The Oklahoma State University Phi Beta Delta chapter, Epsilon Upsilon, won the award for most outstanding chapter in the United States at the international honors society’s national conference in Houston.

Phi Beta Delta annually gives the Eileen Evans Overall Outstanding Chapter award to a chapter that demonstrates growth and development, expands outreach within and beyond the academic community and provided service to Phi Beta Delta.

The award was the result of a two-year project the chapter launched under the guidance of immediate Past President, Dr. Lupita Fabregas, and concluded under the current President, Dr. Derina Holtzhausen. In addition to offering several events throughout the year the chapter established and supported Phi Beta Delta chapters in Mexico and Uzbekistan and supported graduate student research through scholarships that allowed two students to present their research at the Houston conference.

“The institutional support OSU and its international departments provided was crucial in winning,” Holtzhausen said. “Phi Beta Delta coordinator Jeffrey Simpson from the Study Abroad office and treasurer Tim Huff from International Student Services provide the necessary continuity when committee membership changes every year. Founding member, previous president and longtime secretary Dr. Nani Pybus provides the institutional memory that keeps committee members focused on the organization’s mission.”

Jonathan Douglas and Catherine Molleno were the two students who won the scholarships and presented their research at the Houston conference.