Penn Greek system honors excellence

Members of the Penn Greek system took some time out on Tuesday to honor their accomplishments and reflect on the past year. For some, it was a particularly moving night. "This was the most challenging and rewarding experience I've had in college," said former InterFraternity Council President Mark Metzl, a Tau Epsilon Phi brother and College senior. Metzl, who accepted an award for his work as the IFC head, had to pause several times to wipe tears from his eyes. Over 100 Penn Greeks from the IFC, the Panhellenic Council and the Bicultural InterGreek Council gathered in the Penn Tower Hotel for the annual Greek Awards banquet on Tuesday night. The evening's biggest winner was the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, which won five awards, including the Alexander Award for overall excellence in a BIG-C chapter. "I'm proud," said Alpha Phi Alpha President Richard Adzei, a College senior. "We worked really hard to serve the entire Penn and West Philadelphia community -- and being a senior, it's great to leave on top." Phi Kappa Psi won the IFC award for overall excellence, the Crawford C. Madeira Cup. Phi Psi also took home three other awards. And the Alpha Phi sorority received the Helen S. Berkowitz award for overall excellence in a Panhel chapter, along with two other awards. "It was really nice to see everyone in our house get recognized, because every member of the house does something to contribute," said Phi Psi President Zac Costello, a Daily Pennsylvanian sports writer. The award winners were determined by the alumni council and student representatives from the three Greek umbrella groups. The awards for most improved chapters went to the Phi Sigma Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta sororities, while the awards for special accomplishments were received by Alpha Phi Alpha and Delta Delta Delta. Alpha won the award for encouraging its members to become involved in the fraternity's national board, while Tri-Delt's award was for the sorority's philanthropic projects. Other big winners were the Delta Upsilon fraternity and the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. The former presidents of each of the three umbrella groups -- Metzl, College senior Becca Iverson for Panhel and Wharton senior Ramon Marmolejos for the BIG-C -- were also honored at the ceremony. In addition, the Greeks honored Provost Robert Barchi for his work during the past year with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs and with Greek chapters. "We don't see [the Greek system] as Dartmouth sees this," Barchi said in his acceptance speech. "We don't see this system as something that's contrary to the mission of this University. It's something that we have to move forward with."