The Inter-Greek Committee hosted its second annual Greek Awards Ceremony Wednesday night, marking one of the first major events organized collaboratively by the four Greek councils.
The IGC is comprised of representatives from the four councils: The Inter-Fraternity Council, Inter-Sorority Council, Black Fraternal Council and Multicultural Greek Council.
"It was good to see so many different diverse fraternities and sororities with different backgrounds and goals -- whether social or service," said Joe Obi, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. president and a presenter at Wednesday's awards. "The rest of the University should use it as an example of how people of different races and purposes can get together for something positive."
IFC President Ryan Ewalt said he is pleased with the IGC's progress thus far.
"The IGC has done a great job bringing together all four councils for the purposes of collaboration and communication," Ewalt said.
The IGC gave some of Wednesday's awards to a winner from each of the four councils, while they made other distinctions between all Greek members.
The IFC bestowed the Outstanding Chapter award to Sigma Pi for the second year in a row.
"It's a great honor to be recognized by the Greek community," Sigma Pi President Bryan Maxwell said.
Maxwell attributed Sigma Pi's recognition to past involvement with other councils, such as the BFC, a good relationship with the University administration and a successful spring rush.
Other outstanding chapter winners were awarded to the BFC's Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the ISC's Kappa Delta and the MGC's Lambda Theta Alpha Latin sorority, Inc.
For the person of the year award, the BFC chose BFC President Mike Dunkley, who won outstanding chapter president at last year's Greek Awards.
"I am honored that I was able to win something two years in a row, especially coming out of the BFC, in which leadership is a key value," Dunkley said.
Other person of the year winners included former IFC President Phil Trout, former ISC President Whitney Eck and former MGC President Emmanuel Smadja.
"I was happy with the ceremony," Trout said. "There was a good showing from the Greek community that was nonexistent a couple years ago."
Trout attributed the growth of the Greek community largely to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, who funded the ceremony.
"It just shows the impact the office can offer in bridging gaps between the councils," Trout said.
Other awards included outstanding chapter president, outstanding faculty member and most improved chapter.
During the nominating period, each chapter within the four councils was allotted one nominating ballot for all the awards, MGC President Melody Han said.
After the IGC collected the ballots, they reviewed the nomination justifications and determined the winners for each award, she added.
IGC member Jason Bell said he was proud of the Committee's accomplishments.
"We've done a lot of work over the past few weeks," Bell said.
ISC President Cahill Zoeller also acknowledged the event's success.
"It was wonderful to recognize the tremendous contributions of students and faculty advisors to the Greek system," Zoeller said.