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Kappa
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|Image= [[File:Kappa.jpg|200px]]
|Founded= {{start date and years ago|1881|06|09}}
|College= [httphttps://www.hillsdale.edu/ Hillsdale College]
|Location= Hillsdale, MI
|Homepage= [httphttps://chaptershillsdale.kappakappagammakappa.org/kappa/ Kappa Chapter Homepage]|Media= [httphttps://wiki.kappakappagammakkg.org/index.php?title=Category:Kappa Media related to Kappa Chapter]
}}
'''Hillsdale College established 1844, Hillsdale, Michigan'''
'''2,166 members 223 initiates as of (June 20152018)'''
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'''Chapter:''' Kappa Chapter has been working to improve chapter unity. We try to attend our sisters' non-Kappa events to support them on campus. We have been focusing a lot on our new members, ensuring that their new member period is a time full of Kappa love and what it means to be a Kappa.
Early on in 2011, Kappa Chapter had a Leadership Consultant visit who suggested that maybe we were getting involved in too many things and holding too many mandatory events for the chapter. We then cut back a bit on some events and tried not to spread ourselves too thin; Chapter Council also froze the calendar for several months in an attempt to prevent the addition of more events.
==Highlights of 2012==
Kappa Chapter holds its meetings in our house which we have owned since the late 1880s. The Kappa Chapter house was given to Kappa Chapter by Hillsdale College in the late 1880s. At that time there were two women's fraternities on campus, KKG and Pi Beta Phi, because Kappa was the original greek house on campus, we were given first choice of the two homes. The stately white house with blue shutters on the corner of Hillsdale and College streets has been home to the chapter ever since. After an addition to the house in the 1980s, the Kappa Chapter house holds 30 sisters and 40 sisters enjoy eating their meals there. Prior to the college purchasing the house, Kappa Chapter met in the home of college President Mauck and then in East Hall. The big white house on the corner was purchased by the college and adored by Kappas ever since.
==Highlights of 2015==
2015 was a wonderful year at Kappa Chapter at Hillsdale College. 2015 saw the women of Kappa Chapter grow in deeper sisterhood, achieve high academics, and continue to be women of admired character as role models on campus.
In January of 2015, Kappa Chapter was focused on recruitment and welcoming home 15 new sisters. One of our photos from recruitment featuring sisters and the front of our beautiful home was featured on Headquarters’ website. At the end of January, two of our members competed in an on-campus cooking competition called “Chopped”, which was live-streamed on YouTube. Many alumni enjoyed watching from afar! Big-Little reveal caused much excitement in February 2015. Soon after, our new members and event chairman hosted our semi-annual date party. Spring 2015’s theme was “Kappa Kappa Galaxy”.
At the end of February, our philanthropy chair hosted “Kappa Kupcake Wars” in the Grewcock Student Union, and it was a huge hit! Many students participated and came to vote. Our public relations chair invited professor’s students to our home for an Easter egg hunt with cookie decorating. Local girl scouts attended and got to meet our lovely sisters. In April, our 15 new members became initiated members during a week of reflection, tradition, ritual, and sisterhood bonding.
Eight sisters and two advisors traveled in April to our Province Meetings in Schaumburg, IL. They enjoyed getting to meet chapter council members from other chapters, sharing ideas, and seeing how Kappa Chapter was excelling in every field! Soon after their return, around six alumni came to Hillsdale College to celebrate their 50-65 year reunions. The registrar held a small open house for them with scones and tea. The alumni went on house tours to see our 1980 house additions, found their composites, and told stories to actives. As they departed, they were given irises and an acknowledgement card. They told us that our house looked and operated in the same way it had since they had graduated!
At the end of April, our membership chairman hosted an event entitled, “Play Ball with a Kappa” and many attended. Formal Recruitment followed shortly after and was “Kate Spade” themed. It was held in Ohio at a country club. We said farewell to our large senior class during senior week with formal dinners and dedications. There were 36 graduates.
On June 9, 2015 Kappa Chapter celebrated its 134th birthday! During the summer, the registrar challenged members to see how many alumni they could contact in their area. Many received letters from alumni and had correspondence. The letters and stories were shared the Fall semester during meetings.
Upon arrival back at school, Fall recruitment began. Due to new Panhellenic Council’s regulations, we were only allowed to pick up 3 new members. We were successful. Fall Informal Recruitment has now been removed permanently from Hillsdale College, much to the chagrin of our chapter. We were fortunate to have a very influential leadership consultant assist us for one week in October. The fall 2015 new member class and the event chairman hosted our semi-annual date party, themed “Netflix and Kappa Chix”. The chapter celebrated founder’s day with an advisor’s tour of the local cemetery, placing irises on the graves of founders and past advisors, and a beautiful dinner and dedication for our advisors. Chapter archives were also on display the whole week for actives to view.
In the first week of October, our chapter and event chairman, who is also head of “Students Against Cancer”, participated in the “Relay for Life”. Our house won Derby Days for the fifth year in a row, raising over $5,000 for the Sigma Chi’s philanthropy, “Wounded Warriors”. Homecoming week was a blast – watching sisters participate in Mock Rock dances and participating in the parade.
At the end of November, we initiated our 3 newest actives, and there was a coating of beautiful snow to ring in the celebration the next morning! In the first week of December, our event chairman hosted our Informal at the Searle Center on campus right after the building’s opening. The Informal theme was “Kappas at the Plaza”. Christmas decorations and horse drawn carriages were seen that night. Finally, the sisters studied hard for finals and our philanthropy chair hosted our final event of the year – “Kappa Chill Out” on Reading Day. Kappas sat in the union selling cookies, popcorn, and coffee to raise money for Reading is Fundamental and collect books for local organizations.
2015 ended with the induction of the new chapter council. It was another successful and memorable year at 221 Hillsdale Street! We look forward to more memories in 2016.
Panhellenic Council changed rules regarding freshman, and our college’s informal recruitment has been changed. Our Chapter is devoted to high academic success, adherence to tradition and ritual, involvement in the community, and growing friendship among our sisterhood.
Chapter Philanthropy:
What organization(s) has your chapter historically/traditionally raised money for, or donated hours to, in your community?
We have visited the elderly at Drew’s Place, helped with a food pantry, King’s Cupboard. We corresponded with students in the local Hillsdale Community School District. We raised money for Capa, a child-abuse prevention awareness center in Hillsdale. We also donated funds to the local hospice centers. There were books and funds raised for Reading is Fundamental, as well.
Why did your chapter choose this organization(s) to support?
We believe in helping those in our community, and these organizations were chosen by active members. Our members had personal connections to these organizations and had volunteered their own time outside of Kappa.
==Highlights of 2016==
After a successful formal recruitment in January of the spring semester, Kappa chapter picked up 21 new pledges. In this class we welcomed home 6 legacies, 5 of whom were legacies in Kappa chapter. Shortly after, the new pledge class threw a wonderful date party themed “Red, White, and Kappa Blue” where couples had fun dressing up in patriotic themed costumes. Shortly after, the house had fun during the special time of Big/Little pickup.
During the beginning of the year, sisters were busy participating and running events on campus such as for the Student Activities Board’s “Chopped Competition” or the annual President’s Ball. In February, the chapter put together a brunch for the parents and family of sisters during the college’s Parents Weekend. Our chapter also enjoyed a Valentine’s Day sisterhood, during which we had a speaker, a chocolate fondue bar, and made cards for the other Greek houses.
Later in the semester Kappa held Kappa Cupcake Wars once again on campus. This fundraiser was extremely successful. The event drew people from all across campus and participants had fun creating tasty and creative treats for the student body to judge. The funds riased from this event were given to the fraternity’s philanthropy, Reading is Fundamental. The event raised $361. A few weeks after this event, sisters went to Hillsdale local school, Will Carlton School, to read to the children. The children not only enjoyed the story time but also had fun seeing some of the girls who dressed up as Disney princesses through one of our sister’s own small business in the community, Liberty Princesses and Co.
During Inspiration week sisters enjoyed this meaningful time together and seeing the many alumni that came to share in this event. After this, our chapter looked forward to the upcoming Formal dance. During the cold and grey of Michigan weather, the chapter enjoyed the colorful and playful theme of “Kappas On Palm Beach”. This was a special evening filled with dinner and dancing.
Around Easter the house held an Easter Egg Hunt for the professors’ children. The sisters had fun hiding candy filled eggs and playing with the children that came. Later on in the spring, our house had fun participating in Greek Week. While the houses had fun competing against each other, they also enjoyed coming together in the middle of the week to make blankets to for charity and to show panhellenic spirit to the rest of campus.
At spring convocation Kappa was awarded the scholarship cup once again, keeping its long standing tradition for academic excellence on our campus. Towards the end of the semester, the house began to get busier with recruitment events. During the cold Michigan spring days, the girls who came to the event enjoyed the welcoming bonfire outside the house and delicious smo’re bar.
In May our chapter said goodbye to senior Sisters. On graduation day the house served a Senior brunch for the Senior sisters and their families.
Over the summer our sisters traveled, studied, and interned in many exciting places from Washington D.C to New York to Oxford. Several of our sisters went to Fraternity Convention in San Diego. We were proud to see our chapter received an award for Chapter Advisory Board Relations and honorable mentions for the Advisory Board, Heritage, Ritual, Risk, Recruitment, and Academic awards.
In the fall our sisters came back to school excited to start another school year and to grow in sisterhood. September was a busy month for our house not simple because of chapter events, but many of our sisters are active on our college’s Student Activities Board and spend time throwing fabulous events for the college.
Homecoming was also an exciting time for our house. Instead of having each sorority house represent themselves independently, all the houses decided to participate together to represent Greek unity on campus. The houses took this opportunity to work together in events, wear matching Go Greek t-shirts, and even to compete together in the annual Mock Rock dance competition. Homecoming was also a time of pride for our house, as we proudly saw one of our own sisters be crowned homecoming queen.
In the midst of the campus excitement, our house was happy to welcome home three new sisters. Shortly after pick-up, our house enjoyed an early Informal dance that was harvest themed for the season. The dance was held outside at the college’s park area off campus and was made festive by many Fall pumpkins and caramel apples. Soon after, we also celebrated Founders’ Day with a formal dinner celebration and heritage exhibit. Later that month our house attended Fall convocation, but unfortunately our chapter did not receive the scholarship cup for the fall semester. Our house was disappointed at this loss but felt motivated to finish out the semester strong.
At the end of October the new members put on date party for the house. As the theme was “Kappa Kappa Game Day,” sisters had fun dressing up in their favorite team jerseys and spirit gear. Around that same time of the year, the house had fun passing out candy to community and professors’ children who came to the house for trick-or-treat on Halloween.
During November the house participated in Sigmi Chi’s annual Derby Days Fundraiser. This year the proceeds went to the Huntsmen Foundation for cancer. Kappa won the competitive aspect of this event and proudly raised $7500 for the foundation. During this month the house also became busier putting on recruitment events that included activities such as a pumpkin decorating and gingerbread decorating. The house also enjoyed the numerous sisterhood events this semester, such as Kappa Koffee Shop for a sister study day at Kappa.
Towards the end of the semester, the house participated in philanthropic activities such as bell ringing for Salvation Army and donating canned goods to one of the local food pantries, The King’s Cupboard. The house also held a Christmas party for professors and their families to come have warm tea and cocoa and decorate cookies. The last week of school, the house ended with a Christmas sisterhood party that included a Secret Santa gift exchange.
The semester also ended with the induction of new Chapter Council members, marking a new time of transition and growth in our chapter. The 2016-2017 school year for Kappa Chapter was filled with good memories as well as became a time for growth and strengthening of friendships.
Our chapter tries to balance our philanthropic endeavors between our fraternity organization Reading is Fundamental and organizations that support our local community. Throughout the semester Kappa supported the philanthropic organizations of other Greek houses on campus, as well as other groups in our community such as the local food pantry, Salvation Army, and the Journal Buddy program in the community schools.
We support these different organizations because our chapter sees the importance of supporting organizations that serve our local city as well as the broader community. We believe that much strength and impact is possible through our sisterhood and that it is our duty and privilege to use our unity for a greater good.
==Highlights of 2017==
The year of 2017 has been wonderful for the Kappa Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma. During 2017, the women of Kappa Chapter excelled in academics, sisterhood, and honoring ritual. The women have helped each other grow through serving the community and Kappa’s national philanthropy, promoting high standards, and strengthening friendships with their sisters.
Returning from winter break in early January 2017, the Chapter Council participated in a Leadership Retreat. Each officer read the book "Destination Unstoppable" by Maureen Monte. The officers then took a Gallup Strengthsfinder test. Lastly, they met with Mrs. Monte on how to best utilize each individual’s strengths and develop goals for Chapter Council throughout 2017.
Soon after the Leadership Retreat, Kappa chapter enjoyed a successful formal spring recruitment in January where we welcomed 20 new members into the fraternity. The new members put on a successful date party themed “Kappa Kappa 90s Kids” where the couples loved dressing up as their favorite 90s characters. Big-Little pickup followed shortly after and provided the entire chapter with a fun-filled evening.
During the beginning of the semester, our sisters were busy with philanthropy events, sisterhoods, and Kappa Chapter functions. A few philanthropic events included partnering with a men's residence to host a blood drive on campus and selling movie packages with proceeds profiting different organizations. The chapter also began a new philanthropy event where the students on campus could fill out a quick note and have a home baked cookie delivered to their friend on Valentine’s Day; the event resulted in $100 donated to Reading is Fundamental.
In February, the chapter participated in a Valentine's Day Sisterhood where our sisters did a positive affirmations activity and wrote cards for senior citizens and Kappa Chapter’s sisters who were away from Hillsdale for the semester. As February was also Academic Excellence month, the chapter participated in a week-long social media campaign spotlighting Kappademics. In addition, the chapter enjoyed a formal dinner, along with three attending professors, to celebrate the academic success of many of our sisters. The chapter had another formal dinner during February which was an Etiquette dinner that provided the chapter with lifelong professional skills.
In the middle of the semester, the sisters enjoyed a Parent’s Weekend Brunch, giving our sisters time to enjoy a meal with their families. After this event, the sisters participated in an educational Self Defense session which taught the chapter more about the importance of situational awareness. Mid-semester ended with a beautiful Inspiration Week which rejuvenated the sisterhood and initiated 19 excited new sisters. After this, our sisters looked forward to their Formal dance called “A Night in the Garden” which was a magnificent evening filled with dinner and dancing. Our sisters also had fun with the Faculty Easter Egg Hunt where they entertained many faculty members and their children with snacks, coloring, pin the tail on the bunny, outdoor activities, and two Easter egg hunts.
The spring also had the Kappa Leadership Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Five sisters partook in the event and enjoyed presentations on leadership. They learned how to better our chapter, as well as meeting members of other chapters and brainstorming new ideas to implement in the upcoming semester.
At spring convocation, the Kappa Chapter welcomed back the Scholarship Cup after achieving the highest house GPA of the campus sororities for Fall 2016. Soon after, the sisters participated in Greek Week, enjoying the spirit of house unity and competitiveness. The chapter also provided a Relay for Life team and were able to donate $1,000 for the team, in honor of a current sister with cancer. The chapter hosted Kupcake Wars as well, raising nearly $400 for Reading is Fundamental. Furthering the chapter’s philanthropic purpose, a sister orchestrated a meal packing event, for which the chapter helped raise hundreds of dollars and assisted in packing 22,000 meals for children in Haiti. Later in the month, Kappa Chapter had a stress-management program night, at which a sister's mother--a psychiatrist--helped provide tips for managing stress levels during finals. Lastly, the chapter had Senior Week, at which our women honored the 22 seniors for their time at Hillsdale and in Kappa.
In May our chapter said goodbye to our senior sisters. On graduation day, the house served a Senior brunch for the senior sisters and their families.
Over the summer our sisters traveled, studied, and interned in many exciting places from Washington D.C to New York to Oxford. The sisters each had a unique and exciting summer be it at home with family and friends, traveling with a sports team, or landing a major internship. Throughout the summer, our PR was kept up to date on all of the wonderful opportunities our sisters experienced.
In the fall our sisters came back to school excited to start another school year and to grow in sisterhood. September was a busy month for our house not only because of chapter events, but many of our sisters are active on our college’s Student Activities Board and spend time throwing fabulous events for the college. One event was The Source, a campus fair highlighting student clubs. Kappa participated in promoting Greek Life in a PanHellenic booth at The Source.
Also in September, we had an excited Homecoming Week where the chapter actively participated in the events and especially enjoyed the Wing Eating Contest and the annual Mock Rock dance competition. The chapter also hosted alumnae at an open house during homecoming weekend and loved getting to connect with past sisters and hear stories about their experiences in Kappa. In the midst of the campus excitement, our house was happy to welcome home three new sisters and engage in a fun Bid Night. The chapter also hosted the Boys' Ice Cream Social, where men from campus can tour the house, eat ice cream, and socialize with the women. We ended the month with our Scholarship Dinner to honor our academically successful sisters and had well-known professors and their spouses attended.
Soon after, the chapter celebrated Founders Day with a formal dinner, heritage exhibit, and beautiful reading from one of our advisers. At the same time, the sisters were also participating in Sigma Chi’s annual Derby Days Fundraiser. Kappa won the competitive aspect of this event and proudly raised over $6,000 pledged for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, with a portion of this money going towards a sister whose family endured a tragic event over the past year. During this month the house also became busier with campus events and selling Boo Bags which raised $100 for Reading is Fundamental and money for books for a local elementary school. Lastly, the house had fun passing out candy to community and professors’ children who came to the house for trick-or-treat on Halloween.
November was a busy month for the Kappa Chapter as it began with a fun football tailgate recruitment event. The excitement continued on that same night with date party put on by Kappa’s new members themed “Set Sail with a Kappa” where couples loved dressing up with water-inspired costumes. The month became even more exciting when Kappa won the Scholarship Cup for another semester with a 3.449 Chapter average GPA which was higher than the All-Sorority and All-Women averages. Soon after, our sisters enjoyed another beautiful Inspiration Week which welcomed three new sisters. The week was soon followed by a relaxing Thanksgiving Break which allowed the chapter to find dresses for the upcoming Informal Dance themed “Winter Wonderland” which got the whole house in a glorious Christmas spirit.
Towards the end of the semester, the house participated in philanthropic activities such as bell ringing for Salvation Army and donating canned goods to a local food pantry called The King’s Cupboard. The house also held a Christmas party for professors and their families to come have warm tea and cocoa and decorate cookies. The house also loved the Christmas sisterhood party that included a Secret Santa gift exchange.
The semester ended with the induction of new Chapter Council members, marking a new time of transition and growth in our chapter. This was a remarkable year for Kappa that was filled with academic excellence, sisterly support, and the further growth of our cherished house.
The Kappa Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma donates books to a local school called Will Carleton. In addition, we donate hours for a blood drive where we partnered with an on-campus men's residence. The Kappa Chapter also participates in philanthropic activities such as bell ringing for Salvation Army and donating canned goods to a local food pantry called The King’s Cupboard. Similarly, we raised money for Reading is Fundamental and a sister's family who endured a tragic event this past year.
==Highlights of 2018==
Kappa chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma had an exciting year of 2018. The ladies of Kappa Kappa Gamma immersed themselves in campus life, becoming officers of clubs and organizations and participating in many events. They grew through their academic pursuits, relationships, and the many blessings of this sisterhood.
We heralded the new year by welcoming 15 wonderful new sisters into the house of blue and blue in early January of 2018. The next weekend, our chapter officers held an officer leadership retreat, where they discussed their strengths and weaknesses and brainstormed ideas for each position.
In February, the women of Kappa Kappa Gamma enjoyed a formal scholarship dinner, celebrating academic successes with sisters and professors. Shortly thereafter, the newest new member class skillfully worked together and put on a wonderful date party. Our sisters and their dates enjoyed dressing up in costumes according to the theme, “What Kappa Memes to Me.” Later that week, we enjoyed spending time together at a Valentine’s Day Sisterhood. Our sisters also had a Valentine’s Day Fundraiser, setting up a “Puppy Kissing Booth” in Hillsdale College’s Student Union. The proceeds went to the Branch County Humane Society. Later in the month of February, our sisters had Big-Little pickup and the new member class had a retreat.
In March, Kappa had an amazing inspiration week and officially initiated our 15 new sisters into our home. This week brought our sisters even closer together, serving as a beautiful reminder of the values of our wonderful fraternity. Mid-March, Kappa hosted a parents' weekend brunch, where we enjoyed meeting each other’s families and showing parents around our beautiful home. At the end of the month, we had another beautiful initiation for two new members who were unable to attend the first initiation.
The month of April began with the faculty Easter egg hunt, where we welcomed professors and their children into our home to enjoy Easter treats and hunt for Easter eggs. On the 7th, our sisters enjoyed a night filled with dancing and delicious food at our spring formal, which was themed “Sweet Home Kappa Gamma.”
The chapter also held our annual philanthropy event called “Kupcake Wars,” where students across campus enter to bake and decorate cupcakes. Peers then paid to taste the cupcakes and judge the winners. Our proceeds went to support children’s literacy.
Later in April, our sisters bonded at a “Netflix and Chill” sisterhood. Our chapter also participated in a meal packing event. The women of Kappa Kappa Gamma helped raise hundreds of dollars and assisted in packing thousands of meals for children in Haiti.
In May, our sisters held a recruitment event, followed by a study sisterhood. May was a bittersweet month as we said goodbye to our seniors at Commencement. We held a graduation brunch at Kappa and enjoyed celebrating our graduates with their families and friends.
Over the summer, our sisters spread out across the globe from Italy to California to D.C. We enjoyed spending time with family, working jobs and internships, and traveling.
In June, a couple of our sisters and a Kappa chapter advisor attended convention in Denver. Kappa chapter received 10 honorable mentions and won the finance award! This was very exciting; our chapter strives to encourage members to practice making thoughtful financial decisions and effectively manage budgets.
In September, our sisters were excited to return to campus. We began the new semester with one of our sisters being appointed Hillsdale College’s student body president and another sister was appointed the treasurer. Our Chapter Council held an officer leadership retreat to discuss our goals for the fall. Our sisters welcomed a new house director who has also been our wonderful cook for years.
In mid-September, the chapter hosted a boys’ ice-cream social, where our sisters gave tours and served ice cream. Kappa Kappa Gamma also participated in homecoming events and held a homecoming brunch in September. At this brunch, we welcomed back alumnae and raised money for our literacy philanthropy. We enjoyed a tie-dye sisterhood and then ended the month welcoming three new sisters into the house of blue and blue!
We began October with a Kappa Tailgate, which was a great event to involve the campus and to meet new freshmen women. Our chapter also had Big-Little pickup for our three new members.
October brought the exciting anniversary of Kappa, and our sisters had a formal Founders Day Dinner to celebrate the founding of our fraternity. At the dinner, we enjoyed earl grey tea and shortbread cookies and looked at scrapbooks while celebrating our rich history.
In October, our chapter did restaurant pairings with Domino’s Pizza and a local restaurant, Olivia’s, to raise money to support our literacy efforts. We also participated in Sigma Chi’s annual Derby Days Fundraiser. This fundraiser is also a competition, which Kappa won. Our chapter helped to raise over $4000 for cancer research and for a Kappa alumna who had recently endured a loss.
Mid-October, we hosted our parents at a parents’ weekend brunch. We ended the month with a scholarship dinner, where we celebrated our academic achievements and enjoyed spending time with professors and their spouses.
In November, some of our sisters participated in blanket making for Domestic Harmony, which is a local program to help victims of domestic violence. We also paired with Hillsdale College’s Pi Beta Phi sorority, and together we hosted a “Monmouth Duo” fundraiser. We sold cookies in the union to raise money for books for children.
We began December with our winter formal, which was themed “Dancing in the Moonlight.” Our sisters also participated in bell ringing for the Salvation Army. The chapter held a Faculty Christmas party, spending time getting to know professors and their families. We enjoyed a Christmas sisterhood, where we had a gift exchange and held a nativity play. We also had officer transitions; an exciting time of change and growth for our chapter. We ended the semester with our Reading is Key Event, where we visited a local preschool and donated books to the children. We loved reading, singing songs, and talking to the children.
2018 was a wonderful year for our chapter. Our sisters excelled in our financial planning, philanthropic efforts, and campus involvement. We experienced great personal growth as friends, students, and sisters, fostered by the boundless encouragement and love of the house of blue and blue.
==Highlights of 2019==
Kappa Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma has enjoyed a year of growth, enriching sisterhood, and many other blessings. The women of Kappa Chapter have striven for academic excellence, high moral standards, and for a deeper, more beautiful understanding of Kappa ritual.
The new year began with a successful recruitment after which twenty-four new and eager sisters joined the chapter. During recruitment, a leadership consultant visited and met with the officers and women in the house giving them helpful advice.
In February, the chapter celebrated Academic Excellence Month and the public relations chairman led a social media campaign encouraging and highlighting academic rigor. The Chapter also sent a few sisters to learn and grow at the Kappa Kappa Gamma Leadership Convention in Dallas, Texas. The sisters also enjoyed the Galentine’s Day and Oscar Day sisterhood events. The most exciting event though was big/little pairings! The women of Kappa grew closer together in sisterhood. Also in February, the Panhellenic Council aimed to draw houses together and amended a rule about the use of boys in promoting Greek life. February was a very successful month.
March was a shorter month as sisters enjoyed fun spring break trips, but arrived back on campus ready for an exciting Inspiration Week and initiation. Initiation was a huge success and all the new members were able to be initiated together in Hillsdale and not sent to another chapter which may have happened due to some athletic events. The sisters were overjoyed that all the new members were able to make it to initiation.
April was a month of service, etiquette, Greek unity, and fun events. The chapter led one of the most successful Kupcake Wars in a few years. The event was a philanthropy event for Reading is Fundamental. The college also held a GOAL Day of Service and a large team of Kappa women volunteered their time. On April 16th, the chapter attended an etiquette/scholarship dinner hosted by the Event and Academic Excellence Chairmen. The dinner was a huge success and the women learned much about proper etiquette. The chapter also hosted a faculty Easter event for faculty members and their families to come to the house and get to know the women of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Greek week occurred early in the month, and although the women of Kappa did not win overall, they enjoyed a fun week of sportsmanship. The women also enjoyed a fun Formal and Senior Week events.
May was a sad but joyous time as the chapter said goodbye to the graduating seniors. The chapter is very proud of all who graduated and all that they have accomplished already. Sisters have spread across the country and even the world. There are sisters in Washington DC working in the Pentagon, for the Washington Examiner, in research labs, and more. There are sisters teaching, attending medical school and law school, working in marketing firms, etc. There is even a sister in Namibia working for the Peace Corp. The chapter is very proud of their sisters.
Over the summer break, sisters worked different jobs and internships, attended classes, and traveled. Some attended a marine biology course in Florida, others studied in Oxford, and one in Argentina. Girls worked at Target headquarters, for the Mackinac Island Crier, and at many other locations around the nation.
The fall semester began with the creation of a new officer position. After much discussion, the chapter decided to add the position of Alumni Relations Chairman to Chapter Council. The officer is meant to help connect alumni to sisters still in college. The first event the chairman organized was a brunch on Homecoming. She invited alumni and women from fraternity to come to the brunch, and it was a huge success. Also, an exciting event during homecoming was that one of the chapter’s very own sister won Homecoming Queen. The women were very proud of her. Among the festivities of Homecoming Week there was also a visit from a leadership consultant. During September, the women attended a harm prevention seminar given by an EME trainer. The presentation was a huge success as the women learned a lot and enjoyed asking questions to the trainer. At the end of the month, the chapter hosted a boy’s ice cream social where men on campus could visit the house and get to know the women living there better.
October was another busy month for Kappa chapter with Scholarship Dinner, a Chick-fil-a sisterhood event, Founder’s Day dinner, Coffee with a Kappa event on parent’s weekend, officer speed dating, and nominating committee meeting. The chapter is very proud of the huge number of sisters on the Dean’s List this past semester. There were also two recruitment workshops. The membership chairman has put much hard work in to updating the voting process according to fraternity and making some positive changes to recruitment.
During the month of November, the Event and Philanthropy Chairman hosted the largest philanthropy event the chapter has had in a very long time. The chapter invited country singer, John King, to Hillsdale’s campus. All proceeds went towards Reading is Fundamental. With a successful Kupcake Wars and John King concert, the chapter raised the most amount of money for RIF in a few years. The event chairman also organized a very fun Informal for the sisters. Near the end of the month, the Alumni Events Chairman, invited recent alumni back to the Kappa house to enjoy a very fun sleepover event. In November, we held officer elections and the chapter is very hopeful for the next chapter council.
December was a quick month for the chapter as there were only two weeks the sisters were on campus. On December 11th, though, the sisters went to a school in Hillsdale and delivered and read books to three and four year old children. The sisters absolutely loved the event as it is so rewarding to visit the young children and see the joy they experience when someone reads to them. The semester ended with the induction of the new officers into chapter council, and the chapter eagerly anticipates the upcoming 2020 year.
2019 was a year full of many blessings for Kappa Chapter. The chapter is very proud of the new Alumni Officer Chairman position, their philanthropic endeavors, and academic success. The sisters grew in sisterhood and strive to live out the ideals of our beloved fraternity and home.
==Highlights of 2020==
In January, we formally rushed 22 women into the Kappa Chapter with a “Honey, I’m Home” bee theme. The girls were formally pledged soon after. We also had three women recieve the Sally Giaque scholarship, a local Kappa scholarship funded and run by our house board. February brought our Date Party with a Barbie theme. The girls were respectful and had a truly magnificent time. We also had our annual Valentine’s Day Sisterhood where we make cards for all of our sisters. Philanthropy was excited to introduce our Send-a-Rose fundraiser for
Valentine’s Day as well. Big/Little reveal happened right before Spring break. Hillsdale College, like most colleges, did not return after spring break. March meant we were having Zoom chapter council meetings and trying to figure out how to adjust our chapter safely.
Eventually, we found Zoom meetings to be somewhat effective and even managed to do a Zoom senior send off where we bid farewell to our graduating sisters. In May, we were finally able to initiate our 22 New Members and welcome them as fully initiated Kappa sisters. Over
the summer, our chapter council continued to hold Zoom meetings so that we would be able to be prepared when we returned to campus. Thankfully, Hillsdale College was able to return to campus for the Fall semester. We welcomed 5 wonderful women into our sisterhood and held a virtual initiation for them on December 5th. Though their New Member period looked very different than those of the year's past- everything concerning them was done virtually- they were optimistic and took everything in stride. We were also able to welcome a transfer from a Kappa Kappa Gamma chapter in Nebraska. Many ritual reviews were conducted between the Marshal and individual members so that sisters would not be meeting in large groups indoors, and masks were always worn if medical issues permitted them. The Archives were reorganized and the chapter council also held a strengthsquest meeting to figure out how to best work with each other and our natural leading abilities. Meetings were done outside and in person for as long as the weather allowed and until the 30 day moratorium was put in place. Prior to the 30 day pause, we were able to host a 5k Color Run fundraiser raising money for Wounded Warriors. After and during the hold, we conducted all meetings on Zoom. This proved difficult for voting, but we were able to persevere. While we are all attempting to be optimistic, it is clear that the chapter feels burnt out on all things virtual. Thankfully, with classes still being in
person, many girls would get together in small groups for movies and studying, as well as making care packages for sisters in quarantine. The chapter as a whole was forced to be more intentional with how we pursue one another, and we were able to find more ways to show
love. Our Standards chairwoman created an “Affirmation Board” where sisters could write notes on their way to class and leave for others to read. Prepackaged snacks would occasionally be bought and left out in places where sisters frequently study together. Overall,
Kappa chapter strove for the best in a time that was difficult and anything but easy. In November, we held an officer speed dating event to get to know the officer positions. Our Nominating Committee slated a wonderful Chapter Council which was voted on 2 weeks after.
We are ecstatic for them to lead this chapter through the next year and we wish them the best.
What organization does the chapter support? Reading is Fundamental, Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation, Wounded Warriors
Why did the chapter choose this organization? We supported all three philanthropies throughout different efforts during the year. We
support the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation because it helps our sisters who are in need of financial support, or affected by natural disasters, including COVID-19. Reading is Fundamental holds a special place in our heart because it provides kids with access to books.
Locally, we raise money to give books to kids in Domestic Harmony and local preschools. Furthermore, we the Wounded Warriors Project this year through a 5k color run. This is near and dear to many girls in our chapter as we have many girls either entering the military, or
have family members serving.
How did your chapter include diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in your programming this year? (e.g., adding a DEI officer, philanthropy events, social media awareness campaign, chapter training, etc.). Our diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives were run by our education and risk chairwomen who partnered for programs for the chapter. Our public relations chairwoman was also
outstanding at making sure every girl was featured on our Instagram so that every girl could truly shine in our little chapter.
How did your chapter celebrate Kappa's 150th anniversary? Share what you have done this year.
For our 150th anniversary, the Kappa chapter held an outdoor Founders Ceremony. We also had online options for all of the girls at home, and we sent the Zoom link to our Alumnae. Prepackaged shortbread cookies were also offered, and each girl received a special invitation
to the event.
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