Illustrating the strength of Wittenberg University’s co-curricular learning and leadership development opportunities, the Sigma Chapter of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity (FIJI) was recently recognized with national awards for the 2013-14 school year during the fraternity’s 166th biennial convention in Indianapolis, Ind., July 24-27.
Sigma Chapter won first place honors fraternity-wide in the Condon Cup for the greatest improvement in scholarship, extracurricular activities and fraternal relationships among all undergraduate chapters. The chapter also received honorable mentions in both the Baker Cup for social service activities and the Coon Plaque for outstanding chapter publications.
“The chapter continually promotes the academic, leadership and social development of its members,” Wittenberg Greek Life Advisor Carol Nickoson said. It also “consistently gives back to the Wittenberg and Springfield communities through a variety of initiatives that range from supporting Wittenberg athletic teams to bringing the campus and local communities together at the FIJI house each year for a Thanksgiving dinner that benefits the Springfield Promise Neighborhood.”
For the seventh consecutive year, Sigma Chapter also received a Certificate of Superior Academic Achievement for attaining a chapter grade point average above the all-men’s average, and a John Templeton McCarty Chapter Proficiency Award, which recognizes excellence in overall chapter operations.
Founded in 1848 at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pa., the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta is represented on 148 campuses of leading colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada, and enjoys a total living membership of more than 127,000.
The Sigma Chapter was founded at Wittenberg University in 1884. The chapter is one of 11 active fraternities and sororities on the nationally ranked liberal arts campus, where more than one third of students participate in Greek life.
“The mission of Greek life at Wittenberg is to promote excellence in scholarship and personal conduct,” Nickoson said. “Fraternity and sorority life provides students with ample opportunities for leadership development, encourages students to engage in community service and philanthropic activities, and helps students form bonds with others of diverse interests and backgrounds.”
Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Wittenberg University has repeatedly been ranked by the Princeton Review for the quality of its teaching and faculty, including 11th in the nation for “Best Classroom Experience” and 15th in the category “Professors Get High Marks” in the 2011 edition of Princeton’s annual Best Colleges guide. Most recently, Wittenberg earned the No. 4 spot in the category of “Most Accessible Professors.” Additionally, The Chronicle of Higher Education named Wittenberg one of the nation’s top producers of Fulbright Scholars among bachelor degree-granting institutions in 2010. The university has also been recognized nationally for excellence in service and athletics.
