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May 4, 2012

ULM Greek Life has historic year

2011 was a magical year for the University of Louisiana at Monroe's Office of Greek Life.

The office's three governing councils, and executive officers worked tirelessly to support ULM's 15 Greek chapters and to provide service to the local community as well.

According to Keith Hembree, coordinator of Greek life, the students' desire and willingness to improve their chapters, councils and community set 2011 apart from the other years.

For the first time in ULM's history, all three governing councils received awards at their respected regional conferences in February and March of this year.

ULM Greek Life represented ULM as the only university in the state of Louisiana to achieve this distinction. This is an achievement that Greek Life and governing councils in the United States strive to obtain each and every year.

"This year was an exceptional year for Greek Life at ULM with all three Greek Councils being recognized on the national level," said ULM Associate Director of Alumni Affairs Tommy Walpole.

"Greek Life continues to be a major force in student life at ULM, and I look for this to continue. ULM Greeks are heavily involved in all aspects of ULM as this prestigious accomplishment proved."

Each council's awards are as follows:

For the third straight year, ULM's National Panhellenic Council was recognized by the Southeastern Panhellenic Association, in Atlanta, Ga., for using the guiding principles of unity, leadership and motivation in their service efforts with their annual songfest and progressive dinner.

SEPA proudly awarded them with the Community Service Award.

Brooke Dugas of Franklington, president of ULM's Student Government Association and member of Kappa Delta Sorority commented on ULM's Panhellenic accomplishments.

"Community Service is an ideal part of our values and philosophies as Greeks here at ULM," Dugas said.

"We felt that by giving back to the surrounding Northeast Louisiana area, we were not only making a difference but we were showing the state what it truly means to be a Warhawk."

Southeastern Panhellenic Association is the regional leadership conference for council officers held in Atlanta each year.

The conference brings together university and college Panhellenic Councils located in the Southeast United States as sorority women to discuss and learn better ways to govern and recruit on campus.

SEPA recognizes Panhellenic Councils from across the southeast in nine areas of excellence, with a specific Panhellenic Council only being able to apply for recognition in one of the nine areas.

This year the ULM Panhellenic Council applied and won recognition in the area of Community Service and Philanthropic Events.

This award is given out to universities for outstanding programming and events sponsored by local College Panhellenic councils. Programs include: hands on community service events, fundraising events or philanthropic programming.

ULM's Interfraternity Council was recognized for a third straight year by the Southeastern Interfraternity Conference in Atlanta, Ga., for excellence in Interfraternal Relations, Outstanding Service Project, Outstanding Educational Program, Campus & Community Relations, and the Overall Fraternal Excellence Award. ULM IFC was the only Louisiana School to receive this outstanding recognition.

Southeastern Interfraternity Conference is the regional leadership conference held each February, where nearly 600 fraternity leaders throughout the Southeastern United States converge to Atlanta, Ga., to learn about brotherhood, scholarship, leadership, service, and recruitment.

SEIFC is a three-day educational conference that features something for everyone, regardless of his role in the fraternity community.

SEIFC recognizes member Interfraternity Councils in two broad award categories: Outstanding Overall Achievement and Outstanding Excellence in specific programming areas.

"I've been active with the Interfraternity Council and ULM Greek Life since fall 2009," said ULM's Campus Activities Board President Ben Young. "In comparison to what we were as a council then, to now, it is truly amazing.

"These 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."

SEIFC Achievement Awards recognize fraternity-governing councils that meet specific standards in one or more of 11 programmatic areas.

Governing councils that meet the criteria in all 11 categories receive Fraternal Excellence Awards. Multiple winners are recognized in both the SEIFC Achievement and Fraternal Excellence Awards.

Excellence in Programming Awards recognize fraternity-governing councils that have displayed innovation and creativity in individual programmatic areas. Multiple winners may be recognized in each of nine categories.

The ULM Interfraternity council was recognized in both categories by winning the Achievement and Fraternal Excellence Awards for its management and programming in 11 areas and by receiving four of the nine Excellence in Programming Awards for their Greek Songfest, Bystander Night Program, and campus and community relations with alumni, city, parish, and ULM officials.

The council was also awarded for Interfraternal Relations for programming and events held annually such as the IFC retreat, tailgates, and service projects.

For the first time, the ULM National Pan-Helleninc Council was recognized by the Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values for Outstanding Achievement in Academics, Council Management, Leadership & Educational Development, and Self-governance & Judicial Affairs.

ULM NPHC was the only NPHC Council recognized from the State of Louisiana and a majority of the Southeast. This is reportedly a tremendous accomplishment for the ULM NPHC, and this reflects a fraction of the hard work this council does each and everyday.

"Being a part of an NPHC organization on ULM's campus is a distinct privilege," said Student Government Association Secretary Calvin Stafford.

"These eight chapters signify what it means to be a man or woman of character and this accomplishment just proves that NPHC students become great leaders and scholars on this campus each and every year."

The Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values is a national Greek leadership association that holds regional leadership conferences for Greek chapter and council officers, and is held in St. Louis, Mo., and Los Angeles, Calif., each year.

The conferences bring together Greeks from NPHC, IFC, NPC, and MGC councils from all over the United States to discuss and learn better ways to promote fraternal values, member accountability and leadership on college campuses.

The AFLV Awards and Assessment Program is designed specifically to assist Greek Councils in achieving and rewarding the highest level of excellence possible in Programming and Council Management.

The NPHC division is made up of seven categories, and the ULM NPHC Council achieved four of the seven with their programming events held over the past year.

The ULM NPHC received this recognition based upon seven of the eight chapters achieving over a 2.8 GPA in 2011, development of study hours and programming for chapters and NPHC members, council operations over meetings and committee meetings, the annual step-show which is the largest annual Greek event in Northeast Louisiana, and providing excellent educational programming each year such as: NPHC retreat, informational sessions, leadership workshop series, and hazing prevention programming.

ULM Greek Life is charged with advising the 15 nationally recognized fraternities and sororities at ULM.

Traditionally, Greek organizations at ULM are strong contributors to the improvement of the university and the community.

Founded on principles of scholarship, leadership, community service and development of lifelong friendships, Greek organizations today still practice these fundamental principles in their pursuit of excellence.

"The men and women of ULM Greek Life have always been hard workers," said Hembree. "I am thrilled that they were finally recognized for all their hard work, and on behalf of the ULM Administration congratulate them on their accomplishments."

For more information or membership questions about fraternities and sororities, please contact the ULM Office of Greek Life at 318-342-5289 or email at greeks@ulm.edu.

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