March 2011 | Volume 6 | Issue 6
University of Connecticut
Congratulations and thank you to everyone who participated in insuring the success of HuskyTHON 2011. Your commitment and dedication helped raise an impressive $188,558.51, the largest amount of money fundraised since the introduction of HuskyTHON. With nearly 800 Dancers, 200 volunteers, 150 morale captains and over 30 families, there was nonstop dancing and cheer throughout the 18-hour marathon. Thanks again for all your hard work. Let’s aim even higher for 2012 and continue making HuskyTHON one of UConn’s greatest traditions.
in this issue: page 1 HuskyTHON page 2 FSL Awards page 3 Book club page 4 Greeks of the month page 5 Upcoming events
This year's Greek Week will be held from March 21st-March 27th. The Greek Week Management Team has planned numerous events to help unite and celebrate the Greek Community (and even has some great prizes to raffle off!). Each organization was placed into one of 7 teams with a theme based on a hit Reality TV show! We hope to have full participation from each team and look forward to seeing who will Outwit, Outlast, and Outplay to be this year's Greek Week Champions!
Congratulations to the 2011 Arête Awards Recipients Outstanding Greek Volunteer
Outstanding Faculty/Staff Member
Excellence in Ritual and Values
Matthew Dempsey, Beta Theta Pi (ΒΘΠ) & Amanda Jablon, Delta Zeta (ΔZ)
Andrew Stewart – Psychology Department
Kappa Sigma (ΚΣ) & Kappa Kappa Gamma (ΚΚΓ)
Outstanding Chapter Management
Outstanding Member Development Program
Beta Theta Pi (ΒΘΠ) & Kappa Kappa Gamma (ΚΚΓ)
Beta Theta Pi (ΒΘΠ) & Kappa Kappa Gamma (ΚΚΓ)
Lindsay Sell Outstanding Panhellenic Woman
Outstanding Chapter President
Kristen Koenig, Alpha Phi (AΦ)
Ryan Tabtabai, Tau Kappa Epsilon (TΚE) & Allison Meese, Kappa Kappa Gamma (ΚΚΓ)
Outstanding External Relations Program Outstanding Community Involvement Zeta Beta Tau (ZΒT) & Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. (ΣΓP)
Kappa Sigma (ΚΣ) & Kappa Alpha Theta (ΚAΘ)
Outstanding Recruitment and Retention
Most Improved Greek Scholar
Kappa Sigma (ΚΣ) & Kappa Kappa Gamma (ΚΚΓ)
Greg Ketcham, Beta Theta Pi (BΘΠ) & Jackie Golicz, Alpha Phi (AΦ)
Outstanding New Member Program
Fraternity Man/Sorority Woman of the Year Aaron Aguirre, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. (ΛΥΛ) & Lauren Aziz, Kappa Alpha Theta (ΚAΘ)
Beta Theta Pi (ΒΘΠ) & Pi Beta Phi (ΠBΦ)
Outstanding Academic Achievement Program Alpha Epsilon Pi (ΑΕΠ) & Delta Gamma (ΔΓ)
Outstanding Risk Management and Reduction
Outstanding Greek Scholar
Lambda Alpha Upsilon Fraternity, Inc. (ΛAΥ) & Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. (ΛΘA)
Jeffrey Farrell, Kappa Sigma (KΣ) & Eileen Semancik, Kappa Alpha Theta (ΚAΘ)
Most Improved Chapter
Outstanding Greek Alumnus/a
Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT) & Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. (ΣΓP)
Wilbert Gonzalez, Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. (ΛΘΦ) & Judy Preston, Kappa Kappa Gamma (KKΓ)
Chapter of the Year Alpha Epsilon Pi (ΑΕΠ) & Delta Gamma (ΔΓ)
Greek Emerging Leader Donald Lu, Sigma Chi (ΣX) & Shelby Flynn, Delta Zeta (ΔZ)
Outstanding Campus Involvement Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. (ΛΥΛ) & Kappa Kappa Gamma (ΚKΓ)
Outstanding Greek Senior Gabe Botero, Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. (ΛΘΦ) & Meredith Fichman, Alpha Epsilon Phi (ΑΕΦ)
Campus/Community Partnership Award Angela Rola – Director,AsianAmericanCulturalCenter
Outstanding Advisor Michael Crutchfield, Advisor to Beta Theta Pi (ΒΘΠ) & Jessie Frease, Advisor to Delta Gamma (ΔΓ)
Congratulations New Rho Lambda Members
Check this out! Career Services is looking for student employees to work as part of our collaboration with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and the Greek community. Career Resource Assistants (CRAs) are students employed as paraprofessionals by the University of Connecticut’s Department of Career Services. CRAs are expected to fulfill various roles in order to support the programming and counseling services offered to UConn students. Download application materials at: http://www.career.uconn.edu/docs/forms/CRA_Application_2011-2012.docx All applications must be received by March 18, 2011 Questions? Contact Rachel Larson at Rachel.Larson@uconn.edu or 860-486-3013.
Congratulations to Sigma Chi Fraternity!
Alex Addabbo, Delta Gamma Vanessa Ball, Pi Beta Phi Mae Bergan, Delta Gamma Lauren Cardarelli, Delta Zeta Hannah Caruso, Kappa Kappa Gamma Jennifer DeMuro, Delta Gamma Nicole DiSturco, Kappa Alpha Theta Kim Ellison, Kappa Kappa Gamma Breanna Gabriel, Kappa Kappa Gamma Jessica Hordeman, Alpha Phi Kayla Jaeckel, Alpha Phi Kayla Jowdy, Alpha Phi
On the weekend of February 5th, brother of the Gamma Omega Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity attend our annual Province Conference at Bryant University in Smithfield Rhode Island. In attendance were over 255 undergraduates from Sigma Chi Chapters located at Yale, Brown, University of New Haven, Western Connecticut State University, as well as a colony (aspiring chapter) at the University of Rhode Island. This annual conference is held for leaders of each chapter to brainstorm new ideas to further the interests of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Undergraduates met in small groups to discuss ideas on how to improve one’s specific position in their respective chapter as well as what each chapter can do to better Sigma Chi as a whole. One important aspect of this year’s Province Conference was the organization and practice of the upcoming installation of our new chapter at the University of Rhode Island. At the conclusion of the conference several individual and chapter awards were presented. Gamma Omega was awarded with the “Best Improvement in Brotherhood” award as our chapter has shown a great improvement in recruitment as well as campus involvement.
Ari Mason, Delta Zeta Erica Mason, Delta Zeta Lindsay Pitasi, Delta Zeta Mari Rauseo, Phi Sigma Rho Lauren Reinman, Pi Beta Phi Aja Scortino, Delta Zeta Karen Sutin, Alpha Epsilon Phi Monica Vaughn-Flam, Kappa Alpha Theta
Aislinn Walters, Pi Sigma Rho
Book Club If you haven’t already learned about The Circle of Sisterhood, you should: http://www.circleofsisterhood.org/. The organization was started by a sorority woman and has a mission to “leverage the collective wisdom and influence of sorority women to support entities around the world that remove educational barriers for girls and women, uplifting them from poverty and oppression.” What started the Circle of Sisterhood was the book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. Half the Sky lays out an agenda for the world's women and three major abuses: sex trafficking and forced prostitution; gender-based violence including honor killings and mass rape; maternal mortality, which needlessly claims one woman a minute. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life will be reading this book for this semester’s book club. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of the book please contact Crystel Maldonado at crystel.maldonado@uconn.edu
Kyra Pelz—Walsh-Alpha Phi Kyra Pelz-Walsh is an outstanding sorority woman and the perfect candidate for Greek of the Month. Kyra is the director of Philanthropy for Alpha Phi and she successfully planned and executed Alpha Phi’s spring philanthropy, King of Hearts, which took place on February 22nd. The event sold out the student union theater and raised over $2,000 for the Alpha Phi Foundation (which supports cardiac care). Kyra’s dedication to service extends beyond the Greek community as she is preparing to leave for New Orleans with Community Outreach for an alternative spring break trip. In addition to Kyra’s campus involvement she remains devoted to her studies of Allied Health and consistently maintains above a 3.5 GPA.
Vanessa Ball—Pi Beta Phi Vanessa demonstrates all pillars of the Fraternity and Sorority community. She demonstrates service by participating in at least 30 hours of community service each semester, plus the 30 hours she devotes to HuskyTHON. She is a great example of leadership not only in her role as an R.A, but also in her leadership in Panhellenic and her role as Director of Fundraising for HuskyTHON. While doing all this she manages to have a cumulative GPA of a 3.638, which shows how she demonstrates great scholarship. Vanessa is constantly boosting the morale of our chapter and is always lending a helping hand to anyone that she can, especially her sisters, which shows great sisterhood.
Abigail Morales—Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. Abigail Morales has been a member of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. since April 2010 and has shown an incredible amount of initiative since then. She became Vice President in Spring 2010 and took over the reins as Chapter President in Fall 2010. Ever since, she has been an outstanding leader and president and has contributed much to the chapter’s success during the past year. In addition to serving as chapter president, Abigail is her chapter’s service chair. She is one of the chairs for the logistics committee for the Lambda Theta Alpha Connecticut Area softball tournament for their National Philanthropy: St. Judes Children's Research Hospital. Abigail has restructured the way her chapter is managed by making it more organized, all while actively participating in many different activities and encouraging the rest of the members to become more involved. She also makes sure her chapter actively supports other organizations while leaving enough time for academics, emphasizing that scholastic achievement is thenumber one priority. Considering she has only been a part of Lambda Theta Alpha for ten months, Abigail has already accomplished so much. Her hard work for chapter and outside of it have made her into an excellent individual. Her plan to be an involved alumna not only shows her ability as an outstanding senior, but as an outstanding graduate member.
Delta Zeta Turtle Kick Kappa Kappa Gamma Dodge-a-Rama Saturday, March 19, 2011 Hawley Armory, Gym 11:45am - 3pm Teams of 8 participate in a friendly game of elimination style dodgeball to raise money for RIF (Reading is Fundamental). More information available at: http://www.rif.org/ In 1991, seven forward-thinking Latino students determined to make a difference at the University of Connecticut and in their communities set forth to establish the first chapter of Lambda Theta Phi, Latin Fraternity, Inc. outside of New Jersey. In the process of establishing the fraternity’s 11th chapter, or Lambda Chapter, they also helped launch the fraternity into becoming the first nationally-recognized Latino fraternity in... the nation. Now On March 12th, 2011 Lambda Chapter will be hosting its 20th Anniversary Celebration. The festivities will take place at the Hilton Hartford hotel which is ideally located in the business and dining district of the historic city of Hartford, Connecticut. Anyone interested in attending and helping celebrate the occasion, information on how to get tickets to the event can be obtained by visiting http://www.lambdachapter20th.org/ Attire: Formal/Semi Formal Attire $58.00 Admission Fee Includes: 1. 2-hour open bar cocktail reception 2. Dinner buffet We look forward to seeing you all there and celebrating 20 years of unity, respect, brotherhood, service, culture & pride. It's not just a chapter celebration.
Sunday, April 03, 2011 North Campus Field 12pm - 4pm Admission Fee: $50/team Soccer Tournament to benefit the Painted Turtle Camp. More information available at: http://www.thepaintedturtle.org
Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. Presents: Wings Wednesday, March 15th from 5-7pm in PRLACC (Puerto Rican Latin American Cultural Center), they will be sold 5 wings for $2.50 along with fries for a $1 and Soda first come first serve for $1 each! The Goodies Bake Sale, March 21st in the Student Union first floor from 12-4 with prices varying. Mozzarella Madness Fundraiser, March 30th from 5;30-:630pm in PRLACC and right after at 7-8pm we will have a speaker come in and discuss issues pertaining to Latinos in PRLACC.
La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. Presents: The Call of Duty: Black Ops Tournament , March 15th from 4-7pm in Student Union 304B. $5 to enter. 1st place winner will receive half of the proceeds, the rest will go towards the PATHE (Providing Access to Higher Education) Initiative. In collaboration with the Ladies of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.A semester long Book Drive for the York Correctional Institute for Women's library. Any and all books in fair or better conditions are accepted and drop off locations will be boxes in the Cultural Centers in the Student Union and Beach Hall room 416 (Puerto Rican & Latino Studies Institute). The women at York have expressed their desire to read and educate themselves, please help them by donating books to our cause! Contact Kenneth Dortche for more information: Kenneth.Dortche@Launidadlatina.org
En La Union Esta La Fuerza.
Noche Dorada: A Formal Celebration of Our Rich Heritage Saluting the Victims Immigration, Law, and Discrimination April 1st, Rome Ballroom, South Campus, 7:00 PM In Attendance: The D.R.E.A.M. Walkers (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Music by: New England’s Premiere Salsa Ensemble, The Latin Heartbeat Orchestra; Lo Maximo Production’s very own DJ Phokis. No Admission Fee. Dinner Buffet. R.S.V.P. to UConn_LUL@gmail.com. Limited Seats.