Theta Chi Announces Second 2016/2017 Alter Award Recipient
Bloomington, IN – Theta Chi Fraternity is excited to announce the second 2016/2017 recipient of the Howard R. Alter, Jr. Award for Chapter Excellence. Theta Chapter at the University of Massachusetts was recognized during the Mu Class of the Initiative Academy, held July 13-16, 2017 in Bloomington, Indiana.
Created by a group of former field staff in 1984 upon the occasion of Howard Alter’s retirement as Executive Director, the Alter Award was first presented in 1986 to chapters that met or exceeded the Fraternity’s standards of excellence.
The Alter Award is Theta Chi’s highest chapter honor and is traditionally presented at the Fraternity’s summer event. Consideration for the Alter Award is by application only. Applicant chapters are evaluated based on their performance in 14 categories, including recruitment programming, scholarship programming, risk management practices, and pledge and member education. The Alter Award may only be presented to active chapters. Click here to see the first recipient of the 2016/2017 Howard R. Alter Jr. Award.
Executive Director Mike Mayer and International President Joseph Couch with Theta/Massachusetts, receiving their second Alter Award.
Four chapters received the Chapter Achievement Award during the awards ceremony. This award recognizes and encourages chapters that apply for the Alter Award and demonstrate substantial success, progress, and improvement in chapter operations:
- Zeta/University of New Hampshire
- Phi/North Dakota State University
- Gamma Phi/Nebraska Wesleyan University
- Epsilon Kappa/University of Idaho
Four chapters received their Chapter Achievement Awards during the Mu Class of Initiative Academy. They are pictured with Executive Director Mike Mayer and International Chaplain Creig Andreasen. 
One chapter was recognized with Chapter Excellence Award for demonstrating strong performance in specific areas of chapter operations:
- Alpha Delta/Purdue University
International President Joseph Couch and Executive Director Mike Mayer presenting Alpha Delta/Purdue with their Chapter Excellence Award.
One chapter was the recipient of the Most Improved Chapter Award, which recognizes the chapter that has made significant developments over the last year. Past recipients of this award have made tremendous improvements in membership size, scholarship programming, and chapter operations while living up to the tenets of our Fraternity Creed and motto every day.
- Zeta/University of New Hampshire
Zeta/New Hampshire with Executive Director Mike Mayer and Senior Field Executive Marc Bodine
Additional award recognition, including the final 2016/2017 Alter Awards, will be conferred at the final Initiative Academy session. We offer our enthusiastic congratulations to all recipients and urge all chapters to apply for chapter awards next year. The deadline will be April 10, 2018.
Founded in 1856, Theta Chi Fraternity is a men’s collegiate fraternity with more than 185,000 initiated members and has established 235 chapters. Leadership development, personal development, and service to alma mater are fundamental to Theta Chi Fraternity’s mission.
