Phi Delta Chi wins national award

Photo courtesy of Phi Delta Chi

Professional pharmacy fraternity Phi Delta Chi received several awards at the 68th Grand Council in Buffalo, N.Y., on Aug. 2-6. The awards included the Emory W. Thurston Grand President’s Award, the highest award a pharmacy fraternity can earn based on performing well in other categories of the achievement awards program.

“It was a great experience overall, celebrating with brothers and meeting people from other chapters,” Phi Delta Chi member and second-year pharmacy student Kristin Stein said.

According to Stein, the Achievement Awards Program is a program where pharmacy fraternities across the country write reports on their activities in an attempt to win the Prescott Scholarship Cup, the Professional and Service Projects Award, the Chapter Publication Award, the Professional Window Display Award, the John D. Grabenstein Leadership Award and the Ralph L. Saroyan Brotherhood Award.

Phi Delta Chi earned first place for the Prescott Scholarship Cup, second place in the Professional and Service Projects Award, second place in the Chapter Publication Award and third place in the Professional Window Display Award. They also finished in the top 10 for the John D. Grabenstein Leadership Award and the Ralph L. Saroyan Brotherhood Award.

The Prescott Scholarship Cup is awarded based on the academic skill of chapter members. Phi Delta Chi members had an average grade point average of 3.6, earned multiple scholarships and were rewarded for good grades.

Stein, who co-edited the publication, said that for the Chapter Publication, they created a 100-page yearbook and newsletter called “Synergist” about different events the fraternity sponsored.

“It was a fun report,” Stein said. “We had pictures and articles.”

For the Window Display Award, Phi Delta Chi created a display about donating blood and bone marrow with the slogan, “Donate, save a life”. This display is in Harvey Ingham Hall near rooms 102 and 104.

According to Stein, the Professional and Service Project report was a record of professional and community service members that the fraternity accomplished. These services included canteens for the Salvation Army, a campus blood drive and a health screening for blood pressure and sugar levels.

The group also raised money for leukemia through the “Light the Night” walk. “Light the Night” is a fundraiser for leukemia in honor of Phi Delta Chi member Eric Grunzinger, who passed away in 2001 because of leukemia.

“We were very excited,” Stein said. “As the night went on, we became more excited because we knew we had a chance to win Thurston. It was nerve-wracking and hard to contain our excitement.”

At the national meeting, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital honored Phi Delta Chi for being the highest fundraising chapter. Last year, Phi Delta Chi raised over $22,000 with its campaign “Prescription for Hope.” The money was raised through the “Up ‘Til Dawn” event in which fraternity members and students wrote 50 letters to family and friends to receive donations. In addition to the $22,000 earned by fraternity members, other students at Drake raised $10,000 for the cause.

“The hard work of our chapter paid off and every brother contributed,” Stein said. “Hopefully this year we’ll be able to do the same thing.”

This year’s “Up ‘Til Dawn” philanthropy event will be held on Oct. 21 from 6 p.m.-12 a.m.