On an Honor Roll

Greek life at Dickinson receives recognition

October 23, 2007

Delta Sigma Theta members, from left, Camille Walfall '08, Mofeyisayo Ayodele '09, Yazmin Watkins '09 and Krizzha Reyes '09. Not pictured, Tabitha Jones '08.

Dickinson's fraternities and sororities have received national recognition through awards, honors, scholarships and a charter in recent months.

A year after winning Pi Beta Phi's prestigious Balfour Cup, which is presented to the sorority's most outstanding chapter in the nation, Dickinson's chapter found continued success in 2007. The Pennsylvania Gamma chapter received several regional awards at this year's convention in Arizona, and also was honored with being ranked a Phi chapter, placing the campus' sorority in the top 12 chapters in the nation out of more than 130.

Zach Abel '08, president of Dickinson's Phi Delta Theta fraternity, received national recognition when he was awarded a $2,200 scholarship from the fraternity's Educational Foundation. Abel also was selected as one of 10 undergraduates nationwide to serve as a faculty member at Phi Delta Theta's Emerging Leaders Institute last summer in Oxford, Ohio.

And this year Dickinson welcomed the newest member to its Greek community. Delta Sigma Theta, the college's first historically African-American sorority, was honored to charter the Upsilon Delta chapter this past spring semester. Founded in 1913 at Howard University, the sorority has a fivefold mission: to use collective strength to promote academic excellence; to provide scholarships; to provide support to the underserved; to educate and stimulate participation in the establishment of positive public policy; and to highlight issues and provide solutions for problems in their communities. Delta Sigma Theta, now a member of Dickinson's Panhellenic Association, participated in recruitment this September and will have its first official new member class this spring.

Spencer Bailey '08