DAVID HARDEN/Arizona Daily Wildcat Omega Delta Phi, unlike most fraternities, has to hold its meetings in Harvill because it has no house. Regardless, the Hispanic fraternity's commitment to service landed it the Undergraduate Chapter of the Year Award.

Members of Omega Delta Phi and Kappa Delta Chi, Hispanic fraternal organizations, have to meet on campus because neither owns a specific house.

But their members are still a group of hard-working volunteers who recently won national awards.

The UA's Omega Delta Phi-Gamma chapter received the award for Undergraduate Chapter of the year, their first award on the national level.

"Winning means that we're the best, we're number one!" said John Huerta, the fraternity's advisor and director of development of minority programs.

The UA's Kappa Delta Chi-Delta chapter received an award for social event programming.

The National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations and Latinogreeks.com honored the two chapters.

"We were all excited because it was a really distinct honor that we got recognized out of all the organizations in the nation," said Kristine Tiu, president of Kappa Delta Chi-Delta and a family studies senior.

Omega Delta Phi, which was established in 1990, won its award based on service projects, average GPA, and overall campus and community involvement.

"It's nice to be recognized for our achievements. I was more excited to win the award because it highlighted all the work the other guys in the frat did," said Ovett Chapman, former chapter president.

"The fraternity does a lot of volunteering. Historically, they've ranked very high with the most volunteer hours per year," Huerta said.

Some activities the fraternity participates in include assisting the local Boys and Girls Club to build a Halloween haunted house and helping kids dye Easter eggs.

The 20 members also volunteer on a weekly basis as youth mentors for Project YES in south Tucson. The fraternity also helps prepare dinners for underprivileged families and participates in the Adopt-A-Family program.

"We have socials, too, but our main focus is community service," Chapman said.

The award was given to Kappa Delta Chi for planning a banquet and other activities during Homecoming weekend, which is its biggest social event.

Stephanie Valenzuela, former president of Kappa Delta Chi and a psychology senior, said, "I wasn't expecting the award, but I know we earned it."

Valenzuela put the application together for the award over the summer.

"It contained information specifically on our Homecoming events," Valenzuela said.

The sorority sets up a tent and holds a ball during Homecoming. The Sunday of Homecoming weekend, the group holds an anniversary alumni breakfast. The ladies cook the meal for all of their guests.

"It's a fun-filled weekend. It's hectic, but it's worth it in the end," Valenzuela said.

Dominique Calza, vice president of the sorority and a psychology and Spanish junior, said that she helps to put together the banquet and is on the Homecoming committee.

"I was happy that we were recognized for all our effort," she said.

The organizations were awarded at a banquet in Chicago on the first of this month at the five-year anniversary convention of NALFO.