Lambda Chi Chapter Earns Award

by SOUTHEASTERN PUBLIC INFORMATION
August 25, 2008

DURANT, Okla. -- The Pi Sigma Chapter of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity is quickly becoming a well-known group on the campus of Southeastern Oklahoma State University and in the community.

Recently, Josh Smith, a junior business from McAlester, returned from Phoenix, Ariziona, where he accepted ­ on behalf of the chapter -- the prestigious Bruce H. McIntosh Award at the 2008 Lambda Chi Alpha General Assembly.The 52nd General Assembly was held at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel.

Smith is currently serving as the High Kappa (fraternity educator) of the local group. The General Assembly meets every other year, and delegates representing every Lambda Chi Alpha chapter at colleges and universities across the United States and Canada handle the business matters of the international fraternity. In addition, awards presentations and other meritorious ceremonies recognize outstanding chapters and individual fraternity members. Smith served as the delegate from Pi Sigma (Southeastern).

There are approximately 185 active Lambda Chi chapters in the nation and Canada. The McIntosh Award is among the top awards given to chapters each year and is awarded only to those chapters which demonstrate impeccable development and excellence using the Standards for Chapter Excellence program. Pi Sigma has shown excellence and has improved in every area of fraternity function to include academics, membership, brotherhood development, philanthropy, and finances.

The award is even more impressive considering that the Southeastern chapter was only recently chartered in February of 2007 and is among the very newest chapters. The local chapter currently has 25 active members after graduation losses, recruiting is now the immediate focus as they hope to expand their membership. Since colonizing in 2003, the group has initiated only 62 members into the brotherhood. The young men also work to break the perspectives associated with the stereotype of fraternal life.

Smith said, "We were selected for this award because, even among Lambda Chi Alpha chapters, we're not a typical fraternity group. We stand out and don't want to meet the stereotype. Our first goal is academics and we focus a lot of time and energy to this area. We also work on developing men of strong character with the fraternity's true brother initiative and go by a set of core values: Leadership, Duty, Respect, Service/Stewardship, Honor, Integrity, and Courage."

For more information about Lambda Chi Alpha at Southeastern, please contact the university Office of Student Life at (580) 745-2840.