Phoenix, Ariz., August 2, 2009 — Eight outstanding individuals and 59 remarkable chapters were recognized by the General Fraternity during the 170th General Convention, held in Phoenix, July 30-August 2. The 2009 award recipients are as follows:

Individual Awards:

District Chief of the Year: Daniel H. Farmer, Cincinnati '75

Dr. Edward B. Taylor Advisor of the Year: Michael E. Hay, Eastern Kentucky '94

Francis W. Shepardson Award: Donald G. (Dipper) DiPaolo, Michigan '78

Greek Advisor of the Year: Gentry McCreary, University of Alabama

House Director of the Year: Ervin Williams, University of Nebraska

Interfraternalism Recognition: Anne Arseneau, College of William & Mary

Jerry M. Blesch General Secretary’s Leadership Award: Mark I. Morgan, Idaho '10

Rookie Chief of the Year: Daniel P. Loman, GMI-EMI '90

Chapter Awards:

John Reily Knox Chapter Excellence Award: Alabama, Case Western Reserve, Denison, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Idaho, Kansas State, Miami, Missouri-Kansas City, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Truman State and Washington

Francis H. Sisson Award: Alabama, Bethany, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western Reserve, Central Michigan, Connecticut, Denison, DePauw, George Washington, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Idaho, Kansas State, Miami, Missouri, Missouri-Kansas City, Nebraska, Oklahoma, San Diego, Texas A&M-CC, Texas at Arlington, Toronto, Truman State, Virginia Tech, Wabash, Washington, Washington in St. Louis and Wittenberg

Alumni Relations Award: Eastern Kentucky, Emory and Miami 

Best New Song: Matt Miller, Nebraska

Campus Involvement Award: Arizona, DePauw, Eastern Kentucky, Furman, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Washington in Saint Louis

John Holt Duncan Service Award: Ongoing: Florida; Annual: Texas at Arlington

Charles Henry Hardin (leadership development): Highest Overall: Washington in St. Louis (21); Highest Percentage: Bethany (68%); Recipients: Bethany, California-Los Angeles, California-Santa Barbara, Case Western Reserve, Connecticut, Denison, East Carolina, Florida International, Illinois, Iowa State, John Carroll, Kansas State, Kettering A, Kettering B, Minnesota, Missouri, Saint Louis, San Diego, Truman State, Wabash, Washington, Washington  in Saint Louis and Wisconsin-Oshkosh

H.H Stephenson Jr. Award for Excellence in Historical Preservation and Research: Miami 

Most Improved Chapter: Texas A&M-CC

North Dakota Award for Excellence in Chapter Publications: Colorado Mines

Pledge Education Award: Dayton

Recruitment Award: California-Los Angeles, Case Western Reserve, Kansas State, Nebraska, Virginia and Washington in St. Louis

Risk Management Award: Bethany, Case Western Reserve, George Washington, Iowa State, John Carroll, Kansas State, Kettering  B, Loyola Marymount, Nebraska, San Diego, Texas A&M-CC, Texas at Arlington, Truman State, Virginia, Washington and Washington State

Virginia Tech Award (academics): Highest Overall GPA: Colulmbia (3.75); Most Improved: Florida International; Regional winners: British Columbia, Columbia, East Carolina, Eastern Kentucky, Florida International, John Carroll, Kansas, Kettering B, Oklahoma State, San Diego, South Dakota and Toronto; First in Grades: Bethany, Cal Poly, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western Reserve, Clemson, Colgate, Connecticut, Dayton, Hampden-Sydney, Idaho, Iowa, Kettering A, Lawrence, Miami (Fla.), Missouri, Missouri-Kansas City, Oklahoma, Southern California, Texas at Arlington, Texas A&M-CC, Truman State, Virginia and Washington

Website Excellence Award: Washington

Whitman Choral Cup: Lawrence

Beta Theta Pi is dedicated to building men of principle for a principled life. Our brotherhood aids the individual, builds the Fraternity and strengthens the host academic institution through lifelong devotion to intellectual excellence, high standards of moral conduct and responsible citizenship. The Fraternity, founded in 1839 at Miami University (Ohio), has more than 120,000 members including some 6,500 collegians on 118 campuses in the United States and Canada.

###

For more information, contact:

Garrett Hyer
Leadership Consultant
800-800-2382, ext. 247