KINGSTON, R.I. – March 7, 2007 – University of Rhode Island Greeks have proven to be role models for other Greek communities in the region. URI’s fraternity and sorority leaders won 11 awards at the annual Northeast Greek Leadership Association Conference. Held in Pittsburgh last month, the conference hosted more than 800 participants representing 79 institutions and 141 Greek associations from across the Northeast. Only Cornell University took home more awards.

The URI Panhellenic Association, composed of nine sororities, won the 2007 programming excellence awards for academic achievement, council management, leadership and educational development, membership recruitment, and public relations.

“Going to the conference was an honor because we represented the chapters of our Greek community and the hard work and dedication that makes us one of the most successful systems in the Northeast,” said Mary Kate Mc Kenna, a Highland Lakes, N.J. resident and president of the Panhellenic Council. “Winning these awards made it clear that we are a recognized Greek Community with amazing accomplishments.”

The URI Interfraternity Council (IFC), composed of 11 fraternities, won awards for academic achievement, council management, leadership and educational development, multicultural initiatives, philanthropy/ community service, and risk reduction and management.

“During the fall semester, the IFC worked hard on our programming excellence award applications,” said John Lauterio, an Elmwood Park, N.J. resident and IFC president. “Winning these awards has shown me that we are heading in a positive direction in helping to build and improve the Greek community for years to come with leadership, programming, risk management, and scholarship.”

“It is so nice to have the work you are doing recognized as one of the best programs in the region,” said Steve Simo, URI director of Greek Affairs.

Simo and Jen Rowan, a Panhellenic adviser, presented an education session entitled “Campus Environmental Methods – Comprehensive Prevention Approaches,” at the conference. The program highlighted URI’s Greek community achieving its recent success in dealing with alcohol abuse and conduct issues and how they got there. The pair spoke to other university fraternity and sorority professional staff and alumni volunteers about how they could use URI’s program to improve their own campuses.

Pictured above

AWARD-WINNING URI GREEKS: URI students who attended the Northeast Greek Leadership Association Conference display some of their certificates. They are (top row, l-r) Jen Rowan, Panhellenic advisor; Brian Dungey, Corrine Hawes, Jon Sorrentino, Tom Sibbald, Andew Chin, IFC advisor, Steve Simo, director, Greek Affairs. Third row (l-r) Brooke Ford, Mary Kate McKenna, Panhellenic president, Josh Helms, John Lauterio, IFC President, and Eric Smith. Second row (l-r) Deanna Corriera and Ryan Battis. Front row (l-r) Lucilla Green, Tasha Cosimo, Amelia Marsh, and Neil Leston. Photo courtesy of URI Greek Affairs.