The Beta Psi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity at West Virginia University recently captured the prestigious Sisson Award at the fraternity’s 164th annual convention on the campus of Miami University of Ohio in Oxford, Ohio.

Chapter President Kris Zajac, an exercise physiology major from Uniontown, Pa., accepted the award on behalf of the chapter. Only 30 chapters that hit 19 benchmarks in pledge education, community service and campus involvement earned the honor.

Over the past year, the Beta Psi brothers raised money for their philanthropy, the Mario Lemieux FoundationsFire on Ice.Locally, they adopted a street and volunteered as buddies at the 2003 Special Olympics West Virginia Summer Games.

The fraternity also published two newsletters, designed a Web page (http://www.wvu.edu/~btp/), helped to coordinate alumni homecoming and educated others about the dangers and consequences of drinking alcohol. In addition to completing these various activities, the brothers of Beta Psi maintained the highest grade point average (3.2) among all WVU fraternities.

During the award ceremony, Beta Theta Pi’s General Secretary David Wright recognized the Beta Psi Chapter as”a rising star in the greater Beta domain.”

District VII Chief and Beta Psi Faculty Advisor Robert Kent said,”This is a reward for our 40 active brothers, and for those who have charted a path before them, who live the ideals of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity: respect for tradition, lifelong friendship, devotion to responsible leadership, commitment to our communities and high standards of moral conduct.”

More than 165,000 members have been initiated worldwide since Beta Theta Pi Fraternity was founded in Oxford, Ohio, in 1839. The Beta Psi Chapter was chartered at WVU in 1900, and has initiated over 1,900 brothers. For further information, contact Kent at 304-293-8220.