Marietta's Alpha Tau Omega earns fraternity's highest honor

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MARIETTA, OHIO (09/26/2018) Marietta College's Alpha Tau Omega fraternity has been recognized for the second consecutive year as a 2018 True Merit Chapter recipient. Each year the Alpha Tau Omega national organization selects a local chapter for their highest honor based upon philanthropic efforts, academics, social life, and campus reputation.

"My brothers and I have worked very hard to get to this point in our chapter. I have to give a lot of credit to our past historian, Josh Daniell '18, who put in long hours putting together our annual report," said Nick Gray '20 (New Derry, Pennsylvania). "His dedication helped us tremendously toward winning True Merit this year. I am excited about the future of ATO and hope to continue our success this year."

As one of 141 active national Alpha Tau Omega fraternities, Marietta College's Beta Rho chapter received this honor with only 34 brothers through their academic accomplishments and fundraising efforts with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Over the last year, the brothers of Beta Rho have raised $16,000 through their "Cycle 4 MS" annual fundraiser in which the men and other volunteers take turns riding stationary bikes for 168 consecutive hours for donations and to raise awareness for the disease; this accomplishment brings their 12 year total to more than $121,000.

In addition to their commitment to philanthropic service, the Beta Rho Chapter has held the highest member grade point average among campus fraternities for the last 10 semesters, are heavily involved in the ritual background of the organization, and strive for a strong sense of brotherhood among all members.

"This is a great testament to our chapter's ongoing commitment to excellence in its operations," said Dr. Richard Danford, Vice President of Student Life. "Earning this award two years in a row, after an honorable mention three years ago, shows real determination and leadership on the part of the brothers of Alpha Tau Omega to make the Beta Rho chapter the very best it can be."

The award was announced this past August at the biennial congressional congress and annual awards ceremony at the Ritz Carleton Grand Lakes in Orlando, Florida. As the nation's leadership development fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega's mission is "to bind men together in a brotherhood based upon eternal and immutable principles."

Located in Marietta, Ohio, at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, Marietta College is a four-year liberal arts college. Tracing its roots to the Muskingum Academy back in 1797, the College was officially chartered in 1835. Today Marietta College serves a body of 1,200 full-time students. The College offers 49 majors and is consistently ranked as one of the top regional comprehensive colleges by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review, as well as one of the nation's best by Forbes.com. Marietta was selected seventh in the nation according to the Brookings Institution's rankings of colleges by their highest value added, regardless of major.

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