Difference between revisions of "Gamma Omega"

Revision as of 20:36, 16 December 2015

Gamma Omega
ΓΩ
Founded	December 6, 1929 (1929-12-06) (94 years ago)
College	Denison University
Location	Granville, OH
Homepage	Gamma Omega Homepage
Media related to Gamma Omega Chapter

2,344 initiates (as of June 2015)

History

The Gamma Omega chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma was founded on December 6, 1929. Before the chapter became a part of Kappa Kappa Gamma, however, it was a local women's fraternity known as Kappa Phi. Kappa Phi, being the oldest sorority at Denison, had first choice to pick a national affiliation, and gladly asked Kappa Kappa Gamma if they could start a chapter at Denison. On December 6, 1929, Kappa Phi officially became the Gamma Omega chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma and 222 women were initiated.

Leadership

The women of Gamma Omega today constantly strive to uphold Kappa Kappa Gamma’s legacy of leadership, and participate in numerous leadership events throughout the Denison community. They also hold many leadership positions on campus, including positons on the Panhellenic Executive Board, Denison Campus Governance Association, Denison Community Association and more.

Kappa Kappa Gamma has contributed to leadership at Denison through the creation of D.U. Lead, a one-day leadership institute for underclassmen that occurs each September. Leadership is an important attribute to the women of Kappa Kappa Gamma, and D.U. Lead allows Gamma Omega to share this quality with the rest of Denison. D.U. Lead was created by a planning team comprised of members of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Beta Theta Pi, the Campus Leadership and Involvement Center, and Career Exploration and Development. Through this program, the participants gain general leadership skills as well as specific skills to help them and their various organizations at Denison. D.U. Lead is now one of Denison's premier leadership programs. To find more information about D.U. Lead, click here[1].

Philanthropy

Kappas participate in numerous philanthropy opportunities on campus, including both Greek and non-Greek events. In the past year alone Kappa's have put in over 1,334 hours towards community service groups such as the Denison Community Association (DCA), Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters and more! Gamma Omega collaborated in 2010 and 2011 with the DCA to host Make a Difference Day in conjunction with our Kappa Karnival event and continue to work hand in hand with service groups on and off campus.

Kappa Karnival is our annual philanthropy event, raising money for our national philanthropy Reading is Fundamental and for the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation. For the past two years, we have collaborated with the Denison Community Association (DCA) to combine the national service day Make a Difference Day with our event. The event this past Fall 2011 drew over 160 kids, including Boy and Girl Scout troops, and over 240 Denison student volunteers. Service booths at the event included making holiday cards for local nursing homes, assembling and decorating bags with toothpaste and toothbrushes for Headstart, and making PB&J sandwiches for Salvation Army, Look Up Center and Water’s Edge Community center.

Highlights of 2011

In 2011 the Gamma Omega chapter partnered with the Beta Nu (OSU) and Rho Deuteron (OWU) chapters at the Reading Is Key event for the Reading Is Fundamental Philanthropy in Columbus. Local families were invited to bring their children for a snack and story book, as well as fun Valentines' themed crafts for the kids.

Highlights of 2012

We initiated 1 new woman on March 24th, 2012, 28 women on March 31, 2012, and 3 new women during Continuous Open Recruitment on December 1, 2012.In the Fall of 2012, Gamma Omega had the number one Greek GPA on campus, for all Panhellenic Council organizations and Interfraternity Council organizations. As of Spring 2012, 28 women in the chapter were members of academic honoraries, 31 women in the chapter had received academic scholarships and academic awards, 9 women had participated in summer research, and 25 women held executive positions in service organizations.

Our chapter was involved with the Presidential Campaign by raising awareness around campus of the importance of voting and being informed. At the Greek Awards on April 23,2012, our chapter received recognition for Most Improved Chapter GPA, and the prestigious Commitment to Fraternal Purpose. We were awarded Outstanding New Member, Outstanding Greek Leaders awards, Outstanding Greek Advisor Award, and Greek Woman of the Year.This year we participated in numerous philanthropic events around campus such as Delta Gamma's Anchor Splash, Sigma Chi's Derby Days, Pi Beta Phi's Pi Phi Palooza, Kappa Alpha Theta's Kats with Bats, Delta Delta Delta's Pancake Breakfast, Kappa Sigma's Squash Tournament, and Beta Theta Pi's King of the Wings Competition. Gamma Omega held our annual Kappa Karnival in conjunction with the Denison Community Association as part of Make a Difference Day, and brought in over 50 children from Newark and surrounding areas. The event was held in October 2012 in the Mitchell Athletic Center due to rain and had numerous fraternities, sororities, and campus organizations represented in the event. The Hilltoppers, DUwop, and Burpee's Seedy Theatrical Co. each performed during the Karnival. This year, we began volunteering at our new local philanthropy The Works, in Newark. For the 2012 school year, the chapter has participated in over 1,300 hours of community service through campus service organizations.

On campus this year there was a proposal for postponed recruitment that was brought up to the first year retention committee, but it hasn't developed any further. Also, party registration was implemented to help foster a safe community on campus. Within our chapter, we have 134 total members, including 53 new members.

Highlights of 2014

This past spring, on March 29, 2014, we initiated 36 new members. One member was initiated at Allegheny College. For Fall 2014, Gamma Omega had the highest Greek GPA on campus. This past year, we participated in numerous philanthropic events on campus. These included Delta Gamma's Anchor Splash, Pi Beta Phi's Pi Phi Palooza, Kappa Alpha Theta's Kats with Bats, Delta Delta Delta's Pancake Breakfast, Beta Theta Pi's King of the Wings Competition, Delta Chi's talent contest, Lambda Chi Alpha's Fall Bash, and Kappa Sigma's dodgeball tournament. In the fall of 2014, instead of doing our annual Kappa Karnival, we decided to hold a Kappa Kornhole event. It was held on one of our residential quads and multiple sororities and fraternities participated, along with people who are not involved in Greek Life. This past year, we also continued our work at our local philanthropy, The Works, and our chapter logged over 700 hours of community service through campus service organizations.

There have been no new renovations on our campus since the dining hall was renovated in the spring of 2013. Our chapter of Gamma Omega has a total of 103 initiated members and we just welcomed 28 new members into our house.

Our chapter holds our weekly meetings in our house, located on South Quad. Our chapter owns our house. Members of Gamma Omega do not live in the house. It is a place dedicated to our weekly chapter meetings, and just a nice place to go and hang out or study. We recently got a house mom, Judy Neff, that moved in over the summer of 2014.

Highlights of 2015

This past spring, on March 28, 2015, we initiated 26 new members. One member was initiated at the University of Akron. This past year, we participated in numerous philanthropic events on campus. These included Delta Gamma's Anchor Splash, Pi Beta Phi's Pi Phi Palooza, Kappa Alpha Theta's Kats with Bats, Beta Theta Pi's King of the Wings Competition, Lambda Chi Alpha's Fall Bash, and Sigma Lambda Gamma's basketball tournament. In the fall of 2015, we held a Kappa Kornhole event. It was held on one of our residential quads and multiple sororities and fraternities participated, along with people who are not involved in Greek Life. We raised about $1,500 from this event. In September, we started working with the Look Up Center, located in Newark, Ohio. Once a week, members from the chapter would go to the Center and help children with their homework for a few hours.

This past summer, our library and one of our residential halls was renovated. Our chapter of Gamma Omega has a total of 86 initiated members.

Chapter Philanthropy:

What organization(s) has your chapter historically/traditionally raised money for, or donated hours to, in your community?

Our national philanthropy is Reading is Fundamental. In past years, our chapter has worked with The Works, but this fall, we decided to start working with The Look Up Center located in Newark, Ohio. Once a week, members of the chapter would go and help younger children with their homework for a few hours.      Why did your chapter choose this organization(s) to support?

Our philanthropy chair chose this organization in the hopes that it would promote more chapter interest than The Works did in the past.