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Today@Sam Article

Students Are Invited To “Take A Peek At Greek”

Aug. 12, 2011
SHSU Media Contact: Julia May

 

Members of Greek organizations volunteer for numerous hours of community service and raise money for local and national philanthropic projects.

Sam Houston State University students will be returning to campus soon and are being invited to take a sneak peek at being Greek at the “Greek Life Recruitment Fair” on Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Lowman Student Center Plaza.

“We want students make the most of their college experience by joining our respective fraternities and sororities,” said Brittney Randolph, SHSU’s National Panhellenic Council director of recruitment.

“Greek Life offers something for everyone, especially those who would like to excel at philanthropic, social, athletic, and leadership-based activities in addition to their academic pursuits,” she said.

While sororities and fraternities are recognized as social organizations on college campuses, the groups at Sam Houston State University added a lengthy list of service projects to their list of activities last year.

During the 2010-11 school year, SHSU fraternities and sororities raised more than $63,000 for such philanthropies as the Children’s Miracle Network, Ronald McDonald House, AIDs research, and breast cancer awareness and education, as well as for many local Huntsville and Walker County charitable groups.

“Greek organizations completed over 8,330 community service hours and several service projects including raising funds for the Wounded Warriors organization and Relay For Life,” said Jerrell Sherman Greek Life coordinator.

“They also volunteered with local agencies and programs such as the Good Shepherd Mission, the Rita B. Huff Humane Society, Boys and Girls Clubs, Adopt-A-School, Fair on the Square, Tomorrow’s Promise School, Kids Korner Day Care, the SAAFE House, and Turning Point Homeless Shelter,” he said.

“Members of Greek organizations also served as tutors in Huntsville’s elementary schools, cleaned up local highways, and worked on projects for the Huntsville Fire Department, the Wynne Home Arts Center, and The Lexington Center Assisted Living Facility,” Sherman said.

“Collectively, the organizations donated $1,500 each to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and The United Way from money they raised during Greek Week activities,” he said.

There are many reasons students should take a look at Greek organizations, according to Randolph, who has been a sorority member since she was an incoming freshman.

“Greek Life is the largest and most active student community on campus with close to 1,000 members,” she said. “And just because you are a member of a fraternity or sorority, it doesn’t mean you can’t be active in other groups, as well.”

For example, she said, over half of Student Government Association senators are members of Greek organizations, and a number of members are resident assistants, orientation leaders, freshman leaders, and are on the university’s official student programming board.

“Quite a few athletes hail from social Greek organizations, including members of the Bearkat football, power lifting, club soccer, baseball, wrestling and lacrosse teams and the wake boarding club,” she said.

Belonging to a fraternity or sorority can also help students with getting jobs after they’ve graduated from college, Randolph said.

“Greeks create life-long bonds with members of their chapters and others in the Greek community, and this networking can open doors of opportunity for them in their careers,” she said.

“Eighty-five percent of Fortune 500 executives are members of Greek organizations, and 25 U. S. presidents have belonged to fraternities,” she said. “Greeks comprise the largest network of volunteers in the nation, completing and providing 10 million hours of volunteer services a year.

“It’s a great way for Sam Houston students to embrace the university’s motto: ‘The measure of a Life is its Service,’” she said.

Upcoming recruitment events and dates at SHSU include:

Overall Greek Life Recruitment Fair “Sneak Peek at Greek” – Aug. 23
NPC Sorority Recruitment – Aug. 25-28 (click link for more information)
MGC Recruitment Week – Aug. 29-Sept. 1
IFC Fraternity Recruitment – Sept. 6-10 (click link for more information)
NPHC Greek Assembly – Sept. 12

For additional information about Greek Life at SHSU, contact Greek Life coordinator Jerrell Sherman by email at jsherman@shsu.edu or by phone at 936.294.1785.

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