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→Highlights of 2013
Since being installed in 2007, Eta Lambda has grown to embody sisterhood and the philanthropy both on campus and off. Currently we hold the highest overall GPA of the Greek organizations on campus emphasizing our focus on academic excellence. We have been growing in the number of members and our outreach on campus. Eta Lambda is excited to continue in the growth of the role of Greek Life on campus as well as in the community.
==Highlights of 2014==
2014 was an exciting year for the Eta Lambda chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Our chapter has continued to grow in both numbers and presence in our Loyola University Chicago community. The Chapter’s current GPA is 3.41, the second highest among Greek organizations at Loyola and we currently have 103 active members. Loyola University is located in the bustling city of Chicago with nearly 10,000 undergraduate students. Our chapter has a strong presence on campus and in the surrounding community as well. This year, we have shown our support through philanthropy, sisterhood, and scholarship. Eta Lambda has exemplified Kappa's philanthropic values through our participation in GIRLS Academy, Sigma Chi's Derby Days, our Kappa Cares events, the Rose McGill Holiday Sharing and more. We held our second annual Kappa Carnival in November and were successful in raising over $6,000 of canned goods and donations for A Just Harvest, a local soup kitchen. The weekend of June 28th, several of Eta Lambda's officers attended Convention where Eta Lambda won the Most Outstanding Chapter. We were elated to have been designated the chapter that exhibits excellence in the performance, efficiency and exemplification of the ideals, mission and standards of Kappa Kappa Gamma.
The past few years have been full of changes with projects to improve Loyola's campus and community, along with initiatives to make Loyola a green campus. In the last year, Loyola's Student Activities and Greek Affairs has required that all greek life chapters hold recruitment during the spring semester. Since we typically hold recruitment during the fall semester this is a change for our chapter. Luckily, we have been able to adjust our calendar to accommodate these new changes. Currently we hold the highest overall GPA of the greek organizations on campus, emphasizing our focus on academic excellence. We have been growing in the number of members and our outreach on campus. Eta Lambda is excited to continue in the growth of the role of greek life on campus as well as in the community.
Our chapter experienced a great start to the 2014 academic year. In February, we honored academic excellence month and celebrated all of our sisters who are devoted to their studies. We had a leadership consultant, Mary Beth, visit campus and advise our chapter. Mary Beth provided Eta Lambda with lots of advice and helpful suggestions for officers, which has benefitted us as a whole. On the weekend of February 8th, Eta Lambda facilitated the local GIRLS Academy event at Morgan Park Elementary School. Around 40 young girls from the school participated. The GIRLS Academy team mentored the girls in small groups where they offered helpful tips about body image, education, money management, positive health habits and how to stand up to a bully.
In March Eta Lambda participated in the campus wide event of Relay for Life in conjunction with the other organizations on campus. During this event we helped raise funds to support the American Cancer Society and attended the Relay for Life’s evening activities in the Gentile Arena. On Saturday, March 29th, we hosted our Sapphire Ball at the stunning Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel Chicago. There we celebrated our sisterhood and danced all night long.
We finished off the semester by hosting the senior brunch to honor the senior girls’ commitment to Kappa. The brunch was held in Palm Court, a beautiful atrium event space on Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus. The seniors signed documents officiating their alumni status in Kappa, and celebrated their sisterhood one last time with their fellow sisters and returning alumni.
Over the summer, several Eta Lambda officers attended Kappa’s annual Convention the weekend of June 28th at the Hilton Hotel in Houston, Texas. Our president, vice president of organization, vice president of standards and advisor attended the event. Eta Lambda is so excited to have received the Most Outstanding Chapter Award at Convention this year. This award is given to the chapter that exhibits excellence in the performance, efficiency and exemplification of the ideals, mission and standards of Kappa Kappa Gamma.
After a long and relaxing break, we returned to Loyola for the start of the 2014-2015 academic year in August. Unlike previous years, we did not hold recruitment during the fall. Instead, our chapter had the unique experience of strengthening our bonds as a chapter for one more semester before adding new members.
Our fall events began with our semi-formal event at Rockit Bar in Wrigleyville on Saturday, September 20th. It was a fantastic night full of fun and sisterhood. In October, the pledge class Panda’s Pearls hosted our most successful Kappa Cares project yet. The pledge class facilitated “Operation Care Package,” where they sold slices of Giordano’s deep-dish pizza to raise money towards care packages for troops over seas. The event was successful in raising over $400 as well as creating countless thank you cards to send to the troops. At the end of October, Eta Lambda participated in Sigma Chi’s annual Derby Days event. We eagerly participated in all of the events, which supported the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, and it was a wonderful way to remind ourselves of the importance of philanthropy. Later in October we hosted our first annual Women’s Weekend, where we were encouraged to invite a special woman in our life to attend a weekend of fun-filled activities. The weekend included a kick off event downtown in Beane Hall and a beautiful brunch in Mundelein auditorium.
November was another eventful month for Eta Lambda. We held our second annual Kappa Carnival philanthropy in Rambler Room on Saturday, November 22nd. Many on campus organizations participated by each setting up a carnival game booth. We had carnival activities such as a cakewalk, face painting, a talent show and more. Kappa Carnival successfully raised over $6,000 of canned goods and donations for A Just Harvest, a local soup kitchen that provides meals for the community 365 days a year. Over 300 people attended the event and it proved to be a success. To end our year, Eta Lambda participated in the annual Rose McGill Holiday Sharing by sending gifts and holiday cheer to a sister in need.
Eta Lambda is really excited and ready to take on the new year including the addition of a new member class. We strive to continue to positively impact both our Loyola and Chicago community. We hope to keep growing and learning as we continue on our journey, while always showing our love and loyalty for Kappa Kappa Gamma.
Our chapter holds meetings in multi-purpose rooms on Loyola's Lake Shore Campus. We rent these rooms out depending on our need for each chapter meeting. At Loyola University Chicago sorority housing is forbidden. There is no housing for our sorority. Instead, Eta Lambda members are allowed to live in whichever dorm or apartment building they see fitting.
==Highlights of 2020s:==
