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→Highlights of 2021
Delta Pi dedicated time in the chapter before Founders Day to talk about the online celebration HQ was hosting. Many sisters joined the celebration online and some also had quick chats on Zoom. Members used this day to celebrate sisterhood as well as used it to grieve the time spent behind a computer and not with each other. Delta Pi has done amazing work at keeping our sisterhood alive during this time of uncertainty, and the Sesquicentennial celebration was yet another way for us to spend time together.
==Highlights of 2021==
Entering 2021 was filled with challenges and triumphs for Delta Pi chapter. Of course, the
obvious challenge being the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but Delta Pi was dynamic and
innovative in chapter events and sisterhood. For the first part of 2021, most of our chapter
events were virtual, like chapter meetings. We were able to incorporate hybrid events with
limited in-person attendance. Our chapter was flexible and ensured members’ safety was the
top priority for all events.
Though we were often more than six feet apart, our chapter still worked on keeping a good
sisterhood. An integral part to having a positive and healthy sisterhood is respect and inclusion.
So Delta Pi appointed Alley Doyle (PC 18) as the first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
Chairman to the Chapter Council Leadership (officially nominated on January 17). Alley led the
chapter’s DEI initiatives to an encouraging start with helpful programs throughout the year
including discussing equity versus equality, Black History Month, what bias is, and adding a DEI
“word of the week” for small educational nuggets on DEI principles. Our chapter is so proud of
Alley and the mark she left as the first DEI Chairman and the excitement she created towards
pushing Delta Pi to being a more inclusive chapter as it evolves.
Delta Pi’s Vice President of Standards and Sisterhood, Caiton Wilmoth (PC 19), along with her
committee also organized many hybrid events to grow and maintain sisterhood. We proved to
be a really crafty chapter when our members created vision boards for our Galentine’s Day
event and in making embroidery pieces for our “Kappa Kappa Grandmas” event with many
members dressing up to theme! We also had a mental wellness and personal growth sisterhood
aimed towards teaching members on how to establish practical and useful mental health
techniques. Our Event Chairman, Grace Cox, (PC 19) led a virtual chapter dance event where
chapter members followed a dance video on YouTube together!
In addition to events with our chapter members, Delta Pi also did a grab and go Ice Cream
Social with Tri Delta and was able to connect with our Zeta Sigma Sisters (University of North
Texas) for a virtual study night, led by Cassie Vestal (PC 19), the Vice President of Academic
Excellence.
Our sisterhood grew in the spring of 2021, with a successful continuous open bidding process
led by Membership Chairman, Maddie Kalsu (PC 19). Delta Pi gained two new members, Grace
Brasfield and Vivian Hausman, who were able to have a hybrid Initiation, with many chapter
members able to participate in-person and online. They were welcomed immediately and the
chapter was so excited to share Kappa’s ideals with them.
Carrying the Kappa ideals and principles in our everyday lives, Delta Pi’s chapter members also
led successful philanthropic endeavors and Panhellenic successes. The Philanthropy Chairman,
Kallyn Meyer (PC 19), planned many events for Delta Pi. A virtual version of our traditional
Reading is Key event was held by reading fun children’s books and playing classroom games
with kindergarteners over Zoom and over 700 books were donated to the school. We also
hosted our annual Kappaccino event with a Coffee Truck outside the Delta Pi house and raised
$863 towards Reading is Fundamental. Our members were so excited for the opportunity to
continue to support children’s literacy. New philanthropy events were established including
Kappa Classes, which were virtual classes led by chapter members to raise money for the Kappa
Kappa Gamma Foundation. We give honorable mentions to Maci Montgomery (PC19), Grace
Cox, Emma Bauer (PC 18), Eliza Osborne (PC 18), Brooke Newhouse (PC 19), and Celie Strain (PC
19) for leading these classes and raising $370. Izzy Juliao (PC 20) also led the chapter in a
feminine hygiene product drive. Another exceptional member, Avery Smith (PC 18), received
the Panhellenic awards for Outstanding Senior and Outstanding Panhellenic Involvement for
the 2020-21 school year.
After a successful spring, Delta Pi was so ready and excited to be back in person for the fall.
Many members were welcomed back with a new patio on the west side of the house, which
included a ramp to make the house more accessible! In addition, a new meal plan was installed
and many members were happy to have all-house meals every week and eat with their sisters
again (and newly deemed “beautiful divas of Kappa Kappa Gamma” as Chef Dion likes to say).
More changes this semester included a new Director of Sorority and Fraternity Life for the
University of Tulsa to help with the new Formal Recruitment format. Recruitment now began
the weekend after the first week of school and the three rounds spanned over five days. This
new format was challenging for all members, but all the hard work during Spirit Week paid off.
After a successful and innovative recruitment led by Maddie Kalsu and the membership
committee, Delta Pi welcomed an 11 member pledge class, making our house the largest
among the sororities on campus!
After recruitment, the chapter had a whirlwind of a semester, with events nearly every week!
Kallyn led another successful philanthropy week supporting the new philanthropic
organizations, initiated by the change from Kappa Kappa Gamma Headquarters that summer.
We still hosted our annual Kappa Klassic dodgeball tournament and raised $700 for the
National Eating Disorder Association. Our annual philanthropic pasta dinner was opened to all
of campus and raised $1,336 for Mental Health America.
After philanthropy week, the chapter began preparing for Initiation for PC 21. For big/little
reveal, the new members received a piece of wrapping paper and had to find the door in the
house with the matching wrapping paper. Their Inspiration Period also included a game night
sisterhood, including an energetic karaoke session, a ghost-themed secret pal reveal, and a fully
in-person Initiation! The chapter was able to celebrate Founders Day with the Tulsa Alumnae
Association and incorporate the newly initiated members into Kappa traditions with alumnae.
Our chapter continued to be very active, led by a strong Chapter President, Caroline Williams
(PC 19). We participated in campus intramurals for flag football and volleyball (and had the best
cheering sections!) and other philanthropic events like Kappa Alpha Theta’s Kickin for CASA and
Chi Omega’s Hootiefest. We also hosted our annual Owloween dance event with Chi Omega
and KA Newlyweds Function with Kappa Alpha Order. Emma Clark (PC 18) as a member of the
Standards committee planned a great “Kappa Klue” sisterhood event, which is essentially a live-
action version of the Clue game, though using the rooms around the house. Becca Watson (PC
20) also took initiative in organizing a gift exchange for our chapter before the semester ends!
Alley Doyle and Celie Strain (PC 19), DEI Chairman and Education Chairman respectively, led a
great program on pronoun usage. Jamie Nichols (PC 19), Public Relations Chairman, organized a
Family Weekend open house for Delta Pi active members’ families to come to the house, play
some yard games, and connect before the Homecoming Game. During the Homecoming
festivities, Ann Marie Flusche (PC 18) was recognized as a Jess Chouteau Outstanding Senior by
the University of Tulsa Alumni Association. Plus, Caiton was also leading the campus in these
activities through her role as Homecoming director!
This was an ever evolving and different year for Delta Pi, but we were able to celebrate our
chapter’s traditions and heritage through our 75th anniversary celebrations. Led by Marshal,
Remmi Smith (PC 18), our chapter hosted an open house during Homecoming Weekend to
welcome Delta Pi Kappa alumnae back into the house. Alumnae and actives were able to
connect and the chapter archives were displayed, with artifacts dating as far back as our
founding in 1946. The anniversary festivities also included a birthday party on the actual 75th
anniversary on November 2, 2021. The birthday party included a special ceremony highlighting
the past, present, and future of Delta Pi.
Finally, with the semester coming to an end, Cassie and the Academic Excellence committee led
“A Week to Recharge.” The programming this week began with affirmations for our sisters and
included a fitness class, a movie night, a game night, and a walk with our sisters when the
weather became nice!
Overall, Delta Pi proved to be as resilient as ever in 2021 and continues to show progress and
growth. Our chapter has great history and we are so excited to be able to celebrate with all of
our sisters: past, present and future.
Photographs can be accessed here (provided by Chapter members via PhotoCircle):
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VcUoD231MJDnr_tNiwOnNXf8atzcj35C?usp=sharing
(BONUS: Delta Pi was also gifted Amazon Fire Sticks by the House Board for the Front of the
House and Bounge televisions which prove to be game changers in movie nights!)