Members of the University of Louisiana at Monroe Pi Kappa Alpha chapter continued the longest current winning streak in Pi Kappa Alpha history as they captured their 12th consecutive Robert A. Smythe Award at the Pi Kappa Alpha International Convention.

The win marks their 17th Smythe award in the last 19 years of the convention.

Members of ULM's Pi Kappa Alpha chapter at the Pi Kappa Alpha International Convention in Austin, Tex.

Three ULM students, which included Pi Kappa Alpha President Nick Vinson, Vice President Trevor Hall and Phillip Carpenter, along with Advisory Board Members Adam Cossey, Joseph Beard, and Bob Elliott, joined Chapter Advisor Tommy Walpole during the five-day Pi Kappa Alpha International Convention held July 28-Aug. 1 in Austin, Texas.

Other highlights of the trip included:

• Winning the Raymond L. Orians Award for Chapter Excellence for overall chapter performance during the previous year. This is the chapter’s 24th consecutive Orians award.

• Winning international work day recognition for having the most alumni attend the annual event.

• Recognition for 100 percent participation in the Phi Phi Kappa Alpha Club, an undergraduate donor club consistently recognized for its efforts.

• Winning the programming awards in athletics, as well as in alumni relations, for the second consecutive year.

• Being named finalists for Pi Kappa Alpha’s Pledge Education, Risk Awareness and Finance Programs; Alumni Association finalists for the William R. Nester Award; and Advisory Board finalists for the Advisory Board of the Year.

• Tommy Walpole was recognized for over 25 years of continual service to the Pi Kappa Alpha Chapter at ULM.

• President Nick Vinson was recognized for his attendance at Pi Kappa Alpha’s Educational conferences.

Coordinator of Greek Life Keith Hembree noted that Pi Kappa Alpha, ULM’s largest fraternity, are first among campus fraternities in grade point averages for the 2009-2010 academic year and have won several “Chapter of the Year” awards at ULM.

“We congratulate Pi Kappa Alpha for their long line of successes,” said Hembree. “It is always an especially proud moment when one of our Greek organizations achieves positive attention at the national level.”





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