Awards

One of the most exciting parts of Convention is celebrating accomplishments, cheering on friends old and new, and dressing to the nines.

Prior to 1930, the only awards given at Convention were scholarship medals. At Convention 1930 in French Lick, Indiana, the first Silver Award (a loving cup) was presented to the member with the highest GPA in the Fraternity. In 1939, the first major chapter Silver Award was presented, a sterling silver bowl called the Grand Chapter Award. It recognized the highest-achieving collegiate chapter in ZTA. Today, the Fraternity presents more than 50 awards at each Convention.

Individual Awards

  • The Louise Kettler Helper Awards honor an alumna and a collegian whose service and achievements made notable contributions to the progress of the Fraternity and the fraternity/sorority world. Mrs. Helper was National President from 1937 to 1943 and helped guide ZTA as the U.S. joined World War II in 1941. During the war, she emphasized service to country above all else and directed our war efforts. She passed away in 1943 at just 43 years old. This award was first presented in 1946, the first Convention after WWII.
  • Chapters with residential housing may nominate candidates for the Nora Nell Hardy Jackson Outstanding House Director Award, which is based on management of staff and budget, care of the chapter facility and relationship with the chapter members. Since most House Directors are not Zeta Tau Alphas, this is the only Convention award a non-member is eligible to receive. The award is named for former National President and ZTA Fraternity Housing Corporation President Nora Nell Hardy Jackson after her retirement from the FHC in 2006.
  • The Vivian Ulmer Smith Award honors members who have made the greatest contribution to increasing membership in the Fraternity during the biennium. This award was established by the Northern New Jersey Alumnae Chapter in 1958 in memory of Vivian Ulmer Smith.
  • The Honor Ring is the highest individual honor given by the Fraternity. To be considered for the Honor Ring, an alumna must accumulate at least 20 points as a volunteer and at least 10 of those points must be earned for service at the national level. This point system is outlined in the General Manual.
  • Four Outstanding Advisor Awards honor one advisor for each collegiate Area and one for a new chapter.
  • The Repeater Award honors the alumna who has attended the most Conventions.

Chapter Awards

  • The Crown Chapter Award annually recognizes collegiate chapters that have attained a standard of excellence and biannually recognizes alumnae chapters that have attained a standard of excellence each year of the biennium.
  • The Helping Hands Award recognizes those chapters and individuals that assisted the Fraternity or another chapter in some significant way during the year.
  • The Academic Achievement Award recognizes those chapters that attained Highly Commendable status (3.2 GPA or higher) for at least two consecutive semesters or three consecutive quarters during the biennium. The award is based on reports received since the preceding Convention.
  • The Quota/Total Award annually recognizes chapters that pledged Quota during Primary Recruitment and maintained maximum chapter Total each semester or quarter during the academic year.
  • The Attendance Award recognizes the chapter that travels the most miles to Convention.
  • The Founders Club is the ZTA Foundation’s recognition of chapters that donated $10,000 or more during the biennium.

Silver Awards

These top awards honor collegiate and alumnae chapters for outstanding achievement in leadership, service, academic success, programming and other areas.

Collegiate Silver Awards

  • The Helen Margaret Harrison Award is the highest collegiate award presented by ZTA. It recognizes a consistently high level of excellence in every phase of chapter operations. It is the highest honor given to a collegiate chapter. Mrs. Harrison served as National President from 1946 to 1954. This award replaced the Achievement Award silver bowl first given in 1939. The original silver tray gifted by Mrs. Harrison was retired in 2016 and was replaced with a new one.
  • The Nelly Galloway Shearer Achievement Award is the second-highest honor given in recognition of maintaining a high degree of excellence during the biennium. The Achievement Award bowl replaced the bronze plaque. A new silver bowl was presented at Convention 1988, the year this award was named after Mrs. Shearer when she retired as Secretary-Treasurer after five terms. She also served as National President from 1974 to 1978 and Fraternity Housing Corporation President from 1982 to 1984. National Council also names first and second runners-up for this award.
  • The Merit Award is the third-highest honor given in recognition of excellence in leadership, academic achievement and chapter attitude. National Council also names first and second runners-up for this award.
  • The Anne Winnes Redmond Service Awards recognize chapters for philanthropic efforts, volunteer service hours and fundraising efforts on small, medium and large campuses. The awards are named in honor of Mrs. Redmond, who served as the Fraternity’s Service Chair for more than 50 years.
  • The Becky Hainsworth Kirwan Chapter Improvement Award recognizes a chapter that has shown the courage and commitment to improve and achieve success. It is named in honor of former National President Becky Hainsworth Kirwan.
  • The Martha C. Edens New Chapter Award recognizes the most outstanding chapter that is no more than four years old. It was established by Beta Omicron Chapter (University of South Carolina) in recognition of its 50th anniversary and was named in honor of former Extension Director and A National President Martha C. Edens. Ms. Edens also served as the President of the Crown Development Trust Fund and ZTA Foundation.
  • The Sherry Server Tilley Leadership Award recognizes the chapter that has developed or shown sustained excellence in leadership training by offering challenging and ongoing motivational training for its membership and recognizing outstanding leadership performance. It honors Foundation Vice President of Philanthropy and former National President Sherry Server Tilley.
  • The Vallera Clough Ross Panhellenic Award recognizes the chapter that excels in Panhellenic leadership and involvement on its campus. It honors former ZTA NPC Delegate Vallera Clough Ross who served from 1974 to 1980.
  • The Activities Awards recognize chapters for outstanding leadership in activities on small, medium and large campuses.
  • The Alumnae-Collegiate Relations Award recognizes a collegiate chapter that has, through communication, joint activities, service projects, social gatherings and an emphasis on sisterhood, developed and/or maintained a strong commitment to connecting collegians and alumnae.
  • The Collegiate Public Relations Award is presented to the chapter that has made the most outstanding contributions in the area of public relations. National Council may name first and second runners-up for this award.
  • The Membership Enrichment Awards recognize outstanding membership enrichment based on standards set by the Fraternity and the development of programs that benefit the chapter and its members. National Council may name first and second runners-up for this award.
  • The Membership Selection Awards recognize exceptional recruitment results and successful membership selection procedures for both years of the biennium on small, medium and large campuses.
  • The New Member Programming Award is given to the chapter that not only meets the requirements of the new member program but also exhibits the spirit of involvement.
  • The National Council Special Recognition Awards honor chapters that National Council wishes to recognize for outstanding contributions to the Fraternity. Areas of excellence for which the awards are given may vary at each Convention.
  • The Golden Anniversary Academic Achievement Award honors the chapter with the highest academic average throughout the biennium.
  • The Margaret Dunkel Hardy Most Improved Academic Achievement Award is given to the chapter with the most improved academic average during the biennium. It was established in 1982 to honor former National President Nora Nell Hardy Jackson. The award was named for her mother, who served as the Fraternity’s Academic Achievement Chair for more than 20 years.

Alumnae Silver Awards

  • The Betty McGehee Schuessler Award recognizes an alumnae chapter (with a nearby collegiate chapter) that has achieved excellence in all areas of the alumnae experience. Mrs. Schuessler served as National Alumnae Director and Vice President Alumnae from 1964 to 1970. As the previous Public Relations Chair for the Fraternity, she worked extensively to engage alumnae chapters in making an impact in the community. She died unexpectedly in 1973, and the award was presented for the first time in 1974. National Council may name first and second runners-up for this award.
  • The Nan Barkley Boettcher Award recognizes the alumnae chapter (without a nearby collegiate chapter) that has excelled in all areas of the alumnae experience. The award was first given in 2000 in honor of Mrs. Boettcher, who served as Vice President Alumnae II from 1992 to 1994 and National President from 1994 to 1998. She focused on growing alumnae activities so the next phase of ZTA would be as exciting as the college years. National Council may name first and second runners-up for this award.
  • The Alumnae Chapter Improvement Award recognizes the alumnae chapter that has shown the greatest commitment to improve and attain success.
  • The Alumnae Chapter Programming Award recognizes the alumnae chapter that has achieved excellence in programming. National Council may name first and second runners-up for this award.
  • The Alumnae-Collegiate Relations Award recognizes the alumnae chapter that has, through communication, joint activities, service projects, recruitment support, social gatherings and emphasis on sisterhood, developed and/or maintained a strong commitment to connecting collegians and alumnae.
  • The Alumnae Panhellenic Award is presented to the alumnae chapter that has made the greatest contribution in the area of Panhellenic service. National Council may name first and second runners-up for this award.
  • The Alumnae Public Relations Award recognizes the alumnae chapter that has made the most outstanding contributions in the area of public relations. National Council may name first and second runners-up for this award.
  • The Alumnae Service Award recognizes the alumnae organization that has made the most outstanding contributions in the area of service. National Council may name first and second runners-up for this award.
  • National Council Special Recognition Awards honor chapters that National Council wishes to recognize for outstanding contributions to the Fraternity. Areas of excellence for which the awards are given may vary at each Convention.