Sig Ep, Theta receive Greek award
Coed Fraternity Sorority Council President Matt Raben '96 and Assistant Dean of Residential Life Deb Reinders last night presented the third annual 15 Webster Avenue Award to the sisters of Epsilon Kappa Theta sorority and the brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
The 15 Webster Avenue Award goes to the Greek organization whose proposal for community service is judged to be the most worthy of a $2,000 grant from the 15 Webster Avenue Fund.
Sig Ep and Theta submitted a proposal to "work together in order to provide greater service to the surrounding communities" by building a jungle gym for the Family Place, a non-profit, parent-child center located in White River Junction, Vt.
The committee that decides the award is comprised of Raben, Reinders, Dean of Residential Life Mary Turco, a member from each Greek sub-council and a member of the Greek Advisory Group.
Suzanne Leonard '96, Theta's service chair, submitted the proposal to the committee. She said the plan to build the gym is a "wonderful opportunity to combine hands-on community service with monetary backing."
Before the brothers and sisters begin construction early next spring, they will plan how to spend the $2,000 and the specifics of the playground's construction.
"We received some wonderful applications this year," Turco said. "The one regret that I have is that we don't have any more money to give."
Panhellenic Council President Dani Brune '96 said the committee selected the proposal because Sig Ep and Theta "showed a commitment to doing the work themselves. It was a project that would promote continued involvement."
Leonard said the year-long project will require that the houses continue to participate with the Family Place.
"Our commitment to the Family Place ... would continue after the completion of the jungle gym," Leonard said. "Were there to be any money leftover from the Webster Avenue grant, Theta and Sig Ep would put these funds towards helping to sponsor special events at the Family Place."
Heather Koledo, the volunteer coordinator for the Family Place, said, "We're very grateful to be the recipient of their collective efforts."
The 15 Webster Avenue Fund is an endowment that has been established "in order to support charity and community service projects by Greek organizations at Dartmouth," according to the award's application guidelines.
It was established by the alumni of Tau Epsilon Phi, the Harold Parmington Foundation and Delta Psi Delta. These organizations all were former residents of the building and land that is now inhabited by Theta, Turco said.
