The ISU Gamma Pi chapter of Delta Tau Delta was named one of the top 10 chapters in the nation and won the Hugh Shields Award for chapter excellence at the Western Plains Division conference at the Holiday Inn Gateway Center in Ames.This makes the 14th Hugh Shields flag won by the Gamma Pi chapter.”This award means a lot to us and to our alumni who have contributed their time to the fraternity,” said Jeremy Bries, president of the ISU chapter of Delta Tau Delta, 212 Sunset Drive. “We have worked very hard to create an atmosphere of leadership, academics and brotherhood.”The Hugh Shields Award is the highest honor any chapter of Delta Tau Delta fraternity can receive, said Cody Funk, Delta Tau Delta member.Hugh Shields was a member of the Beta Alpha chapter in Indiana and worked to keep Delta Tau Delta alive during the Depression Era by recruiting hundreds of alumni to help solve the problems in chapters across the country, according to a fraternity-history document.Bries, junior in mechanical engineering, said the ISU chapter has taken many steps in the last few years to achieve a greater level of excellence.”With a new executive committee coming into this calendar year and our 14th Hugh Shields Award, the momentum and potential for achievement runs extremely high,” he said.The events for the conference last weekend included a curriculum of practical assistance to chapters in achieving excellence through personal skills, career skills, planning tactics and alumni recruitment, said Funk, freshman in pre-landscape architecture. Awards for academics, hospitality and other aspects of chapter excellence were presented at the conference, he said.”The conference was a great opportunity to meet members of other Delt chapters,” Funk said.The 20 men representing the Gamma Pi chapter performed the Delta Tau Delta ritual for the delegates from 22 chapters located in the 11 western-plains states. Each chapter was required to be represented by no fewer than three undergraduate delegates, according to the event press release.Brian Tenclinger, director of greek affairs, said he was impressed with the conference.”This is a tremendous honor for both Delta Tau Delta and Iowa State,” he said. “The men have worked hard to create positive change and growth in their chapter, and I applaud their efforts.”Bries said the award reinforces the pride members and alumni have in their fraternity.”I have never felt more proud to be a Delt and a part of the Greek community,” he said.