The True Merit Award was first established in 1969 as the Chapter Efficiency Award, becoming the Fraternity’s first official award. In 1975, the name of the award changed to the Chapter Excellence Award and finally in 1979, the name changed to the True Merit Award.

There is no limit of how many chapters will be awarded True Merit from year to year. Rather, in keeping with the spirit of the Creed, the True Merit Award is awarded to as many chapters who achieve a level of chapter operation that is worthy of the recognition. The Top Chapter Award, established in 1998, recognizes the best ATO Chapter in the nation.

The Theta Pi chapter earned the Top Chapter award in 2001. The chapter has also earned the True Merit Award a total of seventeen times during the years of:

• -1985
• -1986
• -1989
• -1990
• -1991
• -1992
• -1993
• -1994
• -1998
• -1999
• -2000
• -2001
• -2002
• -2003
• -2004
• -2006
• -2007
• -2008 (True Merit Honors)

Only four ATO chapters (out of 133) have more True Merit bowls than the Theta Pi chapter.