The University of South Alabama recognized fraternity and sorority members from across its Greek community during the school’s annual Greek Awards banquet, honoring students for community service, academics and leadership during the 2014-2015 school year.
Students representing the National Panhellenic Council, College Panhellenic Council and Interfraternity Council collectively logged more than 25,000 hours of community service and raised over $60,000 for people in need during the academic year, according to the university’s Office of Greek Life. The office’s coordinator said the achievements reflect national recognition many of the chapters have received from their respective fraternity and sorority headquarters, along with the organizations’ deep engagement in both campus life and the broader Mobile community.
Sigma Chi Fraternity and Phi Mu Sorority received the Dean’s Cup, the highest honor given to Greek-letter organizations at South Alabama. Individual honorees for Greek Woman of the Year and Greek Man of the Year were recognized from Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Phi Mu Sorority, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity.
Scholarship and academic awards went to numerous chapters including Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Omicron Pi, Chi Omega, Kappa Delta, Phi Mu, Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Chi and Tau Kappa Epsilon. Public service honors went to chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, while campus involvement awards recognized members of Phi Mu, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi Alpha and Tau Kappa Epsilon.
The university’s Office of Greek Life oversees 19 sororities and fraternities organized under three governing councils. National Panhellenic Council organizations typically hold interest meetings each fall and spring, while College Panhellenic Council chapters conduct formal recruitment the week before fall classes begin and Interfraternity Council chapters recruit during the third week of the fall semester.
University officials said the Greek community’s fundraising and volunteer totals reflect a broader push among South Alabama’s student organizations to extend their reach into the greater Mobile area, from local food banks to youth mentoring programs. The Office of Greek Life said it expects next year’s chapters to build on the momentum, citing continued growth in both membership and philanthropic outreach across the university’s fraternity and sorority system.