Belmont’s Phi Delta Theta chapter was recently presented with the Phoenix Trophy at the organization’s General Headquarters annual Emerging Leaders Institute in Oxford, Ohio. The chapter has worked over the past eight months to focus more on being a values driven organization.
The award, named after the mythological bird that periodically recreates itself, is given to recognize a chapter that has shown dramatic improvement over the course of one academic year. According to Phi Delta Theta, the Belmont chapter “has truly risen from the ashes of a chapter plagued with apathy into a chapter full of dedication, brotherhood, and values.”
Since January, Phi Delt has raised nearly $25,000 for various philanthropies and this summer, became the second Iron Phi Chapter of the other 160 across the country. Moreover, they set a goal to log 1,848 service hours (a symbolic number reflecting the year Phi Delt was founded), and the chapter is already halfway to its goal.
President John Michael Criswell created a 360 degree service plan to encourage members to serve the surrounding community in as many avenues as possible. Within the new points system, Criswell says members have been held accountable and, as a result, participation has grown exponentially.
In April, Phi Delt won Belmont’s Greek Week for the second year in a row and at Greek Sing, Phi Delt was crowned champion.
Criswell said, “I feel beyond blessed that I have been able to surround myself with a group of men who all share the same fear for mediocrity. By being a member and the President of Phi Delta Theta, I have experienced, first hand, the powerful experience of what it feels like to be a champion.”
