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Published August 15, 2025

CAPTION: (L- R) – Brennan Tackett, Hutson Hearron, Connor Skubic, Caden Hickman, Braden Moore, Daniel Hochstein, Jake Balsamo, Andrew Neely, and Carter MorrisÌý

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MONROE, LA – Members of the University of Louisiana Monroe’s Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity recently returned from the Thomas C. Tillar Leadership Academy held in Memphis, Tenn., where they won their sixth consecutive Robert A. Smythe Award.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

The Smythe is presented to the top Pi Kappa Alpha chapters each year. This win marks the 30th time in the last 34 years the ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù Pikes have taken home the Smythe.Ìý With this win, the ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù Pikes became only the third chapter in Pike History to reach the 30-win Smythe plateau. Ìý

The Smythe is based upon excelling in 16 areas of chapter operations including academics, community service, campus involvement, athletics, management, health and safety, new member education, accountability and alumni relations.ÌýÌýÌý

Nine ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù student members joined twelve Pike alumni including Pike’s Delta Region president Tommy Walpole, Pike’s Arkoma Regional President Paul Wilkening and four of the men who founded the Pike chapter at ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù for the three-day event.Ìý

During the convention, the group was recognized for earning—for the fifteenth consecutive year—an overall grade point average higher than a 3.0.ÌýÌý

Other highlights of the trip included the ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù chapter receiving the Raymond L. Orians Award for Chapter Excellence, which honors overall chapter performance from the previous year. This marked the chapter’s 38thÌýconsecutive Orians award for the ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù Pikes.ÌýÌý

The group was also recognized for excellence in support of the Fraternity’s Leadership program, 100% support of the International Undergraduate donor club, supporting the International Work Day with two awards, and more.ÌýÌý

Braden Moore and Caden Hickman earned Gold status for attending their fifth Pike University Leadership event.ÌýÌýÌý

The ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù Pi Kappa Alpha Alumni Association won its 14th consecutive William R. Nester Outstanding Alumni Association award. This was the group’s 26th time to be recognized as one of the organization’s best alumni associations in North America in the last 31 years.Ìý In addition, the chapter’s Alumni Advisory Board was also recognized as one of Pike’s best.Ìý The ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù Pikes have an eight-man advisory board, consisting of Eta Omicron Alumni who assist the chapter.Ìý In addition, at ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù, the Pikes are proud to call Mrs. Erica Hopko their on-campus advisor.Ìý

Pi Kappa Alpha has 200 chapters in North America and is headquartered in Memphis, Tenn.ÌýÌý

The Pi Kappa Alpha chapter at ²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù was founded in 1972 and is one of only eleven Pike Chapters in North America to operate more than one house on a university campus.Ìý