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→Highlights of 2021
Our chapter was lucky enough to have the Minnie Stewart van visit our chapter at the beginning of the 2020 spring semester before COVID struck. During that time, we also designated a portion of a chapter to review the history of Kappa in order to encourage our members to view and go inside the Minnie Stewart van while it was at TCU. Also, out of caution for our members and the local alumni, the Founders Day celebration was moved to the spring 2021 semester. This is a special time for our chapter as we are invited to attend the dinner that the Fort Worth alumni association hosts. It is special as we are
able to see KKG alumni get their pins and awards for their efforts and work done after they are in college. It really illustrates and personifies the allegory mentioned during fireside on how a new member becomes an active, and an active becomes an alumni.
==Highlights of 2021==
Chapter Summary
Summarize the previous calendar year, scholarships, group honors/awards, Convention awards, traditions, special events, philanthropic involvement, chapter goals.
Epsilon Alpha had an eventful and successful transition back into more “normal” activities in 2021.
In the spring, we remained online due to COVID regulations and were not able to attend in-person events. However, we were still able to hold regular and formal chapter meetings. Our members also had a successful academic year in the spring as we had a collective 3.555 GPA and 38 4.0 individual GPAs. Additionally, we continued traditions such as the cutting of the Ivy ceremony was performed online.
When we returned to the school in August, we were able to hold an in-person recruitment and welcome 92 new members into the chapter. On October 23rd, 90 members were initiated in-person after successfully completely the new-member period.
We integrated the new philanthropy centered around Mental Health and, in September, voted as a chapter to support Mental Health America. Along with supporting other chapter’s philanthropy events, we hosted a new event, “Kicking it with Kappa,” on November 14th to support Mental Health America.
Finally, Epsilon Alpha was finally able to resume social events! We had “Owloween” with Chi Omega, “Kappa Kountry” with Pi Kappa Alpha, and “Kappa Kasino” with Phi Delta Theta! We were super excited to go to events as a chapter and spend time with our friends.
Chapter Philanthropy
What local organization does the chapter support and why? Our chapter voted to support Mental Health America as we believed it best aligned with our mission as a chapter to support the TCU and broader community.
How did the chapter support Kappa’s philanthropy? We hosted a new event, “Kicking it with Kappa,” on November 14th which was a dodgeball tournament to support Mental Health America.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
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.). We welcomed a new officer position on Chapter Council, DEI officer, in the spring. While we could not have any events in the spring due to the delayed appointment process, the DEI officer was able to hold a DEI presentation prior to recruitment week about diversity and inclusion. Additionally, it became a chapter requirement to attend at least one DEI event whether it be through the Epsilon Alpha or another TCU chapter. Throughout the fall semester, we have gotten the chance to listen to presentations about race/hetero-sexual privilege, zooms about other DEI events, and finally start the TCU Kappa DEI Instagram.
Operating in a Pandemic
How did your chapter operations change due to COVID-19 (e.g., how did it affect recruitment, initiation, etc. Were events/activities held virtually?). Share what you have done this year. For the Spring, all of our events had to remain online, and we had to adjust our philanthropy efforts to better serve community. However, we maintained some traditions and rituals virtually such as Cutting of the Ivy and Ritual Chapters.
In the Fall, we were able to go back in-person, following COVID-19 guidelines, and hold an in-person initiation and Founder’s Day Dinner. For chapters, we alternated PCs for normal chapter and then rented out large spaces for ritual chapters for all PCs to attend. Additionally, our philanthropy event was able to be held in-person.