Outstanding greeks honored at awards ceremony

About a hundred people gathered at Alumni Hall in the Indiana Memorial Union Wednesday night to celebrate the past year's achievements of IU's greek men and women in the annual Greek Awards Ceremony.\nInterfraternity Council, Panhellenic Association, Multicultural Greek Council and the IU Panhellenic Council came together to give away twenty awards ranging from "top academic chapter" to "unsung hero award."\nThe executive board of each chapter nominated members for the awards. A panel of judges consisting of students, faculty and administrators decided the winners. The judging criteria ranged from grade point average to service involvement. Letters of recommendation were taken into consideration as well.\nThe event is one of three events the four councils participate in together during the year.\n"The past couple of years we have all been coming together to work on projects like Safe Halloween, Greekfest and the Greek Awards," said Veronica Salenda, a senior and president of MCGC. "It's a great opportunity for all of us to come together to celebrate all our accomplishments."\nJennifer Kerns, a senior and PHA president, said the ceremony was an important part of the greek community.\n"The purpose of this night is to recognize the individuals that excelled in the qualities that we strive for," Kerns said. "It's a time for us to showcase all the good we do and show our pride in the greek community."\nKerns, a member of the panel of judges, said it was challenging to be in a leadership position and make the right decisions without having to take other people's views personally.\n"You have to remember that people will not always like you and the decisions you make, but they will respect you," Kerns said.\nJohn Perry, a senior and president of IFC said the award ceremony was an opportunity for the members to remind themselves of their values and integrity. \n"Even though everyone will not be winners, everyone in the greek system of IU has contributed to the success of this year," Perry said. "We are all winners tonight."\nMore than 40 individuals and chapters received awards for their merits. Amy Kleymeyer, a Delta Gamma senior, won the award for Greek Woman of the Year. When her name was called, she ran to the stage in tears.\n"This is so fabulous," Kleymeyer said. "This is a huge compliment for all the work I have been doing for the past three years. This ceremony shows that the University cares about their students and all the aspects of the University."\nKevin Gfell, a senior and the winner of the Greek Man of the Year award said he felt lucky to be chosen among a group of many leaders.\n"I kind of spread myself thin because I was involved with many organizations and activities," Gfell said. "I tried to set examples for members whenever I could."\nFormer Dean of Students Michael Gordon, executive director of National Panhellenic Council, spoke at the ceremony. He told students he would be retiring in December and this would be his final speech at IU.\nGordon talked about what it means to be greek and the values greek members hold. He said students associate themselves with the Greek letters because they try to live up to the ancient Greek ideals.\nHe asked the students to shout out a value which is important in their chapter. Then he asked the students to stand up and shout out the name of a person that exemplified that value in their chapter and said, "I think the greek system of IU, and in America, is in the right place in the right time"