NAKFEST 2018 – Region 4 Orange County/San Diego
(Beta, Lambda, Chi, Psi)
NAKfest is the signature event of Nu Alpha Kappa Fraternity, Inc. It is the annual family reunion of our brotherhood where Alumni and undergrads reconnect with old friends. Undergraduates gain motivation to pursue greater success in community service and campus participation. For initiates and new members it is often the event that opens their eyes to the power of NAK.
The first NAKfest took place in 1989 when the Founding Chapter, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo hosted the only other chapter at that time, San Jose State University. It was originally held on the weekend that coincided with the date of NAKs anniversary, February 26. In 1999 the event was officially moved to the month of April to take advantage of better weather.
No more than 50 NAK brothers attended the first NAKfest. The two chapters competed against each other in games of softball, football, and basketball. Although we don’t know the exact outcome of each game, Cal Poly claims to have won the sports championship that year, and for several years following. The rest of the weekend included an official business meeting to discuss NAK’s constitutional by-laws, and performances by the chapters.
By 1996, NAK had added seven additional chapters to its ranks. Although the fundamental essence of NAKfest remained, several significant changes had occurred. That year when the chapter at Sonoma State University hosted about 200 NAKs, including the brothers from San Diego State who chartered a bus for the trip, the attendance had quadrupled in size compared to the first year. What had started out as a regular business meeting had come to serve as the venue for electing members of our National Board. The NAKfest party, by now, featured a dinner and dance at a local hotel or banquet hall and had begun to develop a reputation throughout the state as the fraternity’s marquee event
One thing that remained the same was Cal Poly once again being crowned victors of the sports competition. However that, too, would ultimately change. The most common sports at NAKfest have been football and basketball, with soccer another frequent event. Other sports played throughout NAKfest history include softball, volleyball, cross-country running, handball, tug-o-war, and even a pie-eating contest!
Previous NAKfest Hosting Chapters:
- 1989 Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Founding Chapter
- 1990 Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Founding Chapter
- 1991 San Jose State University, Alpha Chapter
- 1992 San Diego State University, Beta Chapter
- 1993 Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Founding Chapter
- 1994 San Diego State University, Beta Chapter
- 1995 San Jose State University, Alpha Chapter
- 1996 Sonoma State University, Gamma Chapter
- 1997 Stanislaus State University, Delta Chapter
- 1998 Fresno State University, Epsilon Chapter
- 1999 UC Santa Barbara, Zeta Chapter
- 2000 Santa Clara, Eta Chapter
- 2001 Chico State University, Theta Chapter
- 2002 Sacramento State University, Iota Chapter
- 2003 UC Davis, Kappa Chapter
- 2004 UC San Diego, Lambda Chapter
- 2005 Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Founding Chapter
- 2006 UC Los Angeles, Rho Chapter
- 2007 Colorado State University – Ft. Collins, Mu Chapter
- 2008 San Jose State University, Alpha Chapter
- 2009 UC Riverside, Nu Chapter
- 2010 San Diego State University, Beta Chapter
- 2011 CSU Monterey Bay, Xi Chapter
- 2012 Sonoma State University, Gamma Chapter
- 2013 University of Nevada – Reno, Omicron Chapter
- 2014 Fresno State University, Epsilon Chapter
- 2015 National Hispanic University, Phi Chapter
- 2016 UC San Diego, Lambda Chapter & San Diego State University, Beta Chapter
- 2017 CSU Chico, Theta Chapter
- 2018 Region 4 – Orange County/San Diego (Beta, Lambda, Chi, Psi)
- 2019 Region 1 – NAK Colorado Chapters (Mu, Sigma, Alpha Gamma)