2009 Collegiate Awards: Notes

Balfour Cup

Winner: Arizona Beta, Arizona State University

Arizona Beta was a leader in exceptional philanthropic service, dedication to significant academic improvement, the promotion of creative, alcohol-free activities and a chapter-wide focus on sisterhood, member retention and alumnae relations.

Excellence in Literacy Activities

Winner: Michigan Epsilon, Western Michigan University

This chapter held a Literacy Week to educate the campus and community. This included handing out carnations for First Book® donations, a campus read-a-thon, bookplate decorating and a First Book Speed Read™ at the chapter house. Literacy education is included in recruitment events and during the annual Hoops for Halos.

Excellence in Community Service/Philanthropy Projects

Winner: Pennsylvania Theta, Villanova University

This chapter has a strong Champions are Readers® program in a disadvantaged area. The members volunteer at an after-school tutoring program, a soup kitchen, a nursing home and an animal shelter. Their Philanthropy Phriday allows sisters to choose various service projects. The chapter now holds three annual fundraisers and accounted for 80 percent of the hours Greeks on their campus donated to service.

Excellence in Pi Phi for Life/Senior Programming

Winner: Arizona Beta, Arizona State University

With member input and continuous improvement surveys, programs focused on careers, health, wellness and current economic conditions. Financial seminars addressed business ownership, personal budgeting, investing and credit card utilization.

Excellence in Academic Mentoring Programming
 
Winner: Indiana Gamma, Butler University

The chapter's Vice President of Member Development focuses on a critical analysis of members' study habits, helping members set daily and weekly academic goals. Their Pi Phi Passport program rewards members for attending campus events that fulfill Pi Phi core values.

Excellence in New Member Programming

Winner: Indiana Beta, Indiana University

They took Pi Phi's values-based New Member Education Program to the next level. The local New Member Manual featured initiated members' stories of how they live Pi Phi values. The new members created scrapbooks highlighting Pi Phi values. The initiated members attended each new member meeting to discuss how they model Pi Phi values in everyday life.

Excellence in Fraternity Heritage Programming
 
Winner: Illinois Eta, Millikin University

This chapter brought Pi Phi history to life, holding Decade Dinners with members dressing in the attire of the decade. Members decorated the tables with Illinois Eta history memorabilia.

Excellence in Servant Leadership
 
Winner: South Dakota Alpha, University of South Dakota

To the South Dakota Alpha Chapter, servant leadership goes beyond individual leadership and means no one stands alone. Through the growth of each other, they excel as a chapter.

 Excellence in Panhellenic (Small and Large)
 
Winner (Small): Nebraska Gamma, Creighton University

The Fraternity/Sorority Advisor says Nebraska Gamma is dedicated to Panhellenic with very strong participation. They have strong Panehellenic officers, and the Chapter Delegate is the most active, soliciting opinions and input. He says they have a holistic approach regarding Panhellenic to make it the most effective it can be. The chapter brought The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation self-defense program to campus. They reached out to a new National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) chapter. To increase chapter participation in other Greek events, they implemented a new program called the Greek Freak Award, which recognizes members who are active in the Greek community. Each month, every member who participated in a Greek event put her name into a raffle, and one member was chosen to receive a prize. At the end of the semester, the member who participated in the most Greek events won a lettered hoodie and was crowned the first ever Greek Freak. The message of the program is when the Greek community is supported, the chapter, in turn, shows off their Pi Phi pride.

Winner (Large): Michigan Gamma, Michigan State University

The Fraternity/Sorority Advisor says Michigan Gamma is a strong member of Panhellenic, and as a chapter, saw the need and opportunity to run for Panhellenic office. Their leadership is very strong. Michigan Gamma reached out with meals, moral support and donations to two fraternities who each lost a member during the fall semester. They also had plaques made to remember the two young men. They invited one sorority to an ice cream social and two other chapters to a cookie decorating party, which improved Panhellenic spirit and cooperation.On Gordie Day, Michigan Gamma members distributed cups, magnets and other accessories printed with facts about hazing to other Greek chapters to remind them of the effects of hazing and why it is wrong.

Excellence in Appreciation of Fraternity Values
 
Winner: Indiana Gamma, Butler University

Their point system was revised to reward personal and intellectual growth-based activities. Their Pi Phi Passport program recognizes members attending events in the categories of leadership development, scholarship, cultural diversity and wellness.

Excellence in Recruitment COB
 
Winner: Michigan Epsilon, Western Michigan University

Michigan Epsilon set high expectations and goals, which resulted in the highest return rates in the history of the chapter. They conveyed Pi Phi values in recruitment activities and spent time preparing for recruitment, making sure to include bonding and sisterhood events.

Excellence in Communications
 
Winner: Michigan Epsilon, Western Michigan University

Michigan Epsilon proactively engaged parents, alumnae, campus and community with effective audience messaging. They improved their chapter image with faculty and associated students. They created and coordinated an all-Gerek event to advance community image, and they incorporated feedback to improve their chapter website.

Excellence in Chapter House Corporation Service
 
Winner: D.C. Alpha, The George Washington University

The Chapter House Corporation for D.C. Alpha aided the chapter in securing upgrading facilities. They diligently completed an extensive application during The George Washington University's semi-annual Greek housing process. They incredibly devote and exemplify servant leadership.

Outstanding Alumnae Advisory Committee Financial Advisor
 
Winner: Carrie Woodruff, Indiana Delta, Purdue University

Carrie is a servant leadership who leads by example. She motivates the Vice President of Finance through consistent education, training, support, communication and praise. She is organized, sets expectations, follows financial guidelines and embraces financial changes.

Silver Slipper Award (Excellence of a Chapter Vice President of Finance)
 
Winner: Kathryn Daniels, Alabama Beta, University of Alabama

Kathryn has parterned with the Alumnae Advisory Committee and Chapter House Corporation while exhibiting strong leadership skills. Kathryn is highly organized and approachable. She has reduced household and food expenses by 46 percent in one semester and has identified other budget savings.

Amy Burnham Onken (ABO) Award for Outstanding Scholarship and Campus and Community Leadership
 
Winner: Kelli Pointer, Massachusetts Gamma, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Kelli is majoring in biological engineering and minoring in toxicology and environmental health with a concentration in women's and gender studies. Her GPA is 4.7 on a 5.0 scale. She plans to study pediatric cardiology. Her community and campus leadership include volunteering with the Big Sister Association, Math/Science Program for Boys and Girls Clubs, Community Catalyst Leadership Program, Black Women's Alliance, National Society of Black Engineering, Student Undergraduate Advising and Academic Programming, Associate Advisor, MIT Orientation Coordinator and Pi Phi's Policy and Standards Board Chairman. "Kelli's future impact on the world is certain. She will change the world with her convictions, her passion and her intelligence."

Chapter Service Award for Outstanding Servant Leadership
 
Winner: Alexandra Roark, New Mexico Alpha, University of New Mexico

Alexandra is a consistent, dedicated and innovative servant leader who can be counted on by her chapter to never compromise her values in service to the chapter. The good of the chapter has always been characteristic of her service.

 Jean Wirths Scott Leadership Award for Outstanding Change Leadership
 
Winner: Emily Cunningham, California Epsilon, San Diego State University

Emily challenged her chapter to look beyond itself to improve its campus image, presence and leadership on campus and scholarship performance. The resulting improvements were recognized by the university in the chapter's annual campus evaluation.