The Epsilon Phi chapter of Delta Tau Delta has won the Hugh Shields Award for the fourth time in a row at a leadership conference in Knoxville, Tenn. on Feb. 20-22 at the Southern Division Conference. Every year, this award is given to the top ten chapters of Delta Tau Delta all over the country. The award is based on programming and performance in certain areas, including academics, finances, membership education, operations, leadership and recruitment. The Hugh Shields Award is the highest honor, which a chapter can be recognized for.

“It’s only given to the top ten chapters in the country,” said Mj Ahmad, former Delta Tau Delta vice president. “It’s our biggest award and it’s the fourth year in a row that we have received it, so it feels really good.”

Receiving this award is an honor to the chapter on Southeastern’s campus. It was named after Hugh Shields himself, who was the first executive vice president of the fraternity, in 1926. The winner every year is awarded the purple and gold Hugh Shields flag with the Greek word “protimoi”, which means “first among equals.”

“We went to Knoxville, Tenn. for three days for a leadership conference and that is where we were given the award,” said Ahmad, graduate student in organizational communications. “It feels very good to get the award. Every year that I have been in this fraternity, we’ve won the award so it’s very special.”

Delta Tau Delta was also given awards for academics, adopt-a-school, high retention rate and recruitment. Their motto is “committed to lives of excellence” and the chapter has earned their reward and recognition.