12 minute read
Amongst the Ivy
EPSILON BETA - BUTLER
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Sisterhood,
One Song
SAfter the concert, Kylie SOMETIMES, THINKING OUTSIDE of the box gets results. That is what Kylie Stine, the 2019 director of sisterhood for the Epsilon BetaButler chapter, did when she began to plan their annual chapter-wide sisterhood fall retreat that included a shout-out to the sisters from members of the popular band The Chainsmokers. Previous retreats included a camping trip and time spent at Lake Michigan. “While these were fun events,” said Kylie, “the long drive prevented many members from attending.” She sent out a survey of a sisterhood retreat, and the band was onboard to help make their night special. Kylie and others made posters to hold up at the concert that evening, and they brought tons of energy to the show. Their efforts paid off, and The Chainsmokers member Drew Taggart acknowledged Alpha Phi in front of the crowd a few times at a Time to learn more about what members wanted and decided hosting the and her sisters learned event in Indianapolis would be the Drew Taggart (a Sigma best fit. Next, she did research and took a chance. “…I reached out to Chi) went to Syracuse, The Chainsmokers management team in March to see if we could get home to our Alpha tickets to their Indianapolis concert in November. After being contacted chapter…perhaps that by their PR team, I stayed in contact with them all summer and fall,” is why Alpha Phi was said Kylie. feeling the love! A total of 85 members attended the event and were invited to the soundcheck before the concert. During the soundcheck, Kylie recalled, “Alex Pall (one of the during the concert. This made members of The Chainsmokers) for an even more fun event than asked if there was a sorority in the the concert already was, and crowd, and, of course, we all started the reaction to being recognized shouting.” The women shared that during the show is one the sisters they were all at the concert as part hold dear.
“We all went wild! I was so glad my phone caught this moment on camera,” said Kylie. After the concert, Kylie and her sisters learned Drew Taggart is a Sigma Chi who went to Syracuse, home to our Alpha chapter…perhaps that is why Alpha Phi was feeling the love!
As director of sisterhood, Kylie has planned several events, and she gives credit to other members of the chapter collaborate to help bring the planned events together successfully. Kylie says one of the most rewarding parts of her role is watching the new members thrive as vital members of Alpha Phi. She has the opportunity to connect women to one another in meaningful ways. At new member sleepovers, she feels proud to have helped foster experiences that take our newest members from strangers to sisters.
Kylie’s sisters appreciate her efforts as well. One senior came up to Kylie after the concert and said, “Tonight has been the best ‘last hurrah’ I could have asked for. Even after graduating, I’m going to remember this night with all of my sisters forever.” Well done, Kylie!
EPSILON XI-SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Virtual Sisterhoods
In these unprecedented times,
Epsilon Xi-Southern Illinois
members are staying connected through technology. They are hosting virtual sisterhood events and enjoying activities like a Netflix party, where they all streamed the same movie; quarantine bingo, using a template found on Instagram; a Tik Tok video competition and a virtual formal. They are finding ways to celebrate their seniors and will host a senior send-off to reminisce and encourage them in their future endeavors. The chapter was also recently recognized at the Fraternity and Sorority Life Awards as the chapter with the most engaging program of the year and advisor of the year. Prior to move to virtual education, the women also hosted a Galentine’s Day event where members welcomed in friends who are nonmembers to enjoy time together. Great job — keep it up!
THETA PHI-CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT
One Tough Cookie
The Theta Phi-Christopher Newport sisters held their second One Tough Cookie event in the spring, raising awareness for sexual assault survivors. Partnering with Fear 2 Freedom, a local foundation that supports sexual assault survivors, the event raised funds to donate to Fear 2 Freedom through a cookie tasting competition. Approximately 300 people were in attendance. Campus organizations and clubs participated, and their entries were judged by a Theta Phi and a Fear 2 Freedom representative. The three tastiest cookies were chosen as winners. Guests also had the opportunity to write letters for sexual assault survivors and contribute to creating “icare kits” that are delivered to sexual assault survivors. Thank you, Theta Phi!
ETA LAMBDA-GEORGE MASON
International President Speaks at Red Dress Gala
Alpha Phi International President Jacqueline Schools (Eta Lambda-George Mason) delivered the keynote address at the Eta Lambda-George Mason 13th annual Red Dress Gala on February 29! The event raised over $25,000 and shared the importance of heart health with their guests. The ladies took the momentum from that event and have kept it going to stay connected during this time of distanced learning. The ladies are innovating and creating opportunities to recognize sisters on social media, written messages from the heart to seniors and doing all they can to ensure the members feel part of a sisterhood even though they may be miles away. Good work, Eta Lambda!
Above: Sisters of Eta Lambda-George Mason. Top row: Chaslyn Donovan, Shauna Shaghaghi, Alpha Phi International President, Jackee Schools, Taylor Dauer, Megan Brown. Bottom row: Baylee Nesson, Hannah McGowan.
Award-Winning
The Women of Eta GammaAkron were recognized at the campus annual Greek Leadership Awards with several honors. They earned most improved GPA, recruitment excellence, greatest contribution: single philanthropy event and most improved chapter! Two of their members also received special awards. Ashlynn Milhoan won chapter president of the year, and Danielle Colacarro (below) received the Dr. Vukorich Award for outstanding leadership. Congratulations, ladies!
Above: Murphy Fryer (Phi-Oklahoma). At right: Nicole Nielsen (Phi-Oklahoma).
PSI-SOUTH DAKOTA
President in the House
Abuk Jiel (Psi-South Dakota) was elected as the 2020-2021 student body president on the campus of the University of South Dakota! Since taking office, she and her vice president Carter Larson have connected with their fellow students and remain committed to their roles, even in a state of virtual learning. Congratulations, Abuk!
DELTA GAMMA-NORTHERN COLORADO
Senior Send-Off
In the Delta Gamma-Northern Colorado chapter, Alpha Phis are working together to create a bit of normalcy by offering support in any way they can. For graduating seniors, they are holding a virtual flower dedication online with Zoom with fun surprises mailed to seniors. In big and small ways, they continue to come together. For one sister whose family is struggling from the impact of COVID-19, the ladies created a short movie with messages to encourage her. The women are making time for one another, making sisterhood a priority and staying close even when we are far apart.
PHI-OKLAHOMA
Heartthrobs, Soonerthon and Member Success
The women of Phi-Oklahoma have been busy! Prior to a move to virtual learning, they held their Heart Week activities to raise funds for Alpha Phi Foundation. They hosted a Mr. Heartthrob competition, date night at their chapter house and their own day of giving. Generosity was a theme, and the chapter participated in the campus wide “Soonerthon,” which is the official philanthropy event of the campus activities council at the University of Oklahoma. The chapter raised over $25,000 to support the Children’s Hospital Foundation in Oklahoma City. Congratulations, also, to Phi members Murphy Fryer, who is the first woman from the state of Oklahoma to serve on the American Cancer Society National Collegiate Leadership Team, and Nicole Nielsen who has accepted a job at CBS 11 News in Dallas as a news reporter and fill-in traffic anchor!
GAMMA NU-MIAMI UNIVERSITY Red Dress Success and Senior Tribute
At their Red Dress Gala, the ladies of Gamma Nu-Miami University raised over $31,000! Held on-campus at the Armstrong Student Center, the event drew 415 guests to enjoy an evening of celebration, awareness and fun. Auction baskets helped raise funds during the program. One of the most impactful parts of the evening was the senior tribute at the end of the event. Congratulations, ladies!
Below: Gamma Nu-Miami University members Margaret Janszen, Cate Fister, Mary Amico, and Grace Cahill.
ZETA RHO – BENTLEY
Showing Up For One Another — The Bentley Virtual Relay for Life
On April 3, sisters of Zeta Rho–Bentley participated in the university’s first ever Virtual Relay for Life. The American Cancer Society event, which raises money to fund cancer research and many other lifesustaining efforts, took place online this year as a result of the social distancing guidelines related to COVID-19. To accommodate the change, the relay, hosted by another organizations on campus, shifted from a fundraising focus to one that still raised funds but leaned ore on the heartfelt traditions of the event, like testimonials and ceremonies that recognize participants and survivors.
Alpha Phi Sara Bray, outgoing director of campus activities, was the co-director of team development for this Relay for Life and helped organize this event. “While fundraising is a big part of Relay for Life events, it is not the most important. Relay for Life is an amazing event because it brings people together to celebrate survivors, caregivers, current fighters and remember those we have lost…. Virtual Relay for Life, and other events just like it, are so important in times like these because we must prove that we cannot stop fighting when things get hard. Virtual events are so important because in times of isolation like this, causes that are close to our hearts help to keep us connected.”
One of the most special reasons the sisters wanted to support this event is because fellow sister Kayla Vincent
is a cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with a rare cancer called Neuroblastoma when she was only seven months old. With the help of her medical team and family, she triumphed, but there was no cure at the time. Her parents faced a difficult decision — try an
experimental treatment or hope for the best with existing treatments that would likely not be enough. Over two years, Kayla fought her stage 4 cancer, had two surgeries, many rounds of chemotherapy and an experimental Vitamin A therapy. Twenty years later, Kayla has earned the title of a living miracle.
“I was so happy and excited to see my sisters help in the fight against cancer alongside us. Their support means the world to us. It was a great way for us to further connect and raise awareness to a cause so close to our hearts,” said Kayla.
The chapter rallied around Kayla and others in their lives who have been impacted by cancer and the results were tremendous. The women raised $5,929 through their participation in this event, making them the top Alpha Phi Relay for Life fundraising team in the nation. According to chapter vice president of marketing Abbey Bonno, “Members of the Bentley community regularly support our events…so we wanted to reciprocate our community’s support by participating in this event to support another campus organization’s fundraising efforts. As a chapter, we can’t wait to participate in this event in the future. We’ve already set goals, like having 100% chapter registration and being the top fundraising sorority on campus.”
Three Zeta Rho sisters were among the top ten individual fundraisers on campus for this event, including Sara Bray, BrennaSherrer and LizaSuderi. Kayla said, “It was heartwarming to see the Bentley community unite through this cause and share our stories together. Seeing just how many people were similarly impacted reminded us that we are all in this together, no matter how far apart we may be at this time.”
Congratulations to all the sisters of Zeta Rho for supporting each other and those in the community!
NEWEST CHAPTERS
Red Dress Events Show Chapters Making Impact in Their Own Ways
Over time, Red Dress events develop into beloved chapter traditions. Our newer chapters are especially focused on growing membership and becoming part of the campus community. A chapter’s first Red Dress event is carefully planned to meet their campus culture and highlight women’s heart health.
During the 2019-2020 academic year, seven of Alpha Phi’s newest chapters raised nearly $35,000 for Alpha Phi Foundation. Events ranged from tailgates to brunches to galas. Some were first time events, while others have become chapter traditions.
Kappa Alpha-North Carolina held their fourth Red Dress themed event, as the chapter marked their fifth academic year. Iota Psi-North Florida updated their event to a parents’ brunch this year, and Kappa DeltaStevens continued hosting a fall brunch for their campus community. Kappa Gamma-Southeast Missouri State hosted their first Red Dress event as a fall tailgate for
Individual Chapter Donation Totals:
Iota Psi Red Dress Brunch: $2,353
Kappa Alpha Red Dress Gala: $9,069
Kappa Gamma Red Dress Tailgate: $2,935
Kappa Delta Red Dress Brunch: $133
Kappa Epsilon Red Dress Gala: $9,607
Kappa Theta Cancelled Brunch: $8,361
parents. Kappa Epsilon-Georgia held their first Red Dress Event as part of their parents’ weekend and raised more than $9,500. Kappa Theta-Baylor had planned their first Red Dress Brunch for March 28. Since the COVID-19 pandemic required cancellation of the event, the chapter offered attendees the option to donate their ticket cost, which allowed the Kappa Theta women to gift Alpha Phi Foundation nearly $10,000.
