At Tri Delta’s 61st Biennial Convention, we were thrilled to recognize some truly outstanding alumnae. Whether serving our members as a volunteer, helping our alumnae chapters operate smoothly or creating warm, welcoming homes for our collegians, these Tri Deltas are easy to celebrate!
Volunteer Service Awards
The recipients of our 2024 Volunteer Service Awards have demonstrated extraordinary dedication and service to Tri Delta. The awards are based on nominations from fellow volunteers, collegiate members, staff or other Tri Delta members for their efforts to elevate the chapter, housing and member experience for those they support.
The 2024 selection committee said, “This year, we received the highest number of nominations in VSA history. Each nomination had a common theme of commitment and loyalty to Tri Delta. We are fortunate to have learned so much about the amazing work Tri Delta volunteers do to support this organization.”
We are pleased to share with you this year’s winners!
Ernestine Block Grigsby Award
Katie Gentry, Denver
Phoenix Valley Arizona Alumnae Chapter
This Ernestine Block Grigsby Award is presented by the Executive Board each biennium to an alumna member who, through her loyalty and dedication to Tri Delta, has given outstanding service to her local alumnae chapter.
Katie became involved with the chapter right after graduating from the University of Denver, and she has served in a number of leadership roles including Membership Chair and Vice President and Communications Chair, improving the chapter and its processes in each role she has held. Among her accomplishments, Katie has upped the chapter’s communications game considerably! Their monthly online newsletter distribution list has grown by over 300 people to a total of almost 1,400, with an average open rate of 52%. Katie has created a membership/recruitment email outreach to all Phoenix-area Tri Deltas this past fall, resulting in 18 new members! Her nominator said she “is the first person to do whatever she can to assist her sisters in every possible way! She truly is the heart and soul of the chapter.”
In her acceptance speech, Katie remarked, “Receiving this award is not just a personal achievement, but a reflection of the collective efforts of everyone who has supported me. It is a reminder of the importance of giving back, of lifting others as we climb and of making a positive impact in our community. I am committed to continuing this legacy of service, leadership and excellence, and to upholding the values that Tri Delta represents.”
1st Runner Up: Dione DuBois Colón, Arizona State—Albuquerque, New Mexico Area Alumnae Chapter
2nd Runner Up: Shanna Chambers Dunbar, California/Irvine—Cleveland, Ohio Alumnae Chapter
Honorable Mentions:
Peggy Young Rishe, Illinois—Charlotte, North Carolina Alumnae Chapter
Michelle Lockhart Mercer, Toronto—Toronto, Canada Alumnae Chapter
Charlotte Downs, Arkansas—Central Arkansas, Arkansas Alumnae Chapter
Regional Volunteer Awards
Wendi Wickland Davies, Maryland
Collegiate Chapter Specialist for Upsilon Chapter at Northwestern University
Wendi has helped many members understand the full power of Tri Delta and harness their leadership abilities to propel the chapter to new heights. When Wendi began her volunteer service with Northwestern as recruitment specialist in the fall of 2021, there were fewer than 20 members. The chapter is now at, or striving towards, campus total and had a massive milestone in spring 2023 of reaching 100 members. Through decades of service and dedication, Tri Deltas all over the country from the 1980s and beyond have been positively impacted by Wendi.
Lisa Katrine Aucoin, Canada Delta
Collegiate Chapter Specialist for Canada Alpha at University of Toronto & Canada Delta at University of Ottawa
Everything Lisa does is in the best interest of both the chapter as a whole and each individual member. She makes herself available to every member, despite her busy schedule. When the chapter went through a difficult slating process, she made time to have personal phone calls with the members that were greatly affected by the process and each of them have expressed that their conversations with Lisa left them feeling heard and empowered to continue their journey in Tri Delta.
Collegiate Chapter Volunteer Awards
Hannah Keogh Kalka, North Dakota State
Alumna Advisor for Epsilon Omicron Chapter at North Dakota State University
Hannah consistently goes above and beyond her duties and shows genuine care and concern for each member’s well-being. She’s a reliable ally and has been one of the driving forces behind the chapter’s accomplishments this year. She exemplifies the true spirit of leadership and service that Tri Delta fosters and she embodies a true Tri Delta woman.
Carly Kirven, Knox
Alumna Advisor for Epsilon Chapter at Knox College
Carly is selfless and willing to do whatever it takes to ensure the chapter continues to grow and thrive. She regularly steps in, using her own budget to fill gaps for this small chapter. At a recent Sincerely Yours event, she generously paid for dinner, snacks and drinks for the entire chapter. Members commented that it was the most fun they’ve had at such an event. Carly has also provided donations from her antique business to support recruitment events. As a local small business owner, she has employed many chapter members, helping them build their resumes and gain valuable experience.
Alumnae Chapter Officer/Volunteer Awards
Kathy Dority Galiney, Central Florida
Alumnae Specialist for Charleston, SC, Charlotte, NC, Cincinnati, OH, Cleveland, OH, Columbia, SC, Columbus, OH, Greensboro, NC, Greenville, SC, Low Country, SC, Oxford, OH, Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, NC, Toledo, OH
As a new alumnae specialist stepping into the role after Volunteer Leadership Conference in July 2023, Kathy made it her mission to get up and running quickly and efficiently. Working with 12 chapters across Ohio, North Carolina and South Carolina, she has steadfastly helped them find new leadership and supported those who recently took on leadership positions. This year, Kathy worked with the chapter officers of the Columbus, Ohio, Alumnae Chapter to help them grow to 42 dues-paying members.
Kayla Musgjerd Kaufmann, Coe
Membership Chair in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN Alumnae Chapter
Kayla gives her all to whatever role she is assigned and willingly steps forward to assist with tasks such as setting up and executing events, always being on time and going the extra mile to make sure events are successful. Her previous roles combined with her professional experience have made her a mentor many officers rely on for consistent and positive support. As a young alumna, she collaborated with others to involve our newest members and introduce fresh ideas to the chapter. Her welcoming smile and friendship are always a bright spot. Her ideas and planning led to several “Delta Adventures” that successfully connected alumnae. During her role as president, she had an amazing presence as she led our chapter. She was prepared, inclusive and thorough with every chapter detail. She always had a compassionate ear and never hesitated to go above and beyond to enrich the Tri Delta experience for her sisters.
Local House Corporation Officer/Volunteer Awards
Tracey Roberts Pierce, Michigan, and Jan Jackson Culbertson, Michigan
Local House Corporation President & Vice President for Iota Chapter at University Michigan
Nominated as a pair, Tracey and Jan have worked tirelessly to maintain the Iota Chapter house at the University of Michigan, balancing demanding careers with their volunteer roles. Jan has maintained the home for decades, coordinating all the summer improvement projects and working to make sure the chapter home is more sustainable. Under Tracey’s leadership, the LHC Board is efficient, dedicated and caring. Tracey and Jan are always eager to hear from the collegiate officers, the house director and the chapter advisors about how the physical spaces can be more attractive and functional for the collegiate members. During summer 2023, Jan and Tracey stepped up and to complete the normal summer projects while also completely renovating the house director suite to make it more attractive and functional and filling the gaps between house directors. Jan and Tracey made it possible for the home to be ready for our collegiate members to move in!
Alumnae Chapter Awards
Nine alumnae chapters really went above and beyond, earning the Five Star Award (formerly the Eleanor Dorcas Pond Award) by achieving honor roll status in ALL FIVE categories by June 1, 2024. These chapters are operating successfully while providing an elevated member experience to our alumnae. Congratulations to Charlotte, North Carolina; Philadelphia Main Line, Pennsylvania; Richmond, Virginia; Rochester, New York; Central Arkansas; Emerald Coast, Florida; Space Coast, Florida, Champaign/Urbana, Illinois; and Indianapolis, Indiana!
The Four Star Award went to the chapters that achieved honor roll status in four or more categories by June 1, 2024.
The Three Star Award went to chapters that achieved honor roll status in three or more categories by June 1, 2024.
Click below to find out the chapters that received honor roll status in each of the individual categories:
Financial Honor Roll
Operations Honor Roll
Membership Honor Roll
Philanthropy Honor Roll
Community Service Honor Roll
LHC Awards
This year, Tri Delta has worked to enhance our partnership with and support for our local house corporations. Part of that support includes annually celebrating the achievements of our most outstanding LHCs and we are excited to share these brand-new awards with you!
We recognized the LHCs that not only met the annual reporting requirements for operating a safe and welcoming, operationally strong, financially sound and competitive Tri Delta home on campus, but have also gone above and beyond, providing an elevated member experience to collegiate members and guests.
The LHC Three Star Award went to chapters who achieved honor roll status in three areas.
Click below to find out the LHCs that received honor roll status in each of the individual categories:
Operations Honor Roll
Life Safety Honor Roll
Competitiveness Honor Roll
Financial Liability Honor Roll
Congratulations to all of our deserving winners! We are so proud!