| Eta Pi | |
|---|---|
| HΠ | |
 | |
| Founded | November 5, 2011 |
| College | New York University |
| Location | New York, NY |
| Homepage | Eta Pi Website |
| Media related to Eta Pi Chapter | |
New York University, New York City, established 1831
Founded as Eta Pi November 5, 2011'
31 initiates (as of February 2012)'
In 1830, Albert Gallatin, the distinguished statesman who served as secretary of the treasury under presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, declared his intention to establish “in this immense and fast-growing city ... a system of rational and practical education fitting for all and graciously opened to all.” Founded in 1831, New York University is now the largest private university in the United States. Of the more than 3,000 colleges and universities in America, New York University is one of only 60 member institutions of the distinguished Association of American Universities.
From a student body of 158 during NYU's first semester, enrollment has grown to more than 50,000 students attending 14 schools and colleges at five major centers in Manhattan and in sites in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. The center of NYU is its Washington Square campus, located in the heart of Greenwich Village. Students come from every state in the union and from 133 foreign countries.
Colonization
Kappa Kappa Gamma was invited to colonize on the campus of New York University when the active members of the 10-year-old local group, Kappa Psi Delta, petitioned the Fraternity to establish a chapter. The 20 Kappa Psi Delta women who pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma on September 7, 2011, describe themselves as quiet girls who flourished upon joining Kappa Psi Delta, and they expect to continue growing as members of Kappa. Eta Pi will join the chapters at St. Lawrence, Syracuse, Cornell, Marist and Colgate to make six Kappa chapters in the state of New York.
The women of Kappa Psi Delta are articulate, poised, intelligent and organized. With an overall GPA of 3.45, they understand the importance of education, leadership opportunities and building relationships. Already leaders involved in many campus activities, they are focused on philanthropy. They are described by others as considerate, down-to-earth, uniquely able to make others feel welcome and comfortable. The values of Kappa Psi Delta and Kappa Kappa Gamma align perfectly, making it an extraordinary fit. Kappa is privileged and honored to join the NYU community and build a future with the women of Kappa Psi Delta.
Eta Pi colony became Kappa's 138th active chapter when it was installed and complements the growing campus Panhellenic, which consists of Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Sigma Tau, Delta Phi Epsilon and Pi Beta Phi, plus two local groups. Zeta Tau Alpha also colonized at NYU in the fall of 2011.
Installation
On November 5, 2011, 20 collegiate members and 11 alumnae of Kappa Psi Delta were initiated as members of Eta Pi Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma, establishing the Fraternity’s 138th active chapter.
Shortly before Installation, one of the alumna initiates wrote to the Director of Alumnae expressing her feelings about Kappa: “I am a 2010 graduate of NYU. In the 2007 spring semester, I was a shy freshman, unsure of where I belonged in the country’s second-largest private university in the most populated city. Kappa Psi Delta welcomed me and I felt like I had a college home. I made some of my best friends and favorite memories during my three and a half years as an active sister. I worried about the future of Kappa Psi Delta as a small local sorority surrounded by flourishing national sororities in a quickly growing Greek system. When I learned my organization’s plan to be absorbed by a national organization - and to be absorbed by an organization that permitted the initiated of alumnae – I was relieved! As corny as it sounds, I always felt there was something special about Kappa Kappa Gamma. When I was doing research as a senior about national organizations we could work with KKG stood out to me. I look forward to being a part of such an established organization with generations of proud members.”
There are many opportunities for the new chapter on the NYU campus. Laura Osborne, College Panhellenic Adviser, said, “We have high hopes that the addition of Kappa Kappa Gamma to the College Panhellenic Council at NYU will promote stronger leadership, deeper bonds of friendship, increased awareness of service to the community and higher ideals of scholarship among all the members of the fraternity and sorority life community.”
Fraternity President Julie Marine Leshay, Colorado College, led the Installation team of Susanne Wolff Vander Hayden, Washington State, Director of Alumnae; Barb Adams Goettelman, Syracuse, Extension Chairman; Nancy Eyermann Foland, Tulsa, and Kelly Matyas Magyarics, Pittsburgh, Region 1 Directors of Alumnae and Chapters; Kim Heinig Pegg, Vermont, and Jodi Bilotti Howe, Syracuse, Alpha Province directors of Alumnae and Chapters, respectively; Alexandra Vukov, Michigan State, Chapter Consultant; Nicole Pitsinos, South Carolina; and Coordinator of Chapter Development Rachel Dunlap, Baylor. The New York City Alumnae Association President presented a badge, set with light-and-dark-blue stones, to be used as the chapter president’s badge, to the Eta Pi President, Caitlin Geehan.
Visiting the 9/11 Memorial:
On November 3, 2011, Fraternity President Julie Marine Leshay, Colorado College, Susanne Wolff Vander Heyden, Washington State, members of the Eta Pi extension team and many New York-area Kappas visited the 9/11 Memorial to honor and extend deepest respects to:
Jean Rogers, Penn State, flight attendant on American flight #11; Jen Kane, Villanova, World Trade Center; Kaleen Pezzuti, Cornell, World Trade Center; Norma Lang Steuerle, Carnegie Mellon, passenger on American flight #77 (Pentagon).
Fraternity President Julie Leshay brought copies of the front cover of The Key, winter 2001 edition, along with a copy of the article, “Honoring Those We Have Loved and Lost.” These items were placed at the name of each Kappa on the memorial. Amanda Brown, Puget Sound, Assistant to the Director of Alumnae, provided irises that were placed by each name with the article. Many 9/11 Memorial visitors stopped to read the information that our group left behind. All assembled were part of our Kappa Memorial Service led by Fraternity President Julie Leshay. It was a very moving experience and something we felt was important to do in connection with our new chapter at New York University.
Some of Eta Pi’s Outstanding Alumnae
Fraternity Council Officers
Fraternity Loyalty Award Recipients
Fraternity Alumnae Achievement Award Recipients
Highlights of 2011-2019
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!