The UNM chapter of Lambda Theta Phi fraternity recently received an award from its national headquarters for chapter of the year.
Lambda Theta Phi was founded in 1975 and was the country's first recognized Latino fraternity. In 1998 the UNM chapter was chartered on campus.
The chapter of the year award was presented for the work of the entire chapter and to former president Gian Chaves during his term. The criteria for this honor are based on community service, achievement and education.
"We focus on getting involved and giving back to our community," Chaves said.
UNM's Lambda Theta Phi has raised nearly 100 national chapters within the fraternity.
President Chris Chavez said the UNM chapter has one of the highest consistent GPAs.
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"All active members currently maintain a 3.0 or higher, which is above the national requirement," Chris Chavez said.
He also attributes the award to the amount of community service the chapter completed.
More than 760 community service hours were put in by the chapter's nine active members, averaging about 84 hours each.
One major part of the community involvement comes from a mentoring program called La Raza Unida. Chris Chavez said fraternity members mentor high school students at Albuquerque High and meet with them weekly during the school year.
The goal is to be a support system, give good advice and encourage the youths to continue on to higher education, he said. The brothers also help them out with the University application process and help find scholarships.
Tomas Trujillo, a member of the fraternity, said the program is beneficial, as he had limited means and opportunity to get into college when he was young.
"It's important to reach out to kids and show there is opportunity to go to college and better their own lives," Trujillo said. "There are options to do something you really enjoy."
Nationally, the fraternity raised money for the victims of an earthquake in Peru totalling more than $1,200.
Chris Chavez said the most memorable experience he had was in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina, when the chapter raised nearly $2,000 in one week from sales and a benefit salsa dance on campus.
"Small things keep us going, but community service unites us," he said. "Everybody benefits - we benefit because it helps us in being role models for younger males, and it benefits the community."
Chris Chavez said he plans to uphold the highest expectations throughout the remainder of his term.
"We keep challenging each other to raise the bar and to continually increase activities and do better," he said.
