Delta Phi
ΔΦ
| Delta Phi | |
|---|---|
| ΔΦ | |
 | |
| Founded | October 30, 1948 |
| College | Bucknell University |
| Location | Lewisburg, PA |
| Homepage | Delta Phi Homepage |
| Media related to Delta Phi Chapter | |
Bucknell University established 1846, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
Delta Phi founded October 30, 1948 - 36 charter members
1,891 initiates (as of June 2012)
Some of Delta Phi’s Outstanding Alumnae (If you have chapter alumna who have received recognition in any of these three categories, please list them with the date(s) of recognition.)
Fraternity Council Members
Katherine Scholberg Weeks, Director of Membership 1996-2000, Field Secretary 1977-1978; Colby Giulin, Leadership Consultant 2008-2009
Fraternity Loyalty Award
Alumnae Achievement Awards
Additional Outstanding Delta Phi Alumnae
Katherine Scholberg (Weeks), Graduate Counselor 1976-1977, Lola Nashashibi (Grace), Graduate Counselor 1977-1978
Contents
The Early Years
Bucknell was the 100th college chartered in America, established as the University of Lewisburg in 1846, by a group of local Baptists. Among contributors for the founding was William Bucknell, a Philadelphia businessman. Other funds came from the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia and from other Baptist congregations in the state. In 1886 the university was renamed in Bucknell’s honor. The college later became privately controlled.
At the time of Delta Phi’s founding, there was an enrollment of 2,400 undergraduates, with students from 38 states and 8 foreign countries. A Second Century Development Program, which included planning for nine new buildings and an increase in the university’s endowment, was under way at that time.
The history of Delta Phi really began in late June 1946, when a student decided to start a local group at Bucknell University with membership in Kappa Kappa Gamma as its goal.
Another sorority was needed on the Bucknell Campus. An interested student expressed her feelings and desire to the Dean of Women and found, to her surprise, that the Dean had been a Beta Iota at Swarthmore. There were two other Kappas on the faculty from Gamma Rho, Allegheny, and Gamma Alpha, Kansas State. With their help and with data from the files, a list of girls was made. On June 23, 1946, a meeting was called. All were enthusiastic about forming the group, so much so that they temporarily forgot it was exam week! There was much to be decided, standards to uphold, goals to be attained, a constitution and bylaws to be written. They all agreed that they wanted first to work together as a local chapter to become Kappas. They took the name of Alpha Sigma Alpha.
By the following fall, Alpha Sigma Alpha is a going sorority. Six other sororities were on campus, all national groups. The new local became a member of the campus Panhellenic Council, and was anxious to cooperate and make its first rush season a most successful one. It was a busy time, and the membership was enlarged to 21.
Although they had not been close friends when they started, they had been carefully selected. Looking back after a year with Alpha Sigma Alpha, it seemed almost impossible that a group of women students, relatively unknown to each other, could have molded themselves into an active unit involved with rushing, pledging, dances, intra-mural activities, floats, song contests, and scholarship rules. All of these had parts in the process of unification. Each member had worked hard to give her sorority a position of esteem on the campus. As the membership grew, so did a spirit of loyalty and friendship, binding each with common ideals, aims, hopes, and purposes. The national Fraternity was contacted, but gave no encouragement. Finally Kappa decided to look over the Bucknell group, which was now being approached by other leading women’s fraternities. After this official inspection, the chapter was approved unanimously.
Delta Phi was installed October 30, 1948, by Delta Alpha from nearby Pennsylvania State University. Six of the girls had been graduated in June 1948, including the chapter founder, but all came back for the installation that fall.
Few installations have been distinguished by the presence of so many who have made Kappa history. Fraternity President Helena Flinn Ege, Pittsburgh, read the ritual. Present were, among other alumnae, Clara O. Pierce, Ohio State; Rheva Ott Shryock, Pennsylvania; Mary Turner Whitney, Cincinnati; and Katheryn Bourne Pearse, Purdue. A dream was finally fulfilled.
The first year’s activities included a Christmas party, a mock rush party with skit, a Founders Day banquet, a semi-formal pledge dance, and cozies. The main fundraising projects included magazine sale and candy apple sale at the Kappa May Day booth. Delta Phi’s spring picnic became an annual event. A requirement of that year became a tradition—but it wasn’t a tradition for long, fortunately—a weekly study sheet, showing how many hours each member was studying. A Christmas party for the children at Gersinger Medical Center was the first year’s philanthropy project. Later that year, the Kappas provided tea and entertainment at the Evangelical Home.
Highlights of the 1950s and 1960s
The Kappa Kappa Gamma banner was made in 1950; industrious pledges served breakfasts to the actives; and that favorite sport, bowling, was one way to get big and little sisters together. The piano fund was started in 1951 with a perfume sale. In 1955, when the chapter discovered it needed a silver tea service, shampoo was sold.
Philanthropies have included the raising of money to support a child, Save the Children Foundation (1952), community projects such as collecting and distributing canned goods (1966), and group therapy at a local elementary school (1970). A pledge project became a tradition—an Easter basket sale with proceeds going to community and health services.
Social and campus highlights included a visit to the Delta Alphas, the first redecoration of the Delta Phi suite (1953), the first Powderpuff football game (1955), the Panhellenic Scholarship Cup (1956), and Monmouth Duo with Sigma Chi as hosts to the Kappas and Pi Phis (1958). The Pumpkin Walk tradition began in 1965 with the sophomores carving and delivering pumpkins to each fraternity while chanting pumpkin carols. Delta Phi won the Sigma Chi Derby in 1966, and the Monmouth Duo that year was especially fun since the Pi Phis wore dark and light blue and the Kappas wore wine and silver blue. In 1967, the name “Blue Hooters” was adopted by the Delta Phi singing group and has been kept ever since.
Highlights of the 1970s
Following the ravages of the flood of 1972, Delta Phi earmarked all 1972 fundraising profits for the Bucknell Flood Fund. Beginning with a Kappa-Tri Delta Powderpuff football game (0-0) and continuing with a Panhellenic cookbook sale, a sizable contribution was made for restoration of damaged areas of the Music and Arts Building.
With awareness of campus relations as well as of the changing roles of women, Kappa sponsored a fall Colloquy Seminar on “Women Today.” Spring Colloquy’s photography exhibit on prison reform was partly sponsored by Delta Phi.
From the time Delta Phi chapter was founded to 1973, when the chapter founder’s daughter took up the president’s gavel, Delta Phi has grown and kept pace with the changing times and the changing college student. The chapter can look with pride at the past 25 years, can set its present goals, and can look to the future with a new awareness and a strengthened sisterhood.
The previous information was excerpted from The History of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity, 1870-1976. The information that follows has been gleaned from available resources including Chapter History Reports, chapter meeting minutes, letters and comments from chapter members and alumnae, the Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity Archives, and The Key. Each chapter is expected to update its history record annually. Contact Fraternity Headquarters at kkghq@kkg.org with questions.
Remainder of the 1970s:
From 1975-1979, the chapter members lived together in a dorm building. Delta Phi also had a suite to use for chapter activities and some housing, although only a small number of members were able to live in the suite.
Highlights of the 1980s
The 1980s were busy for the members of Delta Phi chapter as the chapter often recruited around 40 New Members. This decade saw the creation of the JUGS (Just Us Girls) event at the beginning of the school year to welcome back sisters who studied abroad during the spring semester. Other sisterhood activities included CommUNITY (Working for the Community; Working toward Unity), the Kappa Kotillion formal, and Monmouth Duo with Pi Phi. Members also benefited from programs focused on personal development, including a race relations workshop and an alcohol awareness lecture.
The chapter advanced their Risk Management policies with the creation of a “21 room” at social events. The members also focused on improving scholarship, which proved successful as Kappa was recognized for having the highest GPA on campus. In 1989, Delta Phi received several awards from IFC/Panhel, including Oustanding Greek Pledge, Outstanding Advisors, and Outstanding Public Relations.
Philanthropy:
Delta Phi’s commitment to philanthropy continued throughout the decade. In 1987, the chapter organized the Kappa Invitational golf tournament to benefit the Himmelreich Library, a historic library in Lewisburg. Each year, the Kappa’s also organized a Balloon Derby, a popular campus event. In 1989, the chapter worked to revise the Balloon Derby in order to make it more environmentally friendly. Convention Awards:
Highlights of the 1990s
The 1990s brought many changes to the Delta Phi chapter. In 1991, the university changed the timing of Recruitment. Instead of going through Recruitment during the spring semester of freshman year, women were required to wait until the fall semester of their sophomore year to join a sorority. Even with this change in Recruitment regulations, Kappa continued to add an average of 40 new members to its roster. Bucknell also made changes to rules regarding alcohol, which caused the students to revisit their Risk Management policies and programs. Although faced with these challenges, Delta Phi rose to the occasion and implemented a variety of new programs to meet the needs of the growing chapter.
In 1991, the Kappas paired with Sigma Chi to host Greek Smarts, a campus-wide Risk Management program. Members also attended the Lead to Succeed program hosted by Alpha Tau Omega during the spring of 1992. Delta Phi worked on membership development programs for chapter women, including ritual reviews, chapter-wide sisterhood retreats, and committee participation programs aimed at encouraging participation within a large chapter. Additionally, the chapter prided itself on the large number of members who studied abroad.
Delta Phi chapter members were rewarded for their hard work as they were often recognized during the campus IFC/Panhel awards ceremony. The chapter received the Outstanding Pledge Program award in 1991. In 1995, Kappa received the following awards: Outstanding Chapter Operations, Outstanding Community Service and Philanthropy, and Most Outstanding Chapter Leadership Development and Transition. More importantly, Delta Phi was repeatedly named Bucknell’s Most Outstanding Chapter throughout the decade. The chapter also rewards members for academic excellence with the Diamond Key award. On October 24, 1998, Delta Phi chapter at Bucknell celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Housing:
Throughout the decade, Delta Phi maintained a suite to be used for chapter activities.
Philanthropy:
Philanthropy remained important to Delta Phi during the 1990s. The chapter women hosted a multitude of philanthropic events, including Adopt-A-Highway, Crop Walk for Hunger, and Women in Transition. A popular fundraiser for the chapter was the Scrunchie Sale for Housatonic Adolescent Psychiatric Hospital. The Kappas also donated their time to the community by tutoring students at a local junior and senior high school and lunching with area senior citizens. For the campus community, the chapter hosted a Kappachino study break in 1997.
Convention Awards:
1996: Most Efficient Chapter
Highlights of 2000-2010
Delta Phi chapter helped lead Bucknell into the twenty-first century. When the university imposed the Plan for Prominence, the seven sororities and twelve fraternities were encouraged to strive for a higher level of responsibility within the individual chapters. The fraternities and sororities remained in good standing with the faculty and staff, as a result of complying with the rules, hosting campus events and activities, and performing community service. Delta Phi excelled in the Plan for Promince challenge and was awarded the “Silver Star” in 2008. The chapter also maintained one of the highest GPAs of the Greek organizations on campus. Additionally, the Kappas served as leaders on campus as individual members were involved in a variety of clubs, activities, and sports teams.
Recruitment was successful throughout the decade as the chapter often added over 50 New Members, making Delta Phi the largest Greek organization on campus.
In 2005, Delta Phi chapter hosted the Beta Province Meeting. At the Founders Day dinner on October 18, 2008, the Kappas celebrated the 60th anniversary of the chapter’s establishment at Bucknell Univesrity.
Housing:
During the decade, Delta Phi chapter claimed a suite in Hunt Hall as its home. The Kappas shared this living space with members of five other sororities.
Philanthropy:
The Kappas at Bucknell were kept busy with philathropic activities. In 2004, the chapter hosted its first annual Kappa Klassic co-ed soccer tournament to raise money for Reading is Fundamental. Delta Phi often contributed to the Special Olympics, Relay for Life, and Big Brother/Big Sister. The chapter organized a Locks of Love hair-drive on campus, which proved to be an annual success. Around Valentine’s Day each year, the chapter sold Kappa Kisses, little chocolates with personalized messages, to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. In 2007, the Kappas brought a new project to Bucknell’s campus called Charity Denim. Designer and fashion jeans were sold at a discount price to university students and proceeds were donated to a local organization, the Donald L. Heiter Community Center. Delta Phi also remembered the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation in its philanthropic efforts and raised funds during the annual Parents’ Weekend Tailgate. Each year, the chapter devotes hundreds of hours of service to community organizations and raises thousands of dollars for philanthropies.
Convention Awards:
Highlights of 2011-2019
2011
Delta Phi continued its tradition of campus leadership in 2011. The chapter was well-represented in many different sports teams, clubs, and organizations around campus. Members were active in outreach organizations such as Bucknell Buddies tutoring program, the Bucknell Brigade, and Colleges Against Cancer. To benefit the Bucknell community, Kappa hosted five non-alcoholic all-campus events including a trip to Bounce Funplex, making holiday cards for the local Children’s hospital, a game night, and an ice cream social. The chapter continued its academic achievement with a high average GPA.
Although Bucknell’s Panhellenic Council mandated a “no frills” Recruitment policy, Delta Phi welcomed 46 New Members in 2011. In 2012, the chapter was able to participate in Continuous Open Bidding and added New Members during the spring semester.
Housing:
Delta Phi chapter occupies a suite within Hunt Hall, which is shared with six other sororities.
Philanthropy:
In 2011, the Bucknell Kappas continued to give back to the community through a variety of philanthropic activities, including the chapter’s annual Kappa Kisses sale. Delta Phi once again hosted a Locks of Love hair drive and a Reading Is Fundamental book drive. The chapter also supported RIF during its annual Kappa Klassic soccer tournament. The Kappas raised money for Relay for Life.
Delta Phi often worked with other Greek-letter organizations at Bucknell for philanthropy events. The chapter women made Valentine’s Day cards for the elderly with Pi Beta Phi. They also teamed up with the brothers of Phi Gamma and Sigma Phi Epsilon and the sisters of Pi Beta Phi to raise money for the local dog shelter, Mostly Mutts, with a powder-puff football game.
2012
2012 was a great year for the Delta Phi chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma in which the whole chapter can reflect on with pride. Kappas were involved in multiple fronts on campus as they continued to pursue excellence in both academic and extracurricular realms. For the spring semester of 2011, we achieved an average term GPA of 3.49 and were able to maintain the same academic standard through the fall. This average falls above the campus all-female and all-sorority GPA average of the university. We are also very proud to have 11 members of our chapter earn a 4.0 GPA for the spring semester, and 9 members earn a 4.0 GPA in the fall.
Aside from academic accomplishment, Kappas were extremely eager to contribute to campus life and the surrounding Lewisburg community through clubs, community service, and varsity athletics. We have many Kappas who participate in the outreach organizations at Bucknell such as Bucknell Buddies tutoring program, the Bucknell Brigade, and Colleges Against Cancer. In addition, Kappa is well represented in the arts; whether it is on the Bison Girl dance team, dedicated members of the Bucknell Dance Company, actors of the Weis theater stage, or singers in the prestigious Bucknell acapella groups, our Kappa sisters’ creativity knows no bounds. On the other end of the spectrum, we have sisters involved in varsity sports on campus who are amazingly able to manage the physical demands of Division 1 athletics and academic requirements of the school and our sorority.
Needless to say, with all the incredible activities we participate around campus, Kappa sisters are always ready to volunteer and give back to our community. In the spring, Kappa made an extraordinary effort to give back through our fundraiser “Kappa Kisses” where we sold personalized valentines to the student body raising money for thyroid cancer. Within the next month Bucknell hosted its annual Relay for Life event in which every sister participated and supported one another in raising a minimum of $100.00 each to donate to the American Cancer Society.
After summer, we began the school year in the fall of 2011 with our annual book drive to benefit our national philanthropy “Reading is Fundamental” (RIF). All the sisters pulled together to collect hundreds of books for the cause and included handmade bookmarks for the recipients. In support of RIF, we followed this drive by hosting our annual Kappa Klassic soccer tournament, inviting the whole student body out to play and raising almost $1000.00. On an athletic streak, we teamed up with other sororities on campus and the brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha participating in their annual Watermelon Bust, which raised money for their philanthropic cause. Over the year our chapter hosted five non-alcoholic all-campus events ranging from a trip to Roller Rink to making holiday cards for the local Children’s hospital, from a game night to an ice cream social, all open to the entire student body. These events were both well attended and successful as they brought members of the Greek and non-Greek communities together for some fun.
Furthermore, the Delta Phi chapter was extremely enthusiastic to accept forty-five new Kappas into our sorority who, through the semester, have proven themselves to be womanly and true. Through weekly new members meetings and an overnight bonding trip before initiation, the girls grew together and built a true dedication to Kappa Kappa Gamma. We held a beautiful initiation ceremony where Kappa family members from across the country came to see their legacy passed down as they helped to welcome the new class into the sorority. Whether it was cheering for sisters at games, participating in community service events, or having fun at our formals, the Delta Phi chapter is proud of everything we have accomplished in 201 and will remember it as a year of excellent academic achievement, and sisterly support.
One of the main challenges our chapter has faced this year has been risk management regarding our events. With one of the sororities from our school getting kicked off campus this past semester the university has tightened down on all the Greek organizations on campus. We have taken many precautions in preparing for our Spring Formal Event. Our Event Chairman and Risk Chairman have been working very closely with council to ensure the security and success of our event. We have all been working hard to create a fun event, in a safe location while managing potential risks.
Specially we are distributing wristbands to members and their dates that are of age, using security personnel instead of fellow Kappa members. Additionally we are strictly requiring hand stamps before students go to the event. We have divided the check in by grades to make the process more efficient and effective for everyone involved. We are increasing the number of security guards as well as stationing our own members at various locations of the event. With regards to transportation we are positioning both the Event and Risk Chairs at the front of the bus to check wristbands and hand stamps and ensure that no negative discourse between Bucknell students and those providing transportation occurs.
Highlights of 2020s:
(From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.)
Housing:
Philanthropy:
Convention Awards:
Note to Chapter Registrar:
Please refer to your chapter archives including chapter meeting minutes and back issues of The Key to fill in any gaps in the above historical highlights. If your chapter archives are not complete, please research your university library, campus newspaper and yearbook archives for newsworthy information about your chapter. Please double check your work for accuracy. Contact chapter Advisory or House Board members, local Alumnae Association members, or your Province Director of Chapters for assistance.
Your efforts will ensure a complete and accurate history of your chapter for future generations to enjoy!
