Sigma Tau Gamma receives national award
Published March 2, 2007
Sigma Tau Gamma won one award and is nominated for another. The chapter has been nominated for the Columbia HERO Award, recognizing its service in the city and has received a most improved award for chapters in its fraternity.
Interfraternity Council spokesman Jeffrey Beeson said that the fraternity's hard work could lead to more support from its international headquarters.
"When they see all the good things this chapter is doing, they will be more likely to help them out," Beeson said.
Fraternity President Josh Kayser said he hopes that circulating news of the awards in chapter and national fraternity newsletters will lead to more alumni support for the fraternity to acquire its own house.
Clinton McCurry, vice president and chief operating officer of the fraternity's national headquarters, said that the national office would not get involved in the drive for a house. But he said he feels these awards will help.
"I think their actual performance will show their alumni that they are dedicated," he said.
He said that a fraternity is not defined by whether it has a house.
"It's not a house that makes a fraternity," he said.
The international headquarters honored the chapter with the Earl A. Webb Most Improved Chapter Award. Kayser said that his fraternity is an example that many negative stereotypes about fraternities are not always true.
One of the key components of the Webb Award, and the only component of the HERO award, is community service.
Kayser said the quality of his members doesn't make it hard to do these projects. He said the chapter often has more volunteers for a job than are actually needed.
McCurry said that the chapter's leadership during the last several years has been instrumental in its success.
According to a news release, the Webb Award, which was given Feb. 24 at a fraternity regional meeting, honors the chapter for its improvement in recruitment, management, member education and programs.
The HERO Award gives volunteers $500 to donate to the charity of their choice. Debra Hardin, who works for the city of Columbia in the Office of Volunteer Services, nominated the chapter.
Hardin said she has never seen a group of college students as reliable as the fraternity in all her years of service.
"They actually are probably the best college group I have ever worked with," Hardin said. "Just bar none."
Hardin said the fraternity stands out because she can count on it when it says it will help for an event.
But Beeson said that there is more to the fraternity's service than just its attendance.
"They not only show up, they're on time or early, they're ready to go," Beeson said.