Excitement and determination is set in the voices of Kappa Sigma members. This small fraternity wants to accomplish something big.

The Penn State chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity, 255 Highland Ave., is under pressure from its national chapter to increase its membership -- it has only 16 members.

"Penn State is one of our oldest and most prestigious chapters," said Burt Trembly, a recruitment and expansion coordinator for the national chapter of Kappa Sigma.

Kappa Sigma was established in 1892 at Penn State.

Nationals for Kappa Sigma noticed the dwindling membership at Penn State and made quick decisions to revitalize the chapter.

Trembly and James Cramer were sent from the national chapter to help with the revitalization process.

The fraternity's goal is to have 25 new members by the end of their recruitment process, and alumni have promised to remodel the 44-year-old fraternity house if the goal is met by the end of this semester.

Kappa Sigma has decided to continue its rush after the "official" rush period ends.

The Penn State recruitment period normally ends Feb. 3, but Kappa Sigma is going to continue to search for new members until Feb. 8.

To try to boost interest, Kappa Sigma has changed its recruitment strategy for the spring semester.

The new approach is to go out and find members instead of only meeting potential members through the regular rush events.

"Everyone is doing this and putting in 100 percent," Andre Aklian, Kappa Sigma spokesman.

"I think that the key part in the whole recruitment process is getting involved.

That is what is going to make a difference." In an attempt to find prospective pledges, Kappa Sigma has become more involved with campus and community events.

Some members of the fraternity took part in Fraternity Feud, a fund-raising event for child abuse awareness.

Members were also involved with campus seminars about alcohol awareness, and they will have a booth in the HUB-Robeson Center to educate people on the affects of domestic abuse.

"We're trying to go above and beyond the norm, and we are going out there and finding the guys," said Matt Bott, assistant executive director for the national chapter.

Kappa Sigma is putting a lot of effort into having individual meetings with potential new members, Trembly said.

"We want to find someone who wants to find more out of the college experience," Cramer said.

"Being in a fraternity offers so much support and it provides opportunity to learn and to grow and to see how things operate."