FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THETA CHI FRATERNITY ANNOUNCES 2014/2015 DAVID. L WESTOL SACRED PURPOSE AWARD
JUNE 27, 2015 - Bloomington, IN - Theta Chi Fraternity is proud to announce our Iota Sigma Chapter at Towson University as the 2014/2015 recipient of the David L. Westol Sacred Purpose Award. The presentation was made during the Theta Class of this summer’s Initiative Academy, held on June 25-27, 2015 at Indiana University.
Presented annually, the David L. Westol Sacred Purpose Award goes to the chapter that most exemplifies the spirit of our Sacred Purpose movement. Launched in the fall of 2013, the Sacred Purpose movement is the modern expression of our motto— the Assisting Hand. The Sacred Purpose offers programmatic support at the chapter and international levels that concentrates specifically on health and safety related topics. The movement called for the creation of new leadership positions that help us better care for and understand one another.
The Iota Sigma Chapter hosted multiple health and safety related expert guest speakers for their members. These speakers covered subjects such as fire safety, stress management, sexual health, diversity, and sexual assault bystander intervention.
Our brothers at Towson created programs that provided meaning and purpose to the campus as a whole, especially in health and safety. They hosted four PostSecret U events focusing on mental illness counseling and prevention, as well as providing alcohol-free parties and activities in partnership with the counseling center to educate on impairment under the influence.
In addition to these impressive programs, the Iota Sigma chapter created a video related to the “It’s On Us” campaign to bring awareness to sexual assault. Fundraising was also high on this chapter’s list of accomplishments as they were able to raise over $20,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network, and close to $1,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in an Out of the Darkness Campus Walk.
The Towson chapter left the June 27th award ceremony with their second consecutive Alter Award. Iota Sigma explains on their Facebook page that their "work is far from over as we strive to establish a culture of leadership and excellence that we hope to pass down from year to year to our future brothers." Brandon Younkin, who now heads the Sacred Purpose Initiative, explained how "Towson stood out this year ... and truly deserved the recognition. The caliber of the applications this year was unprecedented and we are incredibly grateful for their efforts." Below is Iota Sigma's "It's On Us" video.
The award is named in honor of David L. Westol, Beta Zeta/Michigan State 1973, whose volunteer and professional career have been devoted to the health, safety, and protection of fraternity and sorority members. After graduating from Michigan State in 1973, Dave worked for his alma mater as Assistant Director of Student Activities and Advisor to Fraternities. He was admitted to the Michigan Bar in November 1979 and became an assistant prosecutor for the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney in Kalamazoo County, MI.
From 1975-1980, Westol served as a Regional Counselor for Theta Chi before being elected to the Grand Chapter as National Vice President in 1980. He remained in that role until completing his maximum second term in 1988. In December of that year, he was named the Fraternity’s Executive Director and held that position for 18 years. Today, he is the founder, owner and CEO of Limberlost Consulting. In 2012, Dave was named a recipient of the North American Interfraternity Conference’s Gold Medal, the most prestigious honor in the interfraternal world. Brother Westol is one of only four Theta Chi members to have received the Gold Medal.
The award also prominently features one of Brother Westol’s favorite quotes. Authored by Edwin Markham, the quote eloquently captures the spirit of the Sacred Purpose movement:
"There is a destiny that makes us brothers
None goes his way alone.
All that we send into the lives of others
Comes back into our very own"
Edwin Markham 1852-1940
Founded in 1856, Theta Chi Fraternity is a men’s collegiate fraternity with more than 175,000 initiated members and has established 230 chapters. Leadership development, personal development, and service to alma mater are fundamental to Theta Chi Fraternity’s mission.
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