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ULM’s Pi Kappa Alpha chapter wins international Smythe award

Published August 06, 2014

Members of the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE) chapter continued the longest current winning streak in Pi Kappa Alpha history by capturing their 16th consecutive Robert A. “Smythe” award at the Pi Kappa Alpha International Convention held in Baltimore, Md.

The award is given to the top 10 percent of Pi Kappa Alpha chapters each year. This win marks the 21st Smythe award in the last 23 years for the ULM Pi Kappa Alpha chapter.

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Knotts

Laura Knotts, director of Student Life and Leadership said, “We are so proud that the PIKEs are setting a new standard with a 16th Smythe Award win. Their dedication to student life and the campus as a whole is evident, and we are happy they are being rewarded for their efforts!”

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

Four ULM students joined Tommy Walpole, executive director of auxiliary enterprises and the fraternity’s staff adviser, at the five-day event.

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Walpole

These students included Pi Kappa Alpha President Clark Bentsen of Aurora, Ill.; Internal Vice President Alex Crist of Warner Robins, Ga.; Zach Rachal of Monroe; and Allen Perry of Fort Hood, Texas.

The group was also recognized for earning—for the fourth consecutive year—an overall grade point average higher than a 3.0.

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 28th consecutive Orians award.

The ULM Pi Kappa Alpha chapter was also recognized for 100 percent participation in the undergraduate donor club—sponsored by Pi Kappa Alpha’s Educational Foundation—and named as a finalist for Pi Kappa Alpha’s financial management and athletic programs, and received recognition for their recruitment efforts.

The ULM Pi Kappa Alpha Alumni Association was also named as a William R. Nester Outstanding Alumni Association. This was the Pi Kappa Alpha Alumni Association’s 15th time to be recognized as one of Pi Kappa Alpha’s best alumni associations in North America.

The fraternity won multiple awards at last year’s Greek Banquet—including being named ULM’s Organization of the Year for the 12th time in the 15-year history of the award—and earning a top-tier ranking in academics. The members of Pi Kappa Alpha were also crowned as ULM’s Greek Week Champions and won their sixth consecutive All-University Athletic Championship.

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.

 


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