Awards
The Fraternity and Sorority Life Awards recognize both chapters and individuals for outstanding accomplishments over the past calendar year. Applications for the 2024 Awards are now open!
Individual Awards
Award Description
Previously Greek Man/Woman of the Year, this award recognizes students who have shown tremendous commitment to the Greek community and University throughout their time at USC. These students demonstrate our office’s four pillars of service, scholarship, leadership, and friendship, positively representing the Greek community across campus. They have strong personal character and continue to be positive role models. These recipients should be widely known and highly regarded in the Greek community for their lasting contributions.
Previous Greek Man/Woman Recipients:
- 2023: Davon Beaton, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc
- 2023: Emily Barros, Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc.
- 2023: Xavier Peguese, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
- 2023: Patrick Feiner, Beta Theta Pi
- 2023: Brandon Vereen, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc
- 2023: Kate Cazyoux, Delta Zeta
- 2022: Seth Hajzus, Phi Delta Theta
- 2022: Blakely Hardin, Gamma Phi Beta
- 2021: Greyson Fox Tran, Sigma Phi Epsilon
- 2021: Becca Sternberg, Alpha Delta Pi
- 2020: Joseph Boyd, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
- 2020: Madison Lynch, Delta Zeta
- 2019: Jawaun McClam, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
- 2019: Isobel Rushton, Alpha Chi Omega; Bailey Wesselmann, Delta Delta Delta
- 2018: Jeremy Leake, Sigma Phi Epsilon
- 2018: Raquelle Bourgeois, Alpha Delta Pi
Award Description
This award recognizes a Chapter President who demonstrates outstanding chapter leadership, motivational ability, strong character, and high ideals. The recipient is a positive role model and has been a leader who has successfully contributed to the chapter’s success. Presidents who served during the calendar year are eligible for this award.
Award Recipients:
- 2023: Averiona Goodwin, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
- 2022: Emily Collins, Pi Beta Phi; Blair Elliott, Alpha Gamma Delta
- 2021: Ashton Reynolds, Phi Kappa Tau
- 2020: Shannen Cloherty, Zeta Tau Alpha
- 2019: Taryn Moyer, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Charles Nastopolous, Sigma Alpha Epsilon
- 2018: Daniel Epstein, Pi Kappa Phi
Award Description
This award recognizes a member of chapter leadership who demonstrates outstanding commitment to their role. The recipient goes above and beyond in their responsibilities, helping make the chapter better each day. Executive board members who served during the calendar year are eligible for this award.
Award Recipient:
- 2023: Gabi Unger, Chi Omega
Award Description
This award recognizes an outstanding student leader that served on their governing council (CPA, IFC, MGC or NHPC) during the calendar year.
Award Recipients:
- 2023: Anna Capps, Phi Mu
- 2022: Laurynn Jeter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
- 2021: Kathryn Kotecha, Delta Zeta
- 2020: Rachel May, Delta Zeta; Mary Best, Chi Omega
- 2019 (New): Amelia Wilks, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Award Description
This award recognizes an active member who demonstrates outstanding contribution to their organization. The recipient is dependable, hardworking and dedicated to their organization as they work behind the scenes. The chapter is more successful because of this outstanding active member, despite them not holding an executive board role. Members who were active during the entirety of this calendar year are eligible for this award.
Award Recipient:
- 2023: Dean Gerald, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Award Description
This award recognizes a new member (within their first year of membership) for their contribution to their chapter, the Greek Community, the University, and their potential for further leadership.
Award Recipients:
- 2023: Hakeem Keith, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Dayna Chappell, Phi Mu; Nick Venglik, Theta Chi
- 2022: Sloane Borsuk, Delta Zeta
- 2021: James Butschie, Sigma Phi Epsilon
- 2020: Joseph Murphy, Phi Kappa Tau
- 2019: Sedrick Sweat, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
- 2018: Madison Lynch, Delta Zeta
Award Description
This award is designed to recognize individual members who exemplify their chapter’s values and principles as described in their chapter’s ritual. This individual should also exemplify the values of our Greek community and challenge chapter and community members to do the same. The individual does not have to have held any office but be someone that other members look to in regards to the values and principles of the organization.
Award Recipients:
- 2023: Britton Smith, Delta Delta Delta
- 2022: Aaron Stark, Alpha Epsilon Pi
- 2021: Alexandra Cumbey, Pi Beta Phi; Jared Mundie, Phi Kappa Tau
- 2020: Brae Mitchell, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
- 2019: Javin Young, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
- 2018: Sydney Sanders, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Award Description
This award recognizes an Advisor (chapter, grad, or faculty) for their hard work and dedication toward improving their chapter and the Greek community.
Award Recipients:
- 2023: Brian Gaines, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
- 2022: Leighton Gray Smith, Delta Zeta
- 2021: Bridget Leslie, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
- 2020: Jason Halterman, Sigma Phi Epsilon; Melissa Gilbert, Phi Mu
- 2019: Summer Harris, Delta Zeta
- 2018: Gay Neal, Alpha Delta Pi
Award Description
The award recognizes a Greek House Corporation Board Member for their hard work and dedication toward improving their chapter and the Greek Community.
Award Recipients:
- 2023: Paul Butler, Sigma Chi
- 2022: Greg Buehner, Pi Kappa Phi
- 2021: Jeff Stephenson, Beta Theta Pi
- 2020: Shannon Tyrrell, Pi Beta Phi
- 2019: Jaylene Baxter, Delta Zeta
Award Description
The award recognizes a Greek Property Manager for their hard work and dedication toward improving their chapter and the Greek Community. Awards are made for an Outstanding Fraternity and an Outstanding Sorority Property Manager.
Award Recipients:
- 2023: Caroline Wallace, Alpha Chi Omega
- 2022: Wallace Crosby, Pi Kappa Phi; Meg Heath, Delta Zeta
- 2021: Mary Em Childs, Kappa Delta
- 2020: Carly Walter, Pi Beta Phi
- 2019: Katie Lisle, Sigma Alpha Epsilon
- 2018: Marlys Headley, Alpha Gamma Delta
Chapter Awards
Award Description
This award recognizes a College Panhellenic Association chapter that exemplifies our fraternal community’s four core values of Service, Scholarship, Leadership, and Friendship. They have gone above and beyond the minimum standards set for them and have excelled in an array of areas throughout our community.
Award Recipients:
- 2023: Alpha Delta Pi
- 2022: Delta Zeta
- 2021: Chi Omega
- 2020: Delta Zeta
- 2019: Alpha Gamma Delta
- 2018: Delta Zeta
Award Description
This award recognizes an Interfraternity Council chapter that exemplifies our fraternal community’s four core values of Service, Scholarship, Leadership, and Friendship. They have gone above and beyond the minimum standards set for them and have excelled in an array of areas throughout our community.
Award Recipients:
- 2023: Beta Theta Pi
- 2022: Alpha Epsilon Pi
- 2021: Alpha Epsilon Pi
- 2020: Phi Kappa Tau
- 2019: Phi Gamma Delta
- 2018: Sigma Phi Epsilon
Award Description
This award recognizes a Multicultural Greek Council chapter that exemplifies our fraternal community’s four core values of Service, Scholarship, Leadership, and Friendship. They have gone above and beyond the minimum standards set for them and have excelled in an array of areas throughout our community.
Award Recipients:
- 2023: Alpha Sigma Rho Sorority, Inc.
- 2022: Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc.
- 2021: Alpha Sigma Rho Sorority, Inc.
- 2020: Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc.
- 2019: Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc.
- 2018: Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc.
Award Description
This award recognizes a National Pan-Hellenic Council chapter that exemplifies our fraternal community’s four core values of Service, Scholarship, Leadership, and Friendship. They have gone above and beyond the minimum standards set for them and have excelled in an array of areas throughout our community.
Award Recipients:
- 2023: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
- 2022: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
- 2021: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
- 2020: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
- 2019: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
- 2018: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Award Description
This award recognizes a chapter that has completed significant service (either one-off or recurring) with exceptional impact. The chapter members have demonstrated a strong commitment to bettering the University and/or Columbia community. This award will be evaluated based on impact, not amount of hours completed.
Award Recipient:
- 2023: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Delta Zeta
- 2022: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Award Description
This award recognizes a chapter who hosted an impactful philanthropy event, demonstrating exceptional awareness for their philanthropic cause. In addition to funds raised, the event successfully educated attendees about the cause. This award will be evaluated based on impact, not amount of money raised.
Award Recipient:
- 2023: Kappa Kappa Gamma
- 2022: Pi Beta Phi
Award Description
This award recognizes a chapter who is continuing the education of their members beyond the new member process. Specifically, this award targets chapters that develop members personally and professionally throughout their collegiate experience and create spaces to reflect on their organizations’ values.
Award Recipient:
- 2023: Alpha Delta Pi
Award Description
This award recognizes a chapter who successfully onboards and develops new members, showing commitment to their organizational values. Specifically, this award targets chapters that take a holistic approach to supporting new members.
Award Recipient:
- 2023: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Award Description
This award recognizes a chapter who, through intentional and substantial action, has shown significant improvement in overall chapter operations compared to the prior year. This award celebrates the diligent efforts of the chapter to follow through strategic planning.
Award Recipient:
- 2023: Delta Delta Delta
- 2022: Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Scholarships
If you are a fraternity or sorority member in good standing, have maintained at least a 3.00 GPA and have met other scholarship-specific criteria, then you may be eligible to apply for one of three scholarships that are exclusive to the Greek community. Scholarship applications are typically opened mid-fall semester.
Who is eligible?
Fraternity members must meet the following criteria:
- Be in good standing with your fraternity and USC (not on any probation)
- Minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA
- Minimum 60 credit hours
- Must be a returning student for the following academic year
- Demonstrated involvement and leadership at USC
- Demonstrated record of community service
- Be of good character
- Must show dedication to the ideals in the Carolinian Creed
Who is eligible?
Sorority members must meet the following criteria:
- Be in good standing with your sorority and USC (not on any probation)
- Minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA
- Minimum 60 credit hours
- Must be a returning student for the following academic year
- Demonstrated involvement and leadership at USC
- Demonstrated record of community service
- Be of good character
- Must show dedication to the ideals in the Carolinian Creed
Who is eligible?
Annually the Remembrance Fund awards Silver Nickel scholarships to deserving fraternity men and sorority women.
Scholarship Criteria:
- Be in good standing with your fraternity/sorority and USC (not on any probation)
- Minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA
- Must be a returning student for the following academic year
- Demonstrated significant contribution to the education of character within their chapter
Scholarship Initiatives and Academic Support
Sorority and fraternity members are connected to academic support services in order to enhance their scholastic achievement. Below are some of the academic initiatives Fraternity and Sorority Council as well as the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life have implemented to better support all students in our community, and to recognize students that are academically achieving at a high level.
Open to new members each spring and fall semester. To be eligible for membership, students must:
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Be a junior or senior
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Possess a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher
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Be a member in a USC-recognized fraternity or sorority
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Have demonstrated leadership capabilities
Help with Courses through the Student Success Center
All Student Success Center course-specific support is free to undergraduate students enrolled at the University of South Carolina-Columbia. Course-specific support includes:
- One-on-One, Drop-In, and Online Peer Tutoring
- Supplemental Instruction
- One-on-One and Drop-In Peer Writing & Communications Tutoring
Help with Study Skills & Help with Finances through the Student Success Center
The Student Success Center provides University of South Carolina-Columbia undergraduate students with free academic and financial support initiatives designed to help all students be successful in and outside of the classroom. Academic and financial support initiatives include:
- Success Consultations – one-on-one meetings between trained Success Consultants and students to set goals, explore study and time management strategies, create action plans, and get connected to campus resources
- Financial Consultations – one-on-one meetings between trained Success Consultants and students to discuss different financial concepts and tools for students to incorporate good financial practices into daily life
- Academic and Financial Workshops
Academic/Scholarship Chair Recommendation Form
What Happens: After submitting a recommendation alert, the student you recommended will be contacted to schedule a Success Consultation/Tutoring Appointment in the SSC to discuss their progress in the course and explore strategies and resources to support their academic success. The SSC also calls students with alerts to encourage them to connect with resources.
When should I submit an alert?: Any time during the semester, but preferably during the first four to six weeks of class. You can submit an alert on behalf of a student as many times as necessary to let the SSC know of your concern so we may connect them to resources that can help.
Chapter Academic/Scholarship Chairs can submit a recommendation alert through the Student Success Center.
Learn more about the Student Success Center online or call 803-777-1000 for more information about academic and financial support initiatives, or to request a workshop for your chapter.