INDIANAPOLIS — The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), one of the largest advocacy organizations for women, is announcing the recipients of three awards that recognize individuals for dedicated service to the interfraternal community.
2019 Distinguished Service Award
NPC honors Maureen Syring, Delta Gamma, with the 2019 Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes an individual for lifelong service to the interfraternal community or NPC. Syring’s service to Delta Gamma, NPC and the fraternity/sorority industry spans many more than 40 years. During that time, she has held many Delta Gamma leadership positions, including president. She shared her time and talents for more than 17 years in various NPC leadership roles such as NPC delegate and Executive Committee member. She also served as an NPC Foundation trustee. She is a shining example of unselfish dedication and passion for the sorority experience.
“Maureen has touched the lives of so many NPC women,” said Carole Jones, NPC chairman. “It is fitting we honor her service with this award to say thank you for all she has done, and will continue to do, to advance the sorority experience.”
Syring’s contributions have also been recognized by the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) and many fraternal organizations, including Delta Gamma.
2019 Interfraternal Partner Award
NPC honors three individuals from Arnold & Porter as joint recipients of the 2019 Interfraternal Partner Award. Kevin O’Neill, Amy Davenport and Samantha Martin have played a key role in NPC’s advancement during the last biennium. They have ensured NPC’s presence in Washington, D.C., by monitoring important issues at the federal level and directly impacting legislation to benefit students and our members.
“I am personally grateful for the guidance and support Kevin, Amy and Sam have provided me as NPC chairman as we work to protect the single-sex experience and freedom of association rights of our members,” said Carole Jones, NPC chairman. “All of us at NPC are very thankful for their engagement and their commitment to preserving the sorority experience.”
O’Neill is a member of Lambda Chi Alpha and a partner at Arnold & Porter. Davenport is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha and a current policy advisor at Arnold & Porter. Martin is a member of Alpha Delta Pi and a current senior policy specialist at Arnold & Porter.
NPC Impact Award
NPC honors Heather Matthews Kirk, Zeta Tau Alpha, as the first-ever recipient of the NPC Impact Award. The 2017-19 NPC Executive Committee created this award to recognize timely and exemplary service or leadership in a role or task that has advanced the sorority movement or made a specific impact on NPC. Kirk did so with the work she directed for the Stand Up to Harvard public relations campaign this past year. Without her many hours of contribution, the fight against Harvard University’s unfair sanctions policy would not look the same. The passion Kirk poured into the work she did was incredible.
Carole Jones, NPC chairman, said, “We are greatly indebted to the work Heather put into the Stand Up to Harvard campaign and her leadership ensuring we were delivering the right message on the right channel at the right time. Her zeal for the project was shared by many.”
Kirk led the Stand Up to Harvard campaign primarily while serving as the chief communication officer at the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). She currently serves as chief communication officer for Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity.
The recipients will be presented their awards at the 2019 NPC Annual Educational Conference during the “State of the Conference” luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 5, at noon at The Peabody Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee.
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About the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC)
NPC, one of the largest organizations advocating for women, is the umbrella group for 26 national and international sororities. NPC sororities are located on more than 670 campuses with over 400,000 undergraduate members in more than 3,350 chapters. Alumnae are represented in more than 3,651 associations throughout the world. For more information, including a complete list of NPC sororities, visit npcwomen.org or find NPC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
