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Marist Music Earns Top Honors at District Convention

Marist College
 

Members of the Marist College chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, the National Honorary Band Fraternity and Sorority, earned top honors recently at the Northeast District Convention in Lancaster, Penn. 

Marist's Kappa Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi is the 2017 recipient of the A. Frank Martin Award for Top Chapter in the Northeast District. Named for Fraternity founder and First Grand President of Kappa Kappa Psi, A. Frank Martin, this award is given to the chapter that best exemplifies musicianship, leadership, and service throughout the academic year. Other finalists for this award included nominees from the University of Pittsburgh, University of Maine, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, and Virginia State University.

Marist's Iota Alpha Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma is the 2017 recipient of the Northeast District Counselors’ Award. Chapters become eligible by maintaining good standing throughout the academic year; submitting all district and national paperwork on time; and surpassing their own measure of success. Finalists for this award included chapters from University of Pittsburgh, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Virginia State University, Virginia Tech, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Boston University, Howard University, Hampton University, and the University of Virginia. 

Finalists for these awards are selected through a rigorous application and presentation process conducted at the annual Northeast District Convention. This is the first time in more than 15 years that chapters from a single school have taken home the Top Chapter awards in the same year. The Kappa Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi will present for the William A. Scroggs Founders Trophy as a Chapter Leadership Finalist at the 2017 National Convention this July in Orlando, Florida. 

Senior Alyssa Tripi was awarded the J. Lee Burke Student Achievement Award by the National Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. Named for Third Grand President of the Fraternity, Dr. J. Lee Burke, this award was established in 1991 to recognize the service and leadership of outstanding student members. This is the highest award given to an active member of the organization. Alyssa earns this award as the current chapter Vice President for Membership, 2016 Northeast District Convention Chairperson, and 2017 Northeast District Nominations Committee Chairperson. 

The Marist chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi also earned a District Chapter Academic Achievement Award for maintaining a chapter-wide grade point average above a 3.0. Additionally, the following students were awarded the Kappa Kappa Psi Northeast District Personal Academic Achievement Award for maintaining a grade point average above a 3.5 for the 2016 calendar year: Robert Nasso ’17, Erin Gates ’17, Evan Weinstein ’17, Alyssa Tripi ’17, Gregory Corbett ’17, Madeline Heusted ’17, Andrew Shore ’18, Nicholas Tormey ’17, Paula Batoon ’17, Emma Guidi ’17, James O’Brien ’19,  Caroline Carrano ’19, Gabriella Perpignand ’19, and Michael Read ’19.  

Additionally, senior Lauren Suran continues her service to Tau Beta Sigma after being elected District Secretary/Treasurer for 2017-2018. Senior Manager for Music Department Operations Michael Napolitano, was recognized for his ongoing service to the organizations through the privilege of Honorary Membership into the Northeast District Chapters of both Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma in ceremonies held this past weekend. 

Kappa Kappa Psi is a co-educational fraternal organization that advances college and university bands for the benefit of its members and society through dedicated service and support to bands, encouragement of musical growth, lifelong educational experiences, leadership opportunities, and recognition. 

Tau Beta Sigma provides exceptional service to collegiate bands and promotes equality and diversity, including empowering women in the band profession. They cultivate leadership, educational achievement, music appreciation, and community development.
 

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