The University of Rhode Island chapter of Theta Tau, which is a professional engineering fraternity, made a big impression and lasting friendships at the organization’s national convention this summer in San Diego, Calif.

The chapter, known as Sigma Gamma, received an award for being the best delegation from its region. The five students who represented URI actively participated in committee work, attended all of the events, and had the largest contingent of any chapter from the region.

“We’re very thankful that the URI College of the Engineering supported our trip to Nationals,” said Corinne Ajemian, the chapter’s regent (president). “We met the people who lead the fraternity on a national scale and participated in discussions on national polices and ideas.”

Chapter member HopeRose Puroll served as the group’s delegate and was allowed to vote on decisions made during the meeting portion of the convention. Troy Durand, Juan Corona and Timothy Pickard were the other students who represented URI.

The delegation has stayed in touch with those they met and worked with at the convention.

“We have kept in contact with many of the chapters and are lucky to be able to reach out to them whenever we have questions or want to brainstorm ideas,” stated Ajemian, a computer engineering major from Beverly, Mass.

Currently, Sigma Gamma has 46 active members and five members who are studying in Spain, Germany and China through URI’s International Engineering Program (IEP).