Award Winners

Annual Awards

For the 2020 Calendar Year

Individual Awards

Coulter Cup

Awarded for service to an undergraduate chapter other than as Purple Legionnaire.

W: Mitch Sonnen (Idaho 1986) - Idaho

Distinguished Service: Harry Dadds (Kentucky 1971) - Kentucky; John O'Neill (Akron 1987) - Akron

Haynes Award

Presented to the most outstanding Section Chief.

W: Bradley Whiting (Washington 1980)

Distinguished Service: Brent Ellis (Tennessee Tech 1999)

Crowder Cup

Presented to the most outstanding faculty advisor.

W: David Ortendahl (WPI 2019) - WPI

Distinguished Service: Ahmed Abounassif - Tennessee Tech

Wilkinson Award

Presented to the most outstanding senior.

W: Liam Bettez (Purdue 2021)

Durrance Award

Presented to the most outstanding Purple Legionnaire.

W: Pat Scott (Washington 1994) - Washington

Distinguished Service: Matthew Otto (Florida 2002) - Tampa; Chris Tankersley (Akron 2002) - Akron; David Willens (WPI 2009) - WPI

Graduate Chapter Awards

Brightman Awards

Presented to the most outstanding graduate chapters.

More Than 75 Members:

1: Seattle Washington Graduate Chapter

2: Houston Texas Graduate Chapter

3: Ontario Fiji Network Graduate Chapter (Toronto, ON)

HM: National Capital Fijis Graduate Chapter (Washington, DC)

Fewer Than 75 Members:

1: Alberta Graduate Chapter (Edmonton, Alberta)

2: Utah Graduate Chapter (Salt Lake City, UT)

3: Southwest Florida Graduate Chapter (Naples, FL)

Undergraduate Chapter Awards

Cheney Cup

Awarded for the greatest all-around efficiency in scholarship, relationships and collegiate activities.

1: Zeta at Indiana

2: Sigma Tau at Washington

3: Pi Gamma at British Columbia

SP: Alpha Omicron at Akron; Gamma Tau at Georgia Tech; Mu Iota at Idaho

Coon Plaque

Awarded for the best chapter publications.

1: Mu Iota at Idaho

2: Gamma Tau at Georgia Tech

3: Pi Gamma at British Columbia

SP: Pi Deuteron at Kansas; Lambda Iota at Purdue; Kappa Tau at Tennessee; Zeta Phi at William Jewell

Baker Cup

Awarded for religious, ethical and social service activities.

1: Sigma Tau at Washington

2: Zeta at Indiana

3: Kappa Deuteron at Georgia

SP: Pi Gamma at British Columbia; Gamma Tau at Georgia Tech

Brightman Trophy

Awarded for the best demonstration of "Not for College Days Alone."

1: Sigma Tau at Washington

2: Kappa Deuteron at Georgia

3: Gamma Tau at Georgia Tech

SP: Alpha Omicron at Akron; Mu Iota at Idaho; Chi Deuteron at Kansas State

Condon Cup

Awarded for the greatest overall improvement.

1: Kappa Deuteron at Georgia

2: Pi Gamma at British Columbia Psi at Wabash

3: Zeta Phi at William Jewell & Pi Iota at WPI

SP: Alpha Omicron at Akron; Alpha Sigma at Arizona State

Jordan Bowl

Awarded for the highest scholarship among undergraduate chapters.

1: Epsilon Iota at Evansville

2: Zeta at Indiana

3: Gamma Tau at Georgia Tech

SP: Epsilon Rho at Embry-Riddle; Nu Eta at Northeastern; Sigma Tau at Washington

Owen Cup

Awarded for the greatest improvement in scholarship.

1: Pi Gamma at British Columbia

2: Epsilon Omicron at Oregon

3: Alpha Omicron at Akron

SP: Chi Alpha at Clemson; Gamma Tau at Georgia Tech; Mu Iota at Idaho

Zerman Trophy

Awarded for involvement in student government, campus newspaper and extracurricular activities.

1: Gamma Tau at Georgia Tech

2: Zeta at Indiana

3: Kappa Deuteron at Georgia & Sigma Tau at Washington

SP: Epsilon Iota at Evansville; Mu Iota at Idaho

HM: Honorable Mention; SP: Standout Performance

Undergraduate Chapter Awards

Certificate of Superior Academic Achievement

Awarded for exceeding the all-men's average of its fostering institution for the past 5+ consecutive years.

• Alpha Omicron at Akron 5

• Alpha Beta at Alabama Birmingham 6

• Pi at Allegheny 8

• Alpha Upsilon at Auburn 60

• Beta Sigma at Ball State 18

• Kappa at Baylor 6

• Chi Alpha at Clemson 5

• Delta Kappa at Davidson 9

• Epsilon Rho at Embry-Riddle 9

• Epsilon Iota at Evansville 8

• Kappa Deuteron at Georgia 52

• Gamma Tau at Georgia Tech 38

• Tau at Hanover 5

• Mu Iota at Idaho 8

• Chi Iota at Illinois 16

• Zeta at Indiana 62

• Mu Deuteron at Iowa 9

• Pi Deuteron at Kansas 6

• Sigma Mu at Mississippi State 7

• Psi Mu at Missouri State 6

• Epsilon at North Carolina 7

• Omicron Deuteron at Ohio State 17

• Theta Deuteron at Ohio Wesleyan 8

• Sigma Deuteron at Oklahoma State 32

• Lambda Iota at Purdue 21

• Gamma Sigma at Sewanee 11

• Tau Deuteron at Texas 7

• Rho Alpha at Virginia Tech 10

• Psi at Wabash 58

• Sigma Tau at Washington 62

• Chi Eta at Western Kentucky 12

• Kappa Mu at Western Michigan 7

• Mu at Wisconsin 7

Certificate of Academic Achievement

Awarded for exceeding the all-men's average of its fostering institution.

• Alpha Psi at Austin Peay

• Mu Beta at Coastal Carolina

• Chi Rho at California of PA

• Phi Sigma at Florida State

• Chi Deuteron at Kansas State

• Kappa Upsilon Colony at Kent State

• Upsilon Kappa at Kentucky

• Omega Mu at Maine

• Mu Upsilon at Miami

• Epsilon Lambda at Michigan State

• Mu Sigma at Minnesota

• Nu Sigma at NC State

• Omega Deuteron at Old Dominion

• Epsilon Omicron at Oregon

• Pi Sigma at Pittsburgh

• Rho Chi at Richmond

• Nu Beta at Rutgers

• Alpha Pi at San Diego

• Tau Beta at Tampa

• Tau Delta at Texas Dallas

• Rho Tau at William & Mary

John Templeton McCarty Chapter Proficiency Award

Awarded to the chapters that demonstrate efficiency in operations, adhere to Fraternity Laws and promote the high standards of Phi Gamma Delta.

• Alpha Omicron at Akron 4

• Alpha Beta at Alabama Birmingham 1

• Alpha Upsilon at Auburn 1

• Alpha Psi at Austin Peay 1

• Beta Sigma at Ball State 20

• Chi Alpha at Clemson 1

• Mu Beta at Coastal Carolina 1

• Chi Rho at California of PA 1

• Delta Kappa at Davidson 5

• Epsilon Rho at Embry-Riddle 1

• Epsilon Iota at Evansville 5

• Phi Sigma at Florida State 1

• Kappa Deuteron at Georgia 28

• Gamma Tau at Georgia Tech 34

• Tau at Hanover 1

• Mu Iota at Idaho 3

• Chi Iota at Illinois 3

• Zeta at Indiana 4

• Mu Deuteron at Iowa 1

• Pi Deuteron at Kansas 5

• Chi Deuteron at Kansas State 1

• Kappa Upsilon Colony at Kent State 1

• Upsilon Kappa at Kentucky 1

• Omega Mu at Maine 1

• Mu Upsilon at Miami 1

• Epsilon Lambda at Michigan State 1

• Mu Sigma at Minnesota 2

• Sigma Mu at Mississippi State 5

• Psi Mu at Missouri State 14

• Epsilon at North Carolina 4

• Nu Sigma at NC State 1

• Omicron Deuteron at Ohio State 7

• Theta Deuteron at Ohio Wesleyan 3

• Sigma Deuteron at Oklahoma State 18

• Omega Deuteron at Old Dominion 1

• Epsilon Omicron at Oregon 1

• Pi Sigma at Pittsburgh 1

• Lambda Iota at Purdue 1

• Rho Chi at Richmond 1

• Nu Beta at Rutgers 1

• Alpha Pi at San Diego 1

• Gamma Sigma at Sewanee 1

• Tau Beta at Tampa 1

• Tau Deuteron at Texas 1

• Tau Delta at Texas Dallas 1

• Rho Alpha at Virginia Tech 1

• Sigma Tau at Washington 37

• Chi Eta at Western Kentucky 5

• Kappa Mu at Western Michigan 1

• Rho Tau at William & Mary 2

• Mu at Wisconsin 8

2021 William A. Martin III

Distinguished Fiji Award

The Archons established the Distinguished Fiji Award in 1964. It is presented annually to no more than six graduate brothers who shall be deserving of recognition for their faithful and unselfish service to Phi Gamma Delta or their special contribution to mankind and society at large. The award was renamed the William A. Martin III Distinguished Fiji Award in 2019, upon Bill's retirement as Executive Director. To date, 467 Phi Gams have been honored with the Distinguished Fiji Award.

Christopher B. Burke (Purdue 1977)

Brother Burke is the founder and CEO of Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. (CBBEL), a consulting engineering and surveying firm with $100 million in annual revenue based in Rosemont, Illinois. He also created The Burke Group, a consortium of engineering consulting companies with more than 400 employees in offices across Illinois and Indiana. Chris earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. in civil engineering from Purdue, as well as receiving an Honorary Doctorate. Earlier this year, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest professional distinctions an engineer can achieve. He also has served as a professor of engineering practice at the University of Illinois Chicago for 20 years. In service to his alma mater, he has chaired the President’s Council, the Civil Engineering Advisory Council, and the Ever True capital campaign that raised over $2.5 billion. He also has served the Lambda Iota Chapter at Purdue as House Corporation President for six years.

Paul H. Macklin (Western Ontario 1967)

Brother Macklin was twice elected to the Parliament of Canada, first in 2000, and served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General and on numerous parliamentary committees. In addition to practicing law for almost 50 years, he has owned and managed several businesses, including a construction firm in his hometown of Cobourg, Ontario. His extensive civic involvement includes leadership roles with the Northumberland County United Way, Northumberland Hills Hospital, Rotary International, West Northumberland Economic Development Council, the United Church of Canada, and Durham College. Paul has been honored with the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and the Diamond Jubilee Medal and as a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International. He was a colony founder at Western Ontario in 1965 and a charter member of the Lambda Omega Chapter in 1968. More recently, he served as Rechartering Committee Chairman when Lambda Omega was rechartered in 2011.

Gordon J. Smith (Iowa State 1961)

Brother Smith’s lifetime of support to the Alpha Iota Chapter at Iowa State includes 11 years on the House Corporation and two terms as House Corporation President. He was also instrumental in the founding of the Delta Iota Chapter at Drake University in Des Moines in the early 1990s and later served the Chapter as Purple Legionnaire. Gordon’s professional career in financial services spanned over 40 years, beginning with Merrill Lynch, and included leading the Des Moines office of securities broker-dealer A. G. Edwards & Sons. He has served on the vestries of two Episcopal churches in the Des Moines area, Saint Luke’s and Saint Timothy’s, and is a longtime supporter of the Des Moines Zoo, the Des Moines Art Center, and Whiterock Conservancy. With a special interest in history and preservation, in 2017 Gordon made a major gift to the West Des Moines Historical Society, a portion of which funded improvements to the Jordan House, a historic home in West Des Moines that served as a stopover on the Underground Railroad. A train enthusiast, he takes special pride in having operated the train ride at the Riverview Amusement Park in Des Moines in the 1970s.

Kessel D. Stelling, Jr. (Georgia 1978)

Brother Stelling is Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors for Synovus Financial, a financial services company based in Columbus, Georgia, with approximately $56 billion in assets. He began his banking career in his hometown of Augusta and later worked for three community banks in the Atlanta metro area before joining Synovus in March 2006. He was named President and CEO in October 2010 and became Chairman of the Board in January 2012. Upon his retirement as CEO in April 2021, he became Executive Chairman. Kessel is a former Chair of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and currently serves on the boards of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Georgia Power, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and the Georgia Historical Society. He has been recognized with the Leadership Character Award from the Robert Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, the Distinguished Alumni Award of the University of Georgia Terry College of Business, and an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina. From 2007 to 2011, he served as House Corporation President for the Kappa Deuteron Chapter at Georgia, and he is the sire of two Fiji sons from his chapter, Chris (2007) and Drew (2010).

George C. Stevens, Jr. (Occidental 1953)

Brother Stevens is a writer, author, playwright, director, and producer. He founded the American Film Institute in 1967 and created the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1973. In 1977, he created the Kennedy Center Honors, which he produced until 2014. He has made award-winning films and miniseries and served as chairman of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities under President Barack Obama. Over his professional career, he has earned 17 Emmys, eight Writers Guild Awards, two Peabody Awards, an Honorary Academy Award, and the Humanitas Prize, which recognizes film and television writing intended to promote human dignity, meaning, and freedom. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he also served as Director of the U.S. Information Agency’s Motion Picture Service in the 1960s, supervising over 1,500 films.

Alfred J. Verrecchia (Rhode Island 1967)

Brother Verrecchia had a 50-year career with Hasbro, Inc., the publicly held toy and board game company headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Starting as an intern in 1965, he advanced to serve as CEO from 2003 to 2008 and chairman from 2008 to 2015. Since 2013, he has been independent chairman of Iron Mountain Inc., a global business dedicated to storing, protecting, and managing information and assets. He is a former member of the board of CVS Health, FGX International, Bacou USA, and Old Stone Corporation. He also served as chairman of Lifespan Healthcare System of Rhode Island and of the Emma Pendleton Bradley Hospital in East Providence. His dedication to alma mater is reflected in current service as chairman of the board of URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement and on the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Council, as well as generous gifts to the College of Business. URI awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Laws in 2004.