NATCHITOCHES – Members of Northwestern State University’s Eta Omicron chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity attended the fraternity’s national convention in Washington, D.C., where they were lauded for community service, along with other honors.

Jairus Killings, a sophomore theatre major from Syracuse, New York, and an R.F Lewis Scholar; Chapter President Jacob Stone, a junior music business major from Kilgore, Texas, and Van Erikson, chapter advisor and interim director of Enrollment Management at NSU, participated in conference, held annually to conduct fraternity business, network and participate in the School of Fraternity Practices, a leadership and chapter operations school.

The Eta Omicron chapter was awarded the Sidney Ann Gilpin Lewis Award for Community Service and Philanthropy in recognition of hurricane relief work with the Theta Rho chapter at McNeese State University in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura.

Erikson was chosen as a faculty member to facilitate sessions at the School of Fraternity practices on Social Media Authenticity. He also received the George T. Kiovas Alumni Award, which recognizes alumni who have made meritorious contributions to the local, regional or international general welfare of Theta Chi.

“I’m so proud of the chapter for leading efforts in service and philanthropy, which our Fraternity was founded upon,” Erikson said. “We’re taught to extend the helping hand to all, and in doing so, our chapter brothers grow as resolute men through the process of serving others.”

Van Erikson, chapter advisor of NSU’s Eta Omicron Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity, received the George T. Kilovas Alumni Award, which recognizes alumni who have made meritorious contributions to the local, regional or international general welfare of Theta Chi. He is pictured with other award-winning alumni representing their undergraduate universities. From left are Corey Esquenazi (University of Central Florida), Erikson, James McGuire (Southeastern Louisiana University), Hunter Tower (Widener University), Brandon Younkin (East Stroudsburg University) and Jason Carmichael (Randolph-Macon College).