Jennifer L. Nielson

Greek Week ended last Thursday April 25 with the annual Volstorff Walder Awards Ceremony presented by the SDSU Greek Council.

Howard “Rocky” Gilbert, a founding Lambda Chi Alpha member and retired professor, was the keynote speaker for the evening. Gilbert told stories about how ever fraternity on this campus started. He summed up the greek system and talked about how strong founding members, such as Vivian Volstorff, made the greek system what it is today.

“Just because you put three letters above a saloon or a whorehouse doesn’t make it a fraternity,” Gilbert said.

Following Gilbert’s speech, awards were given to fraternities who showed outstanding involvement in several areas. Jasmine Otterbacher and Travis Davis were master and mistress of ceremonies.

The awards given are as follows:

Outstanding Financial Management: Alpha Gamma Rho and Farmhouse.

Outstanding Member Recruitment: Alpha Xi Delta

Outstanding Chapter Operations: Farmhouse

Outstanding Chapter Unity and Spirit: Chi Omega

Outstanding Chapter Involvement: Alpha Gamma Rho

Outstanding Alumni Relations: Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Outstanding Community Service: Lambda Chi Alpha

Outstanding Personal Growth and Development: Alpha Gamma Rho

Outstanding Scholarship Program: Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Outstanding Greek Active (Greek System): Zach Lutz

Outstanding Greek Active (Campus and Community): Ryan Feist

Outstanding Greek Chapter: Alpha Gamma Rho

Awards were also given to chapters who showed outstanding qualities in a new program implemented this year called 5-star. Two chapters this year were named 5-star chapters. These chapters are Farmhouse and Ceres.

The results of the penny war that was held in the Union were also given. Over $1,500 in change was raised for the Make a Wish Foundation of South Dakota. For the men’s chapters Eric Zender from Delta Chi was chosen as the greek god, and Laura Ceretz of Ceres was chosen as the greek goddess.