Release date: April 9, 2008
Contact: Beverly Cox Clark at 404-712-8780 or beverly.clark@emory.edu

Emory's ATO Fraternity Receives NIC Award of Distinction

Emory University's Alpha Theta Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) fraternity was recently honored with the Award of Distinction from the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), which oversees about 5,500 chapters throughout the United States and Canada.

The Award of Distinction from the NIC is given to only one chapter each year. ATO at Emory was chosen based on numerous factors, including recommendations, essays and other merit-based award materials. The chapter will receive the award during an official ceremony in Washington, D.C., April 14.

"Winning an award such as the NIC's Award of Distinction is never about a few people," says Nicolai Lundy, ATO president at Emory. "Instead of the accomplishments of only a few brothers, the entire chapter is being recognized. We simply would not be the chapter that we are without the collective passion that each and every member shares for our brotherhood."

ATO brothers are involved in several community projects, including weekly trips to the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta, the ATO's chapter philanthropy beneficiary. The ATO chapter also partners with sororities to raise money and increase involvement with the Boys and Girls club as well as other charities, such as CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). ATO members are also involved in many aspects of Emory campus life, from student government to varsity sports.

Lundy hopes that this most recent award, along with being named "top chapter" from the Alpha Tau Omega National Organization last summer and winning the Emory Dean's Cup for best fraternity on campus, can be used to establish a chapter-wide scholarship fund to provide financial assistance for brothers.

"We intend to use the tremendous success of the last year to help brothers who struggle to pay dues and attract potential brothers who do not join simply because they cannot afford it," Lundy says.

Emory University ( www.emory.edu) is one of the nation’s leading private research universities and a member of the Association of American Universities. Known for its demanding academics, outstanding undergraduate college of arts and sciences, highly ranked professional schools and state-of-the-art research facilities, Emory is ranked as one of the country's top 20 national universities by U.S. News & World Report. In addition to its nine schools, the university encompasses The Carter Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Emory Healthcare, the state's largest and most comprehensive health care system.

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