Tau Kappa Epsilon wins “Top Teke” Award

The Tau Kappa Epsilon national organization chose GW’s chapter of the fraternity as winner of the “Top Teke Award,” the most prestigious honor a chapter can receive.

The fraternity’s national organization evaluates the excellence of each chapter on standards like fundraising, philanthropy, academics, extra curricular involvement and community service. The Greek-letter organization won the award for the second time in four years and beat out 272 chapters nationwide this year.

Tau Kappa Epsilon President Brandon DeBaun said the national organization deemed GW’s chapter “superior” in each of the categories evaluated.

“We overcame some adversity this past year, and to come out of that and win this award is a testament to our members and their abilities,” said DeBaun, a senior.

In May 2005, a sophomore member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fell from the roof of the fraternity’s residence on 22nd Street after he had been drinking. Though the student claimed responsibility for the accident, the University still placed the fraternity on temporary social probation.

The fraternity’s sponsorship of multiple fundraisers and a high new-member retention rate helped the group win the award. DeBaun added that he hopes the award will help his chapter have a successful recruitment process this semester and in the spring.

“We are far from the stereotype,” DeBaun said. “We have a diverse group of guys that bring a lot to the table. College only lasts four years, and I’m hoping the fraternity helps our members become better people, more ready for the real world and a successful future.”

DeBaun said that because the same chapter can win the “Top Teke Award” multiple times, his chapter’s ultimate goal is to win the award for the third time in five years in 2007 after winning it for the first time in 2002.