MSU's Panhellenic Council recognized with award for excellence

From MSU

BOZEMAN — A self-governing body representing sororities at Montana State University was recently recognized by the National Panhellenic Conference with a national award of excellence for its efforts to maintain the highest standards of the organization. MSU’s Panhellenic Council, which was founded in 1924, was one of only 27 schools nationwide, and the only school in Montana, to be honored with the award.

The awards are based on each chapter’s achievements in a total of seven categories: recruitment; Panhellenic structure; communication with the NPC area adviser; judicial procedures; Panhellenic programming; academics; and Panhellenic community impact and relations. In order to be recognized with an excellence award, a local chapter must excel in all seven categories.

“As Panhellenic president, it is my responsibility to facilitate growth and enhancement within the sorority community,” said MSU Panhellenic President Madison Hanson. “The most important factor that led to receiving this award was the legacy and high standards set by previous leaders. This award demonstrates success for each and every sorority woman at MSU.”

Hanson, a Havre native, is a senior education and sociology double major and a member of the Sigma Beta Chapter of Chi Omega Fraternity.

MSU has four national sorority chapters, Assistant Dean of Students and advisor to MSU’s Panhellenic Erin Macdonald Peck said In addition to other activities, all four chapters raise monies individually for their own charities, as well as collectively as the Panhellenic Council, she said.

Alpha Omicron Pi raises money for The Arthritis Foundation through the annual Run for the Roses, Peck said. Pi Beta Phi is involved with literacy, with chapter members volunteering in local schools to promote reading. Alpha Gamma Delta raises money locally each fall for its national foundation with Trick-or-Treat for Change, with proceeds going to support members through scholarships, grants for disaster and economic relief and national diabetes education and research. Chi Omega raises funds and awareness for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Montana with its annual Swishes for Wishes event, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

MSU’s Panhellenic Council provides financial assistance to the Circle of Sisterhood, an organization that supports and advocates for education for women and young girls globally. In the 2015-2016 school year, the council raised over $1,500 for the organization.

Peck said she is pleased to see a continued and growing interest in Panhellenic activity at MSU.  She added that, with an average chapter size of 77, MSU’s sorority membership is the greatest it has been since the 1990s.

“It is an honor to work with the leaders of the sorority community,” Peck said. “They set high standards for themselves and strive to achieve (their) goals. The award is beneficial for MSU’s Panhellenic Council because it reaffirms the excellent work (these young women) are doing and that they are leaders among their peer institutions.”

For more information on MSU’s Panhellenic Council, see http://www.montana.edu/fslife/panhellenic.html.