Archived News | Return to News Center

August 5, 2013

ULM's Pi Kappa Alpha continues international winning streak

Members of the University of Louisiana at Monroe's Pi Kappa Alpha chapter continued the longest current winning streak in Pi Kappa Alpha history by capturing their 15th consecutive Robert A. "Smythe" award at the Pi Kappa Alpha International Convention held in Memphis, Tenn.

The Smythe is awarded to the top one percent of Pi Kappa Alpha chapters each year. This win marks the 20th Smythe award in the last 22 years for the ULM Pi Kappa Alpha chapter.

ULM Coordinator of Spirit Groups and Greek Life Megan DeShon-Runge noted that Pi Kappa Alpha is heavily involved in campus life and in campus organizations.

"We congratulate Pi Kappa Alpha for their long line of successes," said DeShon-Runge.

"It is always an especially proud moment when one of our Greek organizations achieves positive attention at the national level."

The award is based upon excelling in 16 areas of operation, including academics, community service, campus involvement, athletics, management, risk awareness, new member education, and alumni relations.

Six ULM students joined Tommy Walpole, executive director of auxiliary enterprises, at the four-day event.

These students included Pi Kappa Alpha President Addison McDougle of Sterlington, Co-Treasurer Allen Arnold of Pineville, R. T. Gilbert of West Monroe, Josh Sikes of St. Joseph, Anthony Graves of Shreveport, and Wyatt Medlin of Farmerville.

Arnold was recognized for his attendance at Pi Kappa Alpha's educational conferences, and the fraternity won its third consecutive Scholastic Achievement Award for earning above an overall 3.0 grade point average last year.

Other highlights of the trip included the ULM Pi Kappa Alpha chapter receiving the Raymond L. Orians Award for Chapter Excellence for overall chapter performance during the previous year.

This is the chapter's 27th consecutive Orians award.

The ULM Pi Kappa Alpha chapter was also recognized for 100 percent participation in the undergraduate donor club – sponsored by Pi Kappa Alpha's Educational Foundation – and named as a finalist for Pi Kappa Alpha's public relations, alumni relations, and chapter management programs, as well as two financial management programs.

The ULM Pi Kappa Alpha Alumni Association was also named as a William R. Nester Outstanding Alumni Association.

This was the Pi Kappa Alpha Alumni Association's 14th time to be recognized as one of Pi Kappa Alpha's best alumni associations in North America.

The fraternity won multiple awards at last year's Greek Banquet – including their fifth consecutive Fraternity of Excellence award – and was named ULM's Organization of the Year for the 11th time in the 14-year history of the award.

The members of Pi Kappa Alpha were also crowned as ULM's Greek Week Champions and won their fifth consecutive All-University Athletic Championship.

Pi Kappa Alpha has 224 chapters in North America and is headquartered in Memphis, Tenn.

The Pi Kappa Alpha chapter at ULM was founded in 1972.

PLEASE NOTE: Some links and e-mail addresses in these archived news stories may no longer work, and some content may include events which are no longer relevent, or reference individuals and/or organizations no longer associated with ULM.