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|Image= [[File:Epsilon_Alpha.jpeg|200px]]
|Founded= {{start date and years ago|1955|04|12}}
|College= [httphttps://www.tcu.edu/ Texas Christian University]
|Location= Fort Worth, TX
|Homepage= [httphttps://tcukappatcu.comkappa.org/#&panel1-2 Epsilon Alpha Homepage]|Media= [httphttps://wiki.kappakappagammakkg.org/index.php?title=Category:Epsilon_Alpha Media related to Epsilon Alpha Chapter]}}
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'''Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, Established 1873'''
gave our second Betsy Clement Friendship award that was started last year by a past pledge
class in honor of their pledge sister that tragically passed away while attending TCU. This
award is given to a new member every year that embodies what it means to be a Kappa. January: Switched officers and roles. February: Mom Weekend Socal, Executive PicturesApril: Spring Formal,BBQ for Books Philanthropy Event, and Dads Weekend TopGolf Event. May: Kappa Convention where we won a Philanthropy Award for Reading is Fundamental and a Panhellenic award, Kappa Kupcakes Philanthropy Event, Babes Chapter DinnerAugust: Work Week, Formal Recruitment, Bid Day September: Parent Weekend Social October: Owlween Social Event, Sorority Swap Panhellenic Event, Reading is Key Philanthropy Event partnered with Westcliff Elementary, Founders Dinner with Fort Worth Alumn,Big Little RevealNovember: Initiation of 2018 Pledge Class, Queso for Kids Philanthropy EventDecember: Kappa Formal, Kappa Christmas Baby Sitting Event, Betsy Clement Award Presentation, Babes Chapter Dinner
Our Chapter goal this year has been to foster mutual accountability between the house
and its members and for officers to be more effective to create an improved member
experience.
TCU's campus has stayed relatively the same from last year. Our on campus security has
increased and our Greek housing construction has been completed. Our bus loadng security
has been improving in overall attendance, but sometimes lacks a positive attitude towards
ritual and chapter meetings. We have been making significant changes to our Advisory
board, and those changes are still underway. The epsilon alpha chapter of Kappa KappaGamma is currently fulfilling an Action Plan to make Officers more effective in their roles. The Epsilon Alpha chapter was already a wonderful chapter but this year we took steps to increase involvement and moral. We have seen an increase in both areas and generally more excitement throughout the chapter. We are proud of the progress we have made and are looking forward to continuing to improve the chapter in 2019.
Chapter Philanthropy
Westcliff Elementary School, KKG Foundation, Reading is Fundamental
We started working with Westcliff last year due to a prior school not needing our help
incredibly friendly and easy to work with, and they are always looking for volunteers to
help with tutoring, book fair events, or host our Reading Is Key events.
The Epsilon Alpha chapter chooses Reading is Fundamental and Westcliff Elementary
because it allows our members to help kids in our community and beyond have access to
books. Also, our members are allowed to see the contributions they are making on a first
-
hand basis when they tutor at Westcliff elementary. We also choose the Kappa Kappa
Gamma Foundation because as a chapter we want to give back to the organization that has
already given so much to us. Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation is extremely supportive of
the members of this great sorority so we believe it is very important to support the
Foundation.
We meet in a lecture hall on campus for regular meetings and in the house for formal meetings.
Starting last year, these women travel to TCU to visit one of our chapter meetings and award Betsy's key to a new member who has
been voted by her pledge class as displaying the ideals of a true Kappa. These women that tell Betsy's story are heartwarming and moving every time they visit and have such a wonderful message to share.
==Highlights of 2019==
This year, the Epsilon Alpha Chapter has worked to get more involved on campus and in the Panhellinic community. We had a record number of Kappa Kappa Gamma members at Panhellinic Events and also increased our GPA. We also received an extremely high score in our value of sisterhood in a chapter wide survey created by Fraternity and Sorority Life. Another goal we had for the year was to improve our relationships with Chapter Advisors. Those relationships have become increasingly stronger and have maximized the benefits of those collaborations. During the Spring Semester of 2019 we started the new year off strong with two social events in February. We had our annual "Best of Both Worlds" formal with TCU Tri Delta and "Kappa Kamo" with TCU Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. We also had our annual Mother's Weekend which included a great event at HG Supply Co. In March we held Kappa Queso where members of the TCU community were able to buy tickets for unlimited Queso from different restaurants. This event benefited our philanthropies Reading is Fundamental and the Kappa Foundation. In April we had our 7th Dad's Weekend. We had a Reading is Key event at our partner school Westcliff Elementary, also in April. Our members where able to go to the school to get hands on involvement with students and stressed the importance of literacy and reading. The Cutting of the Ivy event was also held during April. To end the semester we had the semiannual Chapter Babes Dinner where the whole Epsilon Alpha Chapter is able to come together before the end of the school year. After a relaxing summer, we got back to TCU in early August and hit the ground running with Work Week. Work Week consisted of recruitment practice but also getting to dress up in fun themes like Jungle and Mardi Gras. We had a fabulous formal recruitment and got a pledge class of 68 new members. Our Bid Day was August 20 and our theme was House of Blues. In Semptember, we had our "Monmouth Formal" With TCU Pi Phi. Also in September, we held our Parents' weekend for the TCU vs SMU Game. At the end of this month, we had our Big/Little Reveal. Our Initiation was held during the first weekend of October which aligned perfectly with the annual Founders Day Dinner on the October 5. During Inspiration Period, we had a Pizza Night where Seniors were able to share stories about there four years at TCU which has become a tradition in our chapter. We held our Initiation Services in our Chapter house and then a Brunch at the Ashton Depot in downtown Fort Worth to follow the service. During October, we returned to Westcliff Elementary to help out with a Literacy Night were we held Bingo and read to Students. We also had our annual "Owloween" event with TCU Chi Omega. In November, we hosted another Kappa Queso Philanthropy Event. Wrapping up the year in December, we had Chapter Elections and voted on a wonderful new Chapter Counsel for 2020. We also held our annual Kappa Christmas Party that even Santa came to! To finish off our year, we had another Babes Dinner to take some stress of our members during finals.
Texas Christian University is always growing and improving, so there is constant construction on campus. This year the new business school was completed as well as construction for a larger football stadium. Our members disperse themselves through many organizations on campus but also enjoy coming together within our chapter. Our chapter is focused on continual improvement, and we have see increased involvement with Panhellenic Events, an increase in money raised for our philanthropies, as well as an increased over all GPA. This semester we had 33 girls receive a 4.00. What our chapter is the most proud of is the relationships we have developed with each other. On campus we are recognized for our strong sisterhood, and that is something that can be felt in all aspects of our organization.
The Epsilon Alpha chapter supports Reading is Fundamental and the Kappa Foundation. We are also very involved at Westcliff Elementary School where we have volunteers from our chapter read to students on a monthly basis.
Why did the chapter choose this organization? We work with these organizations because we are passionate about improving literacy rates and helping students in our area improve their reading skills. Our members get hands on experience with elementary school students and are able to see the direct impact their time is making. We also choose to support the Kappa Foundation because of all the good they do for the members of Kappa Kappa Gamma. We want to be able to give back to the organization we are all connected to so that we can help our sisters all over the country.
Every year the Chapter Celebrates Founders Day by having an event with all the Fort Worth Alumnae. This event is a fabulous dinner held at River Crest Country Club. During the Ceremony our Kappa Pickers sing a couple of songs. Also, badges for 25 years and 50 years are handed out to Alumnae. This dinner is a great time for our Chapter to learn more about our past and meet the women that brought our organization to where it is today. This year, our Founders Day Dinner fell during our Inspiration Period. This was very special because we got to come together and show our New Members was an amazing sisterhood they were about to officially be apart of.
We are extremely excited about the 150th anniversary of Kappa. We had a great time seeing some of Kappa's history when we were visited by the Minnie Stewart Van. In the future we are planning a special Founder's Day Dinner to celebrate the Sesquicentennial as well as trying to provide more history about our organization to the members of the Epsilon Alpha Chapter.
==Highlights of 2020==
This calendar year pivoted to be an unprecedented time for both our membership and chapter council as everyone had to execute their duties to the best of their capabilities based on the resources and guidelines they had. We had to transition to having a fully virtual recruitment where our new members were welcomed into the Epsilon Alpha chapter through a zoom bid day. Although their new member experience was not traditional by any means, they handled the zoom new member meetings and chapters with grace and understanding. As such, they were able to complete all the necessary requirements in order to get initiated on November 14th, 2020. Also, at the Sunday chapter before initiation, Shannon Cave, a Epsilon Alpha chapter alumni was able to present Megan Westbrock (PC’19) the Betsy Clement Friendship award. There was a plan in place prior to COVID that she would have come in and awarded PC’19 with the friendship award, but alas covid pushed it all back. As such, we are planning on having her come back in the spring to present the award to PC’20. The best Clement friendship award is an award which the freshman Pledge class elects someone who shares the same qualities of one of our alumni who tragically passed away during her time at TCU. Her fellow pledge sisters have crafted this award in order to carry on her legacy and promote friendship and inclusivity among the freshman pledge class as well as the whole chapter. Initiation proved to be a success and was completely held over zoom. Even though this was a challenge we still were able to make this a special event for out new members. Also, as COVID changed the way we serve RIF and Wescliff elementary, we still found ways to give back to the community. We held a book drive were our members could donate some books in order to contribute to the other donations as well as the drive by book drive where out members, being socially distanced and, with masks and gloves, were able to give the books to the kids. We also had zoom webinars which our members attended for TCU Panhellenic and also encouraged them to give blood or plasma, vote, and other philanthropic activities safety.
The organization the TCU, Epsilon Alpha chapter supports is Reading is Fundamental. While this is also Kappa Kappa Gamma Nationals philanthropy, we too work with RIF. Locally, however, our chapter sup-ports Westcliff Elementary school. This is a local school which is only minutes from the TCU campus.The Chapter decided RIF and Westlciff elementarybecause, as college students we understand and value the need for books and engagement of students in their most fundamental years as those are when it is not necessary to foster the value of an education. Westcliff, being so close allows us to both tutor the kids in the library on Friday afternoons as well as host a book drive during their book fair where our members are able to interact with the kids and show how ones love for learning and reading transcend elementary school.
Our chapter planned to create a DEI committee, but as committees were not that active this semester due to everything being online, we decided to wait until next semester in order really implement and establish a DEI committee. However, we did have a presentation for our members and presented it to them during a chapter.
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.