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[[File:Epsilon Kappa 2019.png|thumb|Epsilon Kappa Chapter 2019]]
==Highlights of the 2020s:2020==
1/26 - Greek Leadership Conference
- All-day conference held in U of SC Russell House.
- Members of each Fraternity/Sorority attended.
- All EK Chapter Council Members attended, broke out into breakout sessions coinciding with their position (EX: Event Chairman attended the Event Workshop).
1/31 - 80s in Aspen Function.
'''PhilanthropyFebruary 2020 Highlights'''
2/8 - Girls Academy at Blythewood Middle School
- Since 2019, the EK Chapter has been selected to host Girls Academy, a day-long training session for middle school girls teaching them empowerment and confidence skills. We were honored to be selected again to host this year. Girls Academy stands for Girls Inspiring Respect Leadership and Service (GIRLS). This acronym was a key part in our mission.
- Throughout the day, girls traveled with their “teams”. There were 5 teams total, and each had 2 kappa members leading them. Different teams had different team-building activities planned.
- Group sessions included topics about body positivity, bullying, and speaker sessions where female professionals came and spoke about their careers. At the end of the day, the girls performed skits with their teams and their parents were invited to attend their “graduation” from Girls Academy.
- Over 60 members of EK attended the event and helped out with meals, activities, and time-keeping.
2/18 - EK Founders Day
- Displayed some of EK’s photo memorabilia throughout the year in the house.
- Chefs planned a special dinner for EK, including a cake.
2/28 - Bahamas & Pajamas Function
2/29 - Dance Marathon Main Event
- Our chapter formed a KKG team for Main Event, a 14-hour fundraising day for Dance Marathon, an organization to provide funds to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
- U of SC Dance Marathon raised funds for the local CMNH hospital, Prisma Health Center.
- In addition to our Kappa team, many of our members were on staff and held leadership positions on the “Ignite” and “Morale” teams.
'''March 2020 Highlights'''
3/4 - Sweet Tea
- On March 4th, our VP of Academic Excellence, Erin O’Sullivan, hosted and planned our annual professor & students mixer. Here, members of PC ‘18 and PC ‘17 were required to invite a professor of their choice to join them at EK for tea and cake. This was a great bonding opportunity for our girls and allowed them to make further connections with their professors.
3/8 - 3/15 - Spring Break
3/13 - USC Announces Extended Spring Break
...Around the week of March 27th, USC announces that school will be virtual until Fall 2020…
Members quickly had to transition to adapting to online school, but they handled this with grace and positivity. Everything was moved online and our events were forced to be canceled.
Although this was tough on our members and for everyone at U of SC, Chapter meetings every Sunday at 7 pm were still held through the month of May and until the school year ended. Our Chapter Council did an amazing job continuing to meet with and encourage members throughout these tough times.
'''April 2020 Highlights'''
4/26 - Final chapter meeting of the semester.
4/29- 5/6 - Final Exam Week
- During exams, it was important to EK to make sure that our members felt supported. Our VPAE scheduled a Netflix Party and a virtual exercise class during exam week as “Exam Breakers.”
'''May 2020 Highlights'''
5/8 - Graduation
- Senior graduation was virtual this year, but our Education chairman shipped “Senior Gifts” to our graduating members (stainless steel cups with a golden key etched onto it). Education Chairman, Maura Delaney, included a hand-written note and their “Senior Superlative” banner in their gift box.
5/9 - Virtual Initiation
- 2 members of PC’19 were not able to be initiated with everyone else in the Fall, so we rescheduled to have them initiated with HQ. In the week leading up to Initiation, both members received candy and gifts as a way of getting them excited for Initiation.
'''In Memoriam'''
7/24/2020: On July 24th, 2020, our beautiful sister, Ally Carpel (PC’17), passed away tragically and suddenly. This was a very tough time for our members, as Ally was a remarkable person who lit up every room. To celebrate her life, EK hosted a ceremony later in the week to honor her and invite members to share stories about her. Kappa Headquarters, with the assistance of EK, was also able to support her family financially. In the house, we have an Ally memorial set-up where members can write notes and offer up their thoughts/memories to her. In the first week back at school, we held a memorial dinner with Ally’s favorite meal at the house. Mental health is very important to EK and we continue to support our members and her family with this great loss.
'''August 2020 Highlights'''
NOTE: When it was time for everyone to return to school, we had strict guidelines for the house. Everyone was required to wear a mask at all times (even house girls) when leaving their room or entering the house grounds. The meal line was marked with social distance reminders and 3 hand sanitizing stations were at each of the doors. Members were not permitted to eat in the common room, even though we had plastic dividers separating tables. Our chapter and House Board did a remarkable job adhering to CDC guidelines throughout the semester.
8/6 - 8/9: Work Week
- Because of the Coronavirus pandemic, events over 50 people could not be held. As recruitment went on, there was hope of EK being able to hold Preference round in person, but that was later canceled. However, members of EK and especially PC ‘19 worked vigorously over Zoom with our recruitment chair, Sydney Williams, to make sure everything went right. We even had our “themed” days although it was over Zoom. During work week, we had 2 “Zoom Chairs” who would handle breakout rooms. After just a few days of practice, our girls were ready to go.
8/10 - 8/12: Round 1
- This round looked a bit different than in years past (due to COVID). Because of the volume of PNMs, Greek Life was forced to watch and rate “Intro” videos that PNMs recorded.
- Here, we had the opportunity to view PNMs “About Me” videos and see if they would be a good addition to Kappa.
8/13 - 8/14: Round 2
- During “Philanthropy” Round, members had the opportunity to share their experiences with RIF, Girls Academy, and the KKG Foundation.
- During this round, members were assigned morning and/or afternoon “shifts” to break up some of the day.
- We also included a 4-minute philanthropy video documenting EKs love and involvement with all 3 of our philanthropies.
8/16 - 8/18: Round 3
- During “Sisterhood” Round, members were able to form deeper connections with PNMs with extended conversation time.
- We also had a 4-minute video documenting what our sisterhood is like.
8/21 - 8/22: Preference Round
- Preference round was still very special this year even though it looked differently than normal. Although this was still over Zoom, members of EK did a wonderful job recruiting and making PNMs feel welcome.
8/23: Bid Day 2020
- Throughout the day, NMs would “run” to the house in shifts, in accordance with CDC guidelines. Masks were required by everyone, and the spacing out of New Members running home really helped. After NMs received their “buddies,” they were not allowed to do activities together that did not adhere to CDC guidelines (go in a car together, eat less than 6 ft apart). Although this was a disappointment for us, it was important to keep our members safe. Throughout Bid Day, EK did a wonderful job ensuring the safety of members and new members. Our president, Erin Flanagan, hosted an intro Zoom as a celebration for our NMs on the night of Bid Day where they got a chance to meet us, get a house tour, and see what Kappa is like.
8/31: NM Pinning Ceremony
'''September 2020 Highlights'''
9/23: Cowboy Hat Decorating Sisterhood Event
- Members signed up to come to the house and retrieve their cowboy hat decorating “kits” that included a hat, glitter, and other decorations. This was a huge hit for our chapter and members loved it.
- NOTE: Every Saturday, Columbia has a farmers market called “Soda City.” Each week, interested members were added into a “Soda City Group Chat” where they could attend as a group and spend time with one another.
9/30 - 10/3: Inspiration Period
- Here, members took time to reflect on their sisterhood. Coffee + Donuts were provided the day before initiation and a game of I-Assassins was played throughout the week. This allowed for our sisters to spend time together (safely) and get to know each other and bond before Initiation.
9/30: Big/Little Reveal
- Our Zoom Chairman set up our Big/Little reveal on Zoom. All of the girls met in the “main room” and then broke out into separate breakout rooms with their families. Although different than how we normally do it, this was the safest and best option for our chapter.
'''October 2020 Highlights'''
10/3: Initiation
- We separated this year’s virtual initiation into 2 times (one at 9AM and one at 11AM). All in all, the ceremony lasted about 40 minutes and we had the opportunity to invite a few alumni to attend. Although small and not in-person, it turned out to be very intimate and special for our NMs.
10/4: Founders Day/Sesquicentennial Celebration
- To honor Kappa’s 150 years ceremony, we decorated the house and had photos throughout the years displayed.
- We also held a special brunch at the house, including a customized cake for members to enjoy.
- A social media post honoring our sisterhood and its history was posted, and we also invited our members to post recognition for 150 years of sisterhood.
- In addition to our own celebration, on the night of October 13th, members were invited to attend the Kappa HQ Virtual 150 Years Celebration.
10/19 - 10/23 Rally For RIF Week
- Although our semester fundraiser looked a little bit different this semester, we were able to raise over $3,000 for RIF ($3,200 not including % nights/days). Most of our members created donation pages and shared them with friends and family.
- Throughout the week to raise money, we had a percent day at Carolina Cafe and Chipotle, a Virtual Disney Trivia Night, a HIIT workout class, and a percent day for three different local Columbia boutiques.
- NOTE: Throughout the year, we had over 15 other tabs and % nights at restaurants and cafes to raise money for RIF.
10/28: Parents Weekend Zoom
- Parents of members were invited to a “Parents Weekend Zoom” instead of our annual Parent’s Weekend activities (in-person). Here, philanthropy and sisterhood presentations were shared and our House Chairman and President gave a house tour!
'''November 2020 Highlights'''
11/9: Barefoot T-Shirt Cutting + Nail Tab Sisterhood Event
- Members were invited to learn how to cut and create Gameday T-shirts at the house!
- On this same day, members were also invited to sign up for a free manicure at Devine Nails and Spa in Columbia.
11/15: Leadership Day & New Chapter Council is Inducted
- Old Chapter Council officers met with the new CC members and discussed operations and tasks that coincide with particular roles. This was so our new CC felt prepared going into the year.
- 2020-2021’s new Chapter Council was inducted via Zoom chapter
11/17: Kitchen Staff Appreciation Day & Bracelet Making Sisterhood Event
- To honor our kitchen staff, we had a staff appreciation for them where sisters were invited to make cards and decorate the house in their honor. This was a huge success and was a great way to show our gratitude to our staff for being so awesome throughout the year.
- On this same day, we had a bracelet making event at the house where sisters could make customized bracelets (led by one of our members).
11/20: StudioFire Sisterhood Event
- Our Chapter rented out StudioFire, a local Columbia workout center, and booked a class for our members to attend (outside and socially distanced).
'''December 2020 Highlights'''
12/7-12/14: Finals Week
- To encourage our members, our new VPAE offered some “Exam Breakers" throughout the week. These included: entry to win a Starbucks gift card if you sent a picture of you and a sister studying, a Dunkin Donuts Tab, a Yoga Class taught by one of our members, and a HIIT class led by another one of our members. Exam Breakers are always a fun way to reward our sisters with all their hard work and encourage them to keep going!
12/14 - End of Fall Semester 2020
'''Scholarship Awards'''
This year, our EK Scholarship award was given to Anna Dunbar, PC’18, for her academic ability and application. This scholarship is awarded to an individual who has high academic and social integrity, grades, and extracurriculars.
In addition to the EK scholarship, we give about 3 merit-based or need-based scholarships per year.
'''Convention Awards'''
Risk Management Award
Honorable Mention: Epsilon Kappa, South Carolina
Philanthropy Award ~ Signature Event
Honorable Mention: Epsilon Kappa, South Carolina
Recruitment Award
Recipient: Epsilon Kappa, South Carolina
Most Outstanding Chapter Award
Honorable Mention: Epsilon Kappa, South Carolina
'''Diversity Initiatives/Chapter Goals:'''
- The goals this year for our chapter were as follows:
- Increase strong sense of sisterhood for seniors
- Focus on making Chapter Council more approachable
- Focus on increasing involvement with other chapters (not just Greek Village)
- Create a Mental Health & Wellness Department (we did this and it has been a huge success!)
'''Diversity and Equity'''
This year, we decided to create a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
- Goals for this committee were to:
- Increase involvement with other historically African-American sororities and fraternities
- Invite guest speakers focused on issues of racism and diversity/inclusion initiatives to speak to our chapter
Surrounding the death of George Floyd and BLM movements across the country, it was important for EK to turn within the chapter and think about our role in promoting diversity and inclusion. In addition to providing resources for our chapter to utilize to address the injustices, EK took to social media to show our chapter’s support for the movement.
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