Changes
→Highlights of 2020s:
|Image= [[File:Eta_Lambda.jpg|200px]]
|Founded= {{start date and years ago|2007|03|31}}
|College= [httphttps://www.luc.edu/ Loyola University Chicago]
|Location= Chicago, IL
|Homepage= [httphttps://chaptersluc.kappakappagammakappa.org/etalambda/ Eta Lambda Homepage]|Media= [httphttps://wiki.kappakappagammakkg.org/index.php?title=Category:Eta_Lambda Media related to Eta Lambda Chapter]}}
Fraternity Life Awards. Eta Lambda was very excited and grateful to be recognized for all of our hard work. Eta Lambda then bid a sad farewell to its 52 senior members, who were unfortunately unable to finish their Kappa Kappa Gamma experience the way they had anticipated. Eta Lambda will miss their seniors dearly, and wish them the absolute best.
During the months of June and July, Eta Lambda did its best to keep members connected as the COVID-19 pandemic continued. Also, Eta Lambda Council created its first online summer newsletter to help keep members engaged and updated. The summer months were difficult for many members, but Eta Lambda sisters continued to support each other in any way they virtually could. Although we were hopefully about the Fall 2020 semester, Loyola University Chicago sent out an email informing students that all classes and many campus activities/resources would continue to be online through the rest of the semester, including Greek Life functions. So, Eta Lambda Council began to prepare for a fully online semester. The climate of the world was hostile, as political tension and human rights issues grew larger amidst the presidential election year and the pandemic. The world seemed to be changing as we knew it, and members were encouraged to stick up for what they believe in and make a difference, no matter how small, in whatever way they felt comfortable.
Then, in August, Loyola University Chicago held an online organization fair that Eta Lambda attended, where we introduced our chapter to perspective prospective new members via Zoom. Classes resumed on Monday, August 24th, as all students began to get into the routine of a fully-online semester. At the end of August, Eta Lambda held its first virtual chapter of the semester, where members were able to finally interact after a long summer apart.
September was our Kappapalooza philanthropy event. Eta Lambda did its best to hold our philanthropy virtually, with online donations and online activities. This gave Eta Lambda members a chance to connect with the Loyola community and ask for support for our charity, Reading is Fundamental. Eta Lambda also held its first virtual formal chapter, where members still dressed formally and wore their pins, even though we could only see each other through a computer screen. During this formal chapter, Eta Lambda celebrated its members academic success through a virtual Pearl Ceremony, where members who got a 3.8+ GPA received a pearl for their achievements. New member meetings picked up online where they left off in the previous spring semester. A virtual Flower Ceremony/Pinning Ceremony was held for the new members online, where ‘Bigs’ were able to say some kind and encouraging words about the new members during the ceremony. Additionally, another meeting was held for the new members to explain to them the ritual and history behind Kappa Kappa Gamma and its initiation ceremony, which is something they were unable to fully comprehend or experience because of their initiation being online in the spring. Eta Lambda tried to make these experiences as special for the new members as possible, despite the circumstances. September ended with a socially- distanced “Kappa Kares” event, where we supported a philanthropy that is special to Eta Lambda, the “WINGS” organization that’s mission is the “break the cycle of domestic violence.” Eta Lambda collected donation materials from members to give to this organization.
Your efforts will ensure a complete and accurate history of your chapter for future generations to enjoy!
==Highlights of 2021==
To kick off the semester was our first Cooking with Kappa’s event where we made cinnamon roll muffins. At the end of January, Eta Lambda took place in primary recruitment where we welcomed 34 new members. We celebrated them through our bid day theme of on Cloud 9, where we did icebreakers and introduced our lovely new members. In early February, our new members pledged their name and interest to Eta Lambda, where they would dedicate themselves to learning about Kappa Kappa Gamma for the weeks leading up to Initiation. February was focused on strengthening the bonds of our sisterhood. We began our Letters & Lovers, where all members of our chapter would partner with someone within Eta Lambda every week. It allowed us to get to know more wonderful women in our chapter. Another Cooking with Kappa was hosted, where women of our chapter made fresh guacamole, through a virtual Zoom call across the United States. Eta Lambda conducted a Sister Speed Dating event, which helped to introduce our new members to our current members. The night consisted of silly and interesting questions, in order to get to know the women of our Chapter better. Eta Lambda conducted a Kappa Kares Food Drive over two days for the Brave Space Alliance, where over 600 items were donated. Brave Space Alliance was overwhelmed with donations and ended up donating the remaining donations to the Lake View Pantry in Andersonville. To end February, Eta Lambda had a Self Defense Class with Mind Body Defense Chicago, where we learned to be more aware of our surroundings and know how to protect ourselves in unsafe situations. In the beginning of March, we had a Kappa Game Night, where members played Hot Seat, answering a series of questions within a minute. We also had a DEI Workshop, which was Eta Lambda’s first workshop to recognize the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In the middle of March, Eta Lambda went through our inspiration period, leading up to the initiation of our new members. The week consisted of our Big-Little Reveal and our Senior Say, where seniors left their final advice for the women of Eta Lambda. On March 20th, 34 members were initiated into the Eta Lambda chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma, by a virtual initiation. There was also another Cooking with Kappa’s event where we made no bake energy balls, that helped Kappa’s power through their week. While we normally have our Sisterhood Retreat in the Fall, the Chapter decided on having another one in March, to help keep everyone in touch and continue to strengthen our sisterhood. Following Initiation, Eta Lambda had a sisterhood week that consisted of a week of events from a Chipotle fundraiser, a KKG Trivia Game Night, a spirit night, a group workout, and a movie night. These events led up to our Virtual Formal, which had a mask-querade theme. The Women of our chapter danced the night away, despite being apart, and even had a mocktail, Blue & Blue created by our Events Director. Our Courage to Commit Workshop was hosted by Julia Dixon, where Eta Lambda went over DEI, understanding explicit and implicit bias, knowing how to stand as partners, allies and/or champions, as well as an inclusive leadership, benefits of diversity, and inclusion in action. To end March, our Academic Excellence Director hosted a Career Panel, where many alumni introduced their accomplishments to the chapter and how Kappa Kappa Gamma has helped them in their success. To start off April, Eta Lambda hosted a virtual Reading is Key week where it was promoted by social media and a book drive to end the week. Eta Lambda successfully raised $3k. We hosted an in-chapter Girls Academy for our chapter, where we played gamed virtually and wrote letters to students of Newfield Elementary. Throughout April, Eta Lambda hosted many workshops from women empowerment, health and wellness, sustainability, and pre-registration. Our monthly Cooking with Kappa’s, Eta Lambda made the famous TikTok Feta Pasta. As our last sisterhood event of April, we had a movie night where we watched Another Cinderella Story. To end April, we hosted senior events to commemorate the wonderful women graduating by a photoshoot, a brunch, and a send-off, where littles read a letter to their big. To end the semester, was pre-finals workshop where we all prepared for the week of finals ahead of us and anticipated our reunion in the Fall semester.
Eta Lambda takes part in Kappa Kares, where each month a new organization that is held close to a member within Eta Lambda is able to share with the Chapter. The Chapter fundraises with local companies or hosts drives, for what the local organization needs the most. It grows awareness of the issues that individuals within our Chapter our concerned about, outside of our national philanthropy. Members of Eta Lambda participated in food drives, Chipotle and Blaze fundraisers. This year we hosted a virtual Reading is Key week, where we raised money virtually as well as having hosted a covid-safe book drop off. Students from Newfield Elementary were able to bring home a book of their choice.
Eta Lambda recognizes our role in promoting the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our Chapter voted on representatives from each pledge class, in which would come up with our chapter statement when it comes to addressing issues within our chapter and outside of our chapter. We had many workshops about recognizing our roles within chapter and society.
Due to COVID-19, our Spring events were all hosted virtually. Recruitment and Initiation took place online.