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August 22, 2012

ULM's Pi Kappa Alpha continues international winning streak

Members of the University of Louisiana at Monroe Pi Kappa Alpha chapter continued the longest current winning streak in Pi Kappa Alpha history by capturing their 14th consecutive Robert A. "Smythe" award at the Pi Kappa Alpha International Convention held in Denver, Colo.

The win marks the 19th Smythe award in the last 21 years for the ULM Pi Kappa Alpha chapter.

The Smythe is awarded to the top five percent of Pi Kappa Alpha chapters each year.

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

Five ULM students, including Pi Kappa Alpha President, Phillip Hebert of Pineville, New Member Educator, Nick Vargo of Shreveport, Athletic Chairman, Anthony Graves of Shreveport, Kyle Parker of West Monroe, and Allen Arnold of Ball, joined Chapter Advisor Joseph Beard, and Tommy Walpole, associate director of ULM Alumni Relations at the five day event.

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 26th consecutive Orian's award. Pi Kappa Alpha's ULM chapter also succeeded in winning the alumni participation award given for having the most alumni participate in the chapter's international work day event.

The ULM Pi Kappa Alpha chapter was recognized for 100 percent participation in the undergraduate donor club, sponsored by Pi Kappa Alpha's Educational Foundation, and was also named as a finalist for Pi Kappa Alpha's Continuing Education and Financial Management programs.

Hebert and Vargo were recognized for their attendance at Pi Kappa Alpha's Educational conferences, and the fraternity won its second consecutive Scholastic Achievement Award for earning above an overall 3.0 GPA last year.

The ULM Pi Kappa Alpha Alumni Association was named as a William R. Nester Outstanding Alumni Association. This was the Pi Kappa Alpha Alumni Association's 13th time to be recognized as one of Pi Kappa Alpha's best alumni associations in North America.

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.

Former coordinator of Greek Life Keith Hembree noted Pi Kappa Alpha is heavily involved in campus life and in campus organizations.

The fraternity won multiple awards at last year's Greek Banquet, including their fourth consecutive Fraternity of Excellence award.

They were also named as ULM's Organization of the Year for the tenth time in the 13-year history of the award, were crowned as Greek Week Champions, and won their 4th consecutive All-University Athletic Championship.

"We congratulate Pi Kappa Alpha for their long line of successes," said Hembree. "It is always an especially proud moment when one of our Greek organizations achieves positive attention at the national level."

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