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January 31, 2012

ULM fraternity ranks 14th in the nation in academics

The University of Louisiana at Monroe Gamma Nu chapter of Kappa Alpha Order was honored for its academic success after earning a 3.22 cumulative grade point average for the spring 2011 semester.

Kappa Alpha Order is a national men’s fraternity with over 120 chapters and 150,000 initiated members.

Social in nature, it promotes reverence to God, gentility, leadership, philanthropic service, and academic excellence.

At the conclusion of the spring 2011 semester, Kappa Alpha Order, nationally, achieved the highest GPA in its history: a 2.8801.

Kappa Alpha Order at ULM has been recognized for its outstanding scholarship program and success.

Last year, KA ranked first among Interfraternity Council organizations and had a GPA that was higher than the All-Fraternity, All-Men’s and All-University averages.

When asked about its academic success, chapter president, Jacob Broussard, a junior pre-pharmacy major from Delcambre, LA, said, “We put grades first among everything. We don’t accept new members that have below a 2.7 GPA, and once a member, we equip them with the tools and resources to excel in the classroom.”

KA’s scholarship program includes weekly study halls, mentoring for new members, midterm progress reporting, encouraging use of resources available at ULM’s Clarke M. Williams Student Success Center, and various awards and incentives.

One incentive, The KA Fred Page Memorial Scholarship, was established by ULM alumni Cyd and Joey Jacobs and rewards those members with the highest GPA each semester.

The Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation also awards $150,000 in scholarships annually across the nation; several members of the chapter have been recipients of those scholarships.

KA and ULM alumnus, Brook Sebren, commented, “I am very proud of KA’s accomplishments both locally and nationally. Most KA chapters who rank in the top 20 are at Ivy-League or other prestigious academic intuitions. It was great seeing ‘University of Louisiana Monroe’ alongside Duke, Princeton, Stanford, and William and Mary on a academic ranking list.”

Kappa Alpha Order was founded in Lexington, VA on Dec. 21, 1865 and at ULM on Dec. 8, 1956 making it the first national men’s fraternity on campus.

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