| Eta Iota | |
|---|---|
| HI | |
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| Founded | April 2, 2005 |
| College | Creighton University |
| Location | Omaha, NE |
| Homepage | Eta Iota Homepage |
| Media related to Eta Iota Chapter | |
Eta Iota, Creighton University, established in 1878 in Omaha, Nebraska
Chapter Founded April 2, 2005
600 initiates (as of June 2018)
Some of Eta Iota’s Outstanding Alumnae: (If you have chapter alumna who have received recognition in any of these three categories, please list them with the date(s) of recognition.)
Fraternity Council Officers: Leadership Consultant Tara Singhal 2008-2009; Leadership Consultant Sarah Roszhart 2010-2011
Fraternity Loyalty Award Recipients:
Fraternity Alumnae Achievement Award Recipients:
Contents
The Early Years
Edward Creighton, born in Ohio in 1820, was a successful businessman before he moved to Omaha in 1856. In addition to his significant role in developing the transcontinental telegraph line, Edward figured prominently in cattle ranching, banking and freight operations. When he died in November 1874 without a will, his fortune passed to his wife, Mary Lucretia Creighton.
Mary Lucretia Creighton was known for her charitable work; Mary personally delivered food, money and other items to needy Omaha families. After her death in 1876, Mary’s will — drafted after inheriting her husband’s wealth — provided $100,000 as a memorial to her late husband “to purchase the site for a school in the city of Omaha, and erect buildings thereon for a school of the class and grade of a college.”
The responsibility of starting a school with Mary Lucretia Creighton’s bequest fell to Bishop James O’Connor, and it was the bishop who enlisted the Society of Jesus to operate Creighton University. Since Fr. Roman Shaffel led five Jesuits (and two lay teachers) to open Creighton in September 1878, Creighton has been home to hundreds of Jesuits. More than 50 Women attended Creighton University as early as 1892, when Kate Drake was part of the first class of the College of Medicine. As members of Creighton’s professional schools and University College, women attended many of the same classes as male undergraduates. However, it was not until fall 1951 that women were allowed to enroll in the College of Arts and Sciences.
The First Year (From The Key, spring 2005)
On April 2, 2005, 44 Creighton University women were initiated as members of the Eta Iota Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma. The new members were initiated and the chapter installed by Fraternity President Priscilla Murphy Gerde, Purdue. Katie Rieff, Eta Iota’s first chapter President, was honored to have the Fraternity President pin her badge on her during this memorable occasion.
Assisting in the Installation service were Susie Eynatten Hughes, Missouri, Director of Membership; Joan Cook Cohen, Colorado, Extension Chairman; Stacie Quinn Neely, Idaho, Regional Director of Alumnae; Mary Campbell Ford, West Virginia, Regional Director of Chapters; Jayme Morris-Hardeman, Kansas State, Province Director of Alumnae; and Risa Pierce Flanders, Kansas State, Province Director of Chapters. Carlan Lind Wolfe, Nebraska, served as Eta Iota’s Coordinator of Chapter Development, and Kara Albert, Westminster, served as the Chapter Leadership Consultant.
Sigma, Nebraska, was Eta Iota’s Key Sister Chapter with members of Theta, Missouri; Omicron Deuteron, Simpson; Omega, Kansas; Chi, Minnesota; Beta Zeta, Iowa; Gamma Alpha, Kansas State; Gamma Theta, Drake; Gamma Iota, Washington (St. Louis); Delta Omicron, Iowa State; and Zeta Zeta, Westminster, serving as Key Sisters for the charter members. All those involved in the weekend’s activities provided a warm welcome to the new chapter.
Highlights of 2000-2010
Creighton University is a top ranked Jesuit University with more than 7,000 students of diverse faiths and races from across the United States and 41 countries.
Eta Iota has grown steadily from their initial 44 charter members. The Creighton Greek community has also grown from five to seven NPC members.
Our chapter is full of charming, intelligent young women who enjoy spending time with each other. Some of Kappa's best moments are the Sisterhood retreats we have every semester. These retreats are a great way to bond with the older active members, and can be a lot of fun; Just last year we sported our very own "Kappa Olympics." We also have many social events throughout the year, from date parties and formal dances to sisterhood retreats and study hours. Over half of our chapter is involved in three or more organizations outside of Kappa, and many hold executive positions in those organizations. Kappas are known for their presence at other Greek organizations' philanthropies, and most recently, Eta Iota was recognized for its superb involvement in Relay for Life, an all night event to benefit the American Cancer Society.
Locally, Kappa Kappa Gamma can provide a welcoming “home away from home” for any woman who wants to pursue new avenues, challenge conventional wisdom, and seek a leadership organization whose main goal is the success of each individual member. Members of Kappa Kappa Gamma can support each other and learn about themselves while participating in philanthropic endeavors, social events, academic pursuits, and leadership opportunities
Many philanthropic efforts involved the gift of time, including volunteering at the medical center, teams for Race for the Cure and Relay for Life, KORE groups volunteering at the Hope Center, and Hunger Clean Up. The Chili Feed fundraiser became a regular philanthropic event.
Campus Panhellenic honors for Eta Iota included Scholarship Honorable Mention, Excellence in Recruitment and Campus Involvement, New Member Scholar and New Member of the Year, Kallie Woodward. Eta Iota was recognized at Zeta Province meetings.
Convention Awards
The chapter received received Risk Management Honorable Mention and Excellence in Chapter Management at the Fraternity Biennial Convention.
Highlights of 2011-2019
Highlights of 2011
Formal Recruitment of the Kappa Class, Dinner and a Movie Sisterhood Event, New Officer Installations, Formal Pledging, Sisterhood Retreat at the Zoo, Sin City Date Party, Jazzercize New Member Retreat, Jail and Bail Philanthropy Event with the Greek Community, Reading is Key Philanthropy Event, Anything But Cotton Date Party, Inspiration Week, Sisterhood Event and Big Sister Reveal, Fireside, New Member Sleepover, one Relay for Life Team, Initiation and Brunch, Saphire Ball Formal, Greek Unity Week.
Zeta Province Awards (Risk Management, Chapter Excellence, Honorable Mention for Philanthropy, Honorable Mention for Gracious Living), Composite Picture taken, Kickball for Kids Philanthropy Event, Alumni Spring Banquet, Greek Awards (Risk Management, Honorable Mention Alumni Relations), Senior Night, Greek Lip Sync Contest, Kappa Kooldown Public Relations Event, Continuous Open Bidding Process for Lambda Class, Made Pottery for Bid Day, Formal Pledging, Kappa Kappa Gamma Pajama Date Party, Hollywood Themed Sisterhood Event, Homecoming Week, Leadership Consultant Visit, Kappa Klips Philanthropy, Chili Contest Philanthropy, Appointed Nominaiton Committee, Sail Away With Kappa Date Party, New Member Retreat, Pre-Recruitment Workshops, Founder's Day, Kappa Parent's Day, Reading is Key Philanthropy Event, Breakfast at Tiffany's Semi-Formal, Inspiration Week, Big Sister Reveal, Fireside, New Member Sleepover, Initiation and Brunch, History Night before Chapter, Christmas Card Photo Shoot, Senior Night, Kappa Kissmas Public Relations Event, Weekly Study Hours, Mid-Terms and Finals Study Breaks, New Member Program and Study Hours, Themed Programming Nights, Intramural Teams (Basketball, Soccer, Flag Football, and Volleyball)
Campus: Creighton University has approximately 4,000 undergraduate students. There are 6 established Panhellenic Sororities, including Kappa, with Alpha Phi chosen to join at the end of 2011. There are 5 Male Fraternities, with Beta Theta Pi joining the community in Fall 2011. Academically, Creighton is the top ranked Jesuit School in the Midwest. A small campus size allows for a close-knit community where all student organizations support each other.
Chapter: Starting from 44 charter members only 6 years ago it is amazing to see that our chapter has grown so much. Involvement in and out of Kappa makes for a rich diversity in our chapter. Many leaders in and out of council lead us on as we are still changing, adapting, and setting traditions for future Kappas.
Alumna Involvement: Inviting a different adviser or alumn to attend chapter each week with introductions each week. Inviting alumna to help facilitate and answer questions for programming nights. Campus Image and Involvement: Encouraging girls to tell the chapter about upcoming events on campus during the "new business" portion of chapter each week. Selecting girls to make teams for other greek organization's philanthropy events. Making sure girls wear their letters as much as possible, especially on special weeks like Recruitment and Inspiration week and on Wednesdays. Simply by saying hello to sisters when you see them helps as well. Chapter Unity/Sisterhood: Planning more non-mandatory events, like stay in Saturdays. More of an emphasis on planning non-mandotory events between two different classes, that way girls get to meet and become close to all chapter members. Also, making mandatory events more fun by doing things like going to a movie instead of chapter helps girls to hang out and have fun with one another.
Highlights of 2012
Formal Recruitment for Mu Class, Bid Day at Jones Bros., Sisterhood Event, New Officer Installation, Formal Pledging, Sisterhood Retreat at Family Fun Center, Kappa’s Best Dance Crew Date, Party, New Member Retreat, Reading is Key Philanthropy Event, Inspiration Week, Sisterhood Event, Big/Little Sister Reveal,Fireside, New Member Sleepover, Relay for Life Teams, Initiation and Brunch, Sapphire Ball Formal, Greek Unity Week, Kappa Kappa Gamma Convention, Composite Picture Taken, Kickball for Kids, Philanthropy Event, Alumnae Spring Banquet, Greek Awards, Senior Night, Greek Lip Sync Contest,Kappa Kooldown Public Relations Event, Continuous Open Bidding Process for Nu Class, Jones Bros. Pizza Party for Bid Day, Formal Pledging, Tiki Tiki Date Party, Sisterhood Retreat, Homecoming Week,Leadership Consultant Visit, Kappa Kupcakes Philanthropy, Academic Excellence Appointed,Nomination Committee, Kappa Goes to the Kapitol Date Party, New Member Retreat, Pre-Recruitment Workshops, Founder’s Day, Kappa Parent’s Day, Reading is Key Philanthropy Event, Kentucky Derby Semi-Formal, Inspiration Week, Big/Little Sister Reveal, Fireside, New Member Sleepover, Initiation and Brunch, History Night before Chapter, Christmas Card Photo Shoot, New Officer Installations,Kappa Kissmas Public Relations Event, Weekly Tutoring for Girls Inc., Weekly Study Hours, Mid-Terms and Finals Study Breaks, New Member Program and Study Hours, Themed Programming Nights,Intramural Teams (Basketball, Soccer, Flag Football, and Volleyball)
Campus: Creighton University has approximately 4,000 undergraduate students. There are 7 established Panhellenic sororities, including Kappa. There are 5 Male Fraternities. Academically, Creighton is the top ranked Jesuit school in the Midwest. A small campus size allows for a close-knit community where all student organizations support each other.
Chapter: Starting from 44 charter members only 7 years ago, it is amazing to see that our chapter has grown to 105 active members. Involvement in and out of Kappa makes for a rich diversity in our chapter. Many leaders in and out of council lead us on as we are still changing, adapting, and setting traditions for future Kappas.
Highlights of 2013
Formal Recruitment for Mu Class, Bid Day at Jones Bros., Sisterhood Event, New Officer Instillation, Formal Pledging, Sisterhood Retreat at Family Fun Center, Kappa’s Best Dance Crew Date Party, New Member Retreat, Reading is Key Philanthropy Event, Inspiration Week, Sisterhood Event, Big/Little Sister Reveal, Fireside, New Member Sleepover, Relay for Life Teams, Initiation and Brunch, Sapphire Ball Formal, Greek Unity Week, Kappa Kappa Gamma Convention, Composite Picture Taken, Kickball for Kids Philanthropy Event, Alumni Spring Banquet, Greek Awards, Senior Night, Greek Lip Sync Contest, Kappa Kooldown Public Relations Event, Continuous Open Bidding Process for Nu Class, Jones Bros. Pizza Party for Bid Day, Formal Pledging, Tiki Tiki Date Party, Sisterhood Retreat, Homecoming Week, Leadership Consultant Visit, Kappa Kupcakes Philanthropy, Academic Excellence Appointed Nomination Committee, Kappa Goes to the Kapitol Date Party, New Member Retreat, Pre-Recruitment Workshops, Founder’s Day, Kappa Parent’s Day, Reading is Key Philanthropy Event, Kentucky Derby Semi-Formal, Inspiration Week, Big/Little Sister Reveal, Fireside, New Member Sleepover, Initiation and Brunch, History Night before Chapter, Christmas Card Photo Shoot, New Officer Installations, Kappa Kissmas Public Relations Event, Weekly Tutoring for Girls Inc., Weekly Study Hours, Mid-Terms and Finals Study Breaks, New Member Program and Study Hours, Themed Programming Nights, Intramural Teams (Basketball, Soccer, Flag Football, and Volleyball) Lip sync, recruitment practice, continuous open bid, formal pledging for Omicron class, Duck calls and overall date party, sisterhood retreat at Bellevue Berry Farm, new member retreat, Parent’s brunch at Tip Top, Kappa trainer visit, Kappa Kupcake philanthropy event, Founders day, senior programming, recruitment practice, LC visit, council slated, instillation of three council replacements, inspiration week for Omicron class, Big/Little reveal, election of council, Christmas card pictures, Fireside, new member sleepover, initiation of Omicron class, all sorority pre-recruitment meeting, sisterhood retreat, recruitment practice, training of new council, new officer installations, and semi-formal.
Our chapter’s challenges for alumna involvement included inviting a different adviser or alumna to attend chapter each week with introductions each week. Inviting alumna to help facilitate and answer questions for program nights.Campus Image and Involvement: Encouraging girls to tell the chapter about upcoming events on campus during the “new business” portion of chapter each week. Selecting girls to make teams for other Greek organization’s philanthropy events. Encouraging girls to wear their letters as much as possible, especially on special weeks like Recruitment and Inspiration week and on Wednesday helps to create and enhance a positive image for Kappa Kappa Gamma to new members, actives, and others on Creighton’s campus. Simply saying hello to sisters when you see them helps as well.
Our chapters challenges for chapter unity/sisterhood included planning more non-mandatory events, like stay in Saturdays. More of an emphasis on planning non-mandetory events between two different classes, that way girls get to meet and become close to all chapter members. Also, making mandatory events more fun by doing things like going to a movie instead of chapter helps girls to hang out and have fun with one another.
Creighton University has approximately 4,000 undergraduate students. There are 7 established Panhellenic sororities, including Kappa. There are 5 Male Fraternities. Academically, Creighton is the top ranked Jesuit school in the Midwest. A small campus size allows for a close-knit community where all student organizations support each other. As for our chapter, starting from 44 charter members only 7 years ago, it is amazing to see that our chapter has grown to 105 active members. Involvement in and out of Kappa makes for a rich diversity in our chapter. Many leaders in and out of council lead us on as we are still changing, adapting, and setting traditions for future Kappas.
Highlights of 2014
Formal Recruitment of the Pi Class (40 girls), Bid Day at the Holiday Inn, New Officer Installation, Formal Pledging, Sisterhood Retreat in the Opus Community Room, “The Thing That I Love” Date Party, New Member Retreat in Lower St. John’s, Composite Pictures, Inspiration Week, Big/Little Sister reveal week, FS, New Member sleepover in the Opus Community Room, Initiation, Initiation Brunch, Relay for Life team at Creighton, Kappa Kickball at the Rasmussen Center, Greek Unity Week, Greek Awards, Senior Night at chapter, Risk Management Picnic with Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sapphire Formal Ball, Spring Banquet at Joselyn Art Museum, Greek Lip Sync Contest, Kappa Kooldown PR Event, Continuous Open Bidding is cancelled due to quota being met, Tiki-themed Date Party, Recruitment Practice, Homecoming Week, Monmouth Duo Spelling Bee with Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Klassic golf outing and Philanthropy Event, LC Visit, Anti-Hazing Week, Academic Awards Banquet, Risk Management Lawn Bowling Event, Sisterhood Retreat at Ditmar’s Apple Orchard, Founder’s Day Celebration at Oak Hills Country Club, Greek Week, Kappa Trainer visit, Chapter Slating, Sisterhood Retreat in Opus Community Room, Recruitment Practice, Elections, Kappa Christmas-themed chapter, “Casino Royale” Semi-Formal, Cookie Exchange with actives and alumni, Recruitment practice with Kappa alumni, All-Sorority Recruitment Workshop, New Officer Installations, Christmas card photo, Fundraiser for the KKG Foundation at Noodles and Co., Finals Study Break, Pi Class pie event, Weekly volunteering at Conestoga Elementary School (who also works with Reading Is Fundamental), Weekly study hours hosted by VP Academic Excellence, Intramural teams (flag football, basketball, volleyball, and soccer), Senior Programming nights.
Our chapter prides itself on its strong sisterhood and involvement. Although our chapter is large at 104 active members, events such as Sisterhood Retreats ensure that all of our members have the opportunity to get to know one another. In terms of involvement, the members of our chapter are involved in many other activities both inside and outside of the Creighton community, and many of our members hold prominent leadership roles, whether on Chapter Council or in other organizations on campus. This powerful combination of strong sisterhood and leadership creates a diverse environment where our members are challenged to be the best that they can be while still having the love and support from our chapter.
As a chapter, we continuously challenge ourselves to attend non-mandatory events, such as chapter study breaks and other events happening in the Greek community and on Creighton's campus. By motivating and encouraging one another to support our own chapter as well as our surrounding community, we continue to increase our outside involvement as well as our presence in the Creighton community. In addition, one of our other challenges that our chapter faces is decreasing the negative stigma surrounding our Standards committee. Our Standards committee not only provides support to our members in times of need, but recognizes and rewards our members in times of triumph. By striving to reward our members for their accomplishments, we will continue the strong traditions of sisterhood that are already present in our chapter. Finally, our chapter strives to form leaders in each one of our members by assigning each member to a committee. We hope to increase the involvement of each and every one of our members by using our committees to our fullest potential and instilling the point that all of our members play an important role in the workings of our chapter.
Creighton University is home to over 4,000 undergraduate students and almost 8,000 students overall. Kappa Kappa Gamma is part of a rich Panhellenic community, which consists of 7 sororities and 5 fraternities. Academically, Creighton is the top ranked Jesuit school in the Midwest. A small campus size allows for a close-knit community where all student organizations support each other. Creighton continues to increase our Panhellenic spirit through various all-Greek events and workshops throughout the year as well as several opportunities to support other fraternities and sororities in the Greek community at on-campus events, such as philanthropy events.
It is amazing to note the growth in our chapter after almost 10 years since our founding. We continue to grow as a chapter and continue the tradition of excellence established before us. Eta Iota continues many of the traditions formed since our founding as well as paving the way for the future members of Eta Iota chapter.
Both chapter and council meetings are held in meeting rooms owned by Creighton University. Eta Iota chapter is currently unhoused.
Highlights of 2015
Formal Recruitment of the Rho class, Bid Day at Pump it Up, Ice Skating Sisterhood Retreat, Big/Little Week, Big/Little Reveal, Inspiration Week, FS, Initiation, Initiation Brunch, Kappa Kupcakes fundraiser for RIF, Eta Iota 10th Anniversary Dinner at Hilton Omaha, Spring Banquet at Joslyn Art Museum, Regional Leadership Conference in Schaumburg, Sisterhood Retreat at Memorial Park, Installation of PR Chairman, Kappa Kooldown PR event, Installation of Treasurer, Nautical-themed mixer with Beta Theta Pi, Kappa Klassic golf tournament benefitting RIF and Conestoga Magnet School, Continuous Open Bidding for the Sigma class (2 new members), Sisterhood Retreat at Family Fun Center XL, Founder’s Day celebration at Oak Hills Country Club, Recruitment practice, Slate presentation, Recruitment practice, LC visit, I-Week, Officer elections, Initiation of the Sigma class in Lincoln (Sigma Chapter), “Fire and Ice” Semi-Formal at Omaha Livestock Exchange Building, Leadership Day for incoming and outgoing council, Officer installations, Panera fundraiser for the KKG Foundation, Recruitment practice.
Our chapter has excelled this year at reducing the stigma surrounding Standards. This is something that the Standards committee has worked really hard on and is something to continue into the next year. Another one of our strong suits as a chapter is our philanthropy involvement. This year, we raised over $5000 for Reading is Fundamental during our Kappa Klassic golf tournament, which is the most that our chapter has raised at any philanthropy. The Philanthropy committee has put on several successful fundraisers this year, giving Eta Iota a chance to meaningfully impact the organizations we support.
One of our remaining challenges this year is attendance at non-mandatory events, such as Greek Week and other events put on by Creighton’s Greek community. Although many of our members are actively involved in other organizations, it is important to stress making time for Kappa in order to increase our presence in the Greek community. In addition, although several of our members achieve high grades, there are too many members currently on Period of Concern, something the Academic Excellence committee has been actively working to improve throughout the latter half of the year and will continue to work on throughout the next year.
Describe the recent changes on your campus and describe the overall nature of your chapter. Creighton University is home to over 4,000 undergraduate students and almost 8,000 students overall. Kappa Kappa Gamma is part of a thriving Panhellenic community, which consists of 7 sororities and 5 fraternities. Academically, Creighton has been ranked #1 in the Midwest for 13 consecutive years. A small campus size allows for a close-knit community where all student organizations support each other. Philanthropy and service are integral parts of the Creighton experience. Creighton continues to increase our Panhellenic spirit through various all-Greek events and workshops throughout the year. This year, Creighton had its first Dance Marathon, led by the Greek community, and it was a resounding success.
This past year, Eta Iota chapter celebrated 10 years of excellence. This was an opportunity for us to reflect on our growth as an organization and look ahead to the future. Eta Iota continues many of the traditions formed since our founding as well as paving the way for the future members of Eta Iota chapter.
Chapter Philanthropy: What organization(s) has your chapter historically/traditionally raised money for, or donated hours to, in your community?
Conestoga Magnet School is an elementary school in the Omaha community and is supported by Reading is Fundamental. Many of the children at Conestoga come from underprivileged families where education is not necessarily a priority. Our members sign up weekly to go to the school and are given opportunities to read to the children.
Why did your chapter choose this organization(s) to support?
Volunteering with Conestoga allows our members to get a better grasp of the impact that mentoring a child, even for a short while, can have on their attitude towards education. Since Conestoga is a RIF school, our volunteer time demonstrates on a face-to-face level the impact of reading on a child’s education, which in turn demonstrates the importance of RIF for these students. In addition, many of our members come every week to the same classroom, which allows them to foster stronger relationships with the children at Conestoga. Our time at Conestoga gives members a chance to reach out and make a meaningful difference in the Omaha community.
Highlights of 2016
Eta Iota's events over the past year included a successful Geaux Kappa themed formal recruitment, bid day at Skate City, Kappa Kupcakes, new member retreat, FunPlex sisterhood retreat, Flashback Friday Date Party, Big/Little Week, Spring Banquet at the Joslyn Art museum, COB, an overnight sisterhood retreat, and the Sapphire Ball in the spring. In the fall we were involved with Kappa Kooldown, Welcome Week Lip Sync, COB, Kappa Klassic, a mini-golf sisterhood outing, Kappa goes Kountry date party, new member retreat, Founders Day, Academic Excellence Banquet, a scavenger hunt sisterhood event, Leadership Day, and a Masquerade Semi-Formal. A goal of ours over the past year was to increase our Greek spirit by participating in other organization's events. We have made great progress in this area. In addition to our own events, Kappas participated in Dance Marathon, Relay for Life, Greek Week, Greek Unity week, many other Greek events, and held leadership positions on the Panhellenic Council. Over the last year we were recognized by both Creighton University and Kappa Kappa Gamma for awards celebrating our chapter. We received the risk management award from Creighton and the Standards Award at Kappa Kappa Gamma's 71st Biennial Convention. In addition to being recognized as a chapter, a number of our members were recognized for their individual accomplishments. Over 40 of our members were on the Dean's list and several received competitive academic awards. We also had two members be initiated into Order of Omega this semester,
Last year, Creighton University welcomed its 25th president, Fr. Daniel Hendrickson. Since his inauguration, we have seen several changes associated with this new leadership. One of the President's main initiatives is to increase Creighton's global presence; Eta Iota is well represented in this regard, with several members studying, working, or serving abroad. Creighton University is home to about 4,000 undergraduates and 8,000 students overall. The Greek community is thriving, with 7 sororities and 6 fraternities who support each other very well. Creighton in general has a very close-knit community thanks to our small campus size and focus on a values-based education. Creighton is academically strong and has been ranked #1 in the Midwest for 14 consecutive years.
Each year we raise money for Kappa Kappa Gamma's national philanthropy, Reading is Fundamental. We also raise money for and volunteer at Conestoga Elementary School in Omaha. We were drawn to Conestoga for a few reasons. The first being it is a Reading is Fundamental school. This is a great way to see how Kappa Kappa Gamma is making a difference in the education of students. The children at Conestoga bring great joy to us! Their enthusiasm to learn is what makes us truly want to volunteer there each week.
Every Wednesday we meet in a classroom of the Haprer Center at Creighton University. This building serves as a welcome center for students, as well as the business school.
Highlights of 2017
The Eta Iota Chapter started the year of with a “Sapphire City” themed recruitment. We gladly welcomed 44 new members into our sisterhood. Our Spring philanthropy event, Kappa Kupcakes, was a huge success. We sold 735 cupcakes and raised over $4,000 for our philanthropy. In April, we held our Spring Banquet at the Joselyn Museum and enjoyed celebrating our chapter! We wrapped the year up with a fun formal where our sisters enjoyed taking pictures in the photo booth and dancing all night long! Kappa also got the privilege to have pizza with Father Hendrickson, which was a great opportunity to ask him questions and learn about our growing campus community. Kappa also got to put on a few yoga chapters throughout the Spring- to promote body positivity! To wrap the spring semester up, our chapter won multiple awards at Creighton’s Greek Awards. We were recognized as Membership Development Chapter of the Year, Recruitment Chapter of the Year and Risk Management Chapter of the Year.
Kappa had multiple successes during the Spring Semester, to get the school year started- some of our sisters were a part of Lip Sync which is an event put on by Creighton University every year. Kappa girls this year went full "teen angst" as their theme! We started fall semester off with our annual golf outing, Kappa Klassic. We held this event during parents’ weekend and had a great turnout! The outing included baskets to bid on and an optional brunch beforehand. Overall, it was a huge success, and a great time to spend with our sisters and families. Kappa had the pleasure of welcoming back Katrina Rieff (Eta Iota's 1st President) to speak at our Founders Day event. We also had multiple Cane's fundraisers- which were all very successful! Kappa also held it's annual Kappa Kooldown, where our sisters stand out on the mall and hand out refreshments!
Our chapter is also incorporating more events with other greek organizations. Kappa and Pi Phi held our annual monmouth duo during the fall semseter, where one of our sisters won the competition! Kappa also held a mixxed fit with Tri Delta, which is a fun fitness program that includes boot camp and dancing. We were also fortunate enough to have an overnight sisterhood retreat held outside of Omaha. This was a great opportunity for us to bond together as pledge classes and as chapter. The semester was tied up with a “Kappa Kissmas” themed semi-formal full of holiday cheer!
Recent changes on Creighton's campus include increasing campus security by increasing the hours of the shuttle and jayride. Also by adding security cars south of the interstate- for students who walk underneath the interstate. Kappa has expressed their interest in this issue by talking with Father Hendrickson and Public Safety. Eta Iota even had the privilege of learning some self-defense moves from a Public Safety officer. Another change on Creighton's campus includes the opening of two CHI health facilities, the production of the new dental school and Creighton also received a 10 million dollar donation to increase the College of Arts and Sciences. Kappa has been blessed this year to be a part of a growing community here at Creighton.
Eta Iota supports Conestoga Magnet School, an elementary school minutes from Creighton, and this continues to be our philanthropy. It’s great to see how we have become more involved with the school over the years. From assisting teachers’ in their classrooms or helping out with the school Halloween party we enjoy making a difference in the lives of the students at Conestoga. Kappa also held a fantastic Reading is Key event at Conestoga! We also held multiple Cane's fundraisers to raise money for our sisters in areas affected by the recent hurricanes. Kappa also joined the rest of the Creighton community during Dance Marathon and raised $5, 495 for children! We also had the pleasure of competing for Phi Delt's Miss Athena, which was Ana Balintona this year- who raised $917!
Eta Iota understands the relationships they foster with the students at Conestoga makes a meaningful difference in their lives and in the Omaha community. Conestoga is a Reading is Fundamental school, and our weekly volunteer work demonstrates the importance of reading and the impact it can have on a student’s life. We continue to be drawn to Conestoga because of the meaningful work we have done there and the potential to continue to make a difference.
Eta Iota found out we will be hosting Girls Academy next year and our chapter and the Omaha Alumnae Association is eager to begin preparing for the weekend long event. We understand this is an honor and we cannot wait to inspire girls in Omaha!
Highlights of 2018
The Eta Iota Chapter started the year of with a “Kapturing Kappa" themed recruitment. We gladly welcomed 53 new members into our sisterhood. Our Spring philanthropy event, Kappa Kupcakes, was a huge success. We sold 897 cupcakes and raised $4,485 for RIF. In April, we held our Spring Banquet at the Old Mattress Factory and enjoyed celebrating our chapter! We wrapped the year up with a fun formal where our sisters enjoyed taking pictures and dancing all night long! Kappa also had the pleasure of hosting Girls Academy this year. Our chapter also had a lot of educational chapters inlcuding: Stress Management, Women's Empowerment, Public Safety, and Breast Cancer Awareness. To wrap the spring semester up, our chapter won multiple awards at the Kappa National Convention including Excellence in Recruitment and Risk Management.
Kappa had multiple successes during the Spring Semester, to get the school year started- some of our sisters were a part of Lip Sync, which is an event put on by Creighton University every year. Kappa girls this year were "pitch perfect." We started fall semester off with a new philanthropy event, Breakfast at Kappa. We held this event during parents’ weekend and had a great turnout! Overall, it was a huge success, and a great time to spend with our sisters and families. Breakfast at Kappa was a great success by raising over $5,000 for RIF. Kappa had the pleasure of welcoming Joan Cohen to speak at our Founders Day event. Kappa also held it's annual Kappa Kooldown, where our sisters stand out on the mall and hand out refreshments! Our chapter is also incorporating more events with other greek organizations. Kappa and Pi Phi held our annual Monmouth Duo during the fall semseter. We also came in 2nd at the Dance Marathon that is held by Fraternity and Sorority Life every year. Kappa also held a date party with the theme of "Dynamic Duos." Our sisters had so much fun dancing the night away! We were also fortunate enough to have an overnight sisterhood retreat held in Ashland, NE. This was a great experience for our sisters to get to spend some time together! This was a great opportunity for us to bond together as pledge classes and as chapter. The semester was tied up with a “Snow Ball” themed semi-formal full of fun!
Recent changes on Creighton's campus includes increasing campus security by increasing the hours of the shuttle and jayride. Also by adding security cars south of the interstate- for students who walk underneath the interstate. Another change on Creighton's campus includes the opening of two CHI health facilities, the opening of the new dental school. Creighton is also working on improving the "mall" that students walk up and down for classes. Kappa has been blessed this year to be a part of a growing community here at Creighton.
Conestoga Magnet School, an elementary school minutes from Creighton, continues to be our philanthropy. It’s great to see how we have become more involved with the school of the years. From assisting teachers’ in their classrooms or helping out with the school Halloween party and parade we enjoy making a difference in the lives of the students at Conestoga. Kappa also held a fantastic Reading is Key event at Conestoga! Kappa also had the pleasure this year of recruiting three Creighton basketball players to read to kids at Conestoga during our Reading is Key event. We also held multiple percentage nights at Cane's and Chipotle to raise money for our sisters through the Kappa Foundation. Kappa also joined the rest of the Creighton community during Dance Marathon and raised $83,500 for children!
Eta Iota understands the relationships they foster with the students at Conestoga makes a meaningful difference in their lives and in the Omaha community. Conestoga is a Reading is Fundamental school, and our weekly volunteer work demonstrates the importance of reading and the impact it can have on a student’s life. We continue to be drawn to Conestoga because of the meaningful work we have done there and the potential to continue to make a difference. We also continue to donate to the Kappa Foundation.
Eta Iota also held GIRLS Academy this year and we had so much fun! All members of Eta Iota that were involved with Girls Academy had to complete "Circle of Care" training. In addition we had a speaker come talk to us from Kappa to help us get prepared for Girls Academy. We held Girls Academy through the "Holy Name" school in Omaha. We connected with girls throughout the ages of middle school. The weekend was jam packed with games, leadership talks, and of course-fun! This weekend was impactful for not only the middle school girls that were involved but also the Kappa members that participated. We are so honored to have been able to hold Girls Academy this year.
Highlights of 2019
Eta Iota Chapter enjoyed many events and activities in the 2019 school-year. In January, we kicked off our semester with a Glow Kappa and Kate Spade-themed recruitment. On Bid Day, we welcomed 48 new members and bonded at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. The following week, we welcomed 2 additional new members into the Psi Class and enjoyed a mini Bid Day with ice cream Sundays and other treats at Chapter.
We kicked off February with a social event that was out of this world. Our sisters had fun designing costumes for the Kappa Kappa Galactica theme. We wrapped up that same weekend with a sisterhood retreat at which we decorated Valentine’s Day cookies, made skits with an eclectic box of props, and voted on the most creative skit – the winning skit gave us a good laugh over the unreliability of the printers on Creighton’s campus. The following week, we celebrated our third annual Reading is Key event with Conestoga Magnet School, our community partner. On February 13th, our sisters helped students at Conestoga pick out books to take home and read with their families and play some fun literacy games. The same day, our House Advisor left with five of our council officers for the Kappa Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas. There, they exchanged ideas with sisters from other Chapters and learned about effective leadership. The knowledge they gained from this experience helped Eta Iota focus in on our “Why” and all the amazing things that Kappa Kappa Gamma has to offer. We closed out the month of February with a fun New Member retreat, at which the members of Eta Iota’s Psi class bonded and kicked off Big/Little week with letters from Bigs. Big/Little reveal was the following Wednesday and we enjoyed our annual tradition of letting the Littles unwrap their Bigs.
Following Spring Break, we began Inspiration Week and spent time reflecting over Ritual and what Kappa means to us as individuals and as an organization. The week coincided with Creighton University’s Fraternity and Sorority Life Unity Week, giving our members additional time to reflect on Fraternity and Sorority life and supporting our fellow Greek-affiliated organizations. That weekend we initiated all 50 members of the Psi class into our Chapter and celebrated over brunch.
We enjoyed another sisterhood retreat in April at TD Ameritrade. Our members ate Qdoba, played Frisbee, drew chalk art in the parking lot, as of course, took advantage of the photo opportunities in the beautiful weather. After the retreat, many sisters stayed to cheer on the Bluejays at the ensuing baseball game. The following day, our members attended Creighton’s annual Panhellenic Tea, where we recognized senior Courtney Child for her dedication to nursing and to Kappa. At our annual Spring Banquet, we celebrated our seniors who graduated that May and named Peyton Young as New Member of the Year and Allyson Greco as Member of the Year. The following week marked our most successful Kappa Kupcake Spring Philanthropy yet, during which we sold 1,224 cupcakes and raised over $6,000 for Reading is Fundamental. We celebrated our Kupcakes success with Formal, where we danced the night away at a Sapphire Ball.
Our Chapter was honored to be recognized as excelling in our connection with our local alumnae and academic achievement, when we were awarded the Alumni Relations Award and the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award at Creighton’s annual Fraternity and Sorority Life Awards. Emily McKenna was also recognized by the entire Fraternity and Sorority life community for her academic achievements when she received FSL’s Panhellenic Scholarship for Juniors. In May, we said goodbye to our seniors and celebrated their time in our Chapter with Senior Wills, videos put together by senior’s families, and through time spent reminiscing.
We started off the school year strong when several of our members came back early to practice for Creighton’s annual Lip Sync Battle, a tradition designed to introduce incoming freshman to our Fraternity and Sorority community. They danced to a Lady Gaga-themed mashup and definitely stole the show. We again continued our Kappa Kooldown tradition, where we hand out free Pepsi products to any students and faculty on the Mall. This event is a great way for our Chapter to get our name on campus and connect with students from all other organizations.
In September, we had a fun sisterhood retreat at which we matched our sisters to fun facts that we had previously submitted. It was a great way for our members to bond and learn about each other beyond the typical facts usually shared in ice-breaking activities. At our first social event of the semester, we danced the night away at a Kappa Kountry-themed date party.
The following weekend we hosted our second annual Breakfast at Kappa’s Fall Philanthropy event. Last year, this event replaced the Kappa Klassic, but maintained its features of coinciding with Creighton’s Family Weekend, a silent auction, and a yummy brunch. Sisters always enjoy inviting their friends and family members to learn about Kappa and our philanthropies while supporting the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation. This year, we included a branch of the fundraising efforts to support Conestoga Magnet School. We raised $7,053.80 for Conestoga and the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation, marking another successful philanthropy event. The following weekend, some of our members also attended Creighton’s annual Dance Marathon, an event put on by the Fraternity and Sorority Life community on campus that benefits the Omaha Children's Hospital and Medical Center (a Children's Miracle Network Hospital). This event raises awareness and funds to support children with pediatric illness without worry of financial hardship. Our team, led by Kenzie Enmeier, a lead organizer for the whole event, was the top fundraising team for the event.
We kicked off October with social mixer with two other organizations on campus, Beta Theta Pi and Sigma Lambda Beta. We dressed in comfy pajamas, ate pancakes, and danced to some fun line dances. The following day, we celebrated Founders Day. There we enjoyed brunch, looked at scrapbooks dating back to 2014, when Eta Iota was founded, and shed a few tears as Sigma sister, Kimberly Arms Shirk, shared her touching story of how her sisters helped her get through her near-death experience. It was such an honor to hear her present as we were reminded to find the silver lining, lean on our sisters, and make the most of our time as active members. We also had the honor of witnessing the Founders Day Ceremony and celebrating the pinning of 65-year alumnae members. After Fall Break, we celebrated our members’ academic achievements at the Academic Banquet. Individuals were recognized for making the Dean’s List (3.5+ GPA), achieving 4.0 GPAs, and raising their GPAs.
In November, we had our overnight sisterhood retreat at Camp Kitaki in Louisville, NE. We enjoyed taking pictures for Recruitment, playing games, going on one-on-one hikes, scrapbooking, making friendship bracelets, and watching New Moon. We finished the retreat with an Eta Iota favorite, “Touch a sister who,” where members have a chance to show each other the impact each woman has had on her sisters and on the Chapter as a whole.
Soon thereafter, Eta Iota had the amazing opportunity to host the Minnie Stewart Van on November 9th. The van, a traveling museum that is on a year-long road trip to visit every Kappa chapter to celebrate Kappa’s sesquicentennial, set up shop in behind Hixon-Lied Science Building. Members enjoyed watching the Virtual Reality depiction of the events of Kappa Kappa Gamma’s founding, adding to the time capsule, and checking out the fun artifacts. It was such a cool opportunity to see and interact with Kappa’s history and to see how we are a part of it, too. We are all eager to see how Kappa changes in the next 50 years and to see the time capsule opened in 2070!
As the semester came to a close, we welcomed in our new officers, hosted a few more percent nights at various restaurants in Omaha to raise money for the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation, and celebrated our successes this semester at an Owl Be Home for the Holidays-themed Semi-formal. We are eager to finish up finals, have restful Winter Breaks, and arrive back on campus ready to recruit some phenomenal new members in January.
reighton University and our campuses Fraternity and Sorority Life approved the installment of a new fraternity, Delta Chi , on our campus Fall 2019. Delta Chi will begin the founding process and will participate in IFC Recruitment in the Spring of 2020. The campus is eager to see how the addition of this Chapter will influence our community.
The Creighton Climate Movement, an underground organization designed to fight for climate justice and create change on our campus, gained momentum this year as they almost passed a referendum to encourage Creighton University to divest from fossil fuels. over 85% of voters voted to approve the referendum, but administration did not feel that divesting would be in Creighton University's financial interests. Students on campus continue to work to create change.
Eta Iota continues to be known on campus for our diversity and inclusiveness. Our Chapter strives to be a welcoming enviornment where women of all backgrounds can find a home. We are always proud to see how incoming classes lead our Chapter and lead other organizations as well.
Conestoga Magnet School, an elementary school minutes from Creighton, continues to be our Chapter philanthropy. It’s great to see how we have become more involved with the school of the years, as we have more classrooms asking to be involved with our Friday afternoon volunteering program every year. Eta Iota also holds an annual Reading is Key event at Conestoga! We also join the rest of the Creighton community during Dance Marathon and raised money for children facing childhood illnesses. Eta Iota understands the relationships they foster with the students at Conestoga makes a meaningful difference in their lives and in the Omaha community. Conestoga is a Reading is Fundamental school, and our weekly volunteer work demonstrates the importance of reading and the impact it can have on a student’s life. We continue to be drawn to Conestoga because of the meaningful work we have done there and the potential to continue to make a difference. We continue to grow our relationship with all those at Conestoga, including students, teahcers, and administrators and are ever happy to grow our involvement and interaction with Conestoga students.
ta Iota celebrated Founders Day at Champion's Run Golf Course. There, we had brunch, talked to alumnae members, browsed scrapbooks from as early as Eota's Founding in 2014, and witnessed the Founders Day Ceremony. We also had the pleasure of seeing the pinning ceremony of three 65-year members and were reminded that the bonds of Kappa Kappa Gamma spreads far beyond our college years. We also had the special treat of hearing Sigma member, Kimberly Arms Shirk, speak. She shared with us her near-death experience and reminded us to find the silver lining, lean on our sisters, and make the most of our collegiate expereinces.
Sesquicentennial plans: We enjoyed performing the Founders Day Ceremony at Founders Day this year and are eager to do so again next year. Our Chapter also enjoyed hosting the Minnie Stewart Van in Novemeber. We were inspired by the time capsule on board the van and are planning to create one of our own. Incoming Marshal also plans to host a birthday party for Kappa . We are eager to see what the next year will bring for our chapter as we approach Kappa's 150th anniversary.
Highlights of 2020
In February, our event chairman Colleen Follis hosted a date party on the 21st. The theme for this event was decades. On the 22nd, the new members had their new member retreat. At this event, they received letters from their Bigs. This marked the beginning of Big Little week for Eta Iota. Big Little reveal was on February 26th, and each Kappa family welcomed their newest members! On the 28th, we had our annual "Reading is Key" event at Conestoga Magnet School. At the event, we read to the students and gave them their own book to take home. Then on the 29th, we had a sisterhood retreat inspired by the game family feud. During the retreat, members were able to spend time with their Kappa family and make buttons and spend the day getting to know the new members. Then after midterms, we went on spring break from March 7th- 15th.
The week following spring break for Eta Iota was supposed to be Inspiration week; however, things did not go as planned. Creighton University went to fully online learning for the remainder of the semester. This meant for Eta Iota that we would no longer meet in person for the rest of 2020. However, this did not stop us from holding virtual events. On April 22nd we held a virtual senior night for the class of 2020. We spent the evening listening to the senior's stories and catching up like our fellow kappas. It was a lovely way to bring closure to our graduating seniors in what is now the new normal.
Then on Thursday, May 14th, Eta Iota held its very first virtual initiation. Our Marshal Katie Mumm invited our chapter founder Joanie Cohen to the ceremony to witness this one of a kind event. This was a historic event for our chapter, and we were so thrilled to have this experience. After the ceremony, we had an entire chapter zoom where we had dinner together and welcomed the newly initiated members into our chapter. It was a night with lots of laughs, fun, zoom games, and connecting virtually.
Over the summer, Creighton University announced that they would be returning to in person learning in the fall. This was fantastic news for our members because we could all be in Omaha together once again. August 17th marked our first day of classes. Creighton University offered a range of courses from asynchronous to synchronous to accommodate the community. Then on August 26th we held our first chapter of the year. Throughout the semester, we held weekly chapter meetings. We had fun breakout activities planned by our vice president of standards and the chapter council at these meetings. On October 9th our event chairman Colleen Follis hosted a fun virtual semi-formal. The theme was TV Shows and Movies. Sisters came in a range of outfits, including Hallie and Annie, from the Parent Trap to the iconic character of Draco Malfoy, to name a few. Over the semester, we had virtual recruitment practices to go over the new vote rules and figure out how to recruit in an online setting. This year, we are hosting an online Facebook auction in place of Breakfast at Kappa's. The auction took place from October 13th- 17th and was planned by our philanthropy chairman Kayla Schilke. All proceeds from this event will benefit our national philanthropy, Reading is Fundamental, and our local philanthropy, Conestoga Magnet School. For Conestoga, the funds were used to buy books for first and second graders. On October 13th, we celebrated our Sesquicentennial. Our education chairman Katie Ramirez put this event on. After the event, we had guest speakers speak on what Kappa means to them. It was a great evening filled with history in connection to celebrate 150 years of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Katie put together a video from the past members who shared some warm regards and uplifting messages. They know that this year is extremely challenging for us as a chapter, just the uncertainty of the global pandemic we're in, which is why they wanted to bring us some joy in video messages. It was a lovely night spent together with sisters and encompassed our sisterhood in a way where we could safely connect. It is an interesting way to celebrate our 150th year; however, we are excited to continue to celebrate Kappa for many years to come.Eta Iota also received two honorable mentions for unhoused chapters for the Gracious Living Award and the Finance Award at the virtual convention this year.
In the following week, chapter council nominations began. Annie Collopy served as the nomination committee chairman. The slate was presented on October 21st. Chapter elections took place on October 28th, and the new officers were installed by our chapter president Madi Corsi on November 4th.The new officers are …Kayla Schilke- President Katie Ramirez - Vice President – Standards Cara Buckley - Vice President – Organization Alex Van Cleave -Vice President – Academic Excellence Jessica Jagelski – Secretary Carly Araje – Treasurer Maddy Hirchert – Marshal Peggy Dunn - Education Chairman Sophie Barnes - Event Chairman Sarah Noone - House Chairman Emily Carlson - Membership Chairman Faith Carlson - New Member Chairman Kenna Frasier - Panhellenic Delegate Cali Rawhouser-Mylet - Philanthropy Chairman Olivia Peters - Public Relations Chairman Kat Willegalle - Risk Management Chairman. To help with the transition process, Eta Iota hosted a virtual leadership consultant Sara Johnston. We loved having Sara, and the chapter council appreciated her help to aid in the transition process. As the year 2020 comes to a close, Eta Iota is preparing for our formal recruitment process, which will begin in early January.
Conestoga Magnet School, an elementary school minutes from Creighton, continues to be our Chapter philanthropy. It's great to see how we have become more involved with the school over the years, as we have more classrooms asking to be involved with our Friday afternoon volunteering program every year. Eta Iota also holds an annual Reading is Key event at Conestoga! We also join the rest of the Creighton community during Dance Marathon and raised money for children facing childhood illnesses. Due to the unforeseeable circumstances in the year 2020, our chapter could not fundraise as much as we previously had done in the past. However, this did not stop our philanthropy chair Kayla Schilke from raising money for our philanthropies. Our Kappa online auction brought in $1,410 and the percent night at Chipotle brought in $364. We were able to raise $1,774 this year! Eta Iota understands the relationships they foster with the students at Conestoga make a meaningful difference in their lives and the Omaha community. Conestoga is a Reading is Fundamental school, and our weekly volunteer work demonstrates the importance of reading and its impact on a student's life. We continue to be drawn to Conestoga because of the meaningful work we have done there and the potential to make a difference. We continue to grow our relationship with all those at Conestoga, including students, teachers, and administrators, and are ever happy to expand our involvement and interaction with Conestoga students.
For diversity equity and inclusion, the chapter council decided to elect a position on the education committee. The first sister to serve in this position is Kenzie Nelson. Throughout the year, our education chairman and our recruitment chair put on several programs that help educate our members further on diversity equity and inclusion. Creighton University does an excellent job pursuing these endeavors through programs that all undergraduates must complete to be leaders on another campus. there's still more work to be done in this field, and Eta Iota is taking the steps needed to educate our members on diversity equity and inclusion.
Highlights of 2021
Highlights of 2020s:
From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.: Housing: Philanthropy: Chapter Convention Awards:
Note to Chapter Registrar: Please refer to your chapter archives including chapter meeting minutes and back issues of The Key to fill in any gaps in the above historical highlights. If your chapter archives are not complete, please research your university library, campus newspaper and yearbook archives for newsworthy information about your chapter. Please double check your work for accuracy. Contact chapter Advisory or House Board members, local Alumnae Association members, or your Province Director of Chapters for assistance. Your efforts will ensure a complete and accurate history of your chapter for future generations to enjoy!