Awards

PRESIDENT’S AWARD: CHAPTER PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR

MATTHEW BLOSSOM, INDIANA '19

The strength of a leader can often be determined from how he handles a tough situation. Matthew Blossom, Indiana ’19, has passed that test. When becoming Chapter President in September 2016, his chapter was on reorganization status with the International Fraternity after a series of Loss Prevention issues had left the chapter on the brink of closure. Under Matthew’s leadership, the Indiana Chapter led a resurgence. The improvements were so great that at LI 2017, the chapter was taken off reorganization status, and Matthew was honored as Chapter President of the Year.

"I can think of no better candidate to receive this recognition,” said chapter advisor Dan Ladendorf, Indiana ’83. “[Matthew] knows DU can be so much more and so much different than what it was when he joined it. I think that says a lot about Matthew’s character and the type of leader that he is.”

Over the course of the 2016-2017 academic year, the Indiana Chapter saw marked improvement in all areas of operations. Highlights include initiating 44 men, 22 members attending an international DU educational program, and the chapter piloting DU’s Home Fire Campaign partnership with the American Red Cross. Multiple philanthropic and service events included DU Doghouse, Safe Halloween, Step Up IU, blood drives and more.

For Matthew, the chapter’s success can be attributed to a dedicated Executive Board and a new desire to excel from the undergraduates. Along the way, the Chapter Advisory Board and House Corporation Board volunteers kept the men in check, shared ideas and always made themselves available.

“I wanted to end the cycle of mediocrity and prove that my chapter could be great,” Matthew said. “The biggest take-aways are probably the importance of time management, organization and communicating effectively with a variety of different people. I think communication is a main driver of any success.”

Matthew finished his term as President at the beginning of the fall 2017 semester as Indiana follows an academic calendar for officer terms. Looking back on his experience, the junior finance major doesn’t look at the struggles, but the achievements.

“Seeing my chapter in a redevelopment stage is why I wanted to take on the roll as Chapter President,” he said. “It was really important to ensure that we moved forward in a new direction, and I'm happy to say we have.”