Alpha Tau Omega: True Merit

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True Merit Award

The True Merit Award was first established in 1969 as the Chapter Efficiency Award, becoming the Fraternity's
first official award. In 1975, the name of the award changed to the Chapter Excellence Award and finally in
1979, the name changed to the True Merit Award.

There is no certain number of chapters that will be awarded True Merit from year to year. Rather, in keeping
with the spirit of the Creed, the True Merit Award is awarded to as many chapters who achieve a level of
chapter operation that is worthy of the recognition. The Top Chapter Award, which was established in 1998,
recognizes the best ATO Chapter in the nation.

To be eligible for True Merit, be sure to fill out your chapter's 2012-13 Annual Report

The Top Chapter Award

2012: Emory
2011: Baylor
2010: Alabama
2009: Emory
2008: Maryland
2007: Emory
2006: Maryland
2005: Kansas State
2004: Kansas State
2003: North Alabama
2002: Kansas State
2001: Alabama-Huntsville
2000: Kansas State
1999: Kansas State
1998: Kansas State

Top Chapter Award

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2012 Top Chapter National Winner
Alpha Theta, Emory University
2012 Top Chapter Runner-Up
Iota Phi, Belmont University
2011 Top Chapter National Winner
Theta Nu, Baylor University
2011 Top Chapter Runner-Up
Kappa Epsilon, Pepperdine University
2010 Top Chapter National Winner
Beta Delta, University of Alabama
2010 Top Chapter Runner-Up
Theta Nu, Baylor University
2009 Top Chapter National Winner
Alpha Theta, Emory University
2009 Top Chapter Runner-Up
Iota Phi, Belmont University

True Merit Award

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2012 True Merit Chapters
- Adrian
- Alabama
- Alabama - Huntsville
- Auburn
- Baylor
- Belmont
- Clemson
- Colorado State
- Emory
- Florida
- Georgia
- James Madison
- Kansas State
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Mercer
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Mississippi State
- Mount Union
- Nebraska
- New Mexico
- North Alabama
- North Carolina
- North Carolina - Wilmington
- North Dakota State
- Northern Kentucky
- Ohio State
- Oklahoma
- Oklahoma State
- Penn State
- Pepperdine
- Purdue
- Southern Cal
- Southern Illinois
- Troy
- Washington and Jefferson
- William & Mary
2012 True Merit Honorable Mention
- Arkansas Tech
- Austin Peay State
- Cincinnati
- Florida Atlantic
- Grand Valley State
- Kansas
- Middle Tennessee State
- North Carolina State
- Rose-Hulman
- San Jose State
- Texas
- UC-Berkeley
- Vanderbilt
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Texas A&M
- Widener
2011 True Merit Chapters
- Adrian
- Alabama
- Alabama - Huntsville
- Auburn
- Austin Peay
- Baylor
- Belmont
- UC Berkeley
- Central Florida
- Cincinnati
- Clemson
- Duke
- Emory
- Florida
- Georgia
- Georgia Tech
- Indiana State
- James Madison
- Kansas State
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Mercer
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Mount Union
- North Alabama
- North Carolina
- North Carolina State
- North Dakota State
- Ohio State
- Oklahoma State
- Penn State
- Pepperdine
- Southern Cal
- Troy
- Virginia
- William & Mary
2011 True Merit Honorable Mention
- Colorado State
- DePauw
- Florida Atlantic
- Florida State
- Kent State
- Middle Tennessee State
- Mississippi State
- New Mexico
- North Carolina - Wilmington
- North Florida
- Oklahoma
- Oregon State
- Purdue
- Rose Hulman
- San Jose State
- Southern Illinois
- Texas Tech
- Union
- Washington & Jefferson
- West Texas A&M
- Western Michigan
- Widener
2010 True Merit Chapters
- Alabama
- Alabama-Huntsville
- Auburn
- Baylor
- Belmont
- Cincinnati
- Clemson
- Duke
- Emory
- Florida
- Georgia
- James Madison
- Kansas State
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Mount Union
- North Alabama
- North Dakota State
- Ohio State
- Oklahoma
- Pepperdine
- Purdue
- Sam Houston State
- Southern California
- Texas Tech
- Troy
- West Texas A&M
2010 True Merit Honorable Mention
- Adrian
- Austin Peay State
- Central Florida
- Central Missouri
- DePauw
- Florida State
- Florida Tech
- Georgia Southern
- Georgia Tech
- Illinois
- Illinois State
- Indiana State
- Iowa State
- Mercer
- Nevada-Las Vegas
- North Carolina
- North Carolina State
- North Carolina-Wilmington
- North Texas
- Northern Kentucky
- Oregon St.
- Rose Hulman
- Simpson
- Texas-Arlington
- Virginia
- Western Michigan
- William & Mary
2009 True Merit Chapters
- Alabama
- Auburn
- Belmont
- Central Florida
- Cincinnati
- Clemson
- Duke
- Eastern Illinois
- Emory
- Georgia
- Georgia Southern
- Georgia Tech
- Indiana State
- Iowa State
- James Madison
- Kansas State
- Maryland
- Mercer
- Mississippi
- Nebraska-Kearney
- North Alabama
- North Carolina
- North Carolina State
- North Dakota State
- Ohio State
- Oklahoma State
- Purdue
- Simpson
- Troy
- Union
- Washington & Jefferson
- West Texas A&M
2009 True Merit Honorable Mention
- Alabama-Huntsville
- Austin Peay State
- Baylor
- Bowling Green State
- Central Missouri
- Colorado State
- Duquesne
- Florida Tech
- Illinois
- Illinois State
- Kent State
- Kentucky
- Mississippi State
- Mount Union
- North Carolina-Wilmington
- Northern Kentucky
- Oklahoma
- Pepperdine
- Rhodes
- Rose-Hulman
- Sam Houston State
- Southern California
- Southern Mississippi
- Texas Tech
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington State
- Western Michigan
- Worcester Poly

All True Merit Chapters

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True Merit Chapters and Years Won
Adrian (2) 2011, 2012
Alabama (11) 1980, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Alabama-Huntsville (20) 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011,2012
American (1) 1990
Appalachian State (7) 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000
Arizona State (3) 1969, 1987, 1988
Auburn University (4) 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Austin Peay (1) 12011
Baldwin Wallace (10) 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
Ball State (5) 1984, 1985, 1992, 1993, 1995
Baylor (9) 1978, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1990, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012
Belmont (12) 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Birmingham-Southern (2) 1978, 1980
Cal-Berkeley (2) 1979, 2011
Central Florida (5) 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011
Central Missouri State (1) 2000
Charleston (2) 1981, 1983
Cincinnati (16) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Clemson (8) 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Colby (2) 1981, 1982
Colorado State (1) 2012
Cornell (1) 1975
Delaware (3) 1973, 1975, 1979
Denison (4) 1974, 1981, 1985, 1986
DePauw (9) 1971, 1972, 1973, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988
Duke (4) 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011
Duquesne (1) 2004
Eastern Illinois (1) 2009
Emory (13) 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Florida (12) 1969, 1974, 1979, 1989, 1990, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2012
Florida State (3) 1991, 1992, 1993
Francis Marion (2) 1984, 1985
GMI-EMI (1) 1970
Georgia (6) 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Georgia Southern (12) 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1992, 2009
Georgia Tech (4) 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
Goldey Beacom (1) 1998
Idaho (3) 1969, 1970, 1987
Illinois (20) 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1984, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Illinois State (6) 1980, 1981, 1988, 1989, 2003, 2004
Indiana (3) 1981, 1982, 1995
Indiana State (7) 1971, 1981, 1982, 1983, 2008, 2009, 2011
Indiana of Pennsylvania (2) 1984, 1985
Iowa State (16) 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2008, 2009
James Madison University (5) 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Kansas (2) 1979, 1980
Kansas State (32) 1971, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Kent State University (3) 2002, 2004, 2005
Kentucky (8) 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2010, 2011, 2012
Lehigh (1) 2007
Maine (8) 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981
Marietta College (3) 2002, 2003, 2005
Marshall (8) 1982, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2009
Maryland (10) 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Memphis (12) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004
Mercer (8) 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012
MIT (7) 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1999, 2004, 2005
Miami-Ohio (8) 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1989
Michigan (7) 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988
Middle Tennessee State (1) 2008
Millikin (8) 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988
Minnesota (3) 1979, 2011, 2012
Mississippi (10) 1973, 1982, 1991, 1992, 2001, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Mississippi State (1) 2012
Missouri (13) 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
Montevallo (6) 1978, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001
Mount Union (3) 2010, 2011, 2012
Murray State (4) 1975, 1976, 1989, 1993
Nebraska (27) 1971, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2012
Nebraska-Kearney (2) 1997, 2009
Newberry (1) 1971
New Hampshire (2) 1994, 1999
New Mexico (2) 1969, 2012
New Mexico State (2) 1990, 1991
North Alabama (14) 1977, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
North Carolina (13) 1969, 1970, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012
North Carolina State (2) 2009, 2011
North Carolina-Wilmington (1) 2012
North Dakota State (13) 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Northern Arizona (1) 2000
Northern Kentucky (3) 2004, 2005, 2012
Northwestern (3) 1973, 1974, 1975
Ohio State (6) 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Oklahoma (5) 1980, 1983, 2010, 2011, 2012
Oklahoma State (13) 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012
Penn State (5) 1999, 2000, 2003, 2011, 2012
Pepperdine (3) 2010, 2011, 2012
Purdue (9) 1969, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2012
Rhodes (5) 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2005
Rose-Hulman (22) 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008
Sam Houston State (1) 2010
San Jose State (1) 1990
Sewanee (1) 1985
Simpson (8) 1976, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 2004, 2009
South Carolina (1) 1988
South Dakota (1) 1986
Southern Cal (15) 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1986, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012
Southern Illinois (14) 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1999, 2000, 2012
Southern Methodist (3) 1970, 1971, 1972
Southern Mississippi (12) 1986, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Stephen F. Austin (2) 1981, 1987
Stetson (3) 1988, 1989, 1993
St. Lawrence (1) 2006
Syracuse (1) 1989
Tennessee-Martin (15) 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2005
Tennessee Tech (1) 1970
Texas (3) 1994, 1995, 1996
Texas-San Antonio (1) 1996
Texas Tech (5) 1975, 1976, 1979, 2008, 2010
Tulane (1) 1973
Troy (5) 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
UCLA (1) 1984
Union (3) 1999, 2008, 2009
Utah (3) 2004, 2005, 2006
Vanderbilt (1) 1995
Vermont (2) 1985, 1986
Virginia (1) 2011
Washington (8) 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003
Washington & Jefferson (12) 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 2009
Washington State (19) 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 2002, 2004
West Georgia (2) 1972, 2001
West Texas A&M (5) 1991, 1998, 1999, 2009, 2010
Western Michigan (1) 2003
Wichita State (3) 1982, 1983, 1984
William & Mary (2) 2011, 2012
Wittenberg (1) 1981
Worcester Poly (8) 1970, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1994, 2003, 2004, 2006

Bolded Years Indicate Top Chapter Recipient