Charlotte, N.C. — Pi Kappa Phi was honored with the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) Laurel Wreath Award for its industry leading risk management program the Ladder of Risk. Pi Kappa Phi CEO Mark E. Timmes as well as staff members Lori Hart, Justin Angotti and Christian Wiggins were in attendance at the NIC’s Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
The Laurel Wreath Award is presented to individuals or groups in recognition of unique programs that have advanced the mission of fraternity.
The Ladder of Risk educates chapter members on the basics of Pi Kappa Phi’s risk management policy. The program is delivered by a trained facilitator and creates a conversation about planning safe and successful social events.
Pi Kappa Phi provides this education every other year to student members across the country. Since the program began, 13,316 students have taken part in the Ladder of Risk.
In the six years since the fraternity began the Ladder of Risk, the fraternity has seen a 94 percent reduction in the total claims dollars paid compared to the six-year period before the program began.
Timmes took the stage to accept the award from NIC Chairman Howard Pickett and contributed the fraternity’s improvement in alcohol and social event management to the program.
“The Ladder of Risk provides a unique opportunity to engage students and volunteers in a conversation about overcoming the negative stereotypes associate with fraternity life in order to best exemplify the values of Pi Kappa Phi,” said Timmes.
“For today’s undergraduate member of Pi Kappa Phi, compliance simply comes down to conscious choice; and as a fraternity, we have empowered our students, through the Ladder of Risk, to make good choices and to understand the consequences of their choices.”
This marks the fourth time Pi Kappa Phi has received the Laurel Wreath honor. The fraternity was recognized with the award in 1994 and 2000 for Push America, the fraternity’s national philanthropy, and again in 2010 for the Build America program.