List of Local Tau Chapter Awards

The following is an (incomplete) list of local Tau Chapter Awards. These awards are presented annually at the Founder's Day Banquet.

Current Awards and Scholarships

Awards

Chapter Service Key

Service Keys are given to Brothers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty for the Fraternity. Brothers are nominated and then discussed. It is an honor just to be nominated for a Tau Chapter Service Key. After discussion, Brothers vote. All members need 80% of the Brotherhood's votes. Before 2002, it took 75% for the President and Secretary while the rest of the Brotherhood need 90%. Before 1993, it took 90% for the President and Secretary and 100% for the rest of the Brotherhood.

Sub Article: List of Tau Chapter Service Keys Winners

Years given: ?-1938-Present

Outstanding Alumnus Award

This is the highest honor given to a Tau Chapter Alumnus, established in 1969. The Alumnus must demonstrate the highest ideals of Scholarship, Leadership, and Fellowship. The Alumnus must also show service and dedication to Phi Sigma Pi and to Tau Chapter. The Brotherhood nominates Alumni whom they believe deserves the award. Following the nomination, the Executive Council discusses the nominees with the President making the final decision.

Sub Article: List of Tau Chapter Outstanding Alumnus Award Winners

Years given: 1969-Present

Clauda Pennock Todd Fellowship Award

Established in 1977, this award is given in honor of the first female as an honorary Brother inducted into Phi Sigma Pi. The Fellowship Award has become one of the Tau Chapter's most prestigious awards given to the Brother who had demonstrated the highest ideals in the Fellowship leg of the Tripod. Selection is by simple majority of the votes by the Brotherhood.

Sub Article: List of Tau Chapter Fellowship Award Winners

Years given: 1977-Present

Rick Creech Award

This award was established in 1985 and given in honor of a Brother, Rick, who had multiple sclerosis and was confined to a wheelchair. Rick communicated with a wand attached to his forehead. The award is given to the Brother who has gone through challenges throughout the year and still remained an active part of the Brotherhood. The award is a unicorn in representation of Rick and the wand that helped him communicate. The Brotherhood nominates whom they believe deserves the award. The Executive Council discusses the nominees with the President making the final decision.

Sub Article: List of Tau Chapter Rick Creech Award Winners

Years given: 1985-Present

Steven W. Moore Outstanding Senior Award

Established in 1998, this award, which recognizes the outstanding senior of Tau Chapter, is named after a Brother who passed away in 1997. His dedication and love for life prompted the Chapter to dedicate an award in his name. The Chapter votes on seniors who are hardworking, supportive, and enthusiastic just as Steve was. Selection is by simple majority of the votes by the Brotherhood.

Sub Article: List of Tau Chapter Outstanding Senior Award Winners

Years given: 1998-Present

Jean Latham Non-Traditional Student Award

This award is given to a member who demonstrates the characteristics of an ideal Brother. The Brother has encountered an uncommon college experience and has excelled in their respective field. The award was named after the late Tau Chapter Brother, Jean Latham, who passed away in 2001 after a long and difficult battle with cancer. It is impossible to convey Jean's personality, determination, strength, spirit, and love for life in mere words. The Chapter hopes that by dedicating this award in her name will give back a small amount of what she gave the Chapter. The Executive Council nominates and then votes on the recipient.

Sub Article: List of Tau Chapter Non-Traditional Student Award Winners

Years given: 2001-Present

David "Count" Lamielle Alumni Appreciation Award

This award was established in 2002 to honor recent and active Tau Alumni, who exemplify the three legs of the Tripod by attending Service, Social, Scholarship, Initiation, and Fundraising events throughout the year. This Alumnus also provides wisdom, guidance, and advisement to the Brotherhood. The Chapter nominates deserving Alumni and the Executive Council discusses and selects the recipient. In 2015, this award was dedicated to Count Lamielle who has been a continuously active Alumnus of Tau Chapter for 28 years.

Sub Article: List of Tau Chapter Alumni Appreciation Award Winners

Years given: 2002-Present

Wilhelm Outstanding Committee Chair Award

The Wilhelm Outstanding Committee Chair Award was established in 2004 when the parent of a Tau Alumna lost her life to cancer. The award is given in memory of Jane Wilhelm, as she wished to honor and recognize the hardworking leadership within the Brotherhood, which sometimes goes unnoticed. The Vice President considers Committee Chairs based on their performance throughout the year and decides who will receive the award.

Sub Article: List of Tau Chapter Wilhelm Committee Chair Award Winners

Years given: 2004-Present

Lowry Wesley Bankston Leadership Award

Established in 2015, this award is given in honor of the Tau Chapter’s first president. The Leadership Award is given to the Brother who has demonstrated the highest ideals in the Leadership leg of the Tripod. Candidates for this award should continually foster growth and leadership, as well as possess an esteemed desire to serve the community. Selection is by simple majority of the votes of the active members present.

Sub Article: List of Tau Chapter Leadership Award Winners

Years given: 2016-Present

Dr. Beecher Flanagan Scholarship Award

Established in 2015, this award is given in honor of the first faculty advisor and founder of Tau Chapter. The Scholarship Award is given to the Brother who has who has exemplified the highest ideals in the Scholarship leg of the Tripod. Candidates for this award should have attained commendable scholastic achievement and/or demonstrated profound knowledge to the Brotherhood. Selection is by simple majority of the votes of the active members present.

Sub Article: List of Tau Chapter Scholarship Award Winners

Years given: 2016-Present

Dr. David Lee Batts Tau Tripod Award

Established in 2015, this award is given in honor of faculty advisor and the inaugural recipient of the national Richard Cecil Todd and Clauda Pennock Todd Tripod Scholarship. The Tau Tripod Award is given to a Brother who has continually upheld the ideals of Scholarship, Leadership, and Fellowship on the local level. Selection is made by a simple majority of the votes by the active Brotherhood present.

Sub Article: List of Tau Chapter Tripod Award Winners

Years given: 2016-Present

Scholarships

Richard C. Todd and Clauda Pennock Todd Leadership Scholarship

The Richard Cecil and Clauda Pennock Todd Scholarship was established in 1969. It was the wishes of the Todds at the time to start a scholarship to recognize leadership. Over the years, the recipients of the scholarship have increased from one person in 1969 to all Officers today.

Sub Article: List of Tau Chapter Todd Scholarship Winners

Years given: 1969-Present

Jack Welland and Mary Kathryn Thornton Outstanding Initiate Scholarship

The Jack Welland and Mary Kathryn Thornton Scholarship was established in 1981. The Scholarship has increased throughout the years and is given to the Outstanding Initiate of each class as selected by the Initiate Advisor. The monies raised at the Initiate Carwash are donated into the Scholarship fund. The Initiate Advisor selects the Initiate from each class that has gone above and beyond the expectations of the Initiation Program.

Sub Article: List of Tau Chapter Thornton Initiate Scholarship Winners

Years given: 1981-Present

Tau Chapter Sweetheart

This title is given to a Tau-in-Law, a significant other or friend of a Brother, who has actively supported Tau Chapter. This award is named after Clauda Pennock Todd for her endless love and support for Phi Sigma Pi. The title was originally given to a Brother's female friend when Tau Chapter was an all male Fraternity. In recent years, Tau Chapter has received a tremendous amount of support from non-Brothers. Therefore, the Chapter decided to revive this award. Potential candidates are nominated and then discussed. After discussion, Brothers vote and the candidate with the most votes wins.

Sub Article: List of Tau Chapter Sweethearts

Years given: 1954-1977, 2002-Present

Retired Awards

Outstanding Philosophy

Sub Article: List of Tau Chapter Outstanding Philosophy Award Winners

Years given: ?-1959-1996/97

Outstanding Male Senior Award

Sub Article: List of Tau Chapter Outstanding Male Senior Award Winners

Years given: 1957-1989/90

Outstanding Female Senior Award

Sub Article: List of Tau Chapter Outstanding Female Senior Award Winners

Years given: 1972-1989/90

Best Big Brother and Little Brother Award

Sub Article: List of Tau Chapter Best Big/Little Award Winners

Years given: 1997-2006

Carl S. Miller and Susan Zagiba Scholarship

The Carl S. Miller and Susan Zagiba Scholarship was created by Alumni members Bernae Leah Miller in memory of her father, Carl S. Miller, and D.J. Zagiba in memory of his mother, Susan Zagiba, whom both passed away from complications with a brain aneurysm. The Scholarship was intended to be awarded to a student in financial need who was an Active Member of Tau Chapter. Leah and D.J. were Initiate Brothers and Officers together and this Scholarship was supposed to represent unity in Brotherhood for both the best of times and through the worst of times. The Scholarship celebrates Carl S. Miller's devotion to educational pursuits and his vast heart in helping those who may need a lending hand. The Scholarship was also created to honor all of those who have lost loved ones and remind us all human beings are connected by such losses in our lives, but that our loved one's spirit lives on in the memories that they have left behind and in the hearts of those whose lives they have touched. Brothers were required to complete an essay outlining how they would benefit from the Scholarship and selection was decided by the creators of the Scholarship.

Sub Article: List of Tau Chapter Miller and Zagiba Scholarship Winners

Years given: 2009-2017