During Connecticut Alpha’s February 16 chapter meeting, Alumni and Volunteer Corporation president Van Augur presented seven awards from the national Fraternity recognizing achievements by the chapter and individual brothers.
The chapter award was the Donald C. McCleary Award for Excellence in Member Development, which recognizes chapters that exercise a commitment to the Balanced Man Program and provide compelling and individualized opportunities to develop members throughout their time in college. The second was the Excelsior Award for Recruitment, which recognizes chapters that show movement “upward and onward” in recruitment.
Two undergraduates received recognition for their individual achievements. Senior Kristoffer Davis ’25 received the Frank J. Ruck Leadership Award, which recognizes individuals who show outstanding campus and community leadership. He is the Co-Director of Campus Affairs for HuskyTHON, an effort to raise funds and awareness for Connecticut Children’s Hospital, and a proud advocate for chapter mental health. Senior Kellen Paparella ’25 received the J. Edward Zollinger Outstanding Senior Award. The honor recognizes seniors that are balanced leaders and models of excellence in scholastic achievement, fraternity, and campus leadership and community involvement. Kellen served CT Alpha as both vice president of communications in 2022 and president in 2023. He also was a 2024 Tragos Quest to Greece Scholar.
The CT Alpha Alumni and Volunteer Corporation received two honors. The AVC Operational Excellence Award for their exceptional service to an undergraduate chapter that produced measurable outcomes, and the Sunago Award for Excellence in Mentoring for creating a remarkable bond and cooperation between their volunteers and undergraduate members.
The final award presented was to Dr. Jonathan Wharton (Stevens Renaissance), CT Alpha’s AVC vice president. He received The University Partner of the Year Award, which recognizes campus partners who have played an outstanding role in the development of a chapter, and in turn, the fraternal movement.
“Wharton is one of the most passionate and driven alumni that supports our chapter, bringing an infectious positive energy that impacts each individual,” CT Alpha president Alex Reilly ’26 said. “With his mentorship and hosting of 4.0 and etiquette dinners, all brothers effectively learn how to become balanced men.”
The brothers of CT Alpha look to continue building on these accomplishments as the year goes on, with hopefully many more to come. VDBL!