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March 1, 2012

ULM Interfraternity Council recognized for outstanding accomplishments

On Saturday, Feb. 25, the University of Louisiana at Monroe's Interfraternity Council was honored at the Southeastern Interfraternity Conference Awards Banquet, with one of the most prestigious awards an IFC Council could achieve.

The organization received an Overall Fraternal Excellence Award for its excellence in all 11 categories of council management – an award ULM has earned for the past four years.

This recognition makes ULM the only university in Louisiana, for the fourth straight year, to receive recognition at the awards banquet.

ULM Greek Life was also one of several schools recognized by Gamma Sigma Alpha National Greek Academic Honor Society.

ULM was recognized for spring and fall 2011 semester honor rolls and its outstanding scholarship within the ULM Greek Community.

"It's encouraging to see, after a year of hard work and dedication to both ULM and the community, the Interfraternity Council is gaining the recognition it deserves," said ULM's Coordinator of Greek Life Keith Hembree.

"I am proud of this group of guys and how well they not only represent ULM, but the state of Louisiana."

Hunter Vanderberg, SGA vice-president and president of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, added, "I've been active with the Interfraternity Council and ULM Greek Life since the fall of 2007. In comparison to what we were as a council then, to now; it is truly amazing. The awards symbolize all the effort of the IFC and its respective fraternities, and the large strides made to better itself, the ULM campus and the state."

Vanderberg said those strides are about meeting the mission of ULM's Greek organizations to teach young men and women to reach for excellence, provide them with the tools and resources to succeed in their undergraduate career, and build a support system that will last a lifetime.

The ULM IFC was also recognized for its fraternal excellence with awards in the following categories: Campus & Community Relations, Outstanding Educational Program, Interfraternal Relations, and Outstanding Service Project.

The Campus & Community Relations award recognizes the IFC that best fosters understanding and supports the fraternity movement through positive interactions with neighbors, faculty and administrators, law enforcement agencies, and the media, along with other community groups and individuals.

The ULM IFC and member organizations were recognized for donating over 8,000 hours to local organizations and charities this past year both on and off campus, with events including Monroe City Clean-up, Krewe of Janus Mardi Gras Parade and continued commitment to ULM's Up 'Til Dawn each year.

Hembree said, "As you can see, the ULM IFC and the entire ULM Greek system has become synonymous with helping others with annually sponsored events."

IFC won the Outstanding Educational Program award for the second consecutive year for efforts in developing and hosting an event titled "New Member Bystander Night" – an event developed to better educate new Greek leaders on the understanding of how to confront the challenging behaviors and situations many of our new Greek members face in their chapters each year.

The Interfraternal Relations award was presented to the ULM IFC for the third consecutive year for its efforts to promote and encourage collaboration between fraternities and all Greek chapters on ULM's campus.

These activities include a Greek unity step-show, a Greek Challenge Blood Drive, IFC Camping trips and retreats, and participation in CenturyLink's family day – held annually each fall. ULM IFC was the only council in the Southeastern United States to receive this award.

The final award, Outstanding Service Project, was given to the IFC that planned, implemented and evaluated the best single service project that made a lasting impact on the IFC and Greek community.

The ULM IFC was recognized for its third annual Greek Songfest this fall semester.

With cooperation from the ULM Panhellenic Council, the ULM National Pan-Hellenic Council, and the City of Monroe, ULM Greek Life was able to collect over 1,200 canned-goods for the Northeast Louisiana Food Bank this past holiday season, along with several prizes and gifts, donated by local businesses and restaurants.

SEIFC is the regional leadership conference for IFC council officers held in Atlanta each year.

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