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→Highlights of 2016
In the fall, we welcomed two new sisters that had transferred from different schools. The chapter was very excited about both of the new sophomore pledge class members and each has been an excellent addition to our sisterhood. In September, we hosted our annual philanthropy event, Kappa Kourtisde. This has been a favorite in the past and continued to be a great success this year. We doubled our total last year and raised over $2,000 for RIF and the Claire Marie Foundation, a children’s cancer philanthropy that is close to one of our sister’s hearts. Additionally, our chapter attended two “Reading Is Key” events. During these events, members visited learning centers, Youthlife Delmont and Overby Sheppard, to spend time with and read with the children. This fall, we also had great attendance and participation at all of the other chapters’ philanthropy events. Our SOEs were a huge success this fall as well. We had the most attendance we have ever had at all of our educational events, including a fashion consultant’s presentation on how to dress your best and a self-defense class. The seniors also really enjoyed their bonding event at Escape Room RVA. The two socials that we hosted this semester were our annual Red, White, Blue & Blue and 365 Days of Kappa. 365 Days of Kappa was a new theme where sisters dressed in costumes based on a specific holiday during the year. Both socials ran the smoothest they ever have, with excellent risk teams. Around Halloween, we had the LC visit. Our sisters had a great time getting to know her during meetings throughout the week, as well as during a group trip to a local pumpkin patch. We had fun picking out pumpkins, as well as carving and decorating them together afterwards. Our CC members valued the LC’s insights and received a strong report back. The Friday before final exams began, we hosted Kappaccino, which has quickly become a favorite tradition. We closed the semester by adopting a family in need and raising money to purchase Christmas gifts for them. We surpassed our fundraising goal and had a fun time shopping and wrapping presents together in the cottage for the family.
Overall, our chapter has improved in many areas and has grown closer as whole. The implementation of the Owl, Key, and Fleur de Lis groups have been a huge success, and have encouraged amazing turn-out for our own events, as well as other chapters’ events. Our members have been excited about attending all events and it is our goal to continue the enthusiasm to provide a strong foundation for our new pledge class. We look forward to keeping the traditions that we have already put in place, as well as implementing new ideas for the chapter in the future.
== Highlights of 2017 ==
This January the Zeta Omicron chapter welcomed 28 new members into our sisterhood. Recruitment Week culminated in a Bid Day celebration at an ice skating rink as well as a pizza party. Following Recruitment, we had Officer Transitions and the previous and incoming CC met with their advisors to make the transitions as smooth as possible. The new CC set individual, position-specific goals and created broader strategic chapter goals. In addition, the new CC began using the GIN System, which was well received by the chapter and has proven to be very effective.
In February, we hosted Kappa Kisses, our annual Valentine’s Day philanthropy event when we deliver candy grams to students across campus for those who donate. This event was a success and was a great opportunity for the new members to bond with each other as well as get to know older women in the chapter. Overall, we had an extremely successful New Member Period. During this time, the new members attended several meetings to both get to know each other as well as learn about Kappa’s history and traditions. Due to a few new members having conflicts, we held two separate initiations this spring that both ran extremely smoothly. Following initiation, we had a beautiful brunch for the entire chapter.
Once all of the new members were initiated, we hosted our annual spring formal at the end of March. This year’s theme was Masquerade and the entire chapter and their dates fully embraced the theme and had a wonderful time dancing the night away in their masks and costumes. Towards the end of the spring, we held a new philanthropy event, Kappa Karaoke, a friendly karaoke competition to win a variety of prizes donated by local businesses. In addition to our own Karaoke event, our sisters helped the Sigma Chi fraternity raise more money than they ever had for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. Our chapter donated more than any other organization on campus. The Zeta Omicron chapter also came in either first or second place for almost every philanthropy event on campus including Pi Beta Phi’s Ballin’ for Book, Kappa Delta’s Wing Fling, and Tri Delta’s Delta Dodgeball.
In April, the seniors took a bonding trip to Charlottesville and during finals week the chapter got together for several Chipotle and pizza study breaks. Lastly, we closed out the spring semester with a beautiful banquet celebrating our sisters who were graduating. The banquet was a great way to create a memorable event for the graduating seniors and wish them luck in their future endeavors.
In mid-August, we returned to campus to begin the 2017-2018 academic year. It was great to see and catch up with sisters that we had not seen for a couple of months. Many of our members are studying abroad this semester in cities all across the world including: Sydney, Madrid, Paris, London, and Copenhagen.
The Zeta Omicron chapter held their annual fall philanthropy event, Kappa Kourtside, a doubles tennis tournament in September. This event raised $5,592, over double from last year! The proceeds went to two amazing organizations: Reading is Fundamental and the Michael B. Finnegan Foundation which honors the legacy of the father of a member who passed away on September 11th. The Michael B. Finnegan Foundation’s mission honors Mike’s memory and spirit by continuing his way of living life: giving generously. The foundation founded the “Michael B. Finnegan Golf Learning Center – The First Tee of the Palm Beaches” located in Palm Beach, Florida and our donation held to start a golf program for women at the center. Also in September, we had our annual Red, White, Blue and Blue social.
In October, we held a Kappa Kappa Gamma tailgate during Homecoming Weekend where we celebrated with many of our alums who came back to campus. It was fun to see all of the sisters that graduated last May! We had our second social of the semester in November, Kappa Kappa Galaxy where the sisters and their dates all dressed up in outer space-theme costumes. The week before Thanksgiving we held our own Kappa Thanksgiving, organized by VP Standards, and feasted on homemade Thanksgiving dinner and desserts. It was a great hit! In December, we hosted Kappaccino and gave out free coffee and sold donuts outside of the library during finals week. In addition, each of the pledge classes held their own Secret Santa, exchanging small gifts to get in the holiday spirit before leaving for Winter Break!
==Highlights of 2020s:==