Giving Back Through Time & Treasure

While focusing locally on domestic violence prevention, Alpha Chi Omega recognizes its members for their service with scholarship award created by President’s Circle donor Tim Henry.

The UND Chapter of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority donates thousands of dollars every year to the Grand Forks-based Community Violence Intervention Center (CVIC).

Like all Greek organizations on campus, the sorority raises money for a nonprofit organization in the community or one supported by its national organization.

CVIC has an on-campus location, making it easy for students to use the resource if they need it, said Amorelle Upton, ’23, who helped lead Alpha Chi Omega’s philanthropy for three years. “Seeing that our philanthropy can potentially be donated back to our students is something that sets us apart.” 

As a leader of the sorority’s philanthropy, Amorelle became certified by the One Love Foundation to lead workshops about recognizing the signs of unhealthy relationships. She educated her sorority sisters and the wider Greek community while CVIC representatives held similar workshops at fraternities.

Alpha Chi includes educational elements at their events. For example, at Mock Rock, a dance competition for fraternities and UND’s best attended Greek philanthropic event, a CVIC representative spoke to the audience about recognizing signs of domestic violence

Gordon Henry Greek of the Year

The impact of Alpha Chi’s initiatives resonated in 2022 when Amorelle was honored as the Gordon Henry Greek of the Year. The annual award goes to two Greek students who go above and beyond their responsibilities to the Greek community and emulate the selflessness and genuine service of Gordon Henry, ’66, ’70, who was vice president of UND student affairs and served the University for 33 years.

Winners of the award receive the Gordon and Pat Henry Endowed Scholarship, set up to honor Gordon and Pat by their son, Tim Henry.

“I was grateful,” Amorelle said of the award and scholarship. “I had been nominated the year before and the second time, I had more experiences and was able to show the impact.”

Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity member Alec Johnson received the award in 2022. The 2023 winners, announced in January 2024, were Bergen Stockstad of Kappa Delta and Jaxon Wetzel of Delta Tau Delta.

The award also highlights the Greek community’s focus on philanthropy. UND Greek chapters collectively raised over $90,000 for philanthropic causes in 2022.

Addela Sampel, UND coordinator of fraternity and sorority life, said service is a core value for the Greek community. “Chapters meet service hour requirements and philanthropy dollar goals each semester,” she said. “It’s something members of our sororities and fraternities are really proud of.”