Sorority Council wins national excellence award
Posted on: 11/12/2014; Updated on: 11/19/2014By Student Editor
The University of South Carolina Sorority Council, composed of all sororities on campus belonging to the National Panhellenic Conference, National Pan-Hellenic Council and Multicultural Greek Board, is one of 11 campuses to receive the College Panhellenic Excellence Award. The award is given by the National Panhellenic Conference, the umbrella organization for 26 national and international sororities, and recognizes excellence in academics, judicial procedures, recruitment and other areas.
Paige Jones, president of Sorority Council and a senior marketing and management major from Raleigh, N.C., said the award recognizes the success of UofSC’s large recruitment process, Greek community programming, community service and fundraising. “[This award] reflects the success of every single chapter and every single member in the Panhellenic Greek community,” she said. “It shows that our group of women stands out among incredible Panhellenic communities across the nation. It proves that we are a unique group – we are a large group of women founded on similar values who strive each and every day to leave this campus better than we found it.”
The UofSC Sorority Council recently hit a milestone in fundraising efforts. In a partnership with The Circle of Sisterhood Foundation, the council has raised more than $30,000 in an effort to fund the construction of a school for young children in Nicaragua. The sorority community will select 14 women to travel to Nicaragua in May 2015 for a cultural exchange trek program associated with the construction of the school.
Jones said that providing an education for the children in Nicaragua gives them the opportunity to rise above poverty.
“In my opinion, if we have the ability and the resources to give an education to those in need, it is our duty to do so,” she said. “Being part of the trek experience to Nicaragua is just one step for our community toward breaking down barriers to education worldwide. The trek is a time for us to reflect on the potential we have as sorority women to make an impact on this world. I can only hope that this experience will inspire members our community to continue this tradition and support The Circle of Sisterhood Foundation for many years to come.”
Sorority Council is continuing to raise funds for The Circle of Sisterhood and a scholarship for one of the UofSC trek participants to cover the costs of the trip. In addition, they are planning to donate an additional $3,000 to the foundation in the spring.
“I’m elated and could not be more proud of all this community has achieved this semester,” said Jones. “The impact these women will undoubtedly have on this world truly has no limits.”
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