September 20, 2012

Bill Messick '68 Delta Upsilon Awarded Delta Upsilons Highest award, the Distinguished DU award 2012

Delta Upsilon Distinguished Alumni Awards 2012 Announced

Ed Porter, Oklahoma ’65 presented Bill Messick, Lafayette ’68 (right) with the the Distinguished DU Alumni Award, the highest award in Delta Upsilon, recognizing brothers who have shown their dedication by giving of their “time, talent and treasure” to the fraternity.

Bill Messick ’68 Delta Upsilon Lafayette College received the highest honor at the Summer 2012 Leadership Institute hosted in Chicago, IL. The Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award is the highest honor Delta Upsilon bestows upon it’s members. The award was created to recognize those Delta Upsilon alumni that have extraordinarily impacted their community, profession, and Delta Upsilon in a positive manner.  Each recipient has his name permanently enshrined at the International Headquarters.  In 2008, the nature of the award was adjusted to recognize those alumni whose efforts and exemplary service have had a direct impact on the Fraternity.

Each year, Delta Upsilon Fraternity acknowledges the top accomplishments with an awards program based on the merit of each individual or chapter’s achievements. The recipients of these awards are showcased at the Leadership Institute, the annual conference of the Fraternity.

Delta Upsilon (ΔΥ)is the sixth oldest international, all-male, college Greek-letter organization, and is the oldest non-secret fraternity in North America. Founded on November 4, 1834, at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Lafayette College Chapter was founded on May 30th, 1885.

The Fraternity’s motto is “Dikaia Upotheke” in Greek – “Δικαια Υποθηκη” – which means “Justice, Our Foundation.” The motto was adopted in 1858. Until this time, the motto of the Williams Chapter, “Ouden Adelon” – meaning “Nothing Secret,” was used.

“The objects of this Fraternity shall include the promotion of friendship, the exertion of moral influence, the diffusion of liberal culture, and the advancement of equity in college affairs. It shall be non-secret.

The current text of the Four Founding Principles is:

  • The Promotion of Friendship
  • The Development of Character
  • The Diffusion of Liberal Culture
  • The Advancement of Justice