Theta Chi Fraternity Announces 2015/2016 Recruitment Award Recipients
Carmel, IN - Theta Chi is pleased to announce the 2015/2016 recruitment award recipients. The James M. Holland, Phil S. Randall and Henry B. Hersey awards were created to recognize and honor the Fraternity’s top recruiting chapters for the previous academic year. The awards were presented at the 160th Anniversary Convention held July 22-25, 2016, in Atlanta, Georgia:
James M. Holland Award—
The Holland Award is presented to the chapter that initiates the most new members. Three chapters were recognized for their efforts:
Winner – Alpha Iota/Indiana (56 initiates)
First Runner-Up – Zeta Rho/Kentucky (54 initiates)
Phil S. Randall Success in Recruitment Award—
The Randall Award is presented to chapters that initiate 25 or more new members during the previous academic year. Thirty-four chapters were recognized this year:
Gamma Rho/Florida State (50 initiates)
Iota Beta/Missouri State (50 initiates)
Alpha Phi/Alabama (46 initiates)
Theta Epsilon/Kennesaw State (44 initiates)
Chi/Auburn (42 initiates)
Iota Theta/Central Florida (42 initiates)
Zeta Phi/Cal Poly (41 initiates)
Iota Phi/South Carolina (41 initiates)
Alpha Kappa/West Virginia (39 initiates)
Zeta Pi/Old Dominion (37 initiates)
Gamma Kappa/Miami (OH) (35 initiates)
Eta/Rhode Island (34 initiates)
Psi/Wisconsin (33 initiates)
Gamma Theta/San Diego State (33 initiates)
Iota Pi/Louisiana State (33 initiates)
Beta Delta/Rutgers (32 initiates)
Delta Kappa/Ball State (32 initiates)
Iota Tau/Northern Kentucky (32 initiates)
Delta Eta/Colorado State (31 initiates)
Epsilon Iota/East Carolina (31 initiates)
Theta/Massachusetts (30 initiates)
Alpha Psi/Maryland (30 initiates)
Iota Sigma/Towson (30 initiates)
Alpha Omicron/Washington State (29 initiates)
Alpha Rho/Washington (29 initiates)
Delta Beta/Georgia (29 initiates)
Epsilon Zeta/Tampa (29 initiates)
Delta/RPI (28 initiates)
Alpha Xi/Delaware (27 initiates)
Theta Iota/UC-Santa Cruz (27 initiates)
Beta Alpha/UCLA (26 initiates)
Beta Omicron (26 initiates)
Eta Omega/Chico State (26 initiates)
Iota Mu/Missouri (26 initiates)
Epsilon/WPI (25 initiates)
Henry B. Hersey Significant Increase in Membership Award
The Hersey Award is presented to the chapter that demonstrates the greatest overall percent increase in membership:
Winner – Gamma/Maine with a membership increase of 75%.
Honorable Mention – Epsilon Gamma/Widener with a membership increase of 47.37%.
Honorable Mention – Zeta Lambda/Westminster with a membership increase of 47.06%.
Winners were determined based on the total number of newly initiated members according to the International Headquarters files between May 15, 2015 and May 15, 2016. All active chapters are eligible for consideration for one or more of these honors.
Theta Chi Fraternity's recruitment awards are named in honor of the undergraduate members who saved the Fraternity from extinction. In 1881, Theta Chi found itself with one undergraduate member, James Michael Holland. Holland did not quit, but struggled to find a solution. Fortunately for Theta Chi, one new cadet, Phil Sheridan Randall, felt strongly that Theta Chi was worth saving. Randall convinced his friend Henry Blanchard Hersey that they should become members of Theta Chi. Randall and Hersey approached Holland to join Theta Chi, and he agreed to initiate the two cadets, enlisting the help of local alumni. Randall and Hersey were initiated on November 19, 1881, saving Theta Chi at Norwich University, and securing the future of the entire Fraternity.
Today, the Holland, Randall, and Hersey Awards recognize the recruitment efforts of Theta Chi chapters and their dedication to maintain and preserve Theta Chi Fraternity for the generations of brothers to come.
Congratulations to all recipients and good luck with your recruitment efforts in 2016/2017!
Founded in 1856, Theta Chi Fraternity is a men’s collegiate fraternity with more than 180,000 initiated members and has established 235 chapters. Leadership development, personal development, and service to alma mater are fundamental to Theta Chi Fraternity’s mission.
