The greek community partnered with the Office of Student Affairs Tuesday night to recognize its top scholars.

The Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils, the governing bodies of the University’s fraternities and sororities,

held a dinner to recognize their members’ top 50 grade point averages from spring semester.

Each council honored their top 25 scholars as part of the first Greek Academic Recognition Ceremony.

The councils’ plan to make this event a biannual tradition, distinguishing members with top GPAs each semester, in hopes of motivating them to strive for academic excellence.

Gina Rozinka, president of the Panhellenic Council, said creating an event recognizing the Greek community’s academic accomplishments was one of the goals of the two councils this year.

Only about half of those recognized by the University for academic excellence showed up to the event. Many of those absent were alumni who graduated last spring.

Rozinka said the councils worked with Jerry Rinehart, the vice provost for student affairs, to create the event.

Rinehart, who spoke at the event, congratulated the greek community on its achievement and discussed the importance of academics.

Rinehart said the recognition event is part of a University commitment adopted in a 2005 statement to form a partnership with greeks, establishing expectations of the community.

“The greek community provides the spirit and soul for the University,” he said. “The event is being held to honor those students who are making the progress that we want and that the University wants all of its students to achieve.”

Rinehart said he meets with both council presidents, Rozinka and Alex Vu, president of the Interfraternity Council, once a month, to become aware of any problems they have and to provide them with resources.

“We want them to know that the University is here for them,” he said.

According to Chad Ellsworth, the University adviser for the greek community, 16 of 25 fraternity members recognized had 4.0 GPAs last semester.

The sororities, he said, had 23 4.0 GPAs out of the 25 women recognized.

The event will give members something to strive for in the future so that they may take part in such an event, Ellsworth said.

He said many chapters and houses have their own individual systems to reward academic achievement.

Brianne Lawson, vice president of academics for the Panhellenic Council, was recognized at the event. She said she rewarded those with 4.0 GPAs last semester by giving them $10 gift certificates to Barnes and Noble.

Kelly McNabb, a psychology junior and Kappa Kappa Gamma member who was recognized for her 4.0 GPA at the event, said having fun classes last semester made it a lot easier to get good grades.

“It’s easier when you like your classes; human sexuality was one of the best classes I’ve taken, and all of the others were fun and interesting too,” McNabb said.

She said she wants to go to law school after she receives her undergraduate degree, so her grades are really important.

“You need the grades to get in because it’s so competitive,” she said.