Auburn University's Panhellenic system was recently recognized by the National Panhellenic Conference, after being awarded the College Panhellenic Achievement Award.
Elizabeth Stone, communication specialist for the division of student affairs, said it was a coincidence Auburn University was nationally acknowledged at the end of the fall 2014 recruitment season, and both of the Panhellenic systems' success stories exemplify the hard work done by the leaders of the organization.
"The national recognition was not because of the fantastic recruitment," Stone said. "They just happened to coincide."
Now that Panhellenic has received this recognition, the executive board said they are hoping to accomplish many goals in the next year.
"Our Panhellenic Council has always placed emphasis on thinking new and innovative ideas for the years to come," said Alexis Barranca, Panhellenic president and senior in public relations.
According to Barranca, teamwork is vital to Auburn's sororities' national success.
"The sorority chapters work together well to accomplish certain goals, whether that be fundraising for a certain philanthropy or promoting the positive aspects of Greek Life on Auburn's campus," Barranca said.
"With the cohesion that exists between all 17 NPC chapters on Auburn's campus, a platform is created that causes the Panhellenic Council to be successful with any project or event."
Panhellenic will begin to organize recruitment in early spring by Panhellenic's executive board. This year was record breaking for Panhellenic, as 1,401 young women registered to go through a week of recruitment.
"When you are expecting 1,401 women to participate in recruitment, every detail needs to be thought and planned out," Barranca said.
With the week wrapping up on Bid Day, 100 percent of potential new members who made it to the final round of recruitment were invited to join one of Panhellenic's 17 sororities.
A group of disaffiliated sorority members known as Pi Chis lead potential new members through the week of recruitment.
"Pi Chis play an incredibly large role in the success of Auburn University's recruitment," Barranca said, "I attribute the success of recruitment this year to every single one of the 84 girls who served as Pi Chis."
Erin Gready, junior in marketing and member of Alpha Xi Delta, said she developed lasting relationships during recruitment.
"My favorite part about being a Pi Chi was definitely getting to know my girls," Gready said."I thought I would be overwhelmed having 17 girls in my group, but they were all so amazing in so many different ways. I got to make an individual connection with each one of them, and it was so fun being able to lead them through recruitment."
Barranca said she considers herself a member of all 17 sororities on Auburn's campus, and not just her own.
"Being a part of Auburn Panhellenic has made me confident in my abilities to lead and help me create lifelong friendships," Barranca said. "I don't consider myself to be a member of just one amazing sorority, but instead to be an attributing member to the entire Panhellenic Council."
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