At the 2022 International Convention, Will Young (Delta State, Zeta Beta ’18) was recognized with the Robertson Most Outstanding Undergraduate Award. The Robertson Award honors Pi Kappa Alpha’s outstanding graduating senior. Pi Kappa Alpha first recognized its outstanding graduating senior in 1926 with an award administered by the alumni chapter of Buffalo, New York, and the award’s first recipient was Howard Bell Arbuckle Jr. (Davidson, Beta ’25).
Young graduated in May 2022 with a degree in biology. He served as a member of the Student Government Association (SGA) since his freshman year, serving as a student senator, secretary, vice president, and then president. During his tenure in SGA, he developed and launched a variety of initiatives around campus which included a Delta State webpage to provide easy access to SGA information to students and a new game room for students. Young implemented the inaugural Big Green Event, a one day, student-led community service event that undertook more than 20 service projects on campus and in the Cleveland, MS community. As SGA President, Young was instrumental in the campaign to create an outdoor student recreation facility. His contributions to the effort were so instrumental that Delta State administrators opted to name the facility, the William H. Young Student Outdoor Recreation Area, in his honor.
Young had the privilege of serving under Past Delta State University President William LaForge (Delta State, Zeta Beta ’69) as a member of his cabinet, where Young helped keep the focus of the university on the students. Delta State Vice President for Student Affairs H. Edward Lovin, Jr. stated, “In my over twenty years of working in higher education, I cannot recall a more student-centered SGA president who has accomplished so much in their time of leadership and governance.”
Fraternally, Young served the Zeta Beta Chapter as philanthropy chair, social media chair, vice president for membership development, treasurer, and president. As philanthropy chair, he challenged the chapter to exceed expectations as they raised $20,000 in five days for a fellow Delta State student who faced critical medical challenges. In addition to being named the 2022 Robertson Most Outstanding Undergraduate, Young was recognized as the IFC Greek Man of the Year and Top Student Organization President in 2021 and has been tapped for membership in Omicron Delta Kappa National Honor Society and the Delta State University Student Hall of Fame. He is currently preparing to begin medical school.
The Pi Kappa Alpha Foundation is proud to honor Will Young with the 2022 Robertson Most Outstanding Undergraduate Award.
