Awards & Nominations
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 12 different collegiate chapters: Auburn University, University of Alabama, Baylor University, University of Oklahoma, Ole Miss, SMU, Southwestern, University of Texas, Texas A&M, TCU, Texas Tech, and Vanderbilt.
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​As a permanent way to acknowledge these women, a plaque listing all recipients is regularly displayed at the SMU Tri Delta House.
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.
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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.
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Please submit your nominations by July 30, 2024 to Jill Magnuson at magcom@swbell.net.
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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.
2024 WINNER
Katie Hartley Broussard
University of Texas
PANSY SPIRIT AWARD
This award recognizes a member for extraordinary loyalty and service to Tri Delta and the Dallas
Alumnae Chapter.
2024 WINNERS
Amanda Potts Heilers (posthumous)
Southern Methodist University
Kristi Sanford Staffieri
Southern Methodist University
This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the Dallas community by a Tri Delta alumna.
2024 WINNER
Karen Hughes White
University of Georgia
PINE TREE COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD
Cookies & Castles Exceptional Volunteer Award
The award goes to an outstanding alumnae member who exemplifies quiet leadership, just quietly getting the job done with a heartfelt passion for Tri Delta’s philanthropic focus. This individual is a supporter of Cookies & Castles in a variety of ways - a “change-maker” without whose support of Cookies & Castles could not have grown to what it is today.
2024 WINNER
Elizabeth Baier Emerson
Southern Methodist University
Past Award Winners
Pearl Spirit Award:Â Laurel Looney Butler, Auburn University Pansy Spirit Award: Susan Willbanks Brooks, Southern Methodist University Pine Tree Spirit Community Award: Laura Bailey Whitley, Texas Tech University
Cookies & Castles Exceptional Volunteer Award: Ann Lovejoy, Texas Christian University
Pearl Spirit Award:Â Ashley London Smith, Clemson University Pansy Spirit Award: Sandra K. Standefer, University of Texas Pine Tree Community Spirit Award:Â Barbara Lomax Hitzelberger, Southern Methodist University
Pearl Spirit Award:Â Laurel Looney Butler, Auburn University Pansy Spirit Award: Susan Willbanks Brooks, Southern Methodist University Pine Tree Spirit Community Award: Laura Bailey Whitley, Texas Tech University
The Dallas Alumnae Chapter of Tri Delta was proud to receive the 2022 Eleanor Dorcas Pond Award at Convention in summer 2022.