News Release
Pacific’s Student Body President to be recognized as one of top Fraternity Members in World
(March 24, 2008) -
University of the Pacific's student body president will be recognized as one of the top undergraduate fraternity members in the world by the international fraternity organization North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC).
Joshua Foster, a senior majoring in economics and president of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, will be honored with the 2008 NIC Award of Distinction at an awards banquet in Washington, D.C. on Monday, April 14. Foster will be one of two recipients awarded for "advancing the ideals of fraternity in their daily lives."
Founded in 1909, the North-American Interfraternity Conference represents 71international and national fraternities, including 5,500 chapters and over 350,000 undergraduate members. The voluntary trade association advocates for its member fraternities and works to make sure member organizations meet their educational missions. (For more information, go to http://www.nicindy.org/standards/award_of_distinction/.)
The Lincoln, Neb. native said joining the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity was one of the best decisions he has made at Pacific. As a member, Foster said, he has learned how an organization works and how to better interact with both his peers and authority. He also has developed more confidence to pursue other leadership roles, he said.
"I am more of a well-rounded person because of my Greek experience," Foster said. "This Award of Distinction reflects my efforts throughout my collegiate career to abide by my fraternity's goal of making me a better scholar, a better leader, a better athlete, and more of a gentleman than when I arrived at this University."
Foster was nominated by Pi Kappa Alpha as one of the organization's highest achieving undergraduate members. The Memphis, Tenn.-based fraternity has 201 active chapters across North America.
Last month, Foster also was named by USA Today as a member of the third USA Academic Team, the daily newspaper's listing of the 60 most outstanding undergraduates in the country. Foster was one of only two students from California universities on the All-USA College Academic Team.
