Members of the greek community came dressed to impress for the 10th annual Greek Oscars last night.

About 150 people attended the hourlong awards ceremony at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel to celebrate the past year's achievements.

"I think this ceremony is fantastic," said Jared Brown, assistant director of fraternity and sorority life. "It inspires people to want to do more. Recognition for what people have done well makes them want to continue what they are doing."

The awards ceremony began with the Interfraternity Council (IFC) Bill Swan Sportsmanship Award. The recipient, Sigma Pi, was not there to receive the award.

"I'm sure they're stuck in traffic for the Prince concert," said Brian Bertges, IFC executive vice president.

In addition to the 45 awards traditionally given out, this was the first year for the Greek Pride award.

"These people go above and beyond the call of duty," Brown said of the recipients of the Greek Pride award. "They show incredible leadership and scholarship in everything they do."

This year, Dave Stolzenberg won for the IFC; Nuria Rodriguez won for the Multicultural Greek Council; Tinnesha DeVaughn won for the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and Colleen Briley won for the Panhellenic Council (PHC).

"I was overwhelmed and totally honored that the community recognized my contributions as a greek member," Rodriguez (graduate-rehabilitation counseling) said.

"I realize how being greek improves on our lives, personally and professionally," she added.

Rodriguez is a member of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinos Unidas Sorority Inc.

Mary Kaye Jacono, former PHC president and Alpha Delta Pi member, tied with Erinn Wischum for PHC Woman of the Year.

"It's a really exciting honor," Jacono (senior-English and theatre arts) said. "The Panhellenic Council is really important to me; it's shaped who I am today."

Ryan Stokes, a member of Phi Gamma Delta, won IFC Man of the Year.

"I was homecoming parade chairman, Greek Week overall and a hospitality chair for Thon," Stokes (senior-hotel and restaurant management) said. "It really shows that all the hard work pays off."

Amy Dougherty (senior-elementary education) helped Sigma Gamma Rho by winning two of its nine awards.

Dougherty took home both the Individual Academic Achievement Award and the NPHC Outstanding New Member Award.

"The people in my council motivate me to make a difference," said Dougherty, a member since last spring.