Award Descriptions and Past Recipients

Garnet and Gold Award of Academic Excellence

Any chapter, provisional chapter, or owl club which has achieved a chapter GPA in excess of the all-men’s average (or all-campus average, as appropriate) for their campus for each semester, may be given an Award of Academic Excellence.

This award was created by the 134th Convention in 1977, modified by the 152nd Convention in 1995, renamed by the 154th Convention 1997 and again modified by the 161st and 167th Conventions in 2004 and 2010 respectively.

Awarded at the 179^th Convention
Zeta, Upsilon, Eta, Epsilon Nu, Lambda Sigma, Sigma Phi
Awarded at the 178^th Convention
Upsilon, Eta, Chi Delta
Awarded at the 177^th Convention
Delta, Omega, Beta Beta, Eta, Omicron, Epsilon Nu, Chi Delta, Alpha Omicron
Awarded at the 2020 Digital Summit
Delta, Psi, Xi, Omega, Beta Beta, Eta, Omicron, Epsilon Nu, Gamma Tau, Chi Delta, Lambda Sigma, Sigma Phi
Awarded at the 176^th Convention
Tau, Omicron, Epsilon Nu, Chi Delta, Lambda Sigma, Delta Nu, Tau Epsilon
Awarded at the 175^th Convention
Zeta, Beta Beta, Tau, Omicron, Epsilon Nu, Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 174^th Convention
Delta, Zeta, Phi, Omega, Tau, Lambda Sigma, Delta Nu
Awarded at the 173^rd Convention
Zeta, Pi, Omicron, Lambda Sigma, Delta Nu
Awarded at the 172^nd Convention:
Zeta, Pi, Tau, Chi Delta, Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 171^st Convention:
Zeta, Pi, Chi, Tau, Theta Theta, Chi Delta, Epsilon Iota
Awarded at the 170^th Convention:
Chi, Tau, Omicron, Gamma Tau, Chi Delta, Epsilon Iota, Delta Nu
Awarded at the 169^th Convention:
Zeta, Phi, Pi, Tau, Gamma Tau, Sigma Phi
Awarded at the 168^th Convention: 
Zeta, Phi, Pi, Chi, Gamma Tau, Lambda Sigma, Sigma Phi
Awarded at the 167^th Convention:
Phi, Tau, Gamma Tau, Sigma Phi

Prior to the 167th Convention, a chapter could also receive the Garnet and Gold award for a chapter GPA exceeding 3.0, in addition to exceeding the campus average.

Awarded at the 166^th Convention
Zeta, Phi, Chi, Omicron, Theta Theta, Chi Delta, Epsilon Iota, Lambda Sigma, Sigma Phi
Awarded at the 165^th Convention
Zeta, Xi, Phi, Pi, Theta Theta, Chi Delta, Epsilon Iota, Lambda Sigma, Sigma Phi
Awarded at the 164^th Convention
Zeta, Xi, Phi, Epsilon Iota, Lambda Sigma, Sigma Phi
Awarded at the 163^rd Convention
Zeta, Phi, Pi, Theta Theta, Lambda Sigma, St. Francis Colony
Awarded at the 162^nd Convention
Zeta, Phi, Pi, Chi, Eta, Tau, Theta Theta, Zeta Zeta, Chi Delta, Phi Delta, Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 161^st Convention
Phi, Beta Beta, Eta, Tau, Chi Delta, Epsilon Iota, Lambda Sigma, Alpha Omicron

Prior to the 161st Convention, a chapter could only receive the Garnet and Gold award for a chapter GPA exceeding 3.0, but not for exceeding the campus average.

Awarded at the 160^th Convention
Zeta, Upsilon, Phi, Theta Theta, Gamma Tau, Epsilon Iota, Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 159^th Convention:
Zeta, Phi, Tau, Epsilon Iota
Awarded at the 158^th Convention:
Zeta, Upsilon, Phi, Tau, Epsilon Iota, Beta Kappa, Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 157^th Convention:
Zeta, Upsilon, Epsilon Iota, Chi Delta, Beta Kappa, Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 156^th Convention:
Upsilon, Epsilon Iota, Beta Kappa, Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 155^th Convention: 
Upsilon, Omega, Chi, Epsilon Nu, Beta Kappa, Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 154^th Convention:
Zeta, Upsilon, Tau, Chi Delta, Phi Beta, Beta Kappa, Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 153^rd Convention:
Eta, Epsilon Omega, Epsilon Iota, Beta Kappa
Awarded at the 152^nd Convention
Theta, Zeta, Lambda, Epsilon, Epsilon Omega, Phi Beta, Beta Alpha, Beta Kappa, Alpha Delta

Prior to the 152nd Convention in 1995, only chapters that strongly distinguished themselves in academic excellence would be eligible for the award.

Awarded at the 151^st Convention
Phi, Kappa
Awarded at the 150^th Convention
Chi
Awarded at the 149^th Convention
Xi, Beta Kappa
Awarded at the 148^th Convention
Phi, Beta Kappa
Awarded at the 147^th Convention
Epsilon Iota
Awarded at the 146^th Convention
Epsilon Phi
Awarded at the 145^th Convention
Gamma
Awarded at the 144^th Convention
Epsilon Iota
Awarded at the 143^rd Convention
Chi Delta
Awarded at the 142^nd Convention
Omega
Awarded at the 141^st Convention
Zeta
Awarded at the 140^th Convention
Zeta
Awarded at the 139^th Convention
Omicron
Awarded at the 138^th Convention
Zeta
Awarded at the 137^th Convention
Eta
Awarded at the 136^th Convention
Gamma Tau
Awarded at the 135^th Convention
Zeta

Owl Award for Exceptional Academic Performance

Any chapter, provisional chapter, or owl club, which demonstrates a truly significant academic achievement, may be given an award for exceptional academic performance based on the following criteria:

a) Rank on campus in relation to other fraternities;
b) The magnitude by which a chapter’s GPA exceeds the all-men’s GPA on their campus;
c) The increase in GPA from fall to spring semester or from last year to this year;
d) The GPA itself; and
e) Such other criteria as may from time-to-time be deemed to be significant.

This award was created by the 152nd Convention in 1995 and renamed by the 154th Convention in 1997.

Awarded at the 179^th Convention
Zeta, Upsilon, Eta, Lambda Sigma, Alpha Omicron
Awarded at the 178^th Convention
Delta, Xi, Eta
Awarded at the 177^th Convention
Delta, Zeta, Upsilon, Phi, Omega, Tau, Omicron, Zeta Zeta, Epsilon Nu, Gamma Tau, Alpha Omicron
Awarded at the 2020 Digital Summit
Delta, Zeta, Xi, Tau, Epsilon Nu, Epsilon Iota, Delta Omicron Provisional
Awarded at the 176^th Convention
Xi, Omega, Lambda Sigma, Delta Nu
Awarded at the 175^th Convention
Zeta, Upsilon, Zeta Zeta, Sigma Phi, Delta Nu
Awarded at the 174^th Convention
Upsilon, Phi, Epsilon Nut, Delta Nu
Awarded at the 173^rd Convention
Zeta, Omicron, Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 172^nd Convention
Zeta, Pi, Omicron, Chi Delta
Awarded at the 171^st Convention
Zeta, Theta Theta, Rho
Awarded at the 170^th Convention
Omega, Epsilon Iota
Awarded at the 169^th Convention
Zeta, Pi, Tau
Awarded at the 168^th Convention
Zeta, Phi, Pi, Chi, Sigma Phi
Awarded at the 167^th Convention
Phi, Gamma Tau, Sigma Phi
Awarded at the 166^th Convention
Zeta, Phi
Awarded at the 165^th Convention
Zeta, Phi
Awarded at the 164^th Convention
Zeta, Phi, Sigma Phi
Awarded at the 163^rd Convention
Zeta, Theta Theta
Awarded at the 162^nd Convention
Eta, Chi Delta
Awarded at the 161^st Convention
Eta, Chi Delta, Epsilon Iota, Alpha Omicron
Awarded at the 160^th Convention
Epsilon Iota
Awarded at the 159^th Convention
Theta Theta
Awarded at the 158^th Convention
Omicron, Beta Kappa
Awarded at the 157^th Convention
Beta Kappa
Awarded at the 156^th Convention
Upsilon, Beta Kappa, Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 155^th Convention
Beta Kappa
Awarded at the 154^th Convention
Chi Delta, Beta Kappa
Awarded at the 153^rd Convention
Epsilon Iota, Beta Kappa
Awarded at the 152^nd Convention
Zeta, Lambda, Beta Kappa

Clasped Hand Award for Outstanding Philanthropy & Service

This award is presented to chapters that have devoted significant time and effort to philanthropic efforts and community service. This award was created by the 160th Convention in 2003.

Awarded at the 179^th Convention
Pi, Tau, Lambda Sigma, Phi Nu
Awarded at the 178^th Convention
Upsilon, Phi, Pi, Theta Theta, Epsilon Iota, Lambda Sigma, Alpha Omicron, Delta Omicron Prov.
Awarded at the 177^th Convention
Zeta, Pi, Beta Beta, Rho, Omicron, Lambda Sigma, Alpha Omicron
Awarded at the 2020 Digital Summit
Zeta, Pi, Beta Beta, Tau, Rho, Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 176^th Convention
Zeta, Tau, Rho, Phi Delta, Lambda Sigma, Alpha Omicron, Phi Nu, Tau Epsilon
Awarded at the 175^th Convention
Delta, Zeta, Pi, Xi, Tau, Rho, Gamma Tau, Lambda Sigma, Alpha Omicron, Sigma Phi, Delta Nu, Phi Nu, Tau Epsilon
Awarded at the 174^th Convention
Zeta, Phi, Pi, Omicron, Zeta Zeta, Lambda Sigma, Delta Nu, Phi Nu
Awarded at the 173^rd Convention
Zeta, Pi, Tau, Theta Theta, Epsilon Nu, Phi Delta, Lambda Sigma, Alpha Omicron
Awarded at the 172^nd Convention
Zeta, Pi, Tau, Theta Theta, Epsilon Nu, Phi Delta, Lambda Sigma, Alpha Omicron
Awarded at the 171^st Convention
Zeta, Epsilon Nu, Phi Delta, Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 170^th Convention
Zeta, Eta, Tau, Theta Theta, Phi Delta, Alpha Omicron, Delta Nu
Awarded at the 169^th Convention
Zeta, Chi, Tau, Omicron, Phi Delta, Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 168^th Convention
Chi, Eta, Omicron, Epsilon Nu, Lambda Sigma, Phi Delta, Delta Nu
Awarded at the 167^th Convention
Xi, Pi, Chi, Eta, Tau, Omicron, Epsilon Nu, Chi Delta, Phi Delta, Lambda Sigma, Delta Nu
Awarded at the 166^th Convention
Xi, Omicron, Zeta, Eta, Beta Beta, Phi, Pi, Sigma Phi, Delta Nu, Phi Delta
Awarded at the 165^th Convention
Xi, Psi, Iota, Upsilon, Pi, Beta Beta
Awarded at the 164^th Convention
Zeta, Xi, Tau, Chi, Beta Beta, Omicron, Epsilon Nu, Chi Delta, Epsilon Iota, Phi Delta, Lambda Sigma, Sigma Phi
Awarded at the 163^rd Convention
Xi, Phi, Chi, Beta Beta, Eta, Theta Theta, Epsilon Iota, Phi Delta, Lambda Sigma, St. Francis Colony
Awarded at the 162^nd Convention
Gamma, Zeta, Iota, Eta, Tau, Phi Delta, Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 161^st Convention
Psi, Beta Beta, Eta, Tau, Omicron, Gamma Tau, Lambda Sigma

Diamond Award for Exceptional Chapters

This award recognizes chapters that distinguish themselves by exceeding the Psi Upsilon Fraternity chapter standards. During visits to the chapters the staff assesses each chapter on its adherence to the standards and other subjective criteria, and then makes a recommendation to the Convention. More than one chapter can receive this award in any year and the Convention has the discretion to grant honorable mention to chapters which are nominated but do not receive the award. Delegates from the nominated chapters may be asked to make a brief presentation to the Committee or Convention.

This award was created by the 153rd Convention in 1996 and renamed by the 154th Convention in 1997.

Awarded at the 179^th Convention
Gamma Tau
Awarded at the 2020 Digital Summit
Zeta, Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 176^th Convention
Upsilon
Awarded at the 175^th Convention
Upsilon, Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 174^th Convention
Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 173^rd Convention
Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 172^nd Convention
Pi
Awarded at the 171^st Convention
Zeta, Tau
Awarded at the 170^th Convention
Zeta
Awarded at the 169^th Convention
Xi, Tau
Awarded at the 168^th Convention
Xi, Tau, Chi, Chi Delta
Awarded at the 167^th Convention
Zeta, Xi
Awarded at the 166^th Convention
Zeta, Xi
Awarded at the 165^th Convention
Xi, Beta Beta
Awarded at the 164^th Convention
Xi, Tau
Awarded at the 163^rd Convention
Theta Theta
Awarded at the 162^nd Convention
Chi
Awarded at the 159^th Convention
Chi
Awarded at the 156^th Convention
Epsilon Iota, Beta Kappa
Awarded at the 155^th Convention
Chi, Epsilon Iota, Lambda Sigma
Awarded at the 154^th Convention
Chi

Award of Distinction

The Award of Distinction was established by the 142nd Convention in 1985 to recognize Psi Upsilon chapters when they perform in an extraordinary manner. The award may be given annually to one or more chapters for any project, service, program, activity, or accomplishment performed during the year, which merits special recognition. Nominations, which may be made by undergraduates, alumni, Executive Council member, or Fraternity staff members, should be forwarded to the International Office by June 1st and include full details on the project, service, program, activity, or accomplishment for which the chapter is being considered. The Convention shall determine which chapters, if any, should receive the Award of Distinction.

Awarded at the 177^th Convention
Pi, Gamma Tau, Chi Delta, Phi Beta Owl Club, Tau Epsilon

Awarded at the 2020 Digital Summit
Zeta

(for the work of Sacha Pritzker, Zeta ’22 (Dartmouth) who helped found Fuel Our Heroes, a nonprofit which has raised over $200,000 for frontline workers fighting COVID-19)

Xi
(for the work of Lars Delin, Xi ’22 (Wesleyan) co-founded Support a Pal, which socially supported Senior Citizens by organizing remote phone conversations and interactions in lieu of in person visits to help combat loneliness and for the work of Jason Pinter, Xi ’03 (Wesleyan) whose company, Polis Books, published a special short story collection where all proceeds went to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit that helps booksellers)

Tau
(rather than reimbursing individual brothers the remainder of their activity dues, made a donation to the PHL COVID-19 fund to assist the local Philadelphia Community)

Epsilon Iota
(for the work of Jean-Etienne LaVallee, Epsilon Iota ’94 (RPI) who, with other 3D makers in Virginia, created the MakeItThru Alliance to produce medical community approved face shields)

Sigma Phi
(for the work of Jared Atkins, Sigma Phi ’08 (St. Francis University); shifted production of his distillery, Bluebird Distilling, to formulating hand sanitizer which was in short supply

Awarded at the 176^th Convention
Epsilon Iota
(for the creation of their “Wellness Chairmanship” and their hosting of faculty dinners on campus)
Lambda Sigma 
(for their continued commitment to Community Service and Philanthropy)
Sigma Phi 
(for overall improvement in academics, service, and recruitment efforts)
Phi Nu
(for the relationship they’ve built with Hidenwood Elementary and the growth of the “Friends of Phi Nu” program)

Awarded at the 175^th Convention
Zeta, Phi, Zeta Zeta, Epsilon Nu, Epsilon Iota, Lambda Sigma, Sigma Phi, Phi Nu

Awarded at the 174^th Convention
Upsilon, Tau, Lambda Sigma, Phi Nu

Awarded at the 173^rd Convention
Pi, Lambda Sigma

Awarded at the 172^nd Convention
Zeta, Pi, Theta Theta, Epsilon Nu, Lambda Sigma

Awarded at the 171^st Convention
Epsilon Nu, Lambda Sigma

Awarded at the 170^th Convention
Zeta, Xi, Tau

Awarded at the 169^th Convention
Eta, Epsilon Nu, Lambda Sigma

Awarded at the 168^th Convention
Theta Theta, Eta, Omicron, Chi Delta, Gamma Tau

Awarded at the 167^th Convention
Xi, Pi, Chi, Eta, Tau, Omicron, Epsilon Nu, Phi Delta, Phi Nu

Awarded at the 166^th Convention
Eta
(hosted a band benefit party to aid the Alpha Omicron chapter which suffered a fire at their chapter house)

Awarded at the 165^th Convention
Chi Delta

Awarded at the 164^th Convention
Xi
(held a banquet in honor of the late Captain Joseph Pugano of the Middletown Fire Department)
Pi
(recruited 29 new members in the 2006-2007 school year)
Beta Beta
(not only improved its community service, but also reached out to the surrounding Hartford community)
Tau
(distinguished itself in the Dinner: Impossible episode where it hosted University of Pennsylvania president Amy Gutman)
Omicron
(increased its fund-raising and made improvements to the chapter house)
Theta Theta
(its annual Founder’s Day dinner is the largest annual gathering of Psi U’s in the world)
Epsilon Iota
(eliminated its debt to the alumni association and improved its financial performance)

Awarded at the 163^rd Convention
Alpha Omicron
(demonstrated true spirit of Psi Upsilon through the Phoenix Awards Banquet)
Zeta
(development of the Robert and Evelyn Kaiser Fund which provides text books for brothers)

Awarded at the 162^nd Convention
Zeta Zeta
(restoring chapter vitality over the past year)
Alpha Omicron
(demonstrating unparalleled commitment to its fellow chapters of Psi Upsilon)

Awarded at the 161^st Convention
Epsilon Nu
(for revitalizing the chapter after a particularly difficult period)

Awarded at the 158^th Convention
Omicron
(for exemplifying the very essence of fraternal bonds, performing in an extraordinary manner following the loss of their brother, Salvatore “Sam” Leo Biardo III, Class of 2004)

Awarded at the 157^th Convention
Zeta
(for leadership, maturity, intelligence and heartfelt passion for fraternity during a turbulent, difficult, and extremely critical time)

Awarded at the 156^th Convention
Omega
(for creating a forum of debate and discussion in its campus and community)

Awarded at the 151^st Convention
Kappa
(for outstanding sustained achievement in philanthropic and community service)

Awarded at the 150^th Convention
Beta Kappa
(for outstanding sustained achievement in philanthropic and community service)

Awarded at the 149^th Convention
Xi
(for outstanding achievement in its “Big Brother” program)

Awarded at the 148^th Convention
Chi, Epsilon, Epsilon Omega, Epsilon Iota, Phi Beta

Awarded at the 147^th Convention
Psi, Chi

Awarded at the 146^th Convention
Pi, Tau, Gamma Tau

Awarded at the 145^th Convention
Delta, Pi, Phi Beta, Zeta Tau

Awarded at the 144^th Convention
Zeta
(for outstanding endeavors in providing diabetic children with positive recreational activities)

Awarded at the 143^rd Convention
Epsilon Nu
(for ongoing years of dedication to the recreation of a local home for mentally handicapped children)
Chi
(for their involvement in their community)
Omicron
(for their leadership role in the Statue of Liberty Triathlon, raising $12,000)
Sigma
(for its recognition as “Fraternity of the Year” in its first year of existence)