185th Convention Archives | Beta Theta Pi Fraternity

Recap of Annual Chapter and Individual Awards

Beta Theta Pi — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 00:51:48 +0000

Some 125 awards were received by more than 75 chapters and individuals at the 185th General Convention, a true testament of success across Beta’s Broad Domain this past year. Among them, 38 chapters received the coveted Francis H. Sisson Award for chapter excellence. Check the full list of award winners below — and some photos too!

John Reily Knox Award

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
18th Time

University of San Diego
15th Time

Kettering University B
13th Time

Miami University
12th Time

University of Idaho
10th Time

Case Western Reserve University
8th Time

Creighton University
7th Time

University of Missouri
7th Time

The College of New Jersey
6th Time

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
5th Time

University of Texas at Austin
4th Time

Kettering University A
2nd Time

California Polytechnic State University
1st Time

University of Iowa
1st Time

Francis H. Sisson Award

Appalachian State University

California Polytechnic State University

Case Western Reserve University

Centre College

Colorado School of Mines

Creighton University

University of Delaware

DePauw University

East Carolina University

Eastern Kentucky University

Elon University

Florida State University

Furman University

George Mason University

Georgia Institute of Technology

High Point University

University of Idaho

University of Iowa

John Carroll University

University of Kansas

Kansas State University

Kettering University A

Kettering University B

Miami University

University Missouri

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

University of New Jersey

University of Oregon

University of Pittsburgh

University of San Diego

San Diego State University

University of Texas at Austin

University of Toronto

Villanova University

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Washington State University

West Chester University

Individual Awards

Dr. P. Thomas Purinton, Kansas State ’63
Francis W. Shepherdson Award

Christian Wiggins, Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity
Jonathan J. Brant Interfraternalism Award

Michael J. Wortman, Nebraska ’70
Dr. Edward B. Taylor Chapter Counselor of the Year

Madison Simmons, Chi Omega (High Point)
Charles W. Warner Fraternity/Sorority Advisor of the Year

Bryant Fiesta, UC Irvine ’16
Regional Chief of the Year

Michael J. (Mick) Breske, South Dakota ’73
District Chief of the Year

Nicholas R Dunn, Connecticut ’13
Rookie District Chief of the Year

J.B. Anderson, Utah ’84
Outstanding Advisor of the Year

John M. Hillhouse, Missouri ’69
House Corporation Excellence Award

Sally Mayer-Swift, Friend of Beta (Miami)
House Director of the Year

Ben Hamik, Cal Poly ’24
Jerry M. Blesch General Secretary Leadership Award

Cesar Esmeraldi, South Florida ’24
Exemplary Campus Leadership

Daniel A. Fagan, Louisville ’25
Outstanding Chapter Executive

Chase A. Adams, Miami ’24
Outstanding Chapter President

Chapter Awards

Outstanding Campus Involvement
University of Pittsburgh

Outstanding Recruitment Program
Washington State University

Excellence in Risk Management
Denison University

Advisory Team of the Year
Washington State University

Most Improved Chapter of the Year
University of Miami

Outstanding New Member Education
WPI

Outstanding Alumni Relations
Oklahoma State University

Outstanding Alumni Association
Oklahoma State University

North Dakota Award for Excellence in Chapter Publications
Centre College

H.H. Stephenson Jr. Award for Excellence in Historical Preservation and Research
Wabash College

John Holt Duncan Community Service Award – Best Ongoing Service
University of Utah

Charles Henry Hardin Leadership Development Award
University of Iowa
(Total Attendees – 19)

Charles Henry Hardin Leadership Development Award
University of Texas at Arlington
(Highest Chapter Participation – 100%)

Singing Awards

https://www.beta.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Oklahoma-State-University-Theres-a-Scene-2023.m4a

Whitman Choral Cup
Oklahoma State University

https://www.beta.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/The-Everlasting-Glory.mp3

Best New Song Competition
University of Utah
“The Everlasting Glory” by Daniel McNally ’26

Virginia Tech Awards for Academic Excellence

Washington University in St. Louis
Highest GPA (3.81)

University of Arkansas
Most Improved GPA

Region Leaders

Loyola University Chicago
West Great Lakes

Miami University
East Great Lakes

University of Maine
Northeast

University of Miami
Southeast

Kennesaw State University
South

Oklahoma State University
South Central

University of the Pacific
Southwest

Delaware
Mid-Atlantic

Colorado School of Mines
Northwest

University of Nebraska, Lincoln
North Central

No. 1 Fraternity on Campus

California Polytechnic State University

Centre College

Cornell University

Creighton University

University of Delaware

Denison University

University of Denver

Eastern Kentucky University

Elon University

Furman University

George Mason University

George Washington University

High Point University

University of Illinois

James Madison University

John Carroll University

University of Kansas

University of Kentucky

Kettering University B

Loyola University Chicago

Miami University

University of Missouri

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Northeastern University

University of Oklahoma

Quinnipiac University

Sacred Heart University

University of San Diego

Saint Louis University

Texas Christian University

University of Texas at Arlington

University of Utah

West Chester University

The post Recap of Annual Chapter and Individual Awards appeared first on Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.

Betas Receive Two Awards of Distinction

Beta Theta Pi — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 16:51:33 +0000

Representing more than 6,000 collegiate chapters and 250,000 fraternity members globally, each year the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) recognizes young men, advisors and chapters who exemplify leadership, service and fraternal values with the Awards of Distinction. Celebrating the success and interfraternal impact — individually within campus communities and collectively as the Fraternity’s chapters — emphasizes the value of Beta Theta Pi and the fraternity experience in shaping the lives of young men during their college years and beyond.

For the seventh time in eight years, Beta Theta Pi has been among the fraternities noted among the annual list. This year also marks the sixth time in the same stretch that Beta received two or more Awards of Distinction.

Dr. Eric Buller, Miami ’19

“My journey with Beta started here at Miami, so it’s apropos to be receiving it this year,” Brother Buller said, upon receiving the award at the 185th General Convention.

Eric has been a steadfast advisor at the Alpha Chapter for over a decade. His tenure started as a faculty advisor before transitioning to chapter counselor in 2016. A graduate of West Point, he first advised the chapter as a Friend of Beta. In 2019, the chapter welcomed him as a brother, initiating him into the chapter and penning him as No. 2886 on the official roll.

“What I had learned is that, when fraternity is done right, it’s incredibly powerful, and the research I had done at the time was that Beta does it right.”

His nominators said, “Eric’s extensive leadership development background and experience was instrumental in the successful return of our Alpha Chapter to Miami’s campus as once again one of the top fraternities on Miami’s campus.”

Brother Buller has shown what it means to earn his badge every day. Following his time as director of leadership and education at Beta’s Administrative Office, Eric continued to provide guidance to collegiate brothers across the domain by volunteering to facilitate at Keystone Leadership Conference and, most recently, at the John and Nellie Wooden Institute for Men of Principle.

“Award ceremonies aren’t really about the individual,” Brother Buller went on to say in his remarks. “We appreciate the work that they do, but award ceremonies are more about the organization because the organization has to stand up and recognize its own excellence within itself.”

The NIC to only named seven advisors among over 6,000 fraternity chapters across North America to receive the Advisor of Distinction Award in 2024.

Beta Omicron Chapter at The University of Texas at Austin

The Chapter of Distinction Award recognizes exceptional fraternity collegiate chapters demonstrating excellence in operations, involvement in their campus community and a commitment to a positive fraternity experience. The Texas chapter is one of only seven internationally to receive this award — among the 6,000 recognized by the NIC — and the 10th chapter of Beta Theta Pi to be recognized with an award of Distinction since 2004.

The Beta Omicron Chapter is well-recognized as a community builder. Within the city of Austin, the chapter has a tutoring partnership with Garza Independence High School. In terms of community health advocacy, it collaborated with NMDP (formerly Be The Match), Movember and “Texas 4000” in the fight against cancer. The 119 brothers in the chapter are quite active across campus activities, as well, including IFC, student government and more.

The brothers are highly engaged with the General Fraternity, some 40 have attended Beta’s leadership programs over the last three years including 11 graduates of the 2024 Wooden Institute. The chapter’s commitment to leadership culminated in two brothers named collegiate commissioners over the last two years: Max Gauger ’23, and Chris Cardenas ’24. Not to mention, the chapter received two consecutive Knox and Sisson Awards — and anticipate a third at the 185th General Convention.

Past Recipients

2024 — Eric Buller, Miami ’19, Advisor Award of Distinction
2024 — Beta Omicron Chapter, University of Texas at Austin, Chapter Award of Distinction
2023 — Nathan Satterfield, Michigan ’23, Undergraduate Award of Distinction
2023 — Chuck Perry, Truman State ’22, Undergraduate Award of Distinction
2021 — Ian Ross, Michigan ’21, Undergraduate Award of Distinction
2021 — Jen Zamora, Delta Zeta, Advisor Award of Distinction (Chapter Counselor, Texas)
2020 — Epsilon Chapter, Centre College, Chapter Award of Distinction
2019 — David Navadeh, Cornell ’19, Undergraduate Award of Distinction
2018 — Epsilon Omicron Chapter, University of Kentucky, Chapter Award of Distinction
2018 — Jack Schimpf, Missouri ’18, Undergraduate Award of Distinction
2017 — Alpha Tau Chapter, University of Nebraska, Chapter Award of Distinction
2017 — Epsilon Chapter, Centre College, Chapter Award of Distinction
2017 — Dr. Rob Tigner, Phi Gamma Delta, Advisor Award of Distinction (Chapter Counselor, Truman State)
2015 — Gamma Beta Chapter, University of Utah, Chapter Award of Distinction
2012 — Dr. Tom Purinton, Kansas State ’63, Advisor Award of Distinction
2012 — T.J. Bard Penn State ’13, Undergraduate Award of Distinction
2011 — Zeta Omega Chapter, University of San Diego, Chapter Award of Distinction

The post Betas Receive Two Awards of Distinction appeared first on Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.

Featured Speakers at Education Tracks

Beta Theta Pi — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 14:35:17 +0000

Thursday, July 25

7:30-9 pm: Leadership College
Location: Armstrong Student Center Pavilion

TJ Sullivan presents “Motivating the Middle”

Understand what motivates members at different engagement levels
Discuss how certain events, practices, and habits negatively impact motivating and member engagement and how to adjust related expectations

Friday, July 26

Chapter Presidents’ Leadership Academy
1:30-2:30 p.m. | Shriver Center Dolibois Room

TJ Sullivan presents “How to Be a Board MVP”

How to create an executive board culture around support and collaboration
How do set expectations and cohesive positioning with fellow officers

Keystone: Vice President of Education
1:30-5 p.m. | Shideler Hall Rm 152

Nuts and bolts of the vice president of education role
Overview of the New Member Verification process

Dr. Emily Feuer of RISE Partnerships, LLC will do a couple of presentations focused on the following:

Approach and philosophy behind creating a safe new member program
“Where’s the Line?” presentation focused on hazing prevention

Saturday, July 27

Keystone: Vice President of Education
9:00-11:30 a.m. | Shideler Hall Rm 001 (Son of the Stars Chapters)
9:00-11:30 a.m. | Shideler Hall Rm 032 (Local New Member Program Chapters)

Son of the Stars chapters will focus on:

Delivery of the Son of the Stars program
Logistics associated with the program
How to have a meaningful new member education process

Locally-Created New Member Program Chapters will focus on:

Creating goals for a safe new member experience
Good design of new member experiences
How to properly and safely engage initiated members in the new member process

Keystone: Vice President of Education
1:00-3:30 p.m. | Shideler Hall Rm 152

Dr. Gentry McCreary from Dyad Strategies will focus on understanding and using the Beta Brotherhood Assessment to create a sense of belonging and to prevent risky behavior
Stephen Becker, Florida ’69, will facilitate a Beta song train-the-trainer opportunity

TJ Sullivan is one of the best-known college leadership speakers in North America, having spoken to more than three million college students. His book, Motivating the Middle: Fighting Apathy in College Student Organizations, is used by more than 100 college and university leadership courses. As the featured speaker for Leadership College and Chapter Presidents Leadership Academy, TJ will focus on helping officers better engage their members, create an enjoyable chapter culture, and avoid burnout.

Dr. Emily Feuer serves on the consulting team for RISE Partnerships, LLC. Her passion for hazing prevention led her to research the way students and administrators frame hazing behaviors. As a facilitator for the Vice President of Education track, Emily will focus on creating safe new member programs that exhibit good design and properly engage members.

Dr. Gentry McCreary is the CEO and managing partner of Dyad Strategies. His award-winning research examines the psychology of hazing, the moral development of college students and the roots of brotherhood. As a facilitator for the Vice President of Education track, Gentry will focus on the application of the Beta Brotherhood Assessment results to create sense of belonging and inclusion for new members.

The post Featured Speakers at Education Tracks appeared first on Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.