CLEVELAND – The University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Delta Tau Delta fraternity was recently recognized as one of the top fraternity chapters in North America.
UNK’s Theta Kappa chapter is among seven fraternities from across the country to receive the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) Chapter Award of Distinction. This award is presented annually to individuals and groups who exemplify leadership, service and fraternal values.
A trade association representing men’s fraternities on campuses in the U.S. and Canada, the NIC honored the UNK chapter for its outstanding dedication to philanthropy, leadership development, campus involvement, strategic recruitment and member retention. This includes the group’s ongoing support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
“It is not just a fraternity, this chapter is truly a student organization that has figured out how to produce better men, mentors, fathers, leaders and contributors. These are not men who sit idly by but get involved in a meaningful way in everything they do.”
In addition to the chapter award, UNK graduate Joseph Hiatt received the NIC Undergraduate Award of Distinction. Hiatt served as president of the UNK Delta Tau Delta chapter and Interfraternity Council. He was also an appointee to the international fraternity’s Undergraduate Council and a student lobbyist on Capitol Hill for the Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee.
Hiatt graduated from UNK in May 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and May 2024 with a Master of Business Administration. He’s currently a chapter leadership consultant for Delta Tau Delta International.
Delta Tau Delta Chief Executive Officer Jack Kreman, a 2004 UNK graduate, presented the awards during Karnea, a biennial convention hosted July 31 through Aug. 4 in Cleveland, Ohio. Kreman praised the Theta Kappa chapter for its commitment to the fraternity’s values and significant impact on campus. Often referred to as “the greatest of all Delt events,” Karnea brings undergraduate and alumni members from across the globe together to conduct fraternity business, share experiences and celebrate the bonds of brotherhood.
The UNK chapter also received a Hugh Shields Award for Chapter Excellence, presented to the top 10 chapters in Delta Tau Delta, and Hughes Award for Excellence in Ritual Performance.
Ryan Caldwell, a 2002 UNK graduate, was elected to his second consecutive term on Arch Chapter, the international fraternity’s board of directors.
