Panhel receives regional award

The University's 1995 Panhellenic Council received the Northeast Panhellenic Conference Award for Outstanding Panhellenics at the Northeastern Panhel Conference in late February. Josette George, the Northeast area advisor, nominated the Penn Panhel for the award, along with Villanova and Drexel universities. "I think the University of Pennsylvania has an outstanding and solid Greek system," George said. "Lissette Calderon did an outstanding job last year as a Panhellenic president, as did everyone else." George cited rush recruitment, community service, Panhel involvement and programming and as criteria for recognition. Members of the 1996 Panhel and InterFraternity Council executive boards, along with Tom Carroll, assistant director of programming for the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, attended the conference held in Alexandria, Va. Last year's Panhel President Lissette Calderon, a Kappa Alpha Theta sister, explained that the Council had to apply for the award after the nomination and was eligible to apply for multiple awards. "Because of a miscommunication error, we only applied for Outstanding Panhellenics," the Wharton senior said. "The one award we submitted for, we won. And obviously I'm thrilled." The Outstanding Panhellenics category was divided into three sections based on number of chapters on campus. The University competed in the section for schools with between six and 10 chapters. Although Calderon and College senior and Alpha Chi Omega sister Laurie Curtin filled out the application, Calderon said that "anyone who was involved in the Panhellenic system won the award." "If sisters didn't attend the programs that Panhellenic developed this year, these programs would have been in vain, and thus there would have been no reason for us to have won anything," Calderon explained. Calderon said "enthusiasm and determination" distinguished the Penn Panhel from those at other schools. "We had particular goals in mind at the beginning of our term," she said. "We wanted to accomplish those goals while keeping an open mind as to new changes we could implement along the way." She added that she has faith that this year's board will uphold the standard of success set by the 1995 Panhel Council. "I wouldn't be surprised to see us winning this award two years in a row," she said. Current Panhel President Jessica Schreck, a Sigma Delta Tau sister, said she agreed. "I hope Panhellenic women here are proud of themselves and see where they stand nationally," the College junior said. "We're continually building on our academic and community service programming." And Panhel Treasurer and Chi Omega sister Karissa Kruse, who attended the three-day conference, said it was "a worthwhile experience." "I thought it was very useful. I think it gave us a different perspective," the Wharton junior said. "It's interesting to see how different schools work. We came up with a lot of ideas about how to really use delegates, promote communication and break down the barriers between Greek and non-Greek people."