The 2022 Individual Collegiate Awards applications are now open, and there are many reasons to apply! ADPi aims to create positive momentum, celebrate successes, and reward the highest level of excellence in our sisterhood. The Ruth Pretty Palmer Panhellenic Award, the Emerging Leader Award, and the Dorothy Shaw Leadership Award each carry great significance to our organization and seek to recognize three collegians who exemplify the outstanding qualities of an Alpha Delta Pi woman. Three of our past award winners share about why they applied and what the Individual Collegiate Award has meant to them.

The Dorothy Shaw Leadership Award

The Dorothy Shaw Leadership Award is the highest individual honor given to a collegiate member of Alpha Delta Pi. This award is named in honor of Dorothy Pierpont Shaw, who pledged at Rho Chapter, Boston University, in the fall of 1915, and initiated in February 1916. She later transferred to Psi Chapter, University of California, Berkeley. Between 1920 and 1931, she served as Alumnae Secretary, Registrar, Historian, Province President, and Grand Convention Manager. She published the first national membership directory for the sorority.

Words from Genevieve Pritchard, Alpha Theta – University of Washinton, Past Award Winner

“They say hindsight is 20/20 and I couldn’t agree more. Reflecting on the past can provide you with new clarity and appreciation. Looking back on my four years of college I can clearly see the immense growth that I experienced and the moments that shaped me to be the person I am today. When I was in college, like most students, I was constantly moving, often getting lost in the daily rituals of going to class, studying, attending social events, and doing service. It is hard to identify the moments of progress and the changes you make as they’re happening. That is why I decided to apply for the Dorothy Shaw Leadership Award. Well, that, and because my awe-inspiring advisors encouraged me to apply (thanks, Dana and Sara!). 

Applying for the Dorothy Shaw Leadership Award gave me the opportunity to slow down and reflect on my past experiences in Alpha Delta Pi and at the University of Washington. It allowed me to take a trip down memory lane with the good, the bad, and the ugly. The past four years were messy, beautiful, challenging, sorrowful, exhilarating, and joyful, all wrapped up together. I accomplished a lot, and I made plenty of mistakes too. Writing about my experiences taught me about myself and how I have changed and can continue to change for the better. This award is a testament to development, experiences, and accomplishments that are often unquantifiable and often go unrecognized. Now, one year later, I am in a Master of Nursing program at Emory University. Having done this self-reflection, I know more about myself and use this new self-awareness to help me be successful in my program. 

So, celebrate yourself and your journey. Celebrate your years in Alpha Delta Pi thus far and celebrate the years to come. Celebrate the changes, the growth, the mistakes, the learning opportunities, and the achievements. I encourage you to apply to get to know yourself a little better, to pat yourself on the back for all the amazing things you have accomplished, and to dream about the growth and spectacular experiences that are in your future.” 

The Ruth Pretty Palmer Panhellenic Award

The Ruth Pretty Palmer Panhellenic Award was established in 1996 to honor individual collegiate and alumnae members for leadership and exceptional service to college and alumnae Panhellenics. This award is named in memory of Ruth Pretty Palmer, Sigma Chapter, who served on the Alpha Delta Pi National Panhellenic Conference Delegation for sixteen years.

Words from Victoria Parker, Eta Upsilon – Wake Forest University, Past Award Winner

“The first day I joined Alpha Delta Pi in 2018 I knew that I wanted to help build the Panhellenic community. Going through recruitment, I could see the power women have on college campuses when they work together and support one another. I believe it is so important for women to have a space on college campuses to have the leadership opportunities and learning environments that sorority life provides. During my time at Wake Forest University, I served as my chapter’s Panhellenic Delegate and as my University’s Panhellenic President. Both leadership opportunities taught me so many valuable lessons in communication and how to be an advocate, but they also provided me with self-confidence, and the confidence of the strength women have in collegiate environments. I applied for the Ruth Pretty Palmer Panhellenic award because I dedicated my college experience to growing and improving the Panhellenic community on my university’s campus, and I am very passionate about the potential that Panhellenic involvement has for all member’s growth. Through programs like new scholarship initiatives and a Diversity & Inclusion task force, I know that I helped my University’s Panhellenic reach its full potential, and this is something of which I am proud.

Since this past summer when I won the award, many opportunities have opened to me. I can discuss the award and my accomplishments with Panhellenic in job interviews, and I have been able to get quickly connected with the Alpha Delta Pi Alumnae Association in my new city of Nashville. This award means so much to me because it made me realize that my efforts and passion for Panhellenic success and growth were noticed and valued. I know there are so many sisters who dedicate their time, energy, and skills to bettering not only their individual chapters but the entire Panhellenic community on their campus. You all deserve to be recognized for your hard work and dedication to our sisterhood!”

Words from Lauren LaTour, Epsilon Epsilon – Texas Tech University, Past Award Winner

“As the Texas Tech Panhellenic VP Recruitment, I was honored to encourage thousands of women to join a community that provided me the sense of belonging, connection, and sisterhood we’ve found within Alpha Delta Pi. Panhellenic service is a reflection of the sisterhood we represent. Representing Alpha Delta Pi in this capacity is a true honor. I applied for this award because I was extremely proud to share my leadership, management, and creative work with our sisters, regardless of the award results. It’s an extra bonus that applying for this award allowed me to reflect on the amazing experiences I had as a Delta sister.

Receiving this award has been the greatest honor I’ve held as an Alpha Delta Pi sister and reminded me that, even while disassociated from ADPi during recruitment, sisters across the nation were “living for me” and the work I performed on the Panhellenic Executive Board. This award opened other doors for me on campus and in my career search. After being named a Ruth Pretty Palmer recipient, I was awarded as a “Phenomenal Woman at Texas Tech” through the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Further, this award is an amazing talking point on my resumé as it shows potential employers that my leadership and event planning experience have been recognized on a national scale. 

If I could give you any advice as your sister, I’d tell you that if you’re thinking about applying– you so should! Alpha Delta Pi offers friendships for a lifetime but also a lifetime of supporters to cheer you on. Take a chance and let us celebrate the amazing work you’ve done within your local Panhellenic!”

The Collegiate Emerging Leader Award

The Collegiate Emerging Leader Award is presented annually to collegiate members. This award honors the spirit of our young, innovative founders that had the foresight and propensity to create our beloved sorority. Applications will be available online each fall.

To learn more about the criteria for these awards and to apply, click here.