1993 Volume 116 No 1–4 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

Jeff Davis wins Arthur R. Priest Award
BY CARMALIETA DELLINGER JENKINS
Jeffrey N. Davis, a founding member of the Missouri Zeta
chapter at Southeast Missouri State University, is the winner of
the 1992-93 Arthur R. Priest Award. He accepted the honor
and was a featured speaker at the awards banquet during the
1993 Leadership CoUege where he reminded the delegates to
think of themselves within the larger Greek community.
"No chapter is an island in the ... sea of fraternities," he said.
"If your chapter doesn't work with your adviser, your Greek system,
or the [General] Headquarters, then your chapter can never
reach its maximum potential."
A political science major who has minors in Spanish and
sociology, Davis claims a 3.75 average on a 4.0 system. Davis He
a $2,500 scholarship grant to
be used during his senior year.
Jeff is described as a
"clutch player" by chapter officers
and a "driving force" by
chapter adviser. Per H.
Torgersen, Penn State '89.
Surely his record proves he is
both. He served his chapter as
awards chairman and treasurer
before being elected president.
The chapter has chosen him
both "Brother of the Year" and
"Most Spirited Brother." He
faithfuUy participates in
intramurals, serves on chapter
committees, participates in Phi
Delta Theta and other campus
groups' phUan- thropies, is a
Special Olympics volunteer.
He was been named to the AU
Greek Honor RoU four times
and has been selected to be a
member of the Order of
Omega; Phi Eta Sigma, a
freshman honor society; Alpha
Phi Omega, a national service
fraternity; and Pi Sigma Alpha,
an honorary for PoUtical
Science majors.
Davis is also a driving
force on campus. He was elected secretary and vice president of
Towers West HaU CouncU. He has served as a Student Government
Senator, as the Interim Student Representative to the
Faculty Senate, and as Chairman of the Student Government
PoUcy Affairs Committee. He was named a student representative
to the University Leadership Advisory Board and the
student member of the President's Administrative CouncU.
University President Kala M. Stroup writes that Jeff has
been "a leader and example for aU students on this campus. Most
recentiy, Jeff was elected by an overwhelming majority as President
of the Student Government for the 1993-94 academic year
... We have seen evidence of his sincere commitment to exceUence
through his work in Student Government, the Honor's Program,
Phi Delta Theta, and the community."
Davis has not Umited his involvement to chapter and campus
activities. The Boy Scouts, the Red Cross, and the Cape
Girardeau food bank each have benefited from his active involvement.
During the summer of 1992, Davis served as an
intern at the Democratic National Convention in New York
City. He worked as a VisibiUty Coordinator for the CUnton
campaign and a staff member
and page for Alexis Hermann,
the CEO of the Convention.
During his speech at the
1993 Leadership CoUege,
Davis chaUenged Phis to address
problems Greeks face
today. Using Dr. Martin
Luther King's "I Have a
Dream" speech, he caUed on
aU Phis to reflect on alcohol
abuse.
"I have a dream that one
day men wUl not have to use
alcohol as a social lubricant,"
Davis said. "That Brothers
won't have to take a few drinks
before they get the courage to
speak to a woman. That chapters
won't use alcohol to coerce
a rushee, and that one day, al-
Above: Dr. Edward G cohol wiU not represent a rite
Whipple, president of the of passage into manhood as it
General Council, presents the does today."
Arthur R. Priest Award to Jeff Davis went on to thank
Davis; left: Jeff Davis speaks his chapter brothers, die Genbefore
the 1993 Leadership ^.^ Headquarters staff, and
^°^^^S^-
the Foundation for the support
given to him.
The Arthur R. Priest
Award, Phi Delta Theta's
highest undergraduate honor, has been presented since 1954 to
40 of the Fraternity's finest. Jeff Davis is certain to be at home in
that distinguished company. •
Carmalieta Dellinger Jenkins is the assistant to the president of the
Foundation.
214 TheScroU