2023 Awards
Sweepstakes Award
The Sweepstakes Award is Delta Upsilon's top honor awarded annually to the best DU chapter in North America.
Clarkson
Florida
Georgia Tech
Iowa State
Kansas State
North Dakota
Western Illinois
Chapter Awards
Most Improved Chapter
Clarkson Chapter
Outstanding Alumni Chapter
San Jose Alumni Chapter
Innovative Member Development Award
Iowa State Chapter
Health, Safety and Prevention Award
Western Illinois Chapter
Alumni Engagement Award
Bradley Chapter
Campus and Community Impact Award
Clarkson Chapter
Individual Awards
Chairman’s Award: Outstanding Alumni Volunteer
Hayden Rahn, Oregon '16
Outstanding Chapter Advisor Award
Kevin Jameson, San Jose '87
Jeff Kreutz, Missouri '99
Distinguished Undergraduate Award
Koosha Jamali, Arlington '23
Parker Vulgamore, Kansas State '23
President’s Award: Chapter President of the Year
Jack Baummer, Clarkson '24
Chapter Excellence Plan Awards
Overall Chapter Excellence Award
Kansas State Chapter, Western Illinois Chapter, Wichita Chapter
Academic Excellence Award
Colorado Associate Chapter, Florida Chapter, Iowa State Chapter, Kansas State Chapter, North Carolina Chapter, Purdue Chapter, Western Illinois Chapter, Wichita Chapter
Associate Member Education Award
Clarkson Chapter, Florida Chapter, Georgia Tech Chapter, Iowa State Chapter, Kansas State Chapter, Nebraska Chapter, North Carolina Chapter, North Dakota Chapter, Purdue Chapter, Quinnipiac Chapter, Western Illinois Chapter, Wichita Chapter
Campus & Community Impact Award
Bradley Chapter, Kansas State Chapter, North Carolina Chapter, Purdue Chapter, Western Illinois Chapter, Wichita Chapter
Health, Safety & Prevention Award
Florida Chapter, Georgia Tech Chapter, Iowa State Chapter, Kansas State Chapter, North Dakota Chapter, Western Illinois Chapter, Wichita Chapter
Membership Development Award
Florida Chapter, Georgia Tech Chapter, Iowa State Chapter, Kansas State Chapter, Michigan Tech Chapter, Purdue Chapter, Western Illinois Chapter, Wichita Chapter
Operations Award
Alberta Chapter, Cal Poly Chapter, Clarkson Chapter, Colorado Associate Chapter, Florida Chapter, Georgia Tech Chapter, Iowa State Chapter, Kansas State Chapter, Nebraska Chapter, North Carolina Chapter, North Dakota Chapter, Purdue Chapter, Rutgers Chapter, Western Illinois Chapter, Western Reserve Chapter, Wichita Chapter
Recruitment Award
Arlington Chapter, Central Florida Chapter, Georgia Tech Chapter, Iowa State Chapter, Kansas State Chapter, North Carolina Chapter, Purdue Chapter, Western Illinois Chapter, Wichita Chapter
Distinguished undergraduate award
Koosha Jamali, Arlington '23
Parker Vulgamore, Kansas State '23
FINALISTS:
Uche Ukaobasi, Western Illinois '22
Two deserving DU brothers were recognized with the 2023 Distinguished Undergraduate Award during this summer's Leadership Institute.
Koosha Jamali, Arlington '23, (pictured on the right) graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington in May 2023 with a degree in Construction Management and a perfect 4.0 grade point average. On campus, Koosha served as President of the Construction Management Club and the United Nations Association. Within Delta Upsilon, he held the roles of VP Finance, VP External Relations and Chapter President.
An Iranian immigrant who became a U.S. citizen in 2023, Koosha was drawn to Delta Upsilon's Principle of The Advancement of Justice and is now in his first year at the University of Houston Law Center.
"I connect with this Principle because I believe no community could ever enjoy freedom when the pursuit of justice is absent," Koosha said.
Parker Vulgamore, Kansas State '23, (pictured on the left)graduated from Kansas State University in May 2023 where he majored in Agricultural Economics and Pre-Law. At K-State, Parker served as Student Body President, a College of Agriculture Caucus Leader, Blue Key Honorary Society member, a member of the K-State Flying Club and more. He also served Delta Upsilon as his chapter's VP of Alumni Relations and Chapter President, as well as an Undergraduate Director on the International Fraternity Board of Directors.
As a fifth generation farmer and rancher, Parker is currently working toward a master's degree in Agricultural Economics at K-State.
"The best advice I could give undergraduates is pretty simple," Parker said. "Just be kind. I'm reminded of the Maya Angelou quote that says, 'people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.' And I think in many ways this calls out the legacy that we all leave behind on our brothers in the chapter house."
President’s Award: Chapter President of the Year
Jack Baummer, Clarkson ’24
When Jack Baummer, Clarkson '24, joined Delta Upsilon, the experience he imagined is not quite how it turned out to be. Soon after joining, Jack's chapter was placed on suspension by the university, leaving it virtually non-operational for a full year. Today, thanks to Jack's guidance, the Clarkson Chapter is running on all cylinders and was named DU's 2023 Most Improved Chapter and a Sweepstakes Finalist. And for his leadership, Jack was honored with The President's Award: Chapter President of the Year.
In Jack's words, the chapter was focused on "coming back the right way" and prioritized teamwork and using the Fraternity's Men of Merit Chapter Standards Program and Chapter Excellence Plan as its guide. In just one year, the chapter doubled its membership size and become one of the top chapters in DU.
"For my chapter, being a successful Chapter President meant listening to the brotherhood and establishing a team mentality to all fraternal operations," Jack said. "It was important to work collaboratively so that together we could foster a new productive culture within the house."
Jack's advice to other Chapter Presidents is to be introspective, trust your gut, be willing to make tough decisions, and remain humble.
"Never forget the driving force of your fraternity; the one thing that unites the men around you," Jack said. "Brotherhood, more than anything, is what makes fraternal excellence. A good brotherhood will be fun, yet hold itself accountable, it will develop new leaders when one retires, it will shape the reputation of your house, and give charm to the organization you care so deeply about. Prioritize it."