Greek Awards

The chapters receiving this award exemplify the Florida Greek community’s four core values of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Community. They have gone above and beyond the minimum standards set for them and have excelled in an array of areas throughout our community.

2023 Recipients:

To recognize chapter(s) who have made conscious efforts to collaborate with another Greek organization or another student organization in the brainstorming, pre-planning, implementation, and evaluation of a program/activity/stated goal.  

2023 Recipients:

2022 Recipients: Alpha Gamma Rho, Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Kappa Kappa Gamma.

An effective scholarship program is essential to maintaining the high academic values we hold in sororities and fraternities. The recipient of this award has established a practice or written program that successfully supports this value and helps the chapter to maintain high academic performance and standards.  

2023 Recipients:

2022 Recipients: Alpha Gamma Rho, alpha Kappa Delta Phi International Sorority, Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Delta Delta Delta.

To recognize a chapter that shows an outstanding commitment to the continuous life-long learning process of its members and/or community through educational programming. The chapter has taken a proactive approach to education by establishing a program that effectively engages its members and has intentionally utilized the membership development plan.  

2023 Recipients:

2022 Recipient: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Service is one of the four core values within the Florida Greek community. The chapter receiving this award has developed an innovative program that provides a service to the community while educating its members throughout the process. Effective programs like this are necessary to promote healthy relationships between the Florida Greek community and the surrounding Gainesville area.  

2023 Recipients:

2022 Recipients: Sigma Phi Epsilon, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and Chi Omega.

To recognize chapters who display the utmost altruistic behavior with raising funds or products to benefit philanthropy/non-profit. The program or activity has significantly contributed to those in attendance through engagement and education. It is open to the Florida Greek community as well as the surrounding community.  

2023 Recipients:

2022 Recipients: Alpha Gamma Rho, alpha Kappa Delta Phi International Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Chi Omega.

To recognize chapters that are continuing the education of their members past the new member process. Specifically, this award targets chapters that develop members personally and professionally throughout their collegiate experience and create spaces to reflect on their organizations’ ritual. Provide resources for members to accurately advertise their fraternal experience. 

2023 Recipients:

Assesses the leadership programming chapters provide for their members, including but not limited to external workshops/programs their members attend on behalf of their chapter or to benefit the chapter/individual 

2023 Recipients

To recognize a chapter that shows an outstanding effort to foster multiculturalism and diversity education within their organization and the Florida Greek Community. The recipients of this award have initiated and implemented a practice or written program that successfully celebrates multiculturalism and promotes diversity education within their organization or the community. This award intends to recognize those who have taken a proactive approach to better their respective organization and promote social justice in the community.  

2023 Recipients:

2022 Recipient: Kappa Kappa Gamma

To recognize and celebrate chapters that have demonstrated exceptional effortless in promoting holistic health and wellness of their members. It aims to encourage a positive and healthy lifestyle within the Sorority and Fraternity community at UF.  

2023 Recipients:

James E. Scott spent his career teaching and serving others. Beginning his career as a high school teacher and guidance counselor, Dr. Scott became Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Florida in September 1999. He quickly gained a reputation as someone students could trust, someone who promoted respect in addition to providing it to students. The Living the Ritual Award is given to the most outstanding member of the Florida Greek community who throughout her/his academic career has not only promoted the ideals of Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Community but also the values of her/his individual chapter.

2023 Recipient

2022 Recipient: Alyssa Bretan, Alpha Delta Pi

2021 Recipient: Scott Ater, Sigma Phi Epsilon

2020 Recipient: Emily Little, Sigma Kappa

The Buddy MacKay Award is given to the Interfraternity Council’s Man of the Year. Buddy MacKay has served in many roles throughout his life, including state representative, senator, congressman and Lt. Governor of Florida. Buddy MacKay has made it his priority to focus and improve the quality of Florida’s schools, make Florida’s neighborhoods safe, and preserve and protect Florida’s environment. This award is designed to honor an outstanding member of the Interfraternity Council who, like Buddy MacKay, displays outstanding scholarship, service, and leadership to the entire Florida community striving to further develop Buddy MacKay’s dedicated commitment to education and to promoting safe and inclusive environment within the campus community.

2023 Recipient

2022 Recipient: Damon Veras, Tau Kappa Epsilon

2021 Recipients: Reid Marlett, Kappa Sigma and Robert Sistrunk, Alpha Gamma Rho

2020 Recipient: Cameron Stake, Alpha Gamma Rho

As a member of the Phi Chapter of Lambda Theta Phi, William Santiago helped create the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) at the University of Florida. William’s vision and passion was providing a stronger community of support for students interested in cultural appreciation. He carved a path for many of the MGC Greek chapters to exist today at UF. The recipient of the William Santiago award shares his great passion and determination as well as strives to continually improve both the Multicultural Greek Council and the Florida Greek community.

2023 Recipient: 

2022 Recipient: Elizabeth Carmenate, Gamma Eta Sorority, Inc.

2021 Recipient: William Ortiz, Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc.

2020 Recipient: Gisselle Perez, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.

Samuel Taylor was the first Black University of Florida student to be elected Student Body Vice President in 1971 and went on to become the first Black student elected Student Body President in 1972. He was very instrumental during his time at the University of Florida, especially his participation in “Black Thursday,” which was a sit-in held in 1971 by Black UF students who demanded an increase in minority representation on the campus. Additionally, Samuel Taylor was key in creating the African-American studies program at UF. Taylor was dedicated to the betterment of the Black community at the University of Florida and strived for excellence in his field. The recipient of this award has a similar determination for his or her community. He or she deserves special recognition for the traits and accomplishments that come along with these qualities. National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Greek Member of the Year will demonstrate a commitment to Scholarship, Service, Leadership, Risk Management, and Community.

2023 Recipient: 

2022 Recipient: Rhiguens Fortune, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

2021 Recipient: Sarah Louis, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

As the former Associate Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Florida, Dr. Helen Mamarchev founded the Women’s Leadership Conference out of a need for programming at the University of Florida, especially for bright young women. This award is designed to honor an outstanding member of the Panhellenic Council who, like Dr. Mamarchev, displays outstanding scholarship, service, and leadership to the entire Florida community striving to further develop Dr. Mamarchev’s vision of education and promoting outstanding woman leaders and role models for the campus community.

2023 Recipient:

2022 Recipient: Aedyn Gorenberg, Alpha Epsilon Phi

2021 Recipient: Alise Griffin, Alpha Delta Pi

2020 Recipient: Emily Little, Sigma Kappa

As both a former University of Florida professor and fraternity advisor, Dr. Maturo inspired students to strive to a higher academic standard. Like Dr. Maturo, the recipient of this award will be someone who has excelled academically while still devoting time to remain a highly active member of the Greek community.

2023 Recipient

2022 Recipients: Nicole Wasserman, Sigma Kappa and Omolola Suleiman, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

2021 Recipient: Leah Locascio, Delta Gamma

2020 Recipient: Michael Cohn, Sigma Phi Epsilon

Dr. Michael Bowie has served the Greek community in a variety of capacities. Most notably, he was elected the youngest President in the history of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Dr. Bowie’s level of involvement is incredible, including serving as the National Treasurer of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc., Florida State Keeper of Records & Seal of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Past President of the Gainesville Council of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, and Advisor to the NPHC at the University of Florida. All these accomplishments are a great inspiration to all. In the spirit of Dr. Bowie’s outstanding service to the Greek community, this award will be presented to a dedicated and involved member of the Greek community.

2023 Recipient

2022 Recipient: Lesley Banh, alpha Kappa Delta Phi International Sorority, Inc.

2021 Recipient: Kashfaa Tasmim, Delta Phi Omega Sorority, Inc.

2020 Recipient: Rachel Jenkins, Sigma Kappa

Dedicated to serving the student body, William E. Rion became the youngest Union Director in the nation in July 1948, just three years after he graduated from UF. He served as Director of the Florida Union for more than 50 years, seeing it move from Dauer Hall during the 1960s to its Museum Road location now known as the J. Wayne Reitz Union. While serving as Director, Rion fostered student involvement on campus by providing available spaces for various activities at the Florida Union that promoted diversity, leadership, and scholarship. The University Involvement Award is designed to honor a student who exemplifies the true meaning of being an involved member of the University of Florida through various activities and commitments.

2023 Recipient: 

2022 Recipient: Ama Fosu, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

2021 Recipient: Sarah Louis, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

2020 Recipient: Kyle Garner, Alpha Gamma Rho

While her husband J. Wayne Reitz served as President of the University of Florida, Frances Reitz made a name for herself by devoting her time and energy to serving the community. In addition to all her volunteer efforts, she also created the Friends of Music organization at the University of Florida. This award will be presented to an individual who also possesses a love of service and understands the importance of serving the University of Florida and Gainesville communities.

2023 Recipient:

2022 Recipients: Kendajah Cummings, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Will Munro, Sigma Phi Epsilon

2021 Recipient: Sabrina Guillen, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.

2020 Recipient: Anne Margaret Harrison, Gamma Phi Beta