Chapters Honored at Convention

CHAPTER AWARDS RECOGNIZE ACHIEVEMENTS DURING 2020-2021 ACADEMIC YEAR

Several chapters were recognized with awards during the 68th General Convention. The Grand Chapter is pleased to congratulate the following for their achievements.

The Herbert L. Brown Outstanding Chapter Award is presented to those chapters that display fraternal excellence in all areas of chapter operations. The award is named in honor of the late Bert Brown (Swarthmore ’16), a former Grand President and Executive Director of the Fraternity. Chapters that receive the Herbert L. Brown Outstanding Chapter Award set the standard in our Fraternity and on their respective campuses.

The Epsilon Phi Chapter at Wisconsin/Milwaukee set a goal of being the best chapter it could despite the restrictions of COVID-19. Its members worked on improving relations with the campus community and campus administration. The Greek Adviser on campus commented, “From the time I took over as adviser, the chapter relations have grown in a great way that demonstrates the positive impact a fraternity can have on our campus community.”

The chapter had a completion rate of 100 percent on the annual membership survey and 48 PhiredUp certified recruiters completed digital classrooms.

Just two years ago, the chapter was on social probation and has now demonstrated the heights a chapter can achieve through teamwork.

The James Whitfield Chapter of Honor Award is presented to chapters that are at the top of Phi Sigma Kappa but is just short of the level of the Herbert L. Brown Outstanding Chapter Award. It is named in honor of the late Jim Whitfield (Central Missouri ’50), a former National President of Phi Sigma Epsilon and Grand Council Director for Phi Sigma Kappa.

The Delta Triton Chapter at Purdue received the Chapter of Honor Award due to its continued engagement with brothers virtually throughout the pandemic. The chapter also made sure to integrate associate members into the chapter. Some of the favorite brotherhood events included a secret Santa gift exchange and senior roast.

Brothers utilized Brotherhood Circles to engage older members with associate members and to show them their associate member experience is only the beginning. The chapter developed extensive housing policies to combat the spread of COVID-19 and used social media channels to showcase the chapter in the best possible light and communicate to potential members the value of joining the Fraternity.

Delta Triton also raised $1,000 for Special Olympics, planted more than 60 trees in the local area and one brother placed second in Zeta Tau Alpha’s Big Man on Campus Philanthropy event.

For the Omicron Chapter at MIT, the ability to experiment and adapt to the pandemic was critical to maintaining a strong brotherhood. It also helped them earn a James Whitfield Chapter of Honor Award. The chapter hosted a Run for Grub, where members ran, biked, swam, and rowed to raise more than $2,200 for the Greater Boston Food Bank.

The chapter also hosted an alumni career networking recruitment event, during which associates were given the chance to hear from alumni about their Phi Sig experience. The chapter’s field day event featured a safe outdoor meal with men they previously had only met online due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The Fred Schwengel Most Improved Chapter Award is presented to chapters that show significant improvement. The award encompasses all areas of chapter operations including manpower, scholarship, community service, alumni relations, financial operations, and campus involvement. The award is named in honor of the late Fred Schwengel (Truman State ’30), who served as a National President of Phi Sigma Epsilon.

The Chi Septaton Chapter at Georgia Southern received a Most Improved Chapter Award as it worked to embrace the culture of year-round recruitment, which proved to be a successful model, as the chapter initiated 21 members over the course of the 2020-2021 academic year.

The chapter also focused its efforts on risk management by attending virtual meetings hosted by the Fraternity and Sorority Life Office and participated in roundtable discussions to provide feedback to the Interfraternity Council.

During the digital era of the pandemic, the chapter put extra effort toward social media to demonstrate its activities and to connect and interact with more students on campus.

The Nu Tetarton Chapter at Rutgers was facing hard times coming into the 2020-2021 academic year, with a shortage of undergraduate members and a difficult recruitment process due to the pandemic. With a team effort, the chapter was able to more than double its size during that time.

Focusing on the virtual experience, the chapter was also able to raise $2,000 for Special Olympics through a fundraiser hosted on Instagram.

The Gamma Chapter at Cornell was recognized with a Most Improved Chapter Award due in part to its philanthropic activities. At the onset of the pandemic, the chapter raised money for Loaves and Fishes, a local food shelter and 15 brothers volunteered to be orientation leaders for the 2021 fall semester.

The chapter has elected a sustainability chair and will begin a compost program and is becoming a community-recognized sustainable partner.