Alpha Omicron Pi honored as top collegiate chapter
Contact: Amanda Barth
3/10/06
TOP COLLEGIATE CHAPTER -- Vice President for Student Affairs Marvin Yates, left, and President Randy Moffett, right, congratulate Southeastern’s Kappa Tau chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi during a campus reception to recognize the chapter as the recipient of the Jessie Wallace Hughan Cup, presented to AOPi’s top collegiate chapter. Also shown are AOPi former president Heidi Hayes, AOPi president Britni DiGeorge, and AOPi International President Susan Danko. AOPi was named the 2005 Jessie Wallace Hughan Cup winner at the sorority’s international convention last summer.
HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University’s Kappa Tau chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi was recently recognized for having been named the international organization’s top collegiate chapter for 2005.
At a special reception held at the Southeastern Alumni Center, International President Susan Danko recognized the chapter’s many accomplishments that led to its receiving the award, the Jessie Wallace Hughan Cup.
Danko said the Kappa Tau chapter “represents the best of Alpha Omicron Pi within the fraternity, on their campus, and in their community. The chapter virtually achieved all of our 180 performance standards with a wonderful balance of business, ritual, philanthropic events, sisterhood activities, and education.”
The Jessie Wallace Hughan Cup, the highest collegiate chapter distinction presented by the Alpha Omicron Pi, dates back to 1915. “To be selected the number one chapter, you have to meet all the standards of excellence,” said former chapter president Heidi Hayes of Mandeville. “This means going above and beyond in all areas – philanthropy, service on campus, in the community and with other organizations, being involved in Greek life, doing well in academics and great sisterhood.”
One of the sorority’s many activities, which pushed them to the top in the award competition, was raising $4,000 for AOP’s international philanthropy, arthritis research, during the group’s “Strike Out for Arthritis” softball tournament held at Alumni Field. The women also volunteer their time at the local rape crisis hotline.
The organization also earned kudos with nine additional awards, including the Ruby Award, given to chapters meeting 90 percent or above in AOP standards and excellence; the Philos Award for excellence in Panhellenic contribution, and the Rose Award, given to alumna Gayle Robinson Miller (’67) in recognition of her dedication and service to AOP.
In addition, the chapter received the Alumnae Advisory Committee Performance Certificate, and was named Outstanding Corporation Board with a House for its board of alumnae who helped oversee the chapter. Current AOP president Britni DiGeorge of Ponchatoula was awarded two AOP Foundation Scholarships.
On Southeastern’s campus, AOP has received an award for Most Outstanding Organization for three consecutive years, and this past fall achieved the highest grade point average of all the sororities in the Panhellenic Council.
The chapter’s faculty adviser and academic development adviser, Margaret Adelmann, who is also a Kappa Tau alumnae, said, “We live our ritual every day; we continue to strive for a unified and unique sisterhood; we continue to promote a positive image in the Greek community and on Southeastern’s campus; we continue to help those around us, and we flourish even when we are faced with adversity.”
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