West Virginia Wesleyan College’s Zeta Tau Alpha social sorority recently captured six national awards at the biannual convention July 12-16 in Houston, TX.  Julie Hafenbrack, a senior elementary education major and sorority president from Plum Boro, PA, and Ashlee Gaydac, a junior elementary education major from Parkersburg, WV, represented Wesleyan at the event.

The Wesleyan chapter received the Quota/Total Award which is given for continuously recruiting women into the organization as well as maintaining the total number allowed in sororities on college campuses.  The Wesleyan group also received the Financial Excellence Award which is given to those chapters who obtain excellence in all areas of financial operations such as reporting, budgeting, and revenue collections.  The third award recognition was for Scholastic Achievement.  This award is given to those who obtain a highly commendable scholastic average for two consecutive semesters.

The Wesleyan Zeta chapter also received the Crown Chapter award, which is given to sororities who attain excellence in five areas:  activities, finance, fraternity operations, membership, and programming.  Wesleyan has been a Crown Chapter “winner” for the past several years.

While all of these awards are worthy achievements, the next two awards placed Wesleyan among the elite group of all Zeta Tau Alpha chapters throughout the nation.  The Margaret Dunkle Hardy Most Improved Scholastic Achievement Award recognized Wesleyan’s chapter for increasing the sorority cumulative grade point average from 3.07 to 3.31.  Finally, the National Council Special Recognition silver award was presented to Wesleyan for the chapter’s community service contributions and their involvement in the Memorial Service for the Sago Miners.  The silver award is only given to sororities who demonstrate a long-term and genuine commitment to community service.

“This was a tremendous accomplishment for our sorority,” says Hafenbrack.  “Our chapter has continually strived to be recognized by our national organization and we are thrilled to be seen as one of the very best Zeta Tau Alpha chapters in the nation.”

“We are very proud of the accomplishments of this group,” adds Julie Keehner, vice president of student development and enrollment management.  “The Greek system is a very important component in our student life program and we take great pride in knowing that our chapter has received such national recognition.”