The University of Memphis Epsilon Kappa chapter of the national fraternity Sigma Chi received the Peterson Award at this year's international workshop in Manhattan, Kan.
The Peterson Award is the highest acknowledgement given to a Sigma Chi chapter and Epsilon Kappa was in an elite group of 28 to be honored.
Criteria for the Peterson Award include scholarship, financial stability, new member retention, campus activities and leadership, and community service. The individual chapters are also evaluated on chapter development, faculty and alumni relations, publications, and active and new member programs.
Brett Collins, senior public relations major and a former president of the chapter, said the fraternity is very proud of the award and what it represents - hard work.
"We were really glad to be recognized for all the hard work we did. Our families were even a part of it," he said.
The fraternity has introduced a variety of new programs including "Father/Son Day" and a mother's luncheon, designed to get members' parents more involved in fraternity life. This month, the fraternity will help host Sigma Chi's annual Derby Days event to help raise money for the Special Olympics.
"Last year we raised $4,500 and this year our goal is $10,000," Collins said.
The fraternity has received nationwide attention in recent weeks due to an alcohol related death at the Sigma Chi house at the University of Oklahoma. Blake Adam Hammontree, 19, was found dead on Sept. 30.
Tyler Rudd, the current president of the Epsilon Kappa chapter says that what happened in Oklahoma could never happen here.
"The incident that happened there was apart of a pledge program. Alcohol is never involved in our pledge program," he said.
Rudd, who is also in charge of the fraternity's risk management policy, said that along with never pledging with alcohol, security is hired at parties to check IDs and ensure that no one under 21 drinks or tries to bring alcohol. Also, only beer is allowed at Sigma Chi parties.
"We have party monitors, assign members to be designated drivers and any member that's going to drink has to hand in their keys," he said.
Sigma Chi, which has 221 chapters and more than 140 alumni groups, also received the West Tennessee Province Award and the McComas Award. The latter recognizes the chapter that travels to events outside of its area, has implemented new programs and benefited from workshops. Epsilon Kappa had the largest showing of members. Seventeen members attended the conference, held at Kansas State University, an 11-hour drive from The University of Memphis.
Peterson Award chairman Justin Barnett calls the awards "a true testament of how hard we have worked to improve over the last couple of years."
"It really shows how strong our brotherhood is to have accomplished so much without a house as a central place to meet and function," he said.
The semester also marks the fraternity's move into their new house, located on Mynders Avenue. Barnett and his broters anticipate a bright future.
"We've just celebrated our 50th anniversary, moved onto our new house, and won these outstanding awards. We really feel like things are moving in a very positive direction."
