Awards & Nominations
Each year the Dallas Alumnae Chapter recognizes alumnae who have made notable contributions to the Fraternity, the Dallas Alumnae Chapter, or the Dallas community. Individuals chosen to receive awards are honored at our annual Founders’ Day Celebration. All dues-paying members are invited and encouraged to participate in the nomination process. More details regarding eligibility and criteria for each award are provided on the nomination form.
Nomination forms are available in the Deltas Only section of the website. Please login here.
2021 AWARD RECIPIENTS
From left to right: Shawn Blagowsky, Mary Powell, Pearl Spirit Award Winner Kate Elpers Iwanski, Karen Hughes White, Pine Tree Community Spirit Award Winner Jill Bunker Magnuson, Pansy Spirit Award Winner Melissa Webster McMillian, Sandra Standefer, Alexandra Soucek
PEARL SPIRIT AWARD
This award recognizes and fosters a young alumna who has already proven that her dedication and devotion to Tri Delta will only continue to grow.
2021 WINNER
KATE ELPERS IWANSKI
PANSY SPIRIT AWARD
This award recognizes a member for extraordinary loyalty and service to Tri Delta and the Dallas
Alumnae Chapter.
2021 WINNER
MELISSA WEBSTER MCMILLIAN
This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the Dallas community by a Tri Delta alumna.
2021 WINNER
JILL BUNKER MAGNUSON
PINE TREE COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD
The Dallas Alumnae Chapter began presenting its first award, initially named The Outstanding Alumna Award, in 1980, and presented the award during each Tri Delta Convention year. Soon after, it became an annual program. In 2004 we broadened our recognition by adding two new categories, our Pearl Spirit and Pine Tree Community Spirit Awards. To make it a more cohesive effort, we changed the name for our original award at that time—the Outstanding Alumna Award became the Pansy Spirit Award.
Sixty-six Dallas Tri Deltas have been recognized since the program’s inception, having served our Alumnae Chapter and Fraternity in numerous ways (Alumnae Chapter Officer, Collegiate Chapter Adviser, House Corporation Board member, Tri Delta Antiques Show leadership, Cookies & Castles Chair, Dallas Reference Board member, Fraternity Leadership, Tri Delta Foundation Trustee) and representing 11 different collegiate chapters: Baylor, Clemson, University of Oklahoma, Ole Miss, SMU, Southwestern, University of Texas, Texas A&M, TCU, Texas Tech, and Vanderbilt.
As a permanent way to acknowledge these women, a plaque listing all recipients is regularly displayed at the SMU Tri Delta House.
PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS
2018
2019
Pearl Spirit Award
Casey Wetz Thompson
SMU, Theta Kappa
Pansy Spirit Award
Pam Guffey Balser
SMU, Theta Kappa
Pine Tree Community Spirit Award
Anne Bartlett Motsenbocker
UT Austin, Theta Zeta
Pearl Spirit Award
Lexi Sereni Leonie
SMU, Theta Kappa
Pansy Spirit Award
Nancy Seay Anderson
SMU, Theta Kappa
Pine Tree Community Spirit Award
Tracey Donoho Kozmetsky
TCU, Phi Lambda
2017
Pearl Spirit Award
Elizabeth Ivy Hudson
SMU, Theta Kappa
Pansy Spirit Award
Terri Nieman Kennedy
Texas Tech, Pi Eta
Pine Tree Community Spirit Award
Kathy Henneberger Tims
UT Austin, Theta Zeta
Presented Posthumously
2016
Pearl Spirit Award
Ashley London Smith
Clemson, Beta Theta
Pansy Spirit Award
Sandra K. Standefer
UT Austin, Theta Zeta
Pine Tree Community Spirit Award
Barbara Lomax Hitzelberger
SMU, Theta Kappa