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.
We need YOU to help our Dallas Alumnae Chapter to recommend those most deserving of the 2024 Pearl, Pansy and Pine Tree Community Spirit Awards, our highest annual sisterhood recognitions. Each year we identify alumnae who have made notable contributions to the Fraternity, the Dallas Alumnae Chapter, and the Dallas community. Individuals chosen to receive awards are honored at our annual Founder’s Day celebration this fall. All dues-paying members are encouraged to participate in the nomination process, as it can’t happen without you!
NEW THIS YEAR:
Nominations can be made via a name only to Awards Chair Jill Magnuson and then the full form will be sent to nominee for completion.
Pearl Spirit Award: Recognizes and fosters a young alumna who has already proven that her dedication and devotion to Tri Delta will only continue to grow.
Pansy Spirit Award: Recognizes a member for extraordinary loyalty and service to Tri Delta and the Dallas Alumnae Chapter.
Pine Tree Community Spirit Award: Recognizes outstanding contributions to the Dallas community by a Tri Delta alumna.
Please submit your nominations by July 30, 2024 to Jill Magnuson at magcom@swbell.net.
More details on the criteria for each award are provided on the nomination forms, located on the Deltas Only portion of the website. Please login here.
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.
2023 WINNER
LAUREL LOONEY BUTLER
Auburn University
PANSY SPIRIT AWARD
This award recognizes a member for extraordinary loyalty and service to Tri Delta and the Dallas
Alumnae Chapter.
2023 WINNER
SUSAN WILLBANKS BROOKS
Southern Methodist University
This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the Dallas community by a Tri Delta alumna.
2023 WINNER
LAURA BAILEY WHITLEY
Texas Tech University
PINE TREE COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD
Cookies & Castles Exception Volunteer Award
This award recognizes a member who does behind the scenes volunteer work at Cookies & Castles the philanthropy event for Tri Delta and the Dallas Alumnae Chapter.
2023 WINNER
Ann Lovejoy
Texas Christian University
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.
Numerous 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 Winners
2022
Pearl Spirit Award: Erin McCarthy Higgins (SMU)
Pansy Spirit Award: Brenda Bailey Latman (Southern California)
Pine Tree Community Spirit Award: Katherine Perot Reeves (North Carolina)
Cookies & Castles Exceptional Volunteer Award: Shawn Dunn Blagowsky (Oklahoma)
2021
Pearl Spirit Award: Kate Elpers Iwanski (SMU)
Pansy Spirit Award: Melissa Webster McMillian (Texas A&M)
Pine Tree Community Spirit Award: Jill Bunker Magnuson (Texas)
Cookies & Castles Exceptional Volunteer Award: Mary Keffer Powell (TCU)
2019
Pearl Spirit Award: Lexi Sereni Leonie (SMU)
Pansy Spirit Award: Nancy Seay Anderson (SMU)
Pine Tree Community Spirit Award: Tracey Donoho Kozmetsky (TCU)
Cookies & Castles Exceptional Volunteer Award: Kelly Barnett Talbott (SMU)
2018
Pearl Spirit Award: Casey Wetz Thompson (SMU)
Pansy Spirit Award: Pam Guffey Balser (SMU)
Pine Tree Community Spirit Award: Anne Bartlett Motsenbocker (Texas)
2017
Pearl Spirit Award: Elizabeth Ivy Hudson (SMU)
Pansy Spirit Award: Terri Nieman Kennedy (Texas Tech)
Pine Tree Community Spirit Award: Kathy Henneberger Tims (Texas)
2016
Pearl Spirit Award: Ashley London Smith (Clemson)
Pansy Spirit Award: Sandra K. Standefer (Texas)
Pine Tree Community Spirit Award: Barbara Lomax Hitzelberger (SMU)
The Dallas Alumnae Chapter of Tri Delta was proud to receive the 2022 Eleanor Dorcas Pond Award at Convention in summer 2022.