On July 31, 2014, members of the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s PIKE chapter brought home their 16th consecutive Robert A. “Smythe” award from the Pi Kappa Alpha International Convention held in Baltimore, Md.
Given to the top 10 percent of Pi Kappa Alpha chapters each year, the award is based on excelling in 16 areas. Among these competitive categories are campus involvement, academics, new member education, alumni relations, community service, athletics, management and risk awareness.
Tommy Walpole, executive director of auxiliary enterprises and the fraternity’s staff adviser, attended the annual convention with PIKE President Clark Bentsen, Internal Vice President Alex Crist, Zach Rachal, and Allen Perry.
“Pikes are a pretty competitive group with a yearly goal of being the best in whatever they attempt,” said Walpole, “If you excel in these 16 areas, you’re doing things the right way and that is the expectation which has been set.”
Bentsen, a senior management major, enjoyed seeing the fraternity on such a large scale. “It was the first International Convention for all four of us so it was an eye opening experience.”
Previous Pi Kappa Alpha conventions drew more than 700 undergraduates, alumni, and supporters from all of North America. For ULM chapter members, attending the 2014 event provided an opportunity for networking and meeting new people.
“We all strive to make this fraternity the best in the world, so listening to other chapters that excel is a great way to help ours do the same,” Bensten said.
“We believe it’s school first and if all of us make that our top priority, everything else will fall into place,” said Bentsen.
They also earned their 28th Raymond L. Orians Award for Chapter Excellence and were named as a William R. Nester Outstanding Alumni Association.
After such a successful year for both alumni and student members, Pike aims to continue their involvement at ULM and in the community.
“The path to this goal is hard work, supporting each other, and achieving success by their own efforts, not by bringing others down,” said Walpole.
