi Kappa Alpha
The Alumnus Award of Distinction recognizes Tillar’s 56 years of dedicated service to the fraternity.
Tom Tillar ’69, M.A. ’73, Ed.D, ’78, speaking at Grand Hall Dedication at the Holtzman Alumni Center in 2021. Photo by Thomas Miller for Virginia Tech.
Tom Tillar ’69, M.A. ’73, Ed.D, ’78, vice president emeritus of Alumni Affairs, has received the Alumnus Award of Distinction from the North American Interfraternity Conference. The award recognizes Tillar’s exemplary work in serving and uplifting the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter at Virginia Tech.
Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity has core values of truth, love, and friendship, and is organized in commitment to the advancement of its members and the communities they serve.
The Epsilon Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha was first established at Virginia Tech in 1873, making it the oldest student organization on campus. Tillar became involved with it as a graduate student during Pi Kappa Alpha’s re-chartering in 1970. Throughout his 56 years of dedicated service to the university, first as a student and later through professional and volunteer roles, he has remained deeply committed to the fraternity. The North American Interfraternity Conference commended his roles as chapter advisor, regional president, alumni commissioner, scholarship administrator, foundation trustee, and President of the PIKE Foundation.
“Tom has played an invaluable role in the chapter’s growth over the years,” said Dom DeBritz, current president of the Epsilon chapter. “His commitment to developing principled leaders, caring for the chapter house, and standing behind the character of our brothers has left a lasting impact on generations of members.”
In 2014, Tillar received the Pi Kappa Alpha Loyalty Award. His dedication to the fraternal organization mirrors his wide-reaching commitment to the Virginia Tech motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) and the university as a whole. In 2019, he received an Alumni Distinguished Service Award for his exemplary work and leadership in alumni and development. He was also the Ring Namesake for the Class of 2019. In 2023, the Board of Visitors honored him with the vice president emeritus title.
When Tillar first joined Virginia Tech professional staff, he served the division that is now Student Affairs. He then went on to serve as vice president for Alumni Relations, director of Alumni Relations, director of alumni chapter programs, director of corporate and foundation support, and director of alumni annual giving. Over the course of Tillar’s career in alumni relations, active alumni chapters roughly doubled, and the number of living alumni expanded exponentially, from 40,000 to 240,000.
He later served as the interim senior vice president for advancement, and then special assistant to Pamplin College of Business Dean Robert Sumichrast. He was also essential to the creation of the Holtzman Alumni Center and the April 16 Memorial.
Interfraternity Council Advisor Tianna Pride said, “As someone who works closely with fraternity members, I see firsthand how influential dedicated alumni advisors can be. Tom has set the standard for what that role looks like. His unwavering commitment to mentoring students, supporting chapter success, and leading with integrity has created a legacy that continues to shape the fraternity experience at Virginia Tech.”
