Changes
→Highlights of 2014
There have been no significant changes on campus. The overall nature of our chapter is very positive and optimistic. We plan on have just as a successful 2014 as we did a 2013. Our chapter is excited to continue on this progressive path in the year to come.
==Highlights of 2015==
Epsilon Omega Chapter started off 2015 with a bang when we welcomed 26 new Kappas into our fraternity. This is the first time the school has done recruitment in the spring of students’ first year at Dickinson, and it was a great success! We also gave out COB bids to two very special and deserving girls.
We started the year with philanthropy in mind when we held our annual Kappa Kisses fundraiser. We made Valentine’s Day cards, attached chocolate kisses to them, and students were able to send notes to friends. We raised $740 for the Domestic Violence Services in the area. Our Kappas also assisted in serving a Pancake Breakfast for the local Children’s Center. It was extremely rewarding and we have continued our relationship with the coordinator there. We also sent Kappas to the Winter Carnival at North Dickinson Elementary School. The volunteers ran games, sold refreshments, and overall had an amazing, energetic afternoon!
Other highlights of the spring semester include the college’s Relay for Life. Many of our sisters have witnessed the horrifying effects of cancer, so we all walked that night in letters to support them and everyone else who has battled cancer. We ended the year with the Senior Brunch. This was an incredibly sentimental morning, as we wish our seniors could stay with us, but it was great to have one last sisterhood event with them.
We began the new academic year volunteering for the annual 5K, Run for Steph. This is an event on campus that is very close to our hearts and helps to bring us closer together. We hosted Lip Sync in October. There was an impressive turnout—we raised around $3,725 as well as collected many books. The money and books were donated to our national philanthropy Reading is Fundamental. Our sisters continue to volunteer for Homework Club, which is an after school program at two local elementary schools. This is an incredibly rewarding and memorable experience for them, and many girls continue their volunteer work there all throughout their time at Dickinson. Our chapter attended a gender based violence prevention workshop with Kelly Wilt, the Violence Prevention Coordinator at Dickinson. It was an engaging and eye opening presentation. We can’t wait to work with Kelly again!
The Epsilon Omega chapter named Lauren Gessner ’16 as the recipient for the Kauffman Key. She was voted by her sisters as demonstrating a true and joyful love of learning, of friends, and of Kappa that serves as an inspiration and model to all chapter members. We also started polished sister awards this semester. Sisters can nominate other Kappas who have been working hard and have been in good spirits, as well as have been put together. The “polished sisters” receive a bottle of Essie nail polish as a prize. This has been a fun way to recognize those who have represented Kappa well.
This calendar year, our chapter has faced a few challenges but has worked tirelessly to overcome them and improve. In response to our focus letter, we implemented Round Robins for the Chapter Council. In response to our chapter’s mediocre GPA, Kate Eby ’18, our Vice President of Academic Excellence, has initiated changes within the chapter to encourage our sisters to improve their academics. We are implementing a period of concern for 2016, sisters with ‘U’s on their roll call grades are required to meet with the VPAE and President, etc. While our LC was here, she listed officer training and leadership as one of Epsilon Omega’s weaknesses. To fix this, all members of Chapter Council updated their leadership binders and included extra tips for the next girl to hold the position. We also are bringing in a leadership trainer and having a leadership workshop when we get back to school in January 2016. A challenge we foresee in 2016 is a large group of girls going through recruitment. To be proactive with this issue, it is now mandatory for all seniors to attend every night of recruitment. We are bursting with excitement to meet our next class of Kappas and see what 2016 has in store for us!
Our campus has continued to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of Greek life on campus. We have worked with the other Greek organizations on campus to support each other and the college, showing all that Kappa and Greek life in general add to campus life. The Blue Ribbon Project was started to evaluate Greek life from a third party perspective. This is a great way for us to voice our opinions of Greek life. In order to unify the sororities on campus with administration and faculty, we held a Teacher Appreciation night. We are motivated to continue working with the college to improve the impression of Greek life on campus!
The nature of the Epsilon Omega chapter in general is one of extreme pride, sisterhood, and optimism. We are looking forward to continuing to make a difference on campus and in the community. All the members of Epsilon Omega know that we are an organization that is only as strong as our weakest link. Everyday we strive to be the best fraternity of women as possible and will continue to work together in order to achieve all of our goals!
Chapter Philanthropy:
What organization(s) has your chapter historically/traditionally raised money for, or donated hours to, in your community?
We support our national philanthropies, Reading is Fundamental and the Kappa Kappa Gamma Organization. We also support the Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland County and Perry County.
Why did your chapter choose this organization(s) to support?
Our chapter has a devotion to literacy and education. We also love children and try to involve them in our philanthropy efforts whenever we can!
==Highlights of 2020s:==