The Lambda Lambda chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity at Elon University received the Founders' Award of Chapter Excellence (FACE) earlier this month. The award recognizes outstanding chapter management, achievement and program development in all areas of operation. Chapter president and senior Brett Ebel says that this achievement is significant for the chapter.
"It is extremely humbling to win such a prestigious award and to have all 86 members be recognized as one unit and family," Ebel said. "We are so blessed and humbled to have achieved this and it is my hope that this award becomes a norm for us year in and year out."
The FACE award is the chapter's first in nine years. The criteria for a FACE award is divided into three sections: chapter size, recruitment, and chapter endowment fund participation. Each Kappa Sigma chapter is able to receive a certain amount of points according to the different criteria. Elon's chapter received a score of 205 points this year. Donations to the fraternity's national philanthropy, attending the national conference and cumulative year GPA are some of the factors to their point total.
Ebel sees the chapter's achievement as a stepping stone for the chapter's future and an even greater opportunity to serve the community.
"We wanted to make a positive, meaningful difference in the lives of community members and chapter members," Ebel said. "And that's really what this award embodies—being a cohesive and productive unit in the community and in our national organization."
The fraternity says it hopes that this victory will not only motivate their chapter for future endeavors, but inspire fraternities, sororities and the Elon/Burlington community to come together to make a difference.
"I hope it shows people that when you have a large, committed group of people with a common goal, you can make a positive and meaningful difference in the community," Ebel said.