wright to receive shepardson award delegates grant charters to six chapters
T
he scene was repeated a total of six times: as colony representatives waited nervously outside of the legislation hall, doors flew open and the words of “There’s A Scene” filled the ballroom. In an instant, six colonies had become chapters. First was the Theta Delta Chapter at Ohio State. Recolonized in 2014, the chapter has grown to almost 100 men and raised over $8,000 for homeless youth. Next was the Beta Omicron Chapter at the University of Texas. Since their recolonization in the fall of 2015, the men have
achieved a 3.34 chapter GPA and raised over $16,000 for the Lone Survivor Foundation. Following was the historic Beta Mu Chapter at Purdue. Recolonized in 2014, they have been finalists for the Purdue Catalyst Award and ranked in the top five of 41 fraternities in GPA. Fourth was the Gamma Sigma Chapter at Willamette. Since 2014, the chapter has achieved a 3.15 chapter GPA and been home to many campus leaders. Next up was the Delta Epsilon Chapter at Puget Sound. The
SPECIAL GUESTS celebration emcee General Secretary Wayne Kay, Virginia Tech ’73, serves as master of ceremonies for tonight’s celebration banquet. He is president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego.
Tonight, Convention attendees will witness the presentation of the Francis W. Shepardson Award to former General Secretary David Wright, Ohio State ’67.
chapter is known across campus for its work with sexual assault prevention and education, even receiving local media attention when they participated in the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event.
Considered one of the Fraternity’s most prestigious awards, the Board of Trustees developed the Shepardson award in 2001 to recognize brothers who embody the spirit and dedication of Brother Shepardson and epitomize the concept of lifelong service to the Fraternity.
Finally, delegates granted a charter to the new Eta Sigma Chapter at Quinnipiac. Now home to almost 150 undergraduates and alumni, the men have seen their brothers elected to significant campus leadership roles in the IFC and beyond.
Brother Wright more than meets the criteria required for recognition. He began volunteering for Beta in 1988 and has served in both local and General Fraternity capacities: a house corporation president, district chief, regional director, member of the Foundation Board of Directors and Fraternity Board of Trustees, including six years serving as General Secretary.
With the granting of six charters, Beta now stands strong at 119 chapters and 20 colonies.
Wright will become only the twenty-fourth member of Beta Theta Pi to receive the Shepardson Award. He will accept the handsome full-lead crystal cup at tonight’s Celebration Banquet.
horras returns home NIC President & CEO and former Beta Theta Pi Administrative Secretary Jud Horras, Iowa State ’97, will be here throughout the day and will present three NIC Awards of Distinction to Beta chapters and advisors.
lugar makes the rounds Retired Senator and Men of Principle Spokesman Richard Lugar, Denison ’54, will be on site to address the newest class of Lugar Fellows and help present the Fraternity’s coveted Knox Awards.
individual and chapter awards recap
today on the range saturday, july 29 advisory council breakfast 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Maybird region meetings 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Various (See Convention Guide)
Throughout the weekend, the Fraternity has recognized a host of deserving individuals and chapters with awards celebrating their achievements and contributions to our Great and Good Fraternity. The complete list of honorees to date is below. thursday, july 27 – District Chief of the Year Joe Chinnici Jr., Ohio State ’64 – Dr. Edward B. Taylor Advisor of the Year Debbie Gray-Patton
Zeta Zeta Chapter
Jim Pappas, Washington State ’85
Gamma Theta Chapter
Steve Sherman, Oklahoma State ’65
model initiation (all betas) 9:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Special Event Tent interest session: working on beta’s staff 11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Wasatch A all-convention session: a shared commitment 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Special Event Tent gamma beta chapter reunion 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Golden Cliff marching line 6:45 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Special Event Tent (Outside) celebration banquet 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Special Event Tent all-convention cocktail dessert reception 9:45 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Primrose A & B
all day Convention Registration (Level C Lobby) Vendor and Exhibitor Fair (Level C Lobby) Hospitality Suite (Mt. Superior Suite, Room 143)
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Eta Kappa Chapter
Fraternity/Sorority Advisor of the Year Thea Zunick (Stevens) House Corporation Volunteer of the Year Drew Stange, Nebraska ’83 Bob Starr III, South Dakota ’92 House Director of the Year Sean Eddington, Purdue ’16 Interfraternalism Recognition Award Mary Peterson (Iowa) Jerry Blesch Gen. Secretary Leadership Award Zach Lepperd, Truman State ’16 Regional Chief of the Year Jason Melton, Ball State ’99 Rookie District Chief of the Year Tommy Raimondi, Ohio ’16
friday, july 28 – Advisory Team of the Year Texas – Charles Henry Hardin Leadership Development Award Highest Members (Total): Utah (42) Highest Members (%): Texas at Arlington (53%) Minimum 15/20%: Case Western Reserve, Colorado Mines, George Mason, Iowa State, Kettering A, Kettering B, Loyola Chicago, MIT, Ohio State, Puget Sound, Quinnipiac, Stevens, Tennessee, Texas at Arlington, Utah, Wichita State, Willamette, Wisconsin-Oshkosh – Excellence in Risk Management Georgia Tech, SMU, TCU – Francis H. Sisson Award High Point (1), Northeastern (3), UC San Diego (3), Kettering A (4), TCU (4), South Carolina (5), Kentucky (6), George Washington (7), UCLA (7), Michigan State (8), Purdue (8), SMU
(8), Kettering B (9), Centre (10), West- minster (10), San Diego (11), Utah (11), Case Western Reserve (13), Texas A&M (13), Idaho (18), Truman State (18), Nebraska (20), Georgia (23), Georgia Tech (31) – H.H. Stephenson Jr. Award for Excellence in Historical Preservation and Research Purdue, Southern California – John Holt Duncan Community Service Award Best Ongoing Service Elon, Southern California Best Annual Event Idaho, Southern California – Most Improved Chapter Arkansas – North Dakota Award for Excellence in Chapter Communications Arkansas, High Point, Mississippi – Outstanding Alumni Relations Southern California, Indiana, Wittenberg – Outstanding Campus Involvement Columbia, Georgia Tech, George Washington, SMU – Outstanding New Member Education Iowa, Georgia Tech – Outstanding Recruitment George Washington, Ohio State, TCU – Sons of the Dragon Club Arkansas, Central Florida, Colorado Mines, Cornell, Iowa, Kentucky, Min- nesota, North Dakota, Pacific, Roch- ester, Southern Illinois, Texas, Texas at Arlington, Westminster, Wisconsin-Oshkosh – Virginia Tech Award for Academic Excellence Highest GPA: Columbia (3.64) Most Improved GPA: Cal Poly, Georgia Tech, Johns Hopkins, Nebraska Regional Winners: Pittsburgh, Ket- tering B, Northeastern, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, TCU, UC Davis, NC State, British Columbia, Nebraska First on Campus: 41 total winners
saturday, july 29 Chapters and individuals will also be recognized on Saturday during the all-Convention session (“A Shared Commitment”) and the Celebration Banquet. Awards to be presented include singing awards, the prestigious North-American Interfraternity Conference Awards of Distinction and the John Reily Knox Awards.