Virtual Awards 2016

Congratulations to our 2016 Virtual Award Recipients!

Please enjoy our video recap of Virtual Awards week!

Patricia Giallanza Hospitality Award

In order to recognize those chapters that most successfully planned and implemented the visits of the Leadership Consultants, the Patricia Giallanza Hospitality Award was established by the Board of Trustees in 1996. Pat Giallanza, Upsilon, is a past National President and wearer of the Guard of Honor, was instrumental in the planning and development of the fraternity’s Leadership Consultant program that began in 1995. Requirements include completing required paperwork, scheduling chapter activities during the visit, providing adequate food and lodging arrangements within their means and displaying hospitality to their guest. Going forward additional consideration will now be given to those chapters who showed great stewardship in the upkeep of their chapter rolls and ritual equipment as reflected in the LC reports. Please join us in thanking and congratulating Pat for all of her contributions and guidance over the years.

Patricia Giallanza


Patricia Giallanza Award - Gamma Lambda

Per their Leadership Consultant, Taylor Fonseca, “Even with the amount of activities that the chapter had planned for me they were very welcoming to me as a sister. They did have somethings to work on with chapter operations but the chapter was in a good place and knew what was needed of them. These ladies hold the qualities of Theta Phi Alpha and want to share their experiences and passion to anyone who is interested in Greek life. This chapter had an amazing schedule planned out for me during my time in their city. The chapter had a binder ready with all the information for me that was needed. They also gave me a nice little gift basket with food, a shirt and hat. The place they housed me in was very nice. They were very serious in the matter but really participated in the workshops that were planned.” The Patricia Giallanza Hospitality Award is hereby presented to the Gamma Lambda Chapter.


Patricia Giallanza Award - Delta Gamma

Per their Leadership Consultant, Stephanie Notaro, “I spent a lot of time with this chapter and got to know them very well. Their sisterhood really shines, and their love for Theta Phi is undoubtable! The women in this chapter made me feel so comfortable every single visit and really went out of their way to make sure I was happy and content for every visit. I really think they are very deserving of this award.” The Patricia Giallanza Hospitality Award is hereby presented to the Delta Gamma Chapter.


Patricia Giallanza Award - Gamma Eta

Per their Leadership Consultant, Sarah Butts, “This chapter does a great job at balancing the needs for my visit to be productive and enjoyable. I always receive an organized binder with all the paperwork I could want, from a roster including phone numbers and pictures of members to their chapter bylaws and programs. This makes my visit so much easier and stress free. The women do a great job at hosting. I stayed with women in one of the dorms and was welcomed with all my favorite snacks. My schedule was very well organized leaving breaks for me to catch up on notes, but also meeting with all the positions. Meal times were always well attended with women who were sincere and engaged especially with it being their first week of classes at a competitive art school. It was awesome to be able to experience more of the surrounding area as well. I could tell they were attentive and remembered conversations from last semester and planned things that I was interested in. With their great balance of productivity with the business side and taking advantage of the fun activities around them, I left my visit feeling accomplished as well as grateful for the cool experiences I got to spend with sisters. Their Ritual equipment and their scrolls were in good condition. This was my second visit with the chapter. I could tell that they really took me personally into consideration. I had breaks in the day that they let me be alone for a little while and sit on my laptop to catch up on things. The women made sure that all my visit needs were planned which makes my visits far more productive and enjoyable. The women I stayed with made sure I was comfortable, but also gave me space. In planning my fun activities I could tell they listened and remembered some of my interests.” The Patricia Giallanza Hospitality Award is hereby presented to the Gamma Eta Chapter.


Patricia Giallanza Award - Delta Delta

Per their Leadership Consultant, Jessica Cox, “This chapter seems to really enjoy getting visits from Consultants. They take full advantage of the opportunity. Their Ritual equipment is still quite new so they have kept it well for the past 2 years. Their equipment and scrolls are kept safely. This chapter was extremely welcoming and I felt very comfortable and close to them. They have a real, genuine love for Theta Phi Alpha. I was with them during their recruitment period (a stressful time) and they were still attentive to my needs. One instance in particular comes to mind: Preference/Bid Day was all in the same day. We were up very early that morning preparing for the Preference parties and then later in the day, Bid Day events would begin. It was an extremely long and exhausting day! I had laid down to rest for a bit and when I woke up to start preparing for Bid Day, one of the sisters had gone out of their way to bring me coffee without even asking. It was such a small gesture but I very much appreciated it.” The Patricia Giallanza Hospitality Award is hereby presented to the Delta Delta Chapter.


Patricia Giallanza Award - Alpha Delta

Per their Leadership Consultant, Emma Diem, “Having completed my year of traveling I can honestly say that when chapters ask how they can improve their consultant visits I think back to my time at this chapter… Who took the time to get to know me, shared some of their favorite things about their city, and really wanted to learn as much as possible during my visit. The chapter kept their ritual equipment clean and well organized, as well as their scrolls. The chapter welcomed me with enthusiasm. They had obviously taken a good look at my profile, a fact that was evident by the personalized binder their hospitality chair gave me that included several of my favorite things to liven it up. It was this small touches that showed me that this chapter really genuinely valued my visit.” The Patricia Giallanza Hospitality Award is hereby presented to the Alpha Delta Chapter.

Amelia McSweeney Award

In memory of Amelia McSweeney, founder of Theta Phi Alpha and Guard of Honor recipient in 2012, whose guidance and inspiration is cherished by all Theta Phi Alphas, the Board of Trustees established in 1966 the Amelia McSweeney Award, which is presented to the alumnae association that makes an outstanding contribution to Theta Phi Alpha on a national level.


Amelia McSweeney Award - Northern New Jersey Alumnae Association

For the year 2015–2016, for having 10 association members involved on a national level with nearly a 50% participation rate, for improving their number of members, for supporting a local colony as well as having members serve on advisory boards, as well as timely submittal of their reports, the Amelia McSweeney Award is hereby presented to the Northern New Jersey Alumnae Association.

Anna Rose Kimpel Academic Excellence Award

The chief purpose of a college education is the acquisition of knowledge. To stimulate academic excellence as one of the fundamentals of fraternity life, the Grand Council established in 1935 the Scholarship Cup to be awarded biennially to the chapter of Theta Phi Alpha with the highest relativestanding in academic excellence. At the Centennial Convention the award was renamed the Anna Rose Kimpel Academic Excellence Award. Anna Rose, Zeta, was an outstanding National President and Guard of Honor Wearer who prioritized the area of scholarship for the fraternity.


Anna Rose Kimpel Award - Gamma Pi

For the calendar year 2015–2016, for the chapter that had the fraternity’s highest average chapter GPA of 3.53 with a perfect 700 cooperation points, the Anna Rose Kimpel Academic Excellence Award is hereby presented to the Gamma Pi Chapter.

Jean Yosepian Theta Phi Alpha Foundation Award

In 1982, the Founders’ Foundation Award was established and presented by Jean Yosepian, Upsilon, to recognize a chapter and/or alumnae association for its support and long-term commitment to the Foundation in each biennium. Today the award is presented to the chapter that has given the greatest financial support in the form of direct contributions to the Foundation for the fiscal year. At the 2006 National Convention, the Board of Trustees honored a vital force in the success of the Foundation by changing the name to the Jean Yosepian Founders’ Foundation Award. Jean, a wearer of the Guard of Honor, served as President of the Founders’ Foundation from 1978–1994. In 2008, the Founders’ Foundation officially changed their name to Theta Phi Alpha Foundation thus reflected in award name.


Jean Yosepian Award - Delta Delta

For the year 2015–2016, for the highest amount donated to the Theta Phi Alpha Foundation by a chapter, the Jean Yosepian Theta Phi Alpha Foundation Award is hereby presented to the Delta Delta Chapter.

Lois Barry Lynch Theta Phi Alpha Foundation Award

Lois Barry Lynch, Kappa, was the first President of the Founders’ Foundation, known today as the Theta Phi Alpha Foundation. Created in 1959, the Foundation has been supported through the years by chapters and alumnae. In 2012, the Board of Trustees established the Louis Barry Lynch Theta Phi Alpha Foundation Award presented to the alumnae association that has given the greatest financial support in the form of direct contributions to the Foundation.


Lois Barry Lynch Award - Flint Area Alumnae Association

For the year 2015–2016, for the highest amount donated by an association, the Lois Barry Lynch Theta Phi Alpha Foundation Award is hereby presented to the Flint Area Alumnae Association.

Mildred M. Connely Award

In 1972, in recognition of her devotion to both collegians and alumnae of Theta Phi Alpha, the Board of Trustees established in the name of our beloved founder and first recipient of the Guard of Honor, the Mildred M. Connely award. This award is to be presented to an alumnae association for its outstanding and continued support of one or more collegiate chapters.


Mildred Connelly Award - New Orleans Area Alumnae Association

For the year 2015–2016, for exemplary communications, donations for ritual equipment, financial support, membership recruitment support, participation in Advisory Boards, for service, and for hosting events for collegians in addition to phenomenal support for chapters impacted by weather and other tragedies not only near them but also further away from their own association, the Mildred M. Connely Award is hereby presented to the New Orleans Area Alumnae Association.

Esther Burke McCormick Award

In memory of Esther Burke McCormick, Nu and wearer of the Guard of Honor, whose fine education of new members left a lasting impression on so many members of her chapter, the alumnae of Nu chapter established in 1966 the Esther Burke McCormick Award, to be presented to the chapter that has the highest new member retention percentage. For the year 2015-2016 we have two winners with a perfect tie!


Esther Burke McCormick Award - Beta Xi

For the year 2015–2016, for initiating 100% percent of their new members, and earning a perfect 1700 cooperation points and submitting all required reports on time, the Esther Burke McCormick Award is hereby presented to the Beta Xi Chapter.


Esther Burke McCormick Award - Beta Psi

For the year 2015–2016, for initiating 100% percent of their new members, and earning a perfect 1700 cooperation points and submitting all required reports on time, the Esther Burke McCormick Award is hereby presented to the Beta Psi Chapter.

Jean M. Cusack Membership Award

While recognizing the importance of each alumna in the life of the fraternity, we further value her participation in an organized group, which can guide and inspire undergraduates and preserve association with chapter members who travel far and wide. To this end, Helen Nee Hutto, Nu, past National Executive Secretary and wearer of the Guard of Honor, in 1958, established a Membership Tray to be awarded to the Alumnae association, which has best maintained and reported its membership. In 2002 this award was renamed the Jean M. Cusack Membership Award to honor Jean Cusack, Beta, a woman who was relentless in her pursuit of missing alumnae, diligent in updating records and whose middle initial probably stood for membership. Jean entered the Eternal chapter in January of 2013 at the age of 94. Jean attended 26 National Conventions and delighted us with her quick wit, stories of the past and dreams for the future of Theta Phi Alpha.


Jean M. Cusack Award - Chicago Area Alumnae Association

For the year 2015-2016, for the alumnae association that recruited and increased its membership 123% from 13 to 29 members; this association achieved this incredible improvement by inviting everyone from the national roster, utilizing Facebook, Twitter, via snail mail, e-mail, and more, the Jean M. Cusack Membership Award is hereby presented to the Chicago Area Alumnae Association.

Selma Gilday Improved Academic Excellence Award

In memory of Selma Gilday, a founder of Theta Phi Alpha and wearer of the Guard of Honor, whose enthusiasm for learning inspired her students to greater scholastic achievement, the Board of Trustees established in 1962 the Selma Gilday Award. This award is to be presented to the chapter which instituted a program to improve its chapter academic excellence, and as a direct result, improvement was shown.


Selma Gilday Award - Alpha Upsilon

For the year 2015–2016, for the chapter who increased their chapter overall GPA from during the calendar year with a 14.6% improvement and a perfect 700 Cooperation Points, as well as completion of all required academic excellence reports and academic excellence programs, the Selma Gilday Improved Academic Excellence Award is hereby presented to the Alpha Upsilon Chapter.


Selma Gilday Certificate - Alpha Omega

We would like to recognize the Alpha Omega Chapter who also did a great job in the calendar year of 2015–2016 with improving on their academics and GPA and deserve a shout out for their accomplishments. CONGRATULATIONS, ALPHA OMEGA!

Please take a moment to fill out our brief survey about the new awards format!