Alumnae Certificate of Merit – This certificate is a national award presented at Zeta Day or other special events. Names and qualifications of those recommended for the Alumnae Certificate of Merit are presented to National Council for consideration at their fall meeting. The vote of National Council is required for approval. The alumna must have been out of school for seven years and have a minimum of seven years of significant post-collegiate service. Click here for a list of the 2011 Alumnae Certificate of Merit recipients.
Order of the Shield – This award honors those who have completed 50 years of Fraternity membership. Those honored are presented a certificate at Zeta Day or some local alumnae function. The Order of the Shield Recognition Service should be given at the time of the presentation. A White Violet pin commemorating the honor is a gift from the Fraternity and may be presented at this time. In addition, 75-year members receive recognition and a gift from the Fraternity. Click here to see the list of those honored in 2011 for 75 years of membership.
These awards are only presented at Convention and represent achievements during the biennium.
Silver Awards (listed alphabetically):
Alumnae Chapter Programming Award – This rotating award represented by a silver tray is given to the alumnae organization that has achieved excellence in programming during the biennium. Awards are also presented to a first and second runner-up. 2012 recipient: San Antonio, TX; 1st runner-up: Greater New Orleans, LA; 2d runner-up: Memphis, TN
Alumnae-Collegiate Relations Award – This award is given to an alumnae and collegiate chapter that have, through communication and joint activities, service projects, recruitment support, social gatherings and emphasis on sisterhood, developed and/or maintained a strong commitment to connecting collegians and alumnae. This is a rotating award presented to one alumnae chapter and one collegiate chapter. It is possible for an alumnae chapter and a collegiate chapter in the same town to be recognized, but it is not necessary. (See also Collegiate Awards: Convention.) 2012 recipient: St. Louis, MO
Alumnae Improvement Award – This award, given for the first time at 2006 Convention, honors the alumnae chapter that has shown the greatest commitment to improve and to attain success. 2012 recipient: Baton Rouge, LA
Alumnae Membership Award – This award is represented by a silver tray and is given to the alumnae chapter that has achieved the greatest growth in membership from the end of the last biennium to the end of the current biennium. Awards are also presented to a first and second runner-up. 2012 recipient: Louisville, KY; 1st runner-up: Nashville, TN; 2nd runner-up: New York City, NY
Alumnae Panhellenic Award – This rotating award, represented by a silver tray, is presented to the alumnae chapter that has made the greatest contribution in the area of Panhellenic service. Awards are also presented to a first and second runner-up. 2012 recipient: Seattle, WA; 1st runner-up: San Fernando Valley, CA; 2nd runner-up: Miami, FL
Alumnae Public Relations Award – This rotating award, represented by a silver tray, is presented to the alumnae organization that has made the most outstanding contributions in the area of public relations. Awards are also presented to a first and second runner-up. 2012 recipient: Birmingham, AL; 1st runner-up: Midland, TX; 2nd runner-up: Evansville, IN
Alumnae Service Award – This rotating award, represented by a silver tray, is presented to the alumnae organization that has made the most outstanding contributions in the area of service. Awards are also presented to a first and second runner-up. 2012 recipient: Atlanta, GA Themis; 1st runner-up: Nashville, TN; 2nd runner-up: Long Beach, CA
Attendance Awards – These certificates are presented to the collegiate and alumnae chapters representing the greatest mileage traveled to Convention. Figures are based on the number of members present for full-time attendance multiplied by the number of miles from the location of the chapters to the site of Convention. 2012 recipient: Inland/Pomona, CA
Betty McGehee Schuessler Award – This award is one of the two highest awards presented to an alumnae chapter. It was established to honor Betty McGehee Schuessler, who served as Vice President Alumnae from 1964-1970. This rotating award, a large silver tray, was presented for the first time at the 1974 Convention. During the years Mrs. Schuessler served as Vice President Alumnae, she placed great emphasis on the importance of alumnae supporting the collegiate chapter. This award is given to the alumnae chapter that has given the greatest support to a collegiate chapter and has achieved excellence in all areas of Fraternity life throughout the biennium. Awards are also presented to a first and second runner-up. 2012 recipient: Houston, TX Association; 1st runner-up: Northern New Jersey; 2nd runner-up: Dayton, OH
Nan Barkley Boettcher Award – One of the two highest awards presented to an alumnae chapter, this rotating award was named in honor of Nan Barkley Boettcher in 1999 to honor her service as Vice President Alumnae from 1992-1994 and National President from 1994-1998. This silver tray is presented to the alumnae chapter with no collegiate chapter in the community that has achieved excellence in all areas of Fraternity life throughout the biennium. Awards are also presented to a first and second runner-up. 2012 recipient: Toledo, OH; 1st runner-up: San Diego, CA; 2nd runner-up: Akron, OH
Other Convention Awards:
Crown Chapter Award (Alumnae) – This award is given for attainment of the minimum standard of chapter excellence for each year of the biennium. The National Vice Presidents Alumnae recommend chapters to National Council, which selects the recipients. Click here for a list of 2012 recipients.
Honor Ring – The Honor Ring is the highest individual honor granted by the Fraternity and is presented to alumnae who have rendered sustained and outstanding service to the Fraternity. Representing devotion to the Fraternity, the Honor Ring bears those symbols dear to every Zeta Tau Alpha. In order to assist National Council in determining recipients, a point system has been devised. Before becoming eligible for consideration to receive the Honor Ring, an alumna must accumulate at least 20 points, of which 50 percent must be for service at the national level. Names of alumnae who have accumulated the appropriate number of points for the ring, with offices held and terms served, must be submitted to the Vice Presidents Alumnae by January 1 of the Convention year. Final decision on all candidates is made by vote of National Council. Click here for a list of the 2012 Honor Ring recipients.
House Corporation Award – The Outstanding Local House Corporation Award is based upon overall management, timely filing of all reports and forms, prompt payment of all fees, property care and a good working relationship with the collegiate chapter. 2012 recipient: Sigma House Corporation at Baker University
House Association Award – The Outstanding Local House Association Award is based upon overall management, timely filing of all reports and forms, prompt payment of all fees, property care and a good working relationship with the collegiate chapter. 2012 recipient: Alpha Gamma House Association at University of Michigan
Louise Kettler Helper Memorial Award – Established by the family of a beloved former National President to perpetuate and honor her memory, this award is given to one alumna and one collegiate member whose services and achievements are notable contributions to the progress of the Fraternity and the fraternity world. It was first presented at the 1946 Convention. National Council chooses the recipients and awards mounted certificates. (See also Collegiate Awards: Convention.) 2012 recipient: Malaea Nelms Seleski, Eta Rho, The University of North Alabama
National Council Special Recognition Awards – These rotating awards, represented by silver trays, are given only if there are qualified recipients. These awards were first presented at the 1966 Convention to individuals or chapters that National Council wishes to recognize for outstanding contributions to the Fraternity. Areas of excellence for which the awards are given may be different at each Convention. 2012 recipients: New York City, NY; Martin, TN; Cypress, TX
Outstanding Advisor Award – This award is presented for outstanding service as an Advisor. 2012 recipients: Area I - Leanne Puia, Iota Gamma, The College of New Jersey; Area II - Beverly Choppin, Delta Kappa, Louisiana State University; Area III - Shannon Ferguson, Alpha Psi, University of Missouri
Vivian Ulmer Smith Recruitment Award – Given in loving and enduring memory of Vivian Ulmer Smith, Alpha Xi, and established by the Northern New Jersey Alumnae Association, this award is given to the alumna who has made the greatest contribution toward increasing membership in the Fraternity during the biennium. National Council chooses the recipient. 2012 recipient: Karen Farmer Mills, Gamma Iota, University of Florida
Website Award – Awarded to the chapter with the best chapter website.2012 recipient: Inland/Pomona, CA