(From the left) Pamela Duncan ’14, Ingrid Eicher ’14, and Jackie Klepper ’12 work at the Crescent Classic soccer tournament. Funds raised this year helped support the Madison County Children’s Camp.
Members of 51Թ’s Delta Tau chapter of Gamma Phi Beta have earned one of the most prestigious honors their national organization awards, The Order of 1874, recognizing their scholastic and philanthropic achievements.
Gamma Phi Beta is not only active in the classroom, but also hosts a number of fund-raising events on campus each year. Members run the annual Crescent Classic soccer tournament, take time on weekends to pick up litter on Broad Street, and co-host a campus obstacle course challenge.
Out of 176 chartered collegiate chapters, only three others received the award, according to Lara Donahue ‘14, vice president of public relations for the chapter
Of the 187 Gamma Phi Beta members at 51Թ, 12 sisters earned 4.0 GPAs and 122 were named to the Dean’s List for spring 2012. The chapter’s average GPA was 3.54, compared to the all-sorority average (3.49), all Greek letter organizations (3.35), all women on campus (3.37), and the university as a whole (3.29).
“What Gamma Phi Beta excels at is serving as a support system for our members in any way possible,” Donahue said. “We have study hours weekly, we reserve a room in the library where the girls can come and study together. I think that promotes a high level of academics. You’re there with your sisters all working hard together. It’s kind of a gym mentality. If you’re running next to someone, it prompts you to run faster.”
Fouad Saleet, assistant dean for campus life, said Gamma Phi Beta is one example of the outstanding Greek letter organizations on campus.
“Gamma Phi Beta is blessed with very strong and involved advisers,” Saleet said. “It is gratifying to see that their hand work here in Hamilton is recognized not only by 51Թ but held up as a standard to follow by the international headquarters.”
Donahue said 51Թ’s chapter met 74 requirements of excellence set out by their national organization including: recruitment, alumni relations, scholarship, public relations, philanthropy, and sisterhood.