A senior at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette has earned the most prestigious national collegiate award presented by Delta Delta Delta Fraternity.
Lainey Landry, a member of the Phi Nu Chapter of Tri Delta, was chosen to receive the Sarah Ida Shaw Award. That award recognizes a collegiate member who best exemplifies the ideals of Tri Delta through her accomplishments and campus activities. Shaw was a founder of Tri Delta.
This is the first time a Tri Delta member attending UL Lafayette has received the award.
Dana Bekurs, assistant director of the Office of the First-Year Experience and an alumna member of Phi Nu Chapter, wrote a letter that nominated Landry for the award.
“Sarah Ida Shaw inspired so many Tri Deltas in her life. Lainey has inspired her chapter members to be more like her. She has helped the members want to achieve more, to do more, and to be more,” Bekurs wrote.
As a member of Phi Nu Chapter, Landry previously held the offices of vice president/public relations, new member educator, and vice president/administration.
She received the Delta Delta Delta 2010 Outstanding Freshman Award and was a member of the UL Lafayette Greek Council’s Fraternity and Sorority Committee.
Phyllis Durbin Grissom, president of Delta Delta Delta’s national Executive Board, presented Landry with the Sarah Ida Shaw Award during a Phi Nu Chapter meeting earlier this month.
“I read Lainey’s application and so did the committee, and of course it was an easy choice. We knew we were picking the right person,” Grissom said.
Tri Delta’s 168 collegiate chapters each nominate a member for the Sarah Ida Shaw Award every year. A committee then selects the winner, three runners-up and six honorable mentions. Nominees excel in scholarship, philanthropy, campus involvement and commitment to Tri Delta’s values and ideals.
Two of Phi Nu Chapter’s recent nominees for the award earned recognition. Sara Dronet received honorable mention in 2012. Kate Darnall was third runner-up in 2011.
Landry is the UL Lafayette Alumni Association’s Outstanding Graduate for the College of Education for Spring 2013. She is completing degree requirements in early childhood education with a cumulative GPA of 3.927.
Landry is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, the Order of Omega Greek Honor Society, and Blue Key Honor Society. She earned the 2011-2012 Kappa Delta Pi/Maxim D. Doucet College of Education Outstanding Senior Award.
Landry received the President’s Leadership Award presented by UL Lafayette President Dr. Joseph Savoie. It acknowledges contributions made by students who play a significant role in improving and developing the intellectual, social, cultural and/or athletic fabric of the UL Lafayette community. Awardees exemplify academic performance, extracurricular achievement, and service to the University.
Other awards and honors include the Spring 2012 Lafayette Habitat for Humanity – Outstanding Leadership and Community Service Award.
Landry has served as a College of Education Student Government Association senator, a Student Leadership Council member, and a Student Orientation Staff member.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is Tri Delta’s national philanthropy. Landry was the Delta Delta Delta team captain for UL Lafayette’s St. Jude Hospital – Up ’til Dawn fundraiser and has supported the hospital through several other volunteer efforts.
She has also assisted other groups and events as a volunteer, such as the Down Syndrome Society, Autism Society of Acadiana, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana, and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
Landry is the daughter of Liz B. and Ivy Landry of Lafayette, La.