Changes
→Highlights of 2022
==Highlights of 2022==
The Zeta Zeta Chapter of Westminster College returned to campus on January 17th, 2022, for the spring semester. Right off the bat, we decided who to focus our partnership with for our new, and exciting, National Philanthropy, Mental Health Awareness. We picked NEDA, National Eating Disorders, and we were immediately eager to start planning ways to help this organization. We had three girls receive scholarships from the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation for the upcoming academic year. For such a small chapter, we feel as if this is a huge accomplishment and couldn’t be more thankful. Our chapter also received the highest grades awards for the academic year. Our Marshal also implemented a improved “golden hanger award” to a member who dressed the best in key clothes! This was set in place for encouragement for girls to continue wearing key clothes the day after ritual events to class. The award switched to a necklace that the girl gets to wear that week, if she pleases. We also started off the new year with a group visit to The Special Learning Center, our local philanthropy, in Jefferson City on February 2nd, 2022. This was a great way to start off our philanthropic participation for the upcoming year.
We held our first formal of the year on March 4th. This was “Night in Nashville” themed, and the girls all had such a blast. This was a great first sisterhood bonding event that we partook in. Shortly after this, we began participating in other chapters philanthropy days. In March we participated in Alpha Gamma Delta’s Mac and Cheese cook off, where funds went towards Child hunger and Muscular Dystrophy Association. In the middle of March, we participated in Kappa Alpha Order’s and Beta Theta Pi’s Greek philanthropy week. We also donated, but not participated in, Cupcakes for Court Appointed Special Advocates for Kappa Alpha Theta.
Right before spring break, we hosted our annual Kappasta Philanthropy event. This event is when other sororities and fraternities on campus donate different pasta sauces and students come and buy a bowl for lunch. All the money we raised went towards The Special Learning Center and National Eating Disorder Awareness. We raised in total around 600 dollars.
After returning from Spring Break, our chapter hosted an Easter Egg hunt. This was an exciting way to get together for another sisterhood bonding event. Going into April, during Alumni weekend, on April 9th, we allowed any Kappa Alumna to come visit the kappa lounge to look at old scrapbooks and memories from their time at Westminster. We engaged in old stories while eating around a charcuterie board. Following that night, some active Kappa’s attended the Women of Westminster ceremony dinner. The President of Westminster recognized significant women and shared his plans for building sorority houses in the upcoming years. We were fortunate to say that a Kappa Alumni, was the main guest speaker!
Also, during April, we participated in Delt’s car wash philanthropy event for JDFR. To end the month, we were able to host the first annual Sapphire Ball since covid. This was bittersweet for all the members who have not had one the past two years. This event was located at a local Winery in Jefferson City. To end the year, on May 14th, we said goodbye to 9 lovely senior members at the graduation ceremony. We had one Kappa graduate receive the Westminster College Alumna Association Outstanding Senior Award.
Over the summer, we had one member attend the National Convention in Palm Springs, California. She had an amazing experience meeting different active Kappa’s and alumni from different chapters. She sat in on business meetings regarding the Bylaws, as well as educational sessions to better our chapter.
Our chapter returned to Westminster College on August 17th to prepare for work week and recruitment. We had 12 girls move on the floor for this academic year. For the week of recruitment practice, we held different themed dress up days for practice, a pajama party, and a photoshoot on the hill. Both of these allowed our sisters to get closer to one another. Also, this year, Westminster developed a new schedule for recruitment, and it consisted of informal and formal events during a two-week time span. Panhel hosted a diversity meeting right before our first informal pre-recruitment event, on August 21st, which consisted of smoothies and coffee at JCI. We held two other mixed informal events with the other two sororities as well as facility tours and Meet the Greeks in the Quad. Recruitment lasted until September 5th when we welcomed 7 lovely new girls during our Mad Happy themed Bid Day celebration. Our members were then pledged in two days later and began their New Member Programming facilitated by our New Member Chair.
On September 16th, we had one member fly to Ohio to attend the Leadership Academy Retreat. This member learned leadership skills regarding vision, grip, relationships, confidence, and adaptability through various programs as well as outdoor activities. This member had a blast and reported back to the chapter sharing her experience.
On September 28th, The Center of Faith and Services partnered with Stream Team, a organization we used as our local philanthropy when Covid was occurring, so all Kappa members attended and helped clean up our campus and Stinson Creek. On September 21st, we baked Oreo balls for Alpha Gamma Delta’s bake off in order to support their national philanthropy.
October was a busy month for Kappa. We started the month off with our annual Golf Tournament on the 8th. We raised a total of $5,600 for NEDA and Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation. Immediately following this, we all begin practicing for initiation. Our Inspiration week started off on October 16th with Big/Little reveal and ended on October 23rd with initiating 6 new girls into our chapter as well as a banquet for lunch. For Founder’s Day we all got together and sang Kappa songs and bonded. We pushed off the Ceremony to happen the first week of November due to all the chaos during October 14th. Right after initiation, we immediately were visited by an LC worker. Emma, the LC worker, provided amazing advice to better our chapter. She spoke with all members with a position over zoom, sat in on one of our chapters, and held a closing meeting on October 27th. Also, during the week of the 23rd-27th it was Body Positivity Week. Going along with our national philanthropy, NEDA, National Eating Disorder Association, we decided to host a programming table in JCI during the week to educate body positivity to fellow students around the campus. To end the month, on Halloween, we participated in CAB’s event of Spooky Sidewalk. We decorated a truck and passed out candy to kids who live in Fulton on Westminster Hill.
Throughout the year, we saw our new DEI officer go above and beyond at fulfilling her position. She incorporated numerous education sessions, one every month, in order to educate our chapter on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Moving forward to the last two months of 2022, we plan in November to create baskets for the SLC kids for Thanksgiving. We also soon will be hosting elections and transitions to new positions.