Horvath receives top national honor

Beta Theta Pi's national organization honored a SIUC employee as its top chapter adviser for 2006.

The fraternity honored Tina Horvath with its Dr. Edward Taylor Adviser of the Year Award in Orlando, Fla., earlier this month for her outstanding support and guidance of SIUC's Zeta Omicron chapter. The national award recognizes one adviser each year who excels in his/her work and dedication to the organization. The fraternity selected Horvath, who also coordinates residence life for University Housing at SIUC, from more than 500 advisers from 122 chapters nationwide.

"I really was surprised, especially being a woman," said Horvath, formerly of Okawville. "I was actually the first woman to win the award."

Andy Morgan, coordinator of Greek life at SIUC, said that while it is unique to have a woman advise a fraternity, Horvath has done a phenomenal job in leading Beta Theta Pi to be one of the best fraternities on campus.

"She is a volunteer, she has a family and is very busy, but she still gives so many hours per week to the fraternity and doesn't get paid," Morgan said.

As the adviser for the fraternity, Horvath guides and directs the students to make them better men of principle and character. She helps the organization plan, abide by its guidelines and work with the national association as well. She has even taken students to the John and Nellie Wooden Institute for Men of Principle and the Keystone Regional Leadership Conference.

"Those have been great opportunities to travel with the students and see them grow in leadership," Horvath said.

"Tina has developed these young men into good citizens. They have good grades, mostly from her high expectations and holding them accountable," Morgan said. "They have become good representatives of this campus, just as Tina is."

- Eric Welch