AWARDS 2023
SPECIAL HONORS
The Awards Ceremony was held at University of North Carolina Wilmington in the Lumina Theater on Friday, June 1, 2023 during the 19th Annual Convention. Presiding was the 2022-2023 National Board of Trustees: Claire McAuliffe, Elizabeth Kroner, Liz Downer, Magen Nelson, Brett Pasquinelli, Emma Clyde, Elise Tiralli, and Cayce Lee (Natasha Lyons and Elisa Wydotis were absent). Also of note, two of four Founding Sisters were present in the audience: Mrs. Kim Rogers Pereira and Ms. Kathryn Meyers.
***Guest award presenter, The Sigma Alpha Omega® Foundation Vice President Erika Hanson presented three awards on behalf of the Interim President Chelsey Shirley Murdock, who was unable to attend due to the birth of her first child: the Grace Award, the SAOF President's Choice (Director of the Year) Award, and the newly minted "gem award" which was officially renamed in light of the new official gemstone of Sigma Alpha Omega the following day as the Rose Quartz Award. The Rose Quartz Award is given to a chapter that makes a inspiring effort to maximize their participation in the annual Convention that year, whether from large active and alumnae registration numbers, financial obstacles overcome, and/or distance traveled. The Grace Award is given to a sister who has distinguished herself in service to the official charitable foundation of Sigma Alpha Omega and/or the sisterhood at large. The SAOF President's Choice, or Director of the Year, Award is selected by the current President of the SAO Foundation in recognition of a fellow Foundation Director who has distinguished herself in her volunteer role with the Foundation. Accompanying Erika Hanson at the Awards Ceremony were fellow Directors Scarleth Andino, Abby McHenry, and Jashania Gatling-Garrette. In addition to Chelsey's absence, Director Kelli Anne Gecawich was unable to be in attendance.
*The Lily Award is a nomination-based award given to a sister of Sigma Alpha Omega, enrolled or alumna. The Lily Award recipient will personify the following: 1) A Christ-like attitude of humility and compassion, 2) A consistent record of service to others through SAO or otherwise, 3) A strong reputation as a woman of Christ and ambassador for SAO to her campus and/or community [Song of Solomon 2:1-2: "I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters."]
**The Dove Award is a nomination-based award given to a sister of Sigma Alpha Omega, enrolled or alumna. The Dove Award recipient will personify the following: 1) Evidence of a strong work ethic, 2) An obvious passion for Christ and Sigma Alpha Omega, 3) An extraordinary dedication to her commitments and relationships [Matthew 3:16-17: "As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him."]
CHAPTER LEADERSHIP
SISTER OF THE YEAR
Emily Peedin (Alpha)
OUTSTANDING PRESIDENT
Kaylee Williams (Chi)
OUTSTANDING VICE PRESIDENT
Megan Collins (Alpha)
OUTSTANDING SECRETARY
Claudia Purser (Upsilon)
OUTSTANDING TREASURER
Lauren Shell (Alpha)
OUTSTANDING JUDICIAL BOARD CHAIR:
Felicity Collum (Chi)
OUTSTANDING COMMITTEE CHAIR
Holley Kiker (Beta Mu)
Honorable Mention: Macy Jo Morgan (Chi)
OUSTANDING ALUMNA
Cayce Lee (Alpha)
SISTER OF PROMISE
Mary Grace Watson (Mu)
SISTER ACHIEVEMENT
Natasha Smith (Alpha)
SISTER OF SERVICE
Chelsey Shirley Murdock (Mu)
THE LILY AWARD*
Savannah Timmons (Chi)
THE DOVE AWARD**
Emileigh Crouch (Beta Delta)
A SPECIAL THANKS
A special thank you and recognition to Shannon Routh of Teal Diva, for not only attending and participating in our former and 2023 Conventions as a speaker, but also as a new honorary member of Sigma Alpha Omega for her continued service to the sisterhood in equipping us to better support and inform others and ourselves regarding our national philanthropy, ovarian cancer awareness.
CHAPTER ACHIEVEMENT
CHAPTER OF THE YEAR
Mu Chapter
(University of Georgia)
OUTSTANDING MERCHANDISE DESIGN
Beta Mu Chapter
(University of Texas Austin)
OUTSTANDING SOCIAL MEDIA
Alpha Delta (Christopher Newport University)
CHAPTER OF PROMISE
Alpha Delta Chapter
(Christopher Newport University)
CHAPTER ACHIEVEMENT
Beta Iota Chapter
(St. Davids, PA)
CHAPTER OF SERVICE
Alpha Lambda Chapter
(Radford University)
CHAPTER OF THE FALL 2022 SEMESTER
Beta Chapter
(Appalachian State University)
CHAPTER OF THE SPRING 2023 SEMESTER
Upsilon Chapter
(University of North Carolina Charlotte)
DISTINGUISHED CHAPTERS
ALPHA
BETA
MU
OMICRON
UPSILON
CHI
ALPHA DELTA
ALPHA ZETA
ALPHA LAMBDA
ALPHA XI
ALPHA OMICRON
BETA IOTA
BETA MU
BETA NU
SPECIAL HONORS
OUTSTANDING
NON-SISTER
Shellie Pinnix (Upsilon Chapter Nominee)
TRUSTEE OF THE YEAR
Elise Tiralli (Alpha Tau)
MENTOR OF THE YEAR
Nicole Caudill (Beta)
THE SAO FOUNDATION'S DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Kelli Anne Gecawich (Gamma)
THE SAO FOUNDATION'S GRACE*** AWARD
Chelsey Shirley Murdock (Mu)
THE SAO FOUNDATION'S ROSE QUARTZ*** AWARD
Beta Zeta Chapter
(Vanguard University)
CONVENTION
EVENT SUPERLATIVES
(as voted upon by the 19th Annual Convention Attendees)
MOST CAMERA READY
Casey Davis
MOST CHARISMATIC
Lane McCarthy
MOST FASHIONABLE
Jill Grigsby
MOST LIKELY TO
STAY UP LATE
Emma Clyde
MOST LIKELY TO BE DANCING
Jashania Gatling-Garrette
MOST COMEDIC
Mariann Fisher
SEEMS LIKE HER LIFE IS TOGETHER
Lauren Guerra
MOST LIKELY TO ATTEND ALL.THE.THINGS!
Abby McHenry
MOST ENTHUSIASTIC
Madelyn Bradshaw
MOST PASSIONATE
ABOUT SAO
Sarah Grace Malphrus
MISS CONGENIALITY
Scarleth Andino