FAE 2026 – CELEBRATING OUR WINS - FOCUSING ON OUR VALUES!
Is your chapter ready to share its success story? Applications are now open for a unique opportunity to highlight your achievements, showcase growth, and share best practices. Be a part of a review process that celebrates your accomplishments and fosters learning and growth for others!
Click here to see last year's winners.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
- December 8, 2026 - Council Award applications are due
- This includes nomination materials for individual awards.
- December 21, 2026 - Fraternal Awards of Excellence Chapter award submissions are due
- This includes final materials for individual nominees.
- March 7, 2027 - Fraternal Awards of Excellence Reception
- Details of reception will be communicated to chapter presidents
ABOUT THE FRATERNAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE (FAE)
The Fraternal Award of Excellence recognizes chapters that excel in areas crucial to the success of sororities and fraternities at Iowa State University.
This assessment highlights the five core values of our Sorority and Fraternity Community: Academics, Civic Engagement, Friendship, Leadership, and Social Justice.
ALL CHAPTERS are REQUIRED to complete the FAE Awards Submission Packet in order be be considered "in good standing".
Scores are shared publicly annually on the Sorority and Fraternity Scorecard.
Chapters may receive awards and recognition at the Fraternal Awards of Excellence reception.
Feedback regarding their submission will be available through your liaison after spring break.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
The following individual awards are open for application. These awards are for individuals TO APPLY for these awards. If you want to nominate someone for the award to encourage them to apply please complete this form: COMING SOON!
- Chapter President of the Year - Nominees must be a current student at Iowa State University, have achieved a 2.5 GPA at the end of the award period, be in good standing with the university and served as a chapter president during the 2026 year. Scholarships may be available for award winners with at least a 3.0 GPA. The file should include a personal statement of your accomplishments, a resume, and at least one recommendation letter.
- Class of the Year Awards - Applicants should upload one file saved as Applicant Name_Of the Year. The file should include a personal statement of your accomplishments, a resume, and at least one recommendation letter. Recommendation letters may come from chapter advisors, university faculty or staff members, international headquarters, peers, or employers. Nominees must have at least a 2.5 GPA. Scholarships may be available for award winners.
- Sorority and Fraternity Community Member of the Year - Applicants should upload one file saved as Applicant Name_Community Member. The file should include a personal statement of your accomplishments, a resume, and at least one recommendation letter. Recommendation letters may come from chapter advisors, university faculty or staff members, international headquarters, peers, or employers. Nominees must be a current student at Iowa State, have achieved at least a 2.5 GPA, and completed at least 60 credits. Recipients of this award should have provided contributions to the community throughout their collegiate career. Scholarships may be available for award winners with at least a 3.0 GPA.
The following individual awards are open for applications. Chapter members should work together on these awards and submit one nomination on behalf of the chapter.
- Chapter Advisor of the Year - Nominees should have served as an advisor for the local chapter at Iowa State during the 2025 year. Applications should include an essay detailing why the advisor should be recognized for this award. Nominators should upload one file saved as Chapter Advisor Name
- House Director of the Year - Nominees should have served as a house director for the local chapter at Iowa State during the 2025 year. Applications should include an essay detailing why the house director should be recognized for this award. Nominators should upload one file saved as House Director Name.
- Carolyn Ullestad Unsung Hero Award - Carolyn Ullestad served as the administrative assistant in the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Engagement and Student Activities Center for seventeen years. Through her work, Carolyn impacted the lives of thousands of students, alumni, advisers, and staff. Carolyn Ullestad was truly the “Unsung Hero” in the office, whether assisting a chapter president with academic rosters, a recruitment chairman with bid cards or council members with budgets or mailings. Her demeanor was always calm and professional within an office of urgency and contagious activity. Upon her retirement in May of 2006, the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Engagement began awarding the Unsung Hero Award annually. Nominators should include a brief essay indicating why the nominee is deserving of this unsung recognition. Applications should be saved as Nominee Name.
- Hall of Fame Award -The Hall of Fame Award is considered a “lifetime achievement” award. Nominees for this award should have contributed significant contributions to the fraternal community at Iowa State. A maximum of one person per chapter can be nominated for this award. Nominees must be an alumnus. Nominees must have been a member of their fraternity/sorority for a minimum of two semesters or affiliated with a chapter at Iowa State for at least two years. Nominators should include a resume or summary of accomplishments for the nominee as well as at least two nomination letters, in addition to an essay stating the contributions of the alumnus to Iowa State University and/or the Sorority and Fraternity Community as one file. Applications should be saved as Nominee Name.
COUNCIL AWARDS
This year, the governing councils: Collegiate Panhellenic Council, Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council, and National Pan-Hellenic Council are collaborating in a common application. Council awards will be blind reviewed by council officers from a council other than yours. Council awards are due by December 8, 2026 to allow for a timely review and selection of award winners. All four awards are listed in the application. You should submit the application once for each award you are applying for. Council Award applications are available here!
- Accountability Award: Please describe the accountability methods the chapter utilizes outside of punitive measures, how the chapter assesses internal policies and programming to ensure it is meeting the needs of the chapter and community, and how the chapter holds chapters accountable to university expectations.
- Education Award: Please identify and define the chapter's programmatic priorities and describe something the chapter has done, supported, or implemented in the area of education that fostered change enabling experiences and an overarching positive impact within the chapter and beyond. This initiative may have sparked education for your chapter internally or for people outside of your organization.
- Innovation Award: Define how the chapter utilizes evaluates and adapts processes according to the needs of the chapter or community and describe an innovative action taken by the chapter this previous year.
- Collaboration Award: Describe how the chapter works to maintain meaningful ongoing relationships within the community and with other university partners and describe how the chapter used collaboration with another entity to enable greater change within the community.
AWARDS SUBMISSION PACKET
Chapters need to submit the following items to be reviewed for awards:
- Volunteer Hours Fall 2026
- Your chapter can track multiple events using this template
- Upload the template to the Volunteer Hours Fall 2026 in the form
- Philanthropic Fundraising and Documentation Fall 2026
- Complete the following reporting:
- Reporting on Educational Programming Held, Including but not limited to:
- Required educational programs by the Organization Headquarters
- Educational programs facilitated by the chapter for the community
- Click this link to complete the Educational Programming submission
- Chapter Members’ Involvement in Student Organizations Outside of the Sorority and Fraternity Community
- Wellness Initiatives for the Chapter
- Required wellness initiatives by Organization Headquarters
- Wellness Initiatives for SFE/ISU community
- Identified needs to various wellness improvements within the chapter
- Click this link to complete the Wellness Initiatives submission
- Reporting on Educational Programming Held, Including but not limited to:
- Tracked by SFE Staff
- SFE Chapter Liaison Communication
- Social Event Registration
- Social Event Follow-up
- Civic Engagement Event Registration
- Civic Engagement Event Reporting
- Responding to the Essay Prompts found below
SUBMITTING APPLICATION ESSAYS
All ten essay prompts need to be addressed to maximize your score and be eligible for the President's Cup. The bold questions are the prompts that you should answer. The additional prompts are to guide your writing and are aligned with the rubric shared with the review team.
These prompts are designed to guide you in showcasing your chapter’s achievements and celebrate your wins! You will need to elaborate on these answers, provide specific examples, use photos, press releases, and any artifacts you may have to add substance to your narrative.
1 - Identify and define the chapter’s programmatic priorities.
- What are the key areas or initiatives that the chapter prioritizes in its programming?
- How does the chapter define and articulate these priorities to its members
2 - Describe something the chapter has done, supported, or implemented in regard to education that fostered change.
- Provide an example of an educational initiative or program the chapter has undertaken.
- How did this initiative contribute to fostering positive change within the chapter or the broader community?
3 - Describe something the chapter has done, supported, or implemented that resulted in a positive impact within the community.
- Discuss a project or event the chapter has been involved in.
- What positive outcomes or impacts did this project have on the community?
4 - Describe something the chapter has done that fell short of expectations.
- Reflect on a program or initiative that did not achieve the desired outcomes.
- What were the factors that contributed to the shortcomings, and what lessons were learned from this experience?
5 - Explain how the chapter uses campus, state, and national trends to inform and advance programming.
- How does the chapter stay informed about current trends and issues at the campus, state, and national levels?
- Provide examples of how these trends have influenced the chapter's programming decisions.
6 - Explain how the chapter has assessed its experience to create a better experience for members.
- What methods or tools does the chapter use to gather feedback from its members?
- How has the chapter utilized member feedback to improve its programs and initiatives?
7 - Describe how the chapter fosters meaningful relationships with campus officials, organizational leaders, other sororities and fraternities, and other student organizations.
- Discuss the strategies or initiatives the chapter employs to build relationships with various stakeholders.
- Provide examples of successful collaborations or partnerships forged by the chapter.
8 - Explain how the chapter has increased meaningful relationships.
- Reflect on the growth or expansion of the chapter's network of meaningful relationships.
- How has the chapter actively worked to cultivate and nurture these relationships over time?
9 - Describe the chapter's accountability efforts, including positive reinforcement.
- How does the chapter hold its members accountable for their actions and commitments?
- In what ways does the chapter provide positive reinforcement and recognition for members who demonstrate accountability?
10 - Explain how the chapter has reviewed policies and procedures to ensure they are meeting the needs of members.
- Describe the process through which the chapter reviews and updates its policies and procedures.
- How does the chapter ensure that these policies and procedures align with the evolving needs and priorities of its members?