Three students from the University, Kyle Coapman ’13 of Delta Upsilon Fraternity, Harini Morisetty ’13 (T5) of Delta Phi Omega Sorority, and Kelly Scull ’14, Sigma Delta Tau Sorority, were recipients of the Greek Leaders of Distinction Award. This award recognizes students who exemplify the ideals of their fraternity or sorority within their daily lives. Nominees were judged on several criteria, including leadership, scholastic and academic achievement, character as displayed through fraternity or sorority membership, and service to the University, to the individual’s organization, and to the fraternity and sorority community at large.

Sigma Phi Epsilon also was recognized with the Amy Vojta Impact Award for Philanthropy & Service; which recognizes programming and initiatives that made an impact on a chapter. The fraternity was honored for their work planning and organizing the 19th Ward Spelling Bee.

The annual event is a partnership between Sigma Phi Epsilon, the 19th Ward Community Association, Rochester City School District, Rochester Area Community Foundation, and University of Rochester Admissions Office. Throughout the academic year students in grades three through seven receive spelling bee support in their respective schools and attend monthly sessions where members of Sigma Phi Epsilon tutor them in preparation for the preliminary and the final rounds. Students’ hard work culminates with the final round, held in the spring. Prior to the competition students and their parents also have the opportunity to explore the River Campus and engage with members of the University community.

“By bringing students to our school and showing them what they are capable of, we believe that we intrinsically motivate them to learn and reach their full potential,” wrote Jonathan Macoskey ’15, Sigma Phi Epsilon president, in a letter nominating the fraternity for the award. “We hope that as these students near the end of high school, this event’s impact will be visible; encouraging the pursuit of higher education at a young age will hopefully aid in increasing high school graduation rates in the city of Rochester.”

Winners for each grade level receive a $500 scholarship given upon high school graduation and intent to attend college.

University of Rochester award recipients included Lucas Piazza ’12 of Delta Upsilon Fraternity and Anna Richlin ’12 of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, who received the Student Greek Leaders of Distinction Award. This award recognizes students who exemplify the ideals of their fraternity or sorority within their daily lives. The individuals were judged on several criteria, including leadership, scholastic and academic achievement, character as displayed through fraternity or sorority membership, and service to the University, to the individual’s organization, and to the fraternity and sorority community at large.

The Rochester fraternity and sorority community was also recognized with the Amy Vojta Impact Award; which was presented to groups that created an original program with an impact on the community. The Rochester community received the award in the area of multicultural initiatives and programming for the Greek-or-Treat event.

The community collaborated with a nearby city elementary school, bringing more than to the University campus to trick or treat on Halloween. Every fraternity/sorority (31 in total) purchased two bags of candy for the children and worked with the fraternities on the Fraternity Quad to provide the children with an opportunity to go trick-or-treating, engage in fun activities, and enjoy snacks and beverages.

According to Neftali Morales ’12, president of the Multicultural Greek Council, planning the Greek-or-Treat had several benefits, including building relationships with the elementary school. “This was key because of our interest to repeat this event for years to come,” Morales explained in a letter nominating Rochester for the award.

Morales also noted that the event created an opportunity for collaboration and conversation among the fraternities and sororities on campus. “The organizations were able to share what they offered on campus and these conversations led to a number of different co-sponsorships on the chapter-to-chapter level,” he said.

Article written by Audrey Kusasira, an intern in University Communications who is pursuing a Master’s of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at the School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Photo courtesy of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs.