September 03, 2014

Fraternity earns national recognition

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill.  -- A Southern Illinois University Carbondale fraternity recently received national recognition for excellence in a number of areas. 

The Theta Zeta chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity at SIU received the 2014 True Merit Award at the 81st Biennial Congress of Alpha Tau Omega Awards Banquet recently in Orlando, Fla.  The award, presented Aug. 2, recognizes the chapter for commitment to the ATO mission and for demonstrating positive community and campus involvement.  The award also denotes excellence in recruitment and communication. 

In addition, the SIU chapter’s board of trustees won the fraternity’s Upper Alpha Award for outstanding service to the chapter. 

SIU, chosen from among about 150 chapters across the country, earned the national honor based on service, academics, campus involvement, alumni relations, philanthropy and overall excellence, according to Andy Morgan, acting associate dean of students.  

The current fraternity president is Cameron Shulak, a senior aviation management major from Louisville, Ky., who is also president of SIU Undergraduate Student Government.  The outgoing fraternity president is Aaron Curry, a senior political science major from Silvis. 

The organization’s spring membership at SIU was 58 and Glen Blackstone, workforce education and development senior lecturer, is the adviser.