Stetson University’s Florida Alpha chapter of Pi Beta Phi sorority recently was selected as the second-best chapter in the world!

Student and alumni representatives of Stetson Pi Beta Phi received the Balfour Cup First Runner-Up Vase at the International Biennial Convention of Pi Beta Phi held in Orlando in late June. The award is based on such factors as excellence in membership, academics, philanthropy, finances, housing and Panhellenic and campus involvement, in addition to how the chapter does with Pi Beta Phi’s “Leading with Values” campaign.

The winner of the Balfour Cup this year was the Missouri Alpha chapter at the University of Missouri, and second runner-up was the Arkansas Alpha chapter of the University of Arkansas.

Stetson’s chapter also received recognition as a PHI level chapter (top 12 nationwide), which is based on an evaluation of each chapter in areas of programming and performance covering everything from membership to academics and philanthropy.

In addition, the chapter was recognized for having the best grades on campus for two consecutive semesters. Stetson’s Pi Beta Phi members had a 3.13 GPA this spring – the highest of any Greek organization at the university.

Winners of the international awards were selected from 134 chapters in the United States and Canada.

The Florida Alpha chapter, founded in 1913, is the oldest Pi Beta Phi chapter in Florida. The Stetson chapter currently has 45 members.

Among the Florida Alpha members attending were delegate Alana Castrillon, chapter president for 2010-11 and a senior from Longwood, Fla., majoring in political science with minors in French and international studies; and alternate delegate Ady Goss, a junior from Eustis, Fla., majoring in international business with a minor in Spanish.

Sara McKee of Windermere, Fla., who graduated from Stetson in May with a degree in business administration and was president of the chapter during the 2009-10 academic year, also attended. Alumni representatives were Kimberly Smith Taylor, a 1985 graduate of Stetson who serves as chair of Alumnae Advisory Committee, advisor for the chapter president and president of the DeLand, Fla., Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi; and Julie Korfage, a 1984 graduate of Stetson who serves as an AAC advisor.

Stetson University has five sororities and six fraternities. “While many Stetson students are engaged in community service, philanthropy and campus leadership opportunities, being Greek provides a unique networking community that allows students to accomplish all those things on a local, national and global level with the expertise and guidance of many proud alums,” said Nate Burke, assistant director of fraternity and sorority involvement at Stetson.