Indianapolis - Katherine Knight, Marietta '05, Samantha Nicolle, Auburn '06, and Devin O'Connor, Dartmouth '06, received the 2009 Quackenbush Award, the Fraternity's most prestigious individual collegiate-member honor. The award is named after Elizabeth Roberts Quackenbush, Ohio State '23, who held numerous Alpha Xi Delta offices, displayed dedication to all aspects of Alpha Xi Delta and inspired her Sisters.
"The Quackenbush Award recognizes talented Alpha Xi Delta Sisters who demonstrate strong leadership and academic skills and outstanding service to our sorority," said Deanna Detchemendy, Alpha Xi Delta National President. "The contributions made by Katherine, Samantha and Devin to our sorority and their campuses are shining examples of what it means to be an Alpha Xi Delta and we are pleased to honor them with this award."
Psychology major Katherine Knight graduated from Marietta College with a 3.976 GPA. She was on the High Dean's List, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Order of Omega, Alpha Lambda Delta freshman honorary, Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary, Psi Chi psychology honorary and Pi Sigma Alpha political science honorary. Katherine served on the Marietta Student Senate, College Union Board and was named Greek Woman of the Year. She served her chapter as president, financial vice president and assistant vice president, Ritual chair, and chaplain. This fall she returns to Marietta to complete her master's degree in psychology.
Devin O'Connor graduated from Dartmouth College with a history honors major. As an outstanding scholar with a 3.99 GPA, Devin was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, received Dartmouth's Academic Excellence Award and is a Rufas Choate Scholarship recipient. In 2008 she received the Fraternity's Slaymaker-Kinsey academic achievement award. On campus, Devin was a member of the Green Key Society honorary service organization and was named Habitat for Humanity's Youth Programs Volunteer of the Year in 2007. She was also an academic tutor and art teacher within her community. Devin served her chapter as philanthropy service chair, chapter life vice president and programs vice president. She will attend Harvard Law School this fall.
Samantha Nicolle graduated from Auburn University with a double major in history (3.8 GPA) and political science (3.5 GPA). She is a member of numerous academic honoraries, including Omicron Delta Kappa, Order of Omega, Rho Lambda, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Lambda Delta and pre-law honorary Phi Lambda Sigma. On campus, Samantha was a member of the Student Government Association, a Camp War Eagle freshman orientation counselor and a Mat Cats wrestling hostess. Within her chapter she was membership vice president, programs vice president, social chair, and Coaches Taste-Off committee chair. Samantha will attend Birmingham Law School in Alabama this fall.
About Alpha Xi Delta
Founded in 1893 at Lombard College, now Knox College, in Galesburg, Illinois, Alpha Xi Delta inspires women to realize their potential by providing opportunities for sisterhood, leadership, knowledge and service. The national women's fraternity has nearly 150,000 initiated members and has college chapters on 112 college campuses and 130 alumnae associations nationwide. For more information on Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity, visit http://www.alphaxidelta.org/.
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