MU’s women’s fraternity [Pi Beta Phi](http://www.pibetaphi.org/pibetaphi/missouri/) received the 2010 Balfour Cup at the national convention in Orlando on June 27. The Balfour Cup has recognized the best overall chapter each calendar year since 1921. MU previously won the title in 1993.
“I looked across the table to see [last year’s president] Kyle Schettler jumping up and down,” President Julie Vossbrink said. “After I saw her excitement, it hit me.”
The Balfour Cup celebrates a chapter’s excellent management, scholarship, membership, service philanthropy, community relations and programming. Chapters evaluate these six categories annually and submit written accounts to regional chairs for ranking.
Regional chairs rank each chapter in one of three levels, Phi receiving the top honor. MU’s chapter was one of 12 nationwide to attain the Phi standing in 2010.
Members attribute the chapter’s status to their balanced priorities.
“You’ll have those chapters who compensate because they concentrate on one thing, like Homecoming or Greek Week, while others distribute evenly,” Vice President of Communications Bailey Kitchell said. “That’s how you become a Phi-level chapter. If you let one thing fall by the wayside, you’re not able to achieve it.”
The Grand Council examines all Phi-level chapters and chooses the Balfour Cup winner based on its unique achievements.
“It’s what we do that’s out-of-the-box that nobody else did, something that makes us stand out,” Vossbrink said.
According to Vossbrink, the chapter’s involvement with other Panhellenic Association chapters impressed the Council. Pi Phi and Alpha Delta Pi brought TAKE, a self-defense class sponsored by the Ali Kemp Educational Foundation, to campus in the fall of 2010. Pi Phi partnered with Kappa Delta to host a speaker who relayed the importance of a positive body image. The chapter also collaborated with MU’s 13 other PHA chapters to change all chapters’ member totals.
“I’m so happy to be part of such a wonderful Greek system at Mizzou,” Vossbrink said.
Pi Phi stays involved outside the Greek community through its participation in philanthropic events, including Polar Bear Plunge, Relay for Life and Pie a Pi Phi. Its largest fundraiser, Big Man on Court, brings both Greek and non-Greek students together for a basketball tournament. The proceeds go to the Pi Beta Phi Foundation and to First Book, a non-profit organization providing children from low-income families with their first books.
Pi Phis also participate in the organization’s national literacy initiative, Champions Are Readers. Members read with elementary school students to increase enthusiasm for books.
“The events are very important,” Vice President of Philanthropy Rachel Cowlishaw said. “It’s great to get our girls to donate their time and money to helping those who are less fortunate.”
Cowlishaw said she thinks each girl’s hard work and commitment in all aspects of membership has contributed to the Balfour Cup win, and she knows their efforts will continue this fall.
“We set these standards, and we want to raise the achievement levels,” she said. “You can really tell [the Balfour Cup]’s something that’s bringing the chapter closer together.”
