Greek Community Renames Top Award in Honor of Longtime Adviser

BETHANY, W.Va. – The Bethany College Greek community has renamed its highest student award in recognition of a longtime campus nurse and Greek life advocate.

Carol Borden Tyler retired from Bethany this month after more than 33 years of service. In addition to her role as a nurse, Tyler was adviser to Alpha Xi Delta sorority and frequently assisted the other Greek chapters on campus.

“As the adviser to the Greek community, Carol was an asset to the students and could be relied upon and trusted,” said Sam Goodge, assistant dean of students. “She was willing to step up, beyond her own affiliations, and help everyone learn, develop, and be successful. Her reach extended beyond the Greek community and the students organizing this effort understood that.

“She is one of the most positive, supportive, and caring people on the campus. Her absence will leave a void here, but all the students she has interacted with are now better people due to their relationship with her. It wasn’t even just her effect on the students, I am a better person for meeting and learning from her over the last seven years.”

The Excellence in Greek Life Award is given once each year to a Bethany student who makes a substantial impact on the Greek community in the academic year.

Yasmeene Henderson received the award last year for her work on programming designed to unite the campus Greek organizations. Past recipient Zach Lowe was a two-year president of the Interfraternal Council and creator of the Froscars, an Oscar-like award ceremony for the Bethany Greek community.

Bethany’s Panhellenic Council and IFC led the efforts to rechristen the prize as the Carol Borden Tyler Excellence in Greek Life Award.

In a letter to Tyler announcing the recognition, former award recipient Danielle Vealy writes: “Speaking as a Bethany College student, I think your diligence, empathy, and kindness made the institution as a whole better. But speaking as an Alpha Xi Delta, you made me better. You made the women around me better. You made us a better organization. You held us accountable, told us when we could do better, and were truly the mold that bonded us to our creed. … Thank you for being a mother figure, a sister, and a friend.”

ABOUT BETHANY COLLEGE

Bethany College, founded in 1840, is the oldest private college in West Virginia. The Bethany experience focuses on academic excellence in the area of liberal arts and prepares students for a lifetime of work and a life of significance.