Panhel Council wins regional award for overall excellence

University officials have long called Penn's Panhellenic Council "one of the top sorority systems in the country" -- and now it's official. Panhel won the 1999-2000 Northeast Panhellenic Council Award for Overall Excellence at an NEPC conference in Pittsburgh this weekend, beating out Panhellenic systems from more than 100 other universities. The award -- which honors one sorority system each year for excellence in rush procedure, Greek and women's programming, community service and scholarship -- recognizes the work of Panhel's former executive board, which stepped down two weeks ago. "Between their women's programming, their significant contributions to the alcohol policy development and implementation and other supportive services and programs for their chapters, Penn's Panhellenic truly deserved this award," Director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Scott Reikofski said in an e-mail yesterday. In order to apply for the award, Panhel's executive board had to compile a portfolio documenting Panhel's outstanding actions over the past year. According to former Panhel President Becca Iverson, the board chose to play up Panhel's philanthropic ventures, including the Pumpkin Chase -- a 5K run held last fall to benefit breast cancer research -- and the "2000 for 2000" community service program. The aim of the latter program -- held in conjunction with the InterFraternity Council and Civic House -- was for the Greeks to complete 2000 hours of community service by the year 2000, a goal which Iverson said they "definitely surpassed." Iverson, a Chi Omega sister and College senior, said the board members also emphasized Panhel's attempt to "renew its ties with the faculty," as well as its combined grade point average of almost 3.5, which is higher than the Penn women's average. "It makes me proud to see we're living up to national expectations," Iverson said. Current Panhel President Jennifer Chanowitz, a Sigma Delta Tau sister and College junior, agreed. Although Chanowitz maintained that having a strong sorority system was rewarding in itself, she said that it is also "great to get respect from the system in general." Penn's Panhel also won the Overall Excellence award at the NEPC in 1996 and 1998. Last year, it captured an award for academic excellence.