2020 INDIVIDUAL ALUMNA AWARD RECIPIENTS
AWARD OF ACHIEVEMENT
CARRIE TERGIN (ZETA SIGMA, MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY)
Carrie is the mayor of Jefferson City, Missouri, a third-generation small business owner, a member of the Missouri State University Board of Governors, a member of the Jefferson City Council and serves on a number of other boards for civic and charitable organizations. Her nominator states, “Carrie has a heart for public service…she credits her leadership ability to her days as a collegiate Alpha Chi Omega. I am proud to call this remarkable woman a sorority sister.” Carrie’s strength as a leader was especially apparent last May when Jefferson City experienced major flooding and a direct hit from a tornado in the same day. She “remained a calm, steadying influence” and has worked to rebuild the city following these disasters while also currently leading her city through the COVID-19 pandemic.
OUTSTANDING DEDICATION AWARD
MERLYNN PITCHER (BETA XI, UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY)
MerLynn is a prolific volunteer who has given of her time, talents, and treasures generously across the Enterprise over many years. She began as a collegiate leader in the Beta Xi chapter, then served as an alumnae chapter president, house corporation president for Beta Chi and Beta Nu, National Nominating Committee member, collegiate Ritual and Panhellenic advisor, member of several task forces at the national level, and was an integral member of the Foundation Board of Trustees from 1993-96 and again from 2010-15. She currently serves as a Foundation Ambassador and Beta Xi advisory board member.
YOUNG ALUMNA AWARD
NIKI MCCANN (ZETA SIGMA, MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY)
Niki is the current chapter president of Beta Beta alumnae chapter and member of the Member Assistance Grant committee. She has served as a Zeta Sigma advisory board member, Leadership Academy facilitator and Fraternity and Sorority Life financial aid liaison while working at Missouri State University. Niki is also a former Fulbright Scholar to Germany, Junior League member and current elementary school teacher. She is described as having reignited and transformed the Beta Beta alumnae chapter.
ALUMNA APPRECIATION AWARD
TERESA MOORE (GAMMA OMICRON, MARSHALL UNIVERSITY)
Teresa has been a loyal Alpha Chi Omega volunteer since shortly after her college graduation in the 1970s. She has served on the Gamma Omicron House Corporation Board, as alumnae chapter president in Charleston, WV, and on the Gamma Omicron Advisory Board as both a chapter advisor and recruitment advisor. For two terms she was a province collegiate chair, and afterwards she served as a volunteer consultant. She is a current member of Rho Phi Rho alumnae chapter. She has also been involved interfraternally, serving on the Greek Housing Board at Marshall University and coordinating recruitment workshops for the Greek community at Marshall.
2020 ALUMNAE CHAPTER AWARDS RECIPIENTS
SEEKING THE HEIGHTS AWARD - COLLEGIATE CHAPTER SUPPORT
Gamma Theta Gamma (Los Angeles, California)
Omicron Phi Omicron (Zeta Pi Alumnae)
seeking the heights award - INNOVATION
Beta Kappa Beta (Dallas, Texas)
seeking the heights award - MEMBERSHIP GROWTH
Delta Omega Delta (Orange County, California)
seeking the heights award – MEMBER ENGAGEMENT
Pi Pi (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Xi Omega Xi (Beta Eta Alumnae)
seeking the heights award - PHILANTHROPY
Sigma Sigma (St. Louis, Missouri)
seeking the heights award - PROMOTING ALPHA CHI EVERYDAY (PACE)
Beta Beta (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Gamma Psi Gamma (Sacramento, California)
seeking the heights award - RITUAL AND FRATERNITY APPRECIATION
Lambda Omicron Lambda (Ocala, Florida)
seeking the heights award - SISTERHOOD
Beta Zeta Beta (Houston, Texas)
Rho Phi Rho (Gamma Omicron Alumnae)
CONTINUING EXCELLENCE AWARD
Mu Mu (Kansas City, Missouri)
Mu Mu has received the Continuing Excellence Award 21 consecutive times, and it was clear that this chapter is more than deserving of this honor again. Mu Mu continues to advance and innovate its operations and membership experience in ways that reflect Alpha Chi Omega’s mission and vision. The chapter is actively engaged with the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation’s Community Impact program and has raised over $88,000 using this program to benefit the Foundation and its local domestic violence shelter. Perhaps most impressive are the many unique ways Mu Mu works to build sisterhood and connection. From a traveling lyre trophy to welcome bags with Kansas City information and treats for new members, it is clear that sisters feel a connection with Mu Mu and are proud of not only their involvement with the alumnae chapter but have an increased pride in being members of Alpha Chi Omega because of it.
NATIONAL COUNCIL TROPHY
Nu Nu (Denver, Colorado)
With a large and strong executive board, leaders who are also involved with the local collegiate chapter and as national volunteers, and planning committees for chapter events (which have grown by 50% in attendance), Nu Nu chapter members are fully engaged in the functions of the chapter and the Fraternity. Communication with potential and current members through social media, newsletters, monthly interest groups, a printed membership directory and a phone tree ensures that all sisters feel connected across miles and generations. Nu Nu regularly honors meaningful Fraternity dates with well-attended formal events and continues to seek the heights through innovative approaches to chapter management. Nu Nu has won the National Council Trophy once previously, in 1994, and then won the Continuing Excellence Award in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998.
2020 INDIVIDUAL Collegiate AWARD RECIPIENTS
Amy DuBois Rieth Emerging Leader Award
Jessica Schulte (Alpha Nu chapter, University of Missouri)
Jessica held multiple committee positions in the Alpha Nu chapter during her first year of membership, actively gives back through volunteerism both in her hometown and on campus, and is always willing to take on new challenges. She does all of this while treating others with a genuine kindness and respect that is unmatched.
Estelle Leonard Outstanding Senior Award
Molly Shannon (Zeta Sigma, Missouri State University)
Molly served as Panhellenic president for Missouri State University’s Panhellenic Board, and under her leadership they received the 2019 STAR Award for Public Affairs Commitment, which is presented to an organization that strives to make the university a better place. She leads with humility and genuine passion and always makes time to lend a helping hand to any chapter sister or community member.
Outstanding Collegiate Advisor Award
Kristin Hathaway (Iota Lambda, Texas Christian University)
Kristin has worked with the Alpha Nu chapter for three years and is always thinking of ways to better the chapter and serve the community. She is a support system to the executive board members and inspires all members to follow their dreams. Her nominator says, “Chapter members strive to showcase the love, empathy and effervescence that she so effortlessly has.”
Outstanding Advisory Board Award
Delta Rho chapter advisory board (University of Arkansas)
The Delta Rho advisory board meets regularly with their individual officers and is present at chapter meetings and events to support not just the officers but also the entire membership. The volunteers making up the board embody what it means to be advisors by leading by example and mentoring the women. The growth and success this chapter has had would not be possible without its advisory board.
Outstanding Fraternity/Sorority Advisor
Emily BRITT (Associate Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, University of Kentucky)
Emily is both a champion and partner for the Delta Omega chapter of Alpha Chi Omega and for the Greek community as a whole. Her nominator says that “her mentorship can be summed up as leading by example. While she gives wise insight, her actions leave student with an example they follow for a lifetime.” Through her mentorship and support, she motives the sisters of Alpha Chi Omega to continue to seek the heights.
2020 Collegiate Chapter AWARD RECIPIENTS
National Council Trophy
Delta Chi (William Woods University)
Alpha (DePauw University)
Beta Eta (Florida State University)
Chapter Progess Award
Epsilon Omega (Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo)
Beta Phi (Bowling Green State University)
Chapter Innovation award
Delta Zeta (Central Michigan University)
Diversity & Inclusion award
Alpha Nu (University of Missouri)
SEEKING THE HEIGHTS AWARD - Leadership
Alpha Pi (University of North Dakota)
Beta Delta (College of William & Mary)
Alpha Nu (University of Missouri)
SEEKING THE HEIGHTS AWARD - chapter relations and standards
Gamma Tau (Oklahoma City University)
Gamma Pi (University of Tampa)
Theta (University of Michigan)
SEEKING THE HEIGHTS AWARD - finance
Delta Kappa (Sam Houston State University)
Zeta Tau (Villanova University)
Beta Sigma (University of Georgia)
SEEKING THE HEIGHTS AWARD - risk management
Delta Epsilon (Southeast Missouri State University)
Iota Phi (Quinnipiac University)
Theta Lambda (Clemson University)
SEEKING THE HEIGHTS AWARD - ritual and fraternity appreciation
Gamma Xi (Western Michigan University)
Gamma Zeta (Kansas State University)
Gamma Epsilon (Oklahoma State University)
SEEKING THE HEIGHTS AWARD - recruitment
Delta Chi (William Woods University)
Epsilon Lambda (The University of Texas at Arlington)
Delta Omega (University of Kentucky)
SEEKING THE HEIGHTS AWARD - new member education
Zeta Upsilon (Case Western Reserve University)
Lambda Nu (Northeastern University)
Alpha Omicron (The Ohio State University)
SEEKING THE HEIGHTS AWARD - public relations and Marketing
Alpha Omega (Birmingham-Southern College)
Beta Psi (Louisiana Tech University)
Epsilon Omega (Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo)
SEEKING THE HEIGHTS AWARD - membership programming
Kappa Xi (University of West Florida)
Epsilon (University of Southern California)
Alpha Upsilon (The University of Alabama)
SEEKING THE HEIGHTS AWARD - panhellenic
Iota Chi (Middle Tennessee State University)
Iota Sigma (Southern Methodist University)
Kappa Tau (University of Connecticut)
SEEKING THE HEIGHTS AWARD - intellectual development
Kappa Mu (The University of Texas at Tyler)
Theta Psi (Columbia University)
Beta Eta (Florida State University)
SEEKING THE HEIGHTS AWARD - facility operations
Kappa Nu (Carnegie Mellon University)
Epsilon Nu (Boise State University)
Delta Rho (University of Arkansas)
SEEKING THE HEIGHTS AWARD - philanthropy
Delta Omicron (Portland State University)
Epsilon Kappa (California State University, Fullerton)
Iota Rho (University of Loyola Chicago)
2020 Local Housing Corporation AWARD RECIPIENTS
Local House Corporation Volunteer of the Year Award
Mindy Stewart Smith (Sigma, University of Iowa)
Mindy has served on the Alpha Lambda (University of Minnesota) local house corporation board for three decades and has worked through some of its most complicated and important projects. Over many years, she has overseen maintenance of landscaping, sewage, major appliances and systems to make the chapter facility safer and more cost- and energy-efficient. She is always open to fresh perspectives and patient with the peaks and valleys working with vendors, chapter employees, fellow house corporation board members and students.
Local House Corporation/Collegiate Chapter Collaboration Award
Gamma Rho House Corporation Board (Texas Tech University)
Gamma Rho house corporation designed, planned, fundraised for and completed construction of a new 10,500 square foot lodge along with the input, support and help of the active collegiate chapter members.
2020 vision AWARD RECIPIENT
Dr. Lori Hart
Dr. Lori Hart has been instrumental in guiding Alpha Chi Omega through our work in harm reduction. She is widely known as a leading expert in issues of risk in higher education and has helped make not only Alpha Chi Omega but other sororities and fraternities better through her outstanding work.
2020 corporate award recipient
herff jones
Herff Jones has been an incredible partner to Alpha Chi Omega over many years. They are tremendously supportive of Alpha Chi Omega initiatives and have an outstanding service orientation.